Chocolate Banana Smoothie

Why This Recipe Works

Dessert for breakfast - This smoothie tastes like dessert but it's actually really nutritious and can be served as breakfast. Add protein powder to make the smoothie more filling if you're serving it as a meal!

Healthy vegan milkshake - Frozen bananas give this smoothie texture of a classic milkshake with ice cream. It's perfect for a hot summer day or served as a dessert.

Easy and simple - The smoothie doesn't require much prep. All you have to do is freeze some bananas and then add everything into a high-speed blender and until smooth. The easiest snack!

Ingredient Notes

• Bananas - Frozen bananas are the hero of this recipe. They give this smoothie a soft-serve texture
• Cacao powder - I use raw cacao powder most often but cocoa powder can also be used if that's what you prefer. Cacao is m
• ade with unroasted cacao beans and has a stronger, slightly sweeter flavor than cocoa. It also has more nutrients because it hasn't been treated with heat.
• Almond milk - Any milk works here! I choose almond milk most often but you can use whatever you prefer. I recommend milk over water because it will make the smoothie much creamier.
• Almond butter - This one's optional and you can use any nut butter you like (peanut butter is a classic). It adds healthy fats, creaminess, flavor, and protein to the smoothie.
• Protein powder - I like using chocolate or vanilla-flavored protein. My all-time favorite is Sprout Living protein.
• Vanilla extract - Vanilla extract, paste, or powder can all be used. If using vanilla powder or fresh vanilla bean, make sure to add less because the flavor is much more concentrated.
• Cinnamon - Chocolate, bananas, and cinnamon all pair really well so I highly recommend adding a pinch. Cinnamon also balances blood sugar so I often add it to anything sweet.
• Sea salt - A small pinch of sea salt balances out the sweetness of the bananas and maple syrup and it rounds out all the flavors.

Variations and Substitutions

• Make it into ice cream - Skip the almond milk and use a food processor instead of a blender. It will have the texture of soft-serve ice cream and it's absolutely delicious!
• Change up the flavor - Add some raspberries for a chocolate-berry flavor, or this Homemade Healthy Nutella for a chocolate-hazelnut flavor (so good!!).

Step-by-Step Instructions

Besides peeling, chopping, and freezing bananas, this smoothie requires no prep!

All you have to do is throw all the ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend on high until smooth. You might have to use a tamper to get rid of air bubbles and help everything to blend evenly.

I recommend adding the liquid first and then the rest of the ingredients This will help everything blend more easily.

Serving and Storing

• This smoothie, just like most other smoothies, is best served and consumed right away. The longer it sits, the runnier it will be, and it will lose its soft serve-like creaminess.
• Serve it as is or garnish with grated chocolate to make it extra special! You can use a box grater or a microplane to grate your chocolate.

FAQs

More Smoothies

Below are four of my favorite smoothies. They're all great for breakfast, as a snack, or for dessert. Especially in the summer! There's nothing better than a refreshing cold smoothie on a hot day. Head over to the Smoothies and Juices category to see all the latest ones!

• Pink Pomegranate Smoothie
• Strawberry Peach Smoothie
• Mango Spinach Smoothie
• Wild Peanut Butter Strawberry Milkshake