How to Make Ensure Drinks Taste Better and More Enjoyable

January 14, 2026 •

4 min read

According to Harvard Health, supplemental nutrition drinks like Ensure can be helpful for those with a loss of appetite or difficulty chewing, but many people struggle with their taste. Fortunately, you can learn how to make Ensure drinks taste better with a few simple additions and blending techniques, transforming a bland beverage into a delicious and enjoyable part of your diet.

Quick Summary

Enhance the flavor of Ensure nutritional shakes by blending them with fruits, spices, and different bases like milk or juice. Use temperature to your advantage by chilling or freezing your shakes. Experiment with various mix-ins like extracts, nut butters, and cocoa powder to create a personalized taste you'll love.

Key Points

Start Cold: Ensure shakes taste better when they are very cold. Chill your bottles in the refrigerator or blend with ice.
Enhance with Spices: Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cocoa powder for a quick flavor boost without adding extra sugar.
Blend with Fruit: Transform your Ensure into a delicious smoothie by blending it with frozen berries, banana, or mango.
Use Alternate Bases: For a creamier texture, swap water for milk, almond milk, or coconut milk, which also adds flavor.
Try Nut Butters: A spoonful of peanut or almond butter adds richness, healthy fats, and a nutty flavor that can mask the base taste.
Experiment with Extracts: A drop of vanilla, almond, or mint extract can add a pleasant aroma and taste to your shake.
Add Coffee: Mix a shot of chilled espresso or instant coffee into a chocolate Ensure for a mocha-flavored drink.
Make a Freeze Pop: For a fun alternative, pour Ensure into a popsicle mold and freeze for an icy treat.

Upgrade Your Base Liquid

While Ensure is a ready-to-drink beverage, its base flavor can be dramatically improved by changing the liquid component it's mixed with, especially if you are using the powdered version. Instead of relying on plain water, consider these options to add richness and flavor.

Use Dairy or Plant-Based Milks

Substituting water with milk or a plant-based alternative is one of the easiest ways to improve the taste and texture of an Ensure drink.

Whole Milk: Adds a rich, creamy texture that masks any chalkiness.
Almond, Coconut, or Soy Milk: Offers a wide range of flavor profiles and can cater to those with lactose intolerance. A vanilla-flavored Ensure with coconut milk can taste like a tropical treat.
Kefir: Blending with kefir introduces probiotics and a tangy flavor.

Mix with Fruit Juice

For a lighter, sweeter drink, combine your Ensure with fruit juice. This is especially effective with fruity Ensure flavors.

Orange or Pineapple Juice: Creates a tropical, vibrant smoothie, especially when blended with vanilla Ensure.
Pomegranate or Cherry Juice: The stronger flavors can help mask any underlying medicinal taste in the drink.

Get Creative with Flavor Enhancers

Adding simple ingredients to your Ensure can dramatically alter its flavor profile. Start with a small amount and adjust to your liking.

Spices: A pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or a dash of ginger can add warmth and complexity.
Extracts: A drop of vanilla, almond, or mint extract provides a powerful flavor boost without extra calories.
Cocoa Powder: Perfect for transforming a chocolate Ensure into a richer, more decadent drink.
Instant Coffee or Espresso Shot: Combine with a chilled chocolate or vanilla Ensure for a delicious mocha-flavored shake.

Blend in Fruits, Veggies, and Nut Butters

Blending your Ensure with other ingredients can turn it into a nutritious and filling smoothie.

Frozen Fruits: Using frozen fruits like berries, bananas, or mangoes adds natural sweetness and creates a thicker, ice cream-like consistency.
Nut Butters: A tablespoon of peanut, almond, or cashew butter adds healthy fats, protein, and a rich, nutty flavor.
Seeds: Flax seeds or chia seeds thicken the shake, add fiber, and provide healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Greens: Spinach or kale can be blended in for extra nutrients without significantly altering the taste, especially when paired with sweet fruits.

Change the Temperature and Texture

Temperature and consistency are key to improving the enjoyment of an Ensure drink. A warm, room-temperature drink can be less appealing.

Serve Chilled: Always serve Ensure ice-cold. Keep bottles in the refrigerator or use a generous amount of ice when blending to ensure it is properly chilled.
Make a Freeze Pop: For a fun, icy treat, pour Ensure into a popsicle mold and freeze it. This is a great alternative for those who don't enjoy drinking it.
Blend with Ice: Blending with ice cubes is a quick way to achieve a thicker, more refreshing shake texture and ensure it's perfectly cold.
Heat it Up: Chocolate Ensure can be gently warmed on the stovetop to create a cozy hot cocoa. Be careful not to boil it, as this can degrade nutrients.

Comparison Table: Ensure Modifications

To help you decide which modification best suits your taste and nutritional needs, here is a quick comparison.


Modification Type	Taste Impact	Texture Impact	Extra Calories	Benefits	Example
Add Spices	Adds warmth and complexity	Minimal	Minimal	Adds flavor without significant calories	Vanilla Ensure with cinnamon
Blend with Fruits	Natural sweetness, masks base flavor	Thickens, creates smoothie consistency	Moderate, adds nutrients	Adds vitamins, minerals, fiber	Strawberry Ensure with frozen banana
Use Milk Base	Creamier, richer taste	Smoother, less chalky	Depends on milk type (e.g., whole vs. almond)	Adds creaminess and potentially more protein	Chocolate Ensure with coconut milk
Add Nut Butter	Rich, nutty flavor	Thicker, more substantial	Moderate, adds healthy fats and protein	Increases satiety, adds healthy fats	Vanilla Ensure with peanut butter
Blend with Greens	Minimal (if using milder greens)	Minimal	Low	Boosts vitamin and mineral content	Any Ensure flavor with spinach
Serve Frozen	Can enhance fruity flavors	Icy, pop-like texture	No extra calories unless mixed	Refreshing, offers a fun alternative	Strawberry Ensure freeze pop

Conclusion

Making Ensure drinks taste better is not only possible but also easy with a few creative additions. Whether you prefer to blend it into a rich smoothie with fruits and nut butters, enhance it with spices and extracts, or simply serve it ice-cold, there are numerous ways to customize the flavor to your liking. By experimenting with these methods, you can turn a necessary nutritional supplement into a delicious beverage that you'll look forward to drinking, ensuring you meet your dietary goals with ease and satisfaction. Remember to consult your healthcare provider about any dietary changes, especially if you have specific health conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Ensure can be put in a blender. In fact, blending it with ice, fruits, or other mix-ins is one of the best ways to improve its taste and texture, creating a smoother, more enjoyable drink.

Fruits like frozen bananas, berries (strawberries, blueberries), mangoes, and pineapple all mix well with Ensure, adding natural sweetness and creating a smoothie-like consistency.

Yes, Ensure ready-to-drink beverages can be gently warmed up. Be careful not to let it boil, as high heat can destroy some of the nutrients. This works well for creating a hot cocoa from chocolate Ensure.

Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger are great additions to Ensure. Start with a pinch and adjust to your taste. These can add a warm, complex flavor profile.

To make Ensure less chalky, blend it with a creamy liquid base like whole milk, yogurt, or a plant-based milk. Also, serving it ice-cold and blending with ice can help achieve a smoother texture.

While Ensure already contains protein, you can mix in additional protein powder to boost the content further. However, Ensure is meant to be a balanced meal replacement, so adding extra supplements should be done in moderation.

Using unflavored Ensure powder gives you the most control over the final taste, allowing for endless flavor combinations. However, flavored options like vanilla or chocolate provide a good base for many recipes, like adding cinnamon to chocolate Ensure.