Learn how to make creamy Agua de Plátano, a refreshing and delicious drink made with ripe bananas, sweetened condensed milk, and a few other simple ingredients. This banana agua fresca is fast and easy to follow and can be enjoyed in the summer or year-round.
Ripe bananas are not just for banana bread or nice cream. They are also amazing in aguas frescas!
Like in smoothies, the addition of this rich, yellow fruit to an agua fresca helps create a deliciously creamy consistency. Plus, when blended with sweetened condensed milk and some other simple ingredients you get a a velvety, rich drink that is refreshingly delicious.
I love making this at home and it is always a hit with my husband and kids. Let me show you how easy it is to make.
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What is Banana Agua Fresca?
The term agua fresca translates to "fresh waters" in Spanish. The term is used to refer to a variety of cool drinks made with water and either fruit, flowers, grains or seeds. The drinks are usually non-alcoholic and very popular throughout Mexico.
When it comes to banana agua fresca, or agua de plátano in Spanish, ripe bananas are blended with water and various milks. The result is a refreshing and creamy drink that is typically enjoyed during the summer.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy and Minimal Ingredients: Only 6 simple ingredients and a few basic steps are needed to complete this refreshing recipe.
- Bananas Readily Available: Unlike some of the fruits used in other aguas frescas, bananas are readily available year-round so you can make this drink whenever you crave it.
- Creamy Texture: The bananas along with the milks blend into an irresistibly smooth, creamy, and frothy drink.
- Dairy-Free Option: Easily make this dairy-free and vegan by swapping out 2 of the ingredients.
The Ingredients
- Bananas: I like to use ripe bananas that have a few brown spots but have not turned completely brown. Ripe bananas add natural sweetness, a creamy texture, and a rich flavor to the drink. Bananas also provide important nutrients like potassium and dietary fiber.
- Water: I prefer filtered, cold water for a smoother taste. Cold water helps keep you from having to add too much ice in the end and it will also help your drink cool down faster in the refrigerator.
- Condensed Milk: Sweetened condensed milk adds all the extra sweetness you need, plus contributes to the creaminess.
- Evaporated Milk enhances the creaminess and richness without adding extra sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla complements the banana and milk and almost helps intensify their flavors.
- Ice: Aguas frescas are served over ice to help keep them cool and extra refreshing.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions
Both the condensed milk and evaporated milk can be substituted for dairy-free versions of these products.
How to Make Banana Agua Fresca
1. Add Liquids to Blender
- Add water, milks, and vanilla to blender.
2. Add Bananas
- Add peeled bananas and ice.
3. Blend
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Serve over ice, or pour the drink into a pitcher or bottle and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour until cold.
How to Serve
Before serving, stir the drink to ensure all the ingredients are incorporated.
I suggest serving in clear glasses and garnishing with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon. The cinnamon adds another level of flavor that goes beautifully with the rest of the ingredients.
How to Store
This banana water tastes its best when freshly made. However, you can store in an air-tight bottle or other container for up to 2 days without much loss in taste and quality.
Tips and Variations
- I suggest garnishing each glass with a sprinkle of cinnamon, but you could also add a ¼-1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon when blending for a delicious variation in flavor.
- The can of sweetened condensed milk makes this plenty sweet for my liking. However, if you like it even sweeter you can add sweetener of your choice when blending. On the other hand, if you like it less sweet, only add half of the can when blending.
- Remember the riper the banana, the sweeter the result so you may need to adjust the amount of sweetened condensed milk you use based on your preference.
- Don't use overly ripe bananas that have turned completely brown or are mushy. They will have too strong of a flavor that will not be appealing once blended into this drink.
- Don't use green bananas or bananas that are not ripe enough. This will result in a bland flavor.
FAQ
Yes, you can use frozen bananas but you will have to blend for a longer amount of time to reach the right consistency. Keep in mind that frozen bananas could make the drink thicker so you may have to adjust the amount of water added.
Yes, but I recommend using whole milk for the best creamy consistency.
More Creamy Drink Recipes
I hope you enjoy! If you try this recipe, please leave me a comment with a star rating below. Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest to stay in touch, and don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter.
Recipe
Agua de Plátano (Banana Agua Fresca)
Equipment
- Blender
- Pitcher or other container
Ingredients
- 4 cups cold water
- 12 oz evaporated milk
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 ripe bananas
- 2 cups ice
- ground cinnamon for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Add water, evaporated milk, condensed milk, and vanilla to blender.
- Peel bananas and add them to the blender in large pieces, for easier blending.
- Add ice.
- If you blender is too full, you may want to do this in two batches.
- Blend for 1-2 minutes on high until smooth and creamy.
- Serve over ice or pour the drink into a pitcher or bottle and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour until cold.
- Garnish each glass with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon if desired.
Notes
- Before serving, stir the drink to ensure all the ingredients are incorporated.
- Both the condensed milk and evaporated milk can be substituted for dairy-free versions of this products.
- The can of sweetened condensed milk makes this plenty sweet for my liking. However, if you like it even sweeter you can add sweetener of your choice when blending. On the other hand, if you like it less sweet, only add half of the can when blending.
Georgia
Wow! So creamy and delicious. I cannot wait to make this again and again!
Gemma
Hi Georgia, that's wonderful! I love how creamy it is too. Thank you!