A banana, oat and honey smoothie is a straightforward way to combine fruit, milk and a little honey in one glass. The oats give the recipe a different texture from a plain banana milkshake, while the honey can be added only after you taste the fruit.
This version makes two small smoothies. The banana is weighed after peeling, which is more repeatable than relying on a vague size description. A short refrigerated softening step is included for the oats before blending.
Recipe development note: This is an original recipe draft. The base method, substitutions and variations have not been kitchen-tested. Timings and yields are estimates pending testing.
Banana, oat and honey smoothie recipe
Serves: 2 small smoothies; final volume to be confirmed in testing
Estimated times: preparation 5 minutes; heating/cooking 0 minutes; resting/brewing 10 minutes; total 15 minutes.
Equipment: Kitchen scales; Small bowl; Blender; Two glasses.
Ingredients
- 240 g peeled ripe banana, approximately 2 medium bananas
- 30 g plain rolled oats suitable for uncooked use according to the packet
- 350 mL cold pasteurised milk
- 2 teaspoons (10 mL) honey, optional or adjusted after tasting
Method
- Combine the oats with the milk and let them soften for about 10 minutes in the refrigerator. Use only oats whose packet permits this preparation; do not substitute uncooked steel-cut oats.
- Put the milk-and-oat mixture and banana in a blender. Blend until smooth enough for your preference, following the blender manufacturer's instructions.
- Taste before adding honey. Add the measured honey only as needed and blend briefly again.
- For a thinner texture, add another 20 mL milk at a time. Record additions because they change the final volume.
- Divide between two glasses and serve promptly.
Allergen and ingredient notes: Contains milk and oats. Alternative milks or nut-butter additions can introduce soy or tree nuts. This oat-containing recipe must not be labelled gluten free in Australia/New Zealand.
Australian measures: teaspoon 5 mL; tablespoon 20 mL; cup 250 mL. 12
Get the texture right before adding extras
Use ordinary rolled oats that are suitable for this preparation according to the packet. Uncooked steel-cut oats are not a like-for-like substitute. Start with the specified 30 g rather than adding a large extra scoop: the point is a drinkable smoothie, not an unmeasured bowl of porridge.
A blender's power and container shape can change the result. Blend the first batch without ice so you can assess the oat texture, then develop a colder version separately. Do not exceed the machine's fill line, and switch it off before scraping the sides with a suitable utensil.
The draft serving count is two, but the exact millilitre yield has not been measured in a kitchen. Extra milk, banana size and air incorporated during blending can change the volume. Measure the finished result before assigning a precise glass size on the published recipe card.
Sweetness: taste the banana first
Blend the banana, oats and milk before adding honey. You may prefer the fruit's sweetness without any extra, especially when using a sweetened milk alternative. For the first honey trial, start with one teaspoon across the batch and add the second only after tasting.
Honey contributes sugars and carbohydrate; it is not a way to make the smoothie sugar-free. 3 Our honey versus sugar guide explains the distinction without assigning a health halo to a sweetener.
Any honey you enjoy can be tried here. A labelled activity grade is not a recipe requirement. For other breakfast-style uses, see Manuka honey recipes.
Australian guidance on oats and gluten
Do not label this recipe gluten free. Coeliac Australia's April 2026 guidance notes that foods containing oats cannot carry that claim in Australia or New Zealand. It recommends an individual discussion with a medical team about introducing suitable pure oats for people with coeliac disease. 7
A packet imported from a country with different labelling rules does not remove that distinction. Someone who needs to avoid oats can make a separate banana smoothie without them, but that is not the same formulation and its other ingredients still need checking.
As an untested oat-free starting point, omit the oats and reduce the milk to 300 mL, then adjust texture. Do not add a gluten-free badge until the actual ingredients, preparation and applicable requirements have been reviewed.
Substitutions and variations to test
Plant-based milk: try an unsweetened alternative at the same starting volume and assess flavour and texture. Check the carton for soy, tree nuts, oats and other relevant ingredients. Keeping honey means this is not a vegan version; our honey and vegan diets guide explains the distinction.
Colder smoothie: use part of the measured banana frozen in slices, provided the blender is suitable. This may need extra milk to blend. Do not force a machine through a solid frozen block.
Cinnamon: trial a small pinch across the batch. Keep it modest so the banana and honey remain the main flavours.
Nut butter: a small measured spoonful is a possible variation, but introduces an additional allergen and changes thickness. Test it independently rather than adding it to a drink already modified with extra oats and frozen fruit.
All of these variations are untested. For a different fruit base with its own quantities, use the berry, yoghurt and Manuka honey smoothie.
Is it a complete breakfast or a health drink?
The answer depends on the full recipe, serving size and the rest of your food intake. This article does not claim that one glass meets everyone's breakfast needs or provides a measured amount of protein or fibre. A nutrition calculation would require the final tested quantities and exact products.
For someone managing diabetes, the total carbohydrate matters, including contributions from ingredients other than honey. 3 Our honey and diabetes article provides general context; individual dietary advice belongs with a qualified clinician or dietitian.
Serving and making ahead
For the simplest result, prepare the fruit and measure the oats in advance, but blend close to serving. This draft does not promise that a smoothie blended the night before will keep the same texture.
Keep refrigerated at 5 C or colder. 2 Follow the shortest use-by and storage directions among the ingredients. No recipe-specific refrigerated shelf life has been tested. When taking a serving out, use an insulated bag with an ice brick rather than treating a milk-based smoothie like a shelf-stable drink.
Do not give honey or honey-containing drinks to babies under 12 months. 1 Read when babies can have honey for the separate safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I skip soaking the oats?
The short softening step is part of the draft method. A direct-blended version may suit a powerful blender, but its texture has not been tested here. Follow the oat packet's preparation directions in either case.
Can I use yoghurt instead of milk?
That would make a thicker, different smoothie. Rather than replacing all the liquid without testing, use a measured amount and add liquid gradually. The berry smoothie linked above already uses a yoghurt base.
Why is my smoothie too thick?
Check whether the oats and peeled banana were weighed. Add milk in small increments with the blender switched off between additions. Record the final amount for a repeatable version.
Do I need Manuka honey?
No. The base recipe uses honey as a flavour and sweetener, not as a medical ingredient. Choose the jar you enjoy and adjust the amount to taste.
Sources and further reading
[1] Healthdirect Australia. Botulism.
[2] Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Food safety basics.
[3] Diabetes Australia. Sugar, oh honey, honey.
[7] Coeliac Australia. Oats commonly asked questions.
[12] SBS Food. Lemon cake - Cook's Notes.