DATE SHAKES

GREAT SHAKES

160 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE, SUITE A
PALM SPRINGS

This family-owned shake shack is a local favorite thanks to its gourmet shakes crafted sans milk with the shop’s proprietary (and much loved) homemade soft-serve ice cream. The website notes, “Because we produce our ice cream at the perfect temperature, we have no need to add milk and blend it.” The result is a deliciously rich all-ice-cream concoction, especially the date and date walnut varieties. In the mood for a different flavor? Great Shakes has plenty – a good 40 options, in fact (including many dairy-free choices), all of which are a sheer delight!

WINDMILL MARKET

17080 NORTH INDIAN CANYON DRIVE
NORTH PALM SPRINGS

While many places claim to serve “the best date shake in the desert,” Windmill Market truly has one of the most tasty! Although a bit out of the way, located on a dusty stretch of road about seven miles north of downtown Palm Springs, the establishment is worth the drive. Don’t let the rough-around-the-edges interior dissuade you. Not only are the shakes delectable and teeming with fresh dates, but the rear patio makes for a charming spot to indulge, and the market’s other fare, like tacos, hot dogs, sandwiches and burritos, are solid.

SHIELDS DATE GARDEN

80225 CA-111
INDIO

A desert icon, Shields Date Garden was originally established in 1924 and remains a landmark today. The onsite store opened its doors in 1953, offering myriad date delicacies, as well as toys, spices, décor and games. The place is best known for its shakes, though, recognized by California’s 56th Assembly District as The Official Date Shake of Riverside County. Thick, creamy and delicious, it’s the addition of the company’s signature date crystals, which pack an unexpected crunch, that really does it for me! While there, be sure not to miss “The Romance and Sex Life of the Date,” a fun film detailing the fruit’s cultivation process that is played regularly in the onsite theater.