Sesame gives a grown-up dessert flavour

Tahini has a roasted, slightly bitter character that works well with maple syrup and vanilla. This shake is deliberately not banana-based, so the sesame flavour remains clear. The ice cream supplies the cold structure, making it closer to a conventional dessert shake than a fruit smoothie.

Choose smooth tahini with a flavour you enjoy on its own. Some jars are very bitter, while others are mild and creamy. A rancid or stale taste cannot be fixed by adding maple syrup. Stir the jar thoroughly before weighing because a scoop of dry paste behaves differently from a scoop of separated oil.

Maple is a flavour, not just a sweetener

A tablespoon of maple syrup gives a recognisable note without requiring a sauce ribbon around the glass. The amount of sweetness already present in the ice cream matters, so taste before adding more. If using a particularly sweet frozen dessert, you can reduce the syrup slightly while keeping the same method.

Blending tahini into the liquid first prevents small sticky pockets. Once the ice cream is added, a short blend is enough. Long blending melts the frozen component and produces a thinner drink, even if foam makes the surface look thick. Serve simply; a heavy cream substitute or biscuit topping would obscure the sesame-maple balance.

What you'll need

220 ml unsweetened oat drink
120 g dairy-free vanilla ice cream
25 g smooth tahini
1 tbsp maple syrup
A small pinch of fine salt

Let's make it

Stir the tahini until its oil and sesame paste are fully combined. Blend it with the oat drink before adding anything frozen.
Add the dairy-free ice cream, maple syrup and salt. Blend briefly until smooth and softly thick.
Taste a small spoonful. If the sesame flavour is too forceful, add a little more oat drink rather than trying to bury it under syrup.
Serve in two small glasses. Scrape the jug carefully with the blender switched off so each portion receives an even mixture.

Make it your own

Soy drink can replace oat drink, introducing soy as an allergen.

This recipe contains sesame and is not suitable for someone avoiding it. Do not describe a different nut butter as an allergy-safe swap without checking the individual's needs.

Keeping it fresh

Serve immediately and keep unused ingredients under their labelled storage conditions. If preparing ahead, measure the tahini and syrup separately, then add chilled liquid and ice cream just before serving.