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Chocolate smoothie topped with banana in a glass.
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Healthy Chocolate Smoothie

A creamy chocolate smoothie that tastes like a chocolate milkshake, with 13 grams of plant-based protein and a serious antioxidant boost.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 smoothie
Author: Jenné Claiborne

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsweetened plain soy milk or other non-dairy milk
  • 1 frozen banana 1 cup. Add more for a thicker texture.
  • 1 pitted medjool date
  • 1 tbsp raw cacao powder plus more to taste
  • 1-2 tbsp almond butter or other nut/seed butter or 1/4 cup raw walnuts

Instructions

  • Add the ingredients to the blender in the order listed, starting with 1 tablespoon each of cacao powder and nut butter.
  • Blend until smooth and creamy.
  • Taste and blend in more cacao powder or nut butter as needed. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Milk matters. Soy milk gives the creamiest result and the most protein. Almond or oat milk works too — the smoothie will just have less protein and be a little thinner.
  • Keep frozen bananas on hand. Cut ripe bananas into cubes and spread them on a parchment-lined tray to freeze — it's the fastest method, and the cubes won't clump. Transfer to a freezer bag once solid so this smoothie is always five minutes away.
  • Cacao or cocoa powder? Either works, but raw cacao is more bitter and fruity and provides more natural antioxidants (flavanols). Dutch-process cocoa is mellower and darker, but loses some of its flavanols during the alkali treatment.
  • Make it a smoothie bowl. Reduce the milk to ½ cup and increase the banana to 1½ cups for a thick, spoonable base.
  • Adding protein powder? Blend the smoothie as directed, then blitz in the powder right before serving. A quick pulse at the end keeps the texture smooth and thick.
  • Best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers don't have to go to waste. Pour them into popsicle molds for hand-held snacks, or freeze in ice cube trays and blend the cubes with a splash of milk.
  • Adjusting the sweetness. Blend in an extra date along with the cacao powder and nut butter. Ripe, freckled bananas make the smoothie sweeter on their own, so you may not need it.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1smoothie | Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 1.7g | Sodium: 87mg | Potassium: 1092mg | Fiber: 10g | Calcium: 383mg | Iron: 2.9mg