Date Orange Juice with Cinnamon

Name: Date Orange Juice with Cinnamon
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients: 1½ cup (250 g) pitted Medjool dates, pitted and loosely packed; 2 cup (480 ml) fresh orange juice; 1½ cup (360 ml) room temperature water; ½ teaspoon (2½ g) ground cinnamon; 1 cup (240 ml) ice cubes (optional)

From the MyKitchenBank Kitchen

A naturally sweet and warming Middle Eastern beverage made by blending dates with fresh orange juice and aromatic cinnamon. This simple drink is rich, creamy, and requires no added sugar. Serve it chilled as a refreshing breakfast juice or warm as a comforting afternoon drink.

Prep: 10 min
Cook: —
Total: 10 min
Makes: 4 servings (about 4 cups / 960 ml)

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Steps

Before you start

Pit the dates if using whole dried dates
Have fresh oranges on hand or use high-quality orange juice
Chill glasses if serving cold

1
Combine dates and liquid
- Add the pitted dates, fresh orange juice, and room temperature water to a blender.
- The dates should be submerged or mostly covered by the liquid to blend smoothly.
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Tip: Use room temperature water so the blender doesn't have to work as hard to break down the dates; it also preserves some of the fresh orange flavor.
2
Blend until smooth
- Blend on high speed for 60–90 seconds, until the dates are completely broken down and the mixture is smooth and creamy with no visible date chunks.
- The drink should look like a uniform purée.
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Ready when: No visible date pieces; mixture is thick and creamy
Tip: If your blender struggles, soak the dates in the water for 5 minutes before blending to soften them further.
3
Strain the juice
- Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher, pressing gently on the solids with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible.
- Discard the fibrous pulp, which may take 2–3 minutes to drain completely.
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Ready when: Most liquid has dripped through; only dry fibrous pulp remains
Tip: Don't press too hard or you'll push pulp through the strainer. A gentle pressure is enough to get all the juice without cloudiness.
4
Stir in cinnamon
- Add the ground cinnamon to the strained juice and stir well until fully incorporated.
- The cinnamon will disperse evenly throughout, adding warmth and spice to the drink.
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Ready when: Cinnamon is evenly distributed throughout the juice
Tip: Stir the juice after a few minutes of sitting; cinnamon particles may settle, so a final stir before serving ensures each glass has the same flavor.
5
Chill and serve
- Pour the juice into glasses filled with ice cubes (if serving cold) or divide into serving glasses without ice.
- Stir each glass before drinking to redistribute any cinnamon that has settled to the bottom.
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Tip: For a warm version, skip the ice and serve immediately after straining and adding cinnamon; it's equally delicious and very comforting.

Good to know

Tips

For extra creaminess, blend in 2–3 tablespoons (30–45 ml) of tahini or almond butter along with the dates.
If the juice separates during storage, simply stir before serving. Natural separation is normal with date juice.
Serve this juice warm on cold mornings or chilled as an afternoon refresher. It pairs well with breakfast pastries, avocado toast, or on its own as a light meal.
A sprinkle of extra cinnamon on top of each glass adds visual appeal and allows guests to adjust the spice level to their taste.

Make ahead

Blend, strain, and chill the juice up to 1 day in advance. Store in the refrigerator; add cinnamon and stir just before serving for the best flavor.

Storage & reheating

Refrigerator: up to 3 days in a covered pitcher or airtight container. The flavor is best within 24 hours. Freezer: up to 1 month (freeze in ice cube trays for easy portioning; thaw at room temperature or blend into smoothies). Do not freeze with ice already added. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally, or in the microwave in 30-second intervals, until warm but not boiling.

Substitutions

fresh orange juice → Bottled fresh orange juice or packaged orange juice. Use 2 cups (480 ml) of quality juice; avoid overly pulpy versions as they can make the drink grainy. Thaw frozen orange juice concentrate according to package directions if preferred.
pitted Medjool dates → Deglet Noor dates or other dried date varieties. Medjool dates are creamier and sweeter; Deglet Noor are slightly less sweet and drier. Adjust the water amount slightly if the juice feels too thick or thin.
ground cinnamon → A pinch of ground cardamom, a strip of cinnamon stick, or a combination of both. Cardamom adds floral notes; use ¼ teaspoon (0.5 g) if substituting. A cinnamon stick can be left in the pitcher for visual appeal and deeper flavor.
room temperature water → Almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk. Replace 0.5–1 cup (120–240 ml) of water with plant-based milk for a richer, creamier version. Avoid overly strong-flavored milks that overpower the orange.

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