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This 10-minute Dirty Banana Cocktail is a sweet and creamy frozen drink that’s loaded with tropical banana flavors, dark rum, and a hint of coffee. Sip on this frozen cocktail at the beach or by the pool and you’ll be instantly transported into vacation mode!
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An ultra-refreshing and tropical frozen blended rum cocktail
When you’re looking for a drink that’s essentially dessert in a glass, turn to the Dirty Banana Cocktail. It’s not only a treat for rum lovers but for banana and frozen cocktail fans as well!
This frozen banana drink with alcohol strikes a nice balance between complex and sweet thanks to a frosty blend of banana and coffee liqueurs, dark rum, milk, and frozen bananas. Every sip is creamy and goes down smooth, especially when enjoyed under the summer sun.
Using my 10+ years of experience in the culinary field, I thought the classic banana rum cocktail could use an upgrade. My version has a stronger “banana-y” flavor because it’s made with both real bananas and banana liqueur. The result is super creamy but not overly sweet thanks to the coffee liqueur and depth from the dark rum.
I love throwing parties and hosting friends, and this is the drink I turn to on hot summer days when my guests need a drink that will both cool them down and perk them up. For more party-ready frozen cocktails, check out my Chi Chi Frozen Cocktail and Frozen Mango Margarita as well.
What is a dirty banana cocktail?
A dirty banana is an ice-cold blended cocktail made from blended bananas, coffee and banana liqueur, and milk or cream. You’re likely to find it at a resort in the Caribbean because of its beautiful blend of fruity, creamy, and complex flavors and ingredients. You can even add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to make it more decadent!
It’s called a “dirty banana” because the coffee liqueur and dark rum give the drink a “dirty” look. The blended bananas and milk are light and smooth as-is, but when you add in the coffee and rum, the drink takes on a rich brown color that makes it completely irresistible.
Ingredients needed
This creamy and sweet cocktail is easy to make in a blender using fresh fruit, liquor, and rum. These are the ingredients you need:
Banana liqueur
Also called “crème de banane”, banana liqueur is a popular addition to many tropical cocktails. It has a slightly sweet and, most importantly, a strong fruity/banana flavor. Use it to make a banana-flavored daiquiri or piña colada, or to help your Frozen Mudslide cocktail taste like a banana split.
The drink will completely change if you decide not to use banana liqueur. But if you can’t find it, you can adjust the banana flavor by substituting the liqueur for an extra 1 ½ bananas plus 1 tablespoon of simple syrup.
Coffee liqueur
A little coffee liqueur will make each sip extra smooth and rich. Kahlua is a popular option but Patron XO Cafe will give the cocktail a real flavor boost (while adding in a little tequila as well). Feel free to sip on a few brands to see what you like or digitally explore a few more options.
Dark rum
Dark rum gets its rich and deep flavors from its long aging process. It’s also sometimes upgraded with color additives, like molasses or caramel color, unlike clear rum. Both of these qualities lend sweet notes of vanilla or toffee in each sip, making it the preferred choice in sweet, blended drinks like this banana rum cocktail.
The complexities of dark rum make it a fantastic contender for both cold and hot drinks. I call for light rum in this Frozen Pineapple Daiquiri but substituting it for dark rum would give the drink more depth and a nice punch of bold flavors. It’s also the classic choice for my Hot Buttered Rum, giving the warm and cozy hug-in-a-glass its richly spiced flavor.
Keep a bottle of dark rum on your bar cart at all times! You never know when it will come in handy.
Bananas
Blended bananas are the secret behind this tropical and fruity cocktail. I recommend using frozen bananas because they thicken the drink and give it a naturally creamy, slushy, and smooth consistency. They’ll keep it ice-cold, too!
Fresh or unfrozen bananas can be used when you’re in a rush. Just make sure to add an extra one or two ice cubes.
Milk
Because it wouldn’t be a creamy cocktail without milk! Use regular whole milk or swap it for heavy cream or half-and-half for an extra rich and decadent consistency.
And for your dairy-free friends, simply replace the dairy with your favorite non-dairy milk substitutes, like oat milk or almond milk.
How to make a dirty banana cocktail
The only equipment you need to make these banana rum drinks is a high-speed blender. My Vitamix crushes ice and frozen fruit in a pinch, but feel free to use any kind of blender you have at home. Here’s how it’s done, step by step:
Step 1: Toss all of the ingredients into a high-speed blender.
Step 2: Blend on high until smooth!
Tips and tricks
Follow these recipe tips to help you make the best dirty banana cocktail:
Make it look a-peel-ing
To make this frozen banana cocktail extra delicious and appealing, drizzle a little chocolate syrup or caramel sauce inside of the glass (a hurricane glass is best) before pouring the drink.
Add a garnish
Impressing your guests means going that extra mile to make your blended cocktails look irresistible. For this frozen dirty banana, remember to garnish each glass with a maraschino cherry, a dollop of whipped cream (or dairy-free coconut whip), and a banana slice. When you want to go all out, caramelize the banana slices instead!
Freeze your old bananas
Don’t let your old, spotty bananas go to waste! Instead, remove their peels and freeze them in an airtight container or ziplock bag for up to 6 months. This way, whenever you’re craving a dirty banana, you can pull out your already-frozen bananas and blend away!
Frequently asked questions
A dirty banana mocktail can easily be made without the rum and liqueur. Add an extra 1 ½ frozen bananas, 1 tablespoon of simple syrup, and 2 ounces of milk or cold coffee, then blend as normal.
To make this cocktail ahead of time, simply blend the ingredients and keep the mixture in an airtight container in the freezer. Give it a good stir before pouring it into glasses to serve.
It's time to start blending!
Okay, friend, it's your turn to make a batch of this cocktail. It will be great for your next party. When you do, leave a comment below so we can hear what you think!
Recipe
Blender Dirty Banana Cocktail
Ingredients
- 3 ounces whole milk or non-dairy milk
- 1 ½ ounces coffee liqueur
- 1 ½ ounces banana liqueur
- 1 ounce dark rum
- 1 banana, sliced and frozen
- 3 cups ice
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients into a high-speed blender.
- Blend until smooth and serve into two chilled glasses.
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