Batido de Trigo (Cuban Puffed Wheat Milkshake)
Last updated on 19th February 2024
Cereal milkshakes are both energising and refreshing. Puffed Wheat Milkshake or Batido de Trigo is not an exception. This Cuban staple is very easy to prepare, containing wheat puffs cereal, milk, sugar, ice and optionally ice cream and ground cinnamon to create a creamy drink, almost dessert-like.
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Jump to:
- What is Batido de Trigo
- What is puffed wheat cereal?
- Is Batido de Trigo cuban?
- Ingredients to make Puffed Wheat Milkshake
- How to make a Cuban Puffed Wheat Milkshake
- Recipe Variations
- Top Tips and Fun Facts
- Puffed Wheat Milkshake recipe card
What is Batido de Trigo?
Batido means ‘shaken’ in Spanish and it is the term used to refer to ‘milkshakes’ in Hispanic countries, like Cuba. There are many examples of Cuban batidos. They are generally made by blending tropical fruits with milk, and some of the most popular include guava, mamey (mamey sapote fruit), banana and guanabana (soursop).
In the case of Batido de Trigo, the flavour is totally different since it is made with puffed wheat cereal, rather resembling a breakfast treat. However, you can enjoy it at any time of the day. The other ingredients for Batido de Trigo are milk, sugar or sweetened condensed milk, and crushed ice.
What is puffed wheat cereal?
Everyone knows wheat. Yes, the cereal grain that it’s largely used for bread, pizza, biscuits, beers and many other foods. You have probably seen in the supermarket one of the wheat cereal boxes labelled as ‘wheat puffs’ or ‘puffed wheat cereal’. Their content is the wheat grain, puffed with the help of an air flow puffing machine or another sort of industrial cereal extruder.
On occasions, this cereal comes with dashes of honey or sugar. If you are not interested in plain, dull milk and cereal for breakfast (like me), keep reading! This delightful milkshake recipe could be the perfect solution.
Is Batido de Trigo Cuban?
I’m not 100% sure that Batido de Trigo was originated in Cuba. What I can guarantee is that this traditional milkshake has been a favourite street food for Cubans, especially in Havana and in Miami, USA (where lots of Cubans and Cuban Americans live). An ice-cold, super sweet Batido de Trigo (sometimes made with condensed milk) features on the menus of cafes and restaurants alike.
Ingredients to make Puffed Wheat Milkshake
Puffed wheat. This cereal is very common in supermarkets and it is labelled as “wheat puffs” or “puffed wheat cereal”. It comes sometimes coated in sugar or honey.
Fresh milk. Whole milk straight from your fridge.
Sugar. A spoonful of white granulated sugar. You may have to use more depending on how sweet you like your milkshake.
Ice cream. Dairy ice cream works lovely for this recipe, but try with vanilla ice cream if you like to add this flavour.
Ice. Crushed ice to keep our milkshake cold.
Ground cinnamon. A pinch of this ingredient is optional but it pairs really nice with the flavour of the wheat cereal.
How to make a Cuban Puffed Wheat Milkshake
Like most milkshake recipes, this one only needs a high-speed blender as equipment. Add to the jug all the ingredients, which are milk, puffed wheat cereal, sugar, dairy ice cream, ground cinnamon and some crushed ice. Blend these ingredients very well and voilà! Or should I say: Listo!
Were you thinking of pairing this refreshing milkshake with a filling sandwich?! Try the Cubano sandwich! You won’t regret it and you will probably pair them again.
Recipe Variations
A great variation of Puffed Wheat Milkshake to indulge yourself is the one with condensed milk! Simply substitute the sugar for 4 tablespoons of condensed milk, replace one quarter of the milk with water, and add two more tablespoons of ice cream. Keep the other ingredients the same. Enjoy!
Top Tips and Fun Facts
If your blender is not a powerful one, add the crushed ice to the glass were you are serving the milkshake instead. Then pour over the milkshake when ready. That way you will also care for the blades of your blender.
Some blenders may not be fast enough to integrate properly the puffed wheat cereal with the milk. In this case, add all the cereal with half of the milk to the jug and blend first. Once this pre mix is well integrated, you can add the remaining milk and the other ingredients. Then blend everything.
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Batido de Trigo (Cuban Puffed Wheat Milkshake)
Very easy
Equipment
- high-speed blender
Ingredients
- 45 g puffed wheat cereal (70 g if the cereal comes coated in honey)
- 500 ml fresh whole milk
- 1 tbsp white granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp dairy ice cream (or vanilla ice cream)
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ cup ice crushed
Instructions
- To the jug of a high-speed blender, add the puffed wheat cereal, milk, sugar, ice cream, ground cinnamon and crushed ice.
- Blend until all the ingredients are integrated and the consistency is smooth and frothy.
- Adjust sugar if necessary. Serve in a glass jar and enjoy!
Notes
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