Creamy Batido De Trigo (Cuban Puffed Wheat Milkshake)

Today, I will show you how to make an authentic Batido de Trigo. This Cuban milkshake is incredibly quick and easy to make and loaded with hearty sweet flavors.

If you’re looking to visit Cuba, check out the Ultimate Guide to Exploring Old Havana from Carley and José!

What Is Batido De Trigo Made Of?

Not many people are familiar with this delicious drink. It is more commonly known in Western countries as a Cuban wheat milkshake. And trust me, you will be blown away by the deliciously rich and sweet flavors!

This Cuban milkshake is traditionally only made with 5 ingredients. They are milk, sweet condensed milk, ice, and fine salt. The hero ingredient is puffed wheat. 

Puffed wheat can most probably be found at your local grocery store, pharmacy, or local health or organic shop. You can also buy it in cereal form (in the cereal aisle). Just try to buy an option that isn’t completely full of sugar.

This is an incredibly refreshing Batido de Trigo recipe that is perfect for hot summer days! And, if I do say so myself, it is a fantastic accompaniment with my Princess Tiana’s Beignets or We Bare Bears Calzones.

Variations Of This Wheat Milkshake Recipe

As I have already mentioned, this recipe is pretty simplistic. It also doesn’t use a ton of ingredients. However, there are some variations that you can try.

So, first is the condensed milk. You can easily adjust the amount you add to the Batido de Trigo recipe to reduce its sweetness. Alternatively, you can replace it with evaporated milk, which isn’t sweet. You can still add a little bit of sugar to the evaporated milk to add some sweetness. 

Then you also have vanilla extract. Personally, I love this recipe with vanilla extract. You can even use vanilla beans! Some people also like to add a dash or two of almond extract. But I will admit, that vanilla extract will always be my number one choice.

While it isn’t traditional, you can add some ground spices to the ingredients list to give it a more autumn or winter-like flavor profile. These spices include cinnamon, star anise, fennel, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice.

Just ensure that the combination and ratio of these spices you add are flavorful and work with the milkshake.

Toppings To Try For Batido De Trigo

You can also experiment with different toppings for this refreshing wheat milkshake. 

In my recipe today, I added some more puffed wheat to garnish the milkshake. It not only looks adorable, but it also adds some crunch and a contrasting color.

I almost always add ground cinnamon on top as well. The cinnamon goes exceptionally well with the toasted earthy wheat flavors and vanilla extract.

Now, here are some fun add-ons. I like to sometimes add a big dollop of ice cream to the milkshake before adding these garnishes.

You can also add crushed salted pretzels, cookie crumbs, and shortbread biscuits. As long as the flavors pair well together, you can use any and as many garnishes as you’d like!

Making A Vegan Batido De Trigo Recipe

If you want to make a plant-based Batido de Trigo, you have to substitute the condensed milk and the whole milk.

Instead of condensed milk, you can buy and use a vegan alternative from the store. Here are some vegan alternatives for condensed milk.

And the whole cows’ milk you can obviously replace with any type of plant milk. I love oat milk or almond milk because they are naturally slightly sweet.

And don’t forget to top your vegan Betido de Trigo with vegan vanilla ice cream.

Tips And Tricks For Making My Batido De Trigo Recipe From Scratch

• If your milkshake is too thick, you can add more milk to help thin it down. Just add a bit at a time until you are happy with the consistency.
• If you have a mixture that is too thin, you can add more puffed wheat. Do not add more ice. Remember, the blended ice shards melt and will just make it worse!
• Another trick to use for a runny milkshake is adding a ripe banana. It does change the flavor, but I don’t mind it at all!
• You shouldn’t make this drink in advance. It is best made and served fresh. If you leave it in the fridge, the consistency will change completely and a foamy liquid will form.

FAQs

What do Trigo milkshakes taste like?

This milkshake is very earthy in flavor. It also has notes of vanilla extract and you can clearly taste the sweetness. Some people say that they pick up hints of bitterness, but that’s usually when you don’t add enough sugar.

Is Batido de Trigo Cubano healthy?

Obviously, this milkshake contains fat and carbs from the milk and condensed milk. And while puffed wheat by itself is considered a healthy snack, when combined with ingredients like these, I would not call it a low-calorie shake.

How many calories are in a Batido de Trigo milkshake?

Each serving of my specific recipe contains about 330 calories. However, some other recipes can be much higher depending on the ingredients they use.