Happy Birthday with a Mango Batido!🥤

I celebrate my birthday by making a Latin American fruit milkshake with my 10-year-old son.

Photo by HOTCHICKSING on Unsplash

It’s my birthday, and I’ll drink what I want to. That used to be an old Scotch or a well-crafted gin cocktail, but things have changed. These days, I don’t just enjoy making or drinking a drink— I enjoy sharing the process with my 10-year-old son, who has a knack for mixing, stirring, and blending.

As much as I appreciate the skilled tween who can make their parent’s favorite Martini, I think non-alcoholic drinks are a bit more appropriate. So, for my upcoming birthday, I’ve chosen to make a “Batido de Mango” with my son.

Batidos are a group of drinks found throughout Latin America, best described as fruit milkshakes, made with fresh or frozen fruit and milk. They’ve earned a spot on my list of traditional and historical non-alcoholic beverages — drinks from around the world that have absolutely nothing to do with the growing category of non-alcoholic wine, spirits, or beer.

The recipe I picked is by Jamie Silva in her A Sassy Spoon blog. Silva is a first-generation Cuban immigrant who lives in Miami and founded A Sassy Spoon, a blog about Cuban food.

I like the recipe because it includes coconut, which I think adds depth to the sometimes overly simplified “fruit + milk + ice” combo you see in some other recipes.

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Before you even ask — yes, this will absolutely work with rum or a rum-alternative. Just go easy on the booze so the fruit still shines through, and we’re not left drinking a milkshake that feels like it’s been boosted by kerosene. I’d suggest sticking to about an ounce to an ounce and a half of rum or rum alternative. For adults only, of course.

Now, my son is a picky eater. But he loves sugar and fruit, so this should be a no-brainer, right? Still, let’s be clear — this is my birthday batido, so he’s just along for the ride.

Below is a step-by-step account of us making Silva’s recipe, with help from my son.

Step One: Assemble the Ingredients & Tools

The assembled ingredients.

Put all the ingredients together in the blender. Make sure the mangoes are frozen so the drink is nice and cold. As such, it does not require ice.

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Step Two: Blend the Ingredients

Blend for about 30 seconds to one minute to get the proper texture. The amount of blending time depends on what type of blender you’re using. I used a Nutribullet Ultra (they’re a sponsor of the NO FUN cocktail competition). You can also add water to get a thinner texture if that’s what you prefer.