Kesar Badam Milkshake Recipe: Saffron Almond Shake

Kesar badam milkshake is a cold Indian milk shake made with saffron (kesar), almonds (badam), milk, sugar and cardamom. One glass needs 10 to 15 saffron strands, 20 g of peeled almonds and 300 ml of chilled milk. The blending takes 1 to 2 minutes. The almonds need a 20-minute soak first, so plan on about 25 minutes in all.

By Saran Reddy, Founder, InstaCuppa | Last updated: 12 October 2026

How Do You Make Kesar Badam Milk Shake?

To make kesar badam milk shake, soak 10 to 15 saffron strands in 15 ml of warm milk for 10 minutes. Soak 20 g of almonds in hot water for 20 minutes and peel them. Blend the almonds and saffron milk with 100 ml of cold milk. Then add 200 ml more milk, 20 g of sugar and 1 g of cardamom, and blend for 45 to 60 seconds.

Kesar Milkshake, Saffron Shake or Saffron Milkshake: Same Drink?

Yes. Kesar is the Hindi word for saffron, and badam is the Hindi word for almond. So a kesar milkshake, a saffron milkshake and a saffron shake are the same cold drink. A kesar badam milkshake, or saffron almond shake, simply adds almonds.

Buy your saffron with care. A 2025 review of 23 studies found that 20 to 30% of saffron sold worldwide is adulterated, and it reported a figure as high as 60% for India (Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2025). Common fakes are safflower, marigold, turmeric and synthetic dyes. The FSSAI water test in the FAQ below is a quick first check.

Ingredients & Quantities

You need five ingredients for one glass: milk, almonds, sugar, saffron and cardamom. Everything fits in a 400 ml blender bottle.

• 300ml whole (full cream) milk (chilled)
• 20g almonds (soaked 20 minutes in hot water, peeled)
• 20g sugar (or 40g condensed milk as alternative)
• 10 to 15 saffron strands (about 20 to 25 mg, soaked in 15ml warm milk)
• 1g cardamom powder (from 2 pods)

Prep the saffron: Soak strands in 15ml warm milk for 10 minutes before blending. This releases the colour and aroma.

Saffron threads are very light. About 1,000 saffron flowers give only about 5 g of dried saffron, and each flower has three threads (Nutrients, 2022). So one thread weighs under 2 mg, and 10 to 15 threads weigh about 20 to 25 mg.

Step-by-Step Recipe

The kesar badam milkshake method has six steps. The two soaks take 20 minutes. The blending takes 1 to 2 minutes.

1. Soak almonds in hot water for 20 minutes. This softens them enough to blend smoothly in a portable blender.
2. Peel the almonds. Squeeze each almond gently. The skin slides off easily after soaking.
3. Soak saffron in warm milk. Add 10 to 15 saffron strands to 15ml of warm (not boiling) milk. Let it sit for 10 minutes. The milk turns golden yellow.
4. Add peeled almonds and saffron milk to the blender. Pour them in with 100ml of chilled milk first. Blend for 20 seconds to make a paste.
5. Add remaining milk, sugar, and cardamom. Pour in the remaining 200ml of chilled milk, 20g sugar, and 1g cardamom powder.
6. Blend for 45 to 60 seconds. The shake should look golden-yellow and creamy with a slight foam on top.

3 Tasty Variations

You can make kesar badam milkshake lighter, higher in protein or milder for kids. The calories below are our estimates from the same Health Canada data.

Estimates from Health Canada Canadian Nutrient File: skim milk (food code 114), whey protein isolate powder (7231), raw strawberry (1749). We counted toned milk like whole milk (113); toned milk has a little less fat, so the real number may be a bit lower.

3 Common Mistakes to Avoid

Most kesar badam milkshake problems come from three mistakes: hard almonds, dry saffron and too little liquid.

1. Overloading unsoaked almonds. Hard, unsoaked almonds clog blender blades and leave gritty bits. Always soak for at least 20 minutes and peel the skins.
2. Skipping the saffron soak. Dry saffron strands do not release their colour or flavour when blended cold. Soaking in warm milk for 10 minutes extracts the full aroma.
3. Adding ice before the liquid. A small blender bottle needs liquid first so the blades can move. Our 400 ml portable blender guide asks for at least 100 to 150 ml of liquid and says not to fill past the 400 ml line. Chill the milk in the fridge, and the shake stays cold with little or no ice.

Frequently Asked Questions

These answers cover kesar badam milkshake, kesar milkshake and saffron shake questions.

How much saffron should I use per glass?

Use 10 to 15 strands per glass. That is only about 20 to 25 mg, because one dried saffron thread weighs under 2 mg. Start with 10 strands and add more only if you want a stronger taste.

Can I make kesar badam milkshake without saffron?

Yes. Without saffron it becomes a plain badam milkshake. Add a pinch of turmeric for a similar golden colour, though the flavour will be different. Vanilla extract also works as a substitute.

Is kesar badam milkshake good for the brain?

It is a good food, not a brain medicine. The 20 g of almonds give about 4.8 mg of vitamin E. The saffron memory studies used 30 mg a day of saffron extract capsules for 16 to 22 weeks in people with Alzheimer's disease, and the authors called the results preliminary. No study has tested a kesar badam milkshake for brain health.

How do I know if saffron is real?

FSSAI gives a simple water test. Drop a few threads into a glass of water. If the saffron is fake, the colour comes out fast. Real saffron lets its colour out slowly and keeps giving colour for a long time. FSSAI also says real threads do not break easily.

When is the best time to drink kesar badam milkshake?

Drink it whenever you want a sweet drink. Many families serve it cold on hot days and at festivals like Holi and Diwali. There is no good proof that it helps you sleep. One glass has about 390 kcal and 20 g of added sugar, so treat it as a snack.

Is kesar milkshake the same as saffron milkshake?

Yes. Kesar is the Hindi word for saffron, so a kesar milkshake, a saffron milkshake and a saffron shake are the same drink. A kesar badam milkshake adds almonds, because badam means almond.

How many calories are in kesar badam milkshake?

One 350 ml glass has about 390 kcal when made with whole milk, 20 g of almonds and 20 g of sugar. The low-calorie version with skim milk, stevia and 10 g of almonds has about 150 kcal.

Is the saffron in a milkshake safe?

Yes, in food amounts. A 2018 review quotes a European Commission report: up to 1.5 g of saffron a day had no documented risk, while 5 g a day can cause poisoning. One glass uses about 0.02 g. Pregnant women should avoid high doses of saffron.

Sources

We read every source below on 12 October 2026.

• Health Canada, Canadian Nutrient File: whole milk 3.25% (113), blanched almonds (2535), granulated sugar (4318), cardamom (174), skim milk (114), whey protein isolate (7231), raw strawberry (1749).
• Akhondzadeh S. et al. Saffron vs donepezil in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, 22-week trial. Psychopharmacology, 2010 (PubMed 19838862, linked above).
• Mehdizadeh M. et al. Combating saffron fraud: a systematic review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2025 (PubMed 40792566, linked above).
• Saffron (Crocus sativus L.): a source of nutrients for health. Nutrients, 2022 (PMC8839854, linked above).
• Saffron: an old medicinal plant and a potential novel functional food. Nutrients, 2018.
• FSSAI, Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test (DART), Test 18: saffron (eatrightindia.gov.in, linked above).