Avocado Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie

This avocado mint chocolate chip smoothie is a healthy and refreshing treat for avocado lovers! It’s ultra creamy, full of antioxidants and high in healthy fats. Easy to make in just 5 minutes with simple ingredients! Vegan, gluten free, nut free and soy free.

Why You’ll Love This Smoothie

• Tastes like dessert
• Has anti-inflammatory good fats
• Ultra creamy and thick

This avocado mint chocolate chip smoothie is for the avocado lovers out there! And even if avocados aren’t your favourite, you might just love this smoothie anyway. It has it all—an ultra creamy consistency, a refreshing minty flavour, chocolate chip bits, a stunning minty shade of green… It tastes healthy, yet indulgent. Perfect to enjoy as breakfast or even dessert.

Aside from being delicious, this smoothie also has a ton of healthy ingredients! It can be made two ways. With vegan chocolate chips or with raw cacao nibs. Using chocolate chips will make the smoothie a bit sweeter and more rich. Using raw cacao nibs won’t add any sweetness, but is also a nice option for a healthier version.

Spirulina powder is what gives this smoothie it’s bright minty colour. It’s optional, but worth adding! Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae rich in minerals, proteins and nutrients. Only a tiny amount is needed to achieve a vibrant smoothie colour and using a high quality spirulina powder will not make your smoothie taste ‘fishy’. Spirulina is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. It may even lower cholesterol levels and improve insulin resistance!

Avocado for Health

There are plenty of health benefits to enjoying an avocado based smoothie. Avocados are high in healthy fats that improve the health of skin, heart and brain. These fats are mainly the monounsaturated type, like omega-3. Avocados also help to reduce cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease.

One of the best sources of fibre is avocado. This makes it great for gut health and an overall healthy digestive tract! Avocado fruit is also highly anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich.

Ingredients Needed

These are the ingredients you will need to make this avocado mint chocolate chip smoothie.

Avocado: Using fully ripe avocados is important in achieving the creamy consistency. Cut the avocados in half, remove the pit, and scoop the fruit into the blender. Frozen avocado chunks can also be used.

Frozen banana: Provides natural sweetness and the cold, thick base of the smoothie.

Himalayan salt: Rich in minerals and balances electrolytes. Brings out the other flavours in the smoothie.

Peppermint extract: Any liquid peppermint extract works well.

Agave syrup: Creates a sweet tasting smoothie. The banana adds some sweetness, but avocado is not a sweet fruit. Adding agave syrup prevents the smoothie from tasting bland. Date syrup can also be used.

Spirulina powder: Optional, but recommended! Use high quality green spirulina powder to create the perfect minty colour.

Chocolate chips or cacao nibs: Use vegan chocolate chips or raw cacao nibs for a healthier version of this smoothie. Vegan chocolate chips can be found in many grocery and health food stores these days. We used a mini variety.

Oat milk: Brings all the ingredients together for a smooth, creamy blend. Sweetened or unsweetened types both work well in this recipe.

Optional extra ingredient: Fresh mint leaves to garnish!

For ingredient amounts and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Benefits of Smoothies

Hydrating

Staying properly hydrated is a basic requirement for optimal health. By incorporating daily smoothies you can maintain your ideal hydration level more easily. Start each morning with a smoothie for easy hydration!

High fibre

Easily get more fibre in your every day diet! In addition to being generally healthy, getting enough fibre can be extremely helpful for weight loss as it helps keep you feeling full for longer, without adding calories. Fibre also helps improve our gut health.

Nutrient dense

Vegan smoothies are a great way to get more nutrient rich foods in each day. By blending them into a single meal, it’s super quick, easy and fun! Choose ingredients like dark leafy greens, berries, nuts, seeds and fruits to make your smoothies nutrient rich.

Topping Ideas

Change it up by adding some toppings to your smoothie! They can be eaten with a spoon and add some extra texture and flavour. It also makes for a photo-worthy presentation. Topping ideas for this avocado mint chocolate chip smoothie are:

• Extra chocolate chips
• White chocolate chips
• Dark chocolate shavings
• Raw cacao nibs
• Fresh peppermint leaves
• Mint chocolate protein bar chunks

Variations

Try an alternative plant milk

This recipe uses oat milk but you can try using any plant based milk you prefer. Some alternatives include coconut, soy, almond or cashew! You can also make your own plant milk from scratch. Avoid using just water as it will thin the smoothie out and change the consistency.

Make it even sweeter

For an extra sweet smoothie add an extra spoonful or two of agave or date syrup. Another option is to add 1-2 medjool dates! Just make sure the pits are removed before adding to the blender. Sweetened chocolate protein powder is another delicious add-in that will make the smoothie taste sweeter.

Adjust the consistency

If you prefer a thicker smoothie you can try the recipe using a bit less liquid than what is suggested. If you want a thinner smoothie try adding a bit of extra liquid to the recipe. Add the extra liquid in small amounts to avoid making the smoothie too thin.

Instructions

• Add all ingredients except chocolate chips (or cacao nibs) to blender.

• Start blending at low speed for 5-10 seconds. Increase to high speed and use the blender tamper to push ingredients down towards the blades.

• Stop blending when mostly smooth and add the chocolate chips (or cacao nibs). Finish blending when the smoothie base is smooth but some chocolate chip pieces are left.

• Pour into a glass and serve your avocado mint chocolate chip smoothie.

Prep & Blending

Add ingredients in the correct order

Always add liquid ingredients to your blender first. Then add powders, nut butters, nuts and seeds. Then add fresh greens and fresh fruit. Finally add your solid ingredients like frozen fruit. If using a small blender container with a twist on lid, reverse the order so that when you turn the container over to blend the frozen ingredients are farthest away from the blades.

Use a tamper

Push ingredients down towards the blades while blending using the tamper that comes with your blender. This helps to avoid thick smoothies from getting stuck, so you don’t have to stop blending and scrape down the sides of the container.

Don’t over blend

Try to blend your smoothie for less than a couple of minutes. If blended for too long, even thick smoothies will become thin. This is because the heat generated by the blades and motor of the blender heat up your ingredients while they are being blended.

Use a high power blender

For smoothies that have a perfectly smooth and creamy texture use a high powered blender such as a Vitamix. It can break down any ingredients to much finer particles than standard blenders, and more nutrients are released. A high speed blender also reduces the time you need to blend your recipe, which helps keep it nice and cold.

Chill your glass

By placing your smoothie glass in the freezer for a few moments you can help your smoothie stay cool for longer. This is especially helpful if you’re in a hot climate. Pop it into the freezer while you are prepping and blending, then take it out when it’s time to pour your finished smoothie!

How to Freeze Bananas for Smoothies

There are different ways to freeze bananas for making smoothies and smoothie bowls. This method is the simplest way to freeze plenty of ripe bananas for smoothies at one time.

1. Peel your fully ripe bananas.
2. Break each banana into two or three pieces.
3. Freeze the banana pieces overnight in a reusable freezer bag.

FAQ’s

Can I use fresh banana instead of frozen?

For a cool and refreshing smoothie it’s important to use at least half frozen fruit. If using fresh avocado then be sure to use frozen bananas. For an extra cold result use both frozen avocado and banana.

How do I freeze avocado?

It’s easy to freeze avocados for smoothies! Make sure the avocados are fully ripe, they should be slightly soft when squeezed. Cut in half and remove the pit. Neatly scoop each half onto a cutting board and cut into slices or chunks. Gently place the avocado chunks into a reusable freezer bag and freeze overnight.

Can I lose weight with smoothies?

Smoothies are an excellent weight loss food! This is because they are generally lower calorie and higher in fibre and nutrients. Due to high water content, the large volume of a smoothie helps your stomach to feel satiated. And the fibre keeps you feeling full for longer, without feeling weighed down or tired like a huge meal would.

Can smoothies be refrigerated?

Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately after blending, while they are freshest. However you can refrigerate most smoothies for 1-2 days in an airtight container such as a jar. The consistency of this smoothie holds up well in the fridge thanks to the creamy avocado.

Can I make smoothies without a high speed blender?

Yes, you can still make smoothies with a regular blender. It might take more patience depending on the recipe, but it can work. Turn off the blender to scrape down the sides of the container, and secure the lid before continuing to blend. Repeat as needed. Alternatively you can add a small amount of additional liquid to the recipe, which should help.

How can I increase the protein?

If you wish for your smoothie to have a higher protein content, you can simply add some protein powder to the recipe. A sweetened chocolate protein powder works best in this smoothie!

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