Traditionally, the Jewish holidays revolve around food or the lack thereof. Shavuot is considered by many to be the dairy holiday, the time to give yourself permission to enjoy the wholesome richness of milk and dairy products at least once during the holiday.

There doesn’t seem to be any definitive explanation for this specific culinary tradition, but numerous theories have been offered. Perhaps it’s because the Torah was given on the Sabbath, and no animals could be slaughtered for the meat to celebrate the event. Or could it be that during Shavuot in Israel, which is considered the land of milk and honey, grain is plentiful and cows are content, offering great quantities of milk. Whatever the reason, Shavuot is the time to savour the goodness that is milk.

Why not shake it up this Shavuot? Milkshakes make scrumptious snacks and desserts anytime, so it goes without saying that they make exceptional treats for Shavuot. This dairy indulgence can be a good source of nutrition, as it contains proteins, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. Milkshakes are also a very refreshing alternative to the traditional dairy desserts, such as cheesecakes, usually served on Shavuot.

Milkshakes don’t always have to be made with rich ice cream and topped with whipped cream to be yummy. When made with healthy ingredients like fresh fruit, including berries, bananas, peaches and pineapple, along with low fat milk and low fat ice cream or yogurt, milkshakes can become nutritious meal replacements.

So go ahead and bring out your blender, find some tall glasses and some wide milkshake straws, then follow these recipes for some rich, creamy, tantalizing dairy delightfulness this Shavuot.

Note: in all of these recipes, you can add either more or less ice cream/yogurt to the mixture depending how thick or thin you like milkshakes.

HOLIDAY CAKE SHAKE

1 cup skim or low fat milk

1 cup yellow cake mix

4 cups French Vanilla ice cream, regular or low fat (See note)

2 tsp. pure vanilla

sprinkles, for garnish

1 tbsp. light corn syrup, for garnish

whipped cream – optional, but extra delicious

To prepare the milkshake glasses, first pour the corn syrup into one saucer and the sprinkles into another saucer. Then dip the rims of the glasses first into the corn syrup and then into the sprinkles, coating the rim of the glass. Combine the milk, cake mix and vanilla in the blender. Add the ice cream and pulse until smooth. Pour mixture into prepared glasses and top with whipped cream and additional sprinkles. Makes four servings.

CARAMEL APPLE MILKSHAKE

2 medium apples, cored, peeled and diced

4 cups vanilla ice cream, regular or low fat or 4 cups vanilla frozen yogurt

1 cup skim or low fat milk

1/3 cup caramel topping, plus extra for drizzling

apple wedges for garnish

Combine apples, milk and caramel topping in the blender until smooth. Add ice cream or frozen yogurt and pulse until smooth. Pour into tall glasses and garnish with an apple slice and a drizzle of caramel. Makes four servings.

BANANA SPLIT SUNDAE SHAKE

1 cup skim or low fat milk

1 ripe banana

1 cup pineapple chunks, well drained

1/2 cup maraschino cherries, well drained

4 cups Neapolitan ice cream (See note)

4 ripe banana slices, for garnish

4 maraschino cherries, for garnish

4 pineapple slices, for garnish

chocolate syrup, for garnish

Prepare tall glasses by making a notch in a banana slice and pushing the slice of banana onto the rim of the glass, repeat with the cherry and the pineapple slices, placing them beside the banana.

In a blender, combine milk, banana, pineapple and cherries until smooth.

Add ice cream and pulse until smooth. Pour mixture into the prepared glasses and then drizzle the chocolate syrup over the milkshake.