Black Forest Frappe Recipe: Cherry, Banana and Dark Chocolate Blended Ice Drink

A black forest frappe takes the flavors of a classic dessert and turns them into a cold, thick drink you can make in one blender jug.

Dark cherries, ripe banana and dark chocolate blend with ice into a smooth chocolate-brown frappe, then finish with a tall swirl of whipped cream and a sprinkle of grated chocolate on top for an impressive glass in minutes.

This black forest frappe is built around the flavors of the classic cherry and chocolate dessert, but served as a blended drink. Halved dark cherries and banana rounds give it body and natural sweetness, chopped almonds add a toasty crunch to the texture, and a dark chocolate base ties everything together.

The drink is finished in a footed glass with dark chocolate drizzled down the sides, a piped whipped cream swirl and grated chocolate on top.

Prep is quick: the fruit and nuts are cut on the board, the chocolate is grated, and then everything goes into the blender for a short run. The result is a glossy, cold frappe with no visible chunks, ready to serve as a dessert or an afternoon treat.

Ingredients

Why this recipe works

The blender does most of the work here. Ice, banana and cherries break down into a thick, cold base, and the dark chocolate base gives the drink depth. Blending the fruit with the ice creates a frappe texture that holds the whipped cream swirl without sinking into the glass.

Grating the dark chocolate by hand gives fine curls and shavings that melt into the chocolate base more evenly than chunks would. Chopping the almonds roughly keeps small pieces that stay visible in the finished frappe, so each sip offers a little crunch alongside the smooth chocolate.

Notes and substitutions

Choose fresh dark cherries that are firm and glossy. Pit them carefully and cut each one in half so the pieces blend smoothly. Use a ripe banana with yellow skin and a few brown spots, because it adds natural sweetness and a creamy body. Dark chocolate gives the drink its deep color and bittersweet flavor, so choose a bar you enjoy eating on its own.

You need a glass blender jug with a secure lid, a sharp knife and a cutting board, a box grater and a footed glass with a faceted pattern. A piping bag with a star tip makes the whipped cream swirl look professional.

For a dairy-free version, use an unsweetened non-dairy milk and dairy-free dark chocolate. Frozen dark cherries can replace fresh ones; thaw and drain them first.

• milk: oat milk or other unsweetened non-dairy milk for a dairy-free version, using dairy-free dark chocolate
• heavy cream: chilled non-dairy whipped topping, if you prefer a lighter topping
• fresh dark cherries: frozen dark cherries, thawed and drained before pitting and halving

Equipment

• Cutting board
• Chef's knife
• Box grater
• Blender with glass jug
• Footed glass with faceted pattern
• Piping bag
• Star piping tip
• Mixing bowl
• Hand mixer