Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

This chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie is a healthy and delicious treat for banana lovers that will satisfy all chocolate cravings—learn how to make it at home with just 5 simple ingredients in 5 minutes. Vegan and gluten free.

Why You’ll Love This Smoothie

• Creamy and thick
• Keeps hunger away for hours
• Packed with healthy fats

A classic combination, this chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie tastes very similar to a peanut butter cup and it’s super healthy so you can enjoy it every day for breakfast! The texture is extra creamy thanks to the peanut butter and each glass has 11 grams of plant protein without any powder.

Peanut butter is a highly satiating ingredient to include in your breakfast smoothie because it has lots of healthy fats, protein and fibre. That means this smoothie will keep hunger levels down for hours, which can be helpful when trying to lose weight or reduce snacking between meals. If trying to gain weight this smoothie may be helpful due to the fat and caloric content if consumed in addition to normal meals.

This smoothie gets its chocolate flavour from cocoa powder. Cocoa powder is rich in antioxidants called polyphenols. Reduction in damage of healthy cells over time is a benefit of consuming polyphenols regularly. That makes cocoa powder a healthy ingredient to regularly include in smoothies.

The base of this smoothie is made with frozen bananas. Bananas are a healthy fruit containing high amounts of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins like A & C. They help to lower inflammation and oxidative stress, which can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Bananas also act as a prebiotic to the gut and balance good bacteria levels.

Ingredients Needed

These are the ingredients you will need to make this chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie.

Himalayan salt: Balances out the sweetness and brings depth to the other ingredients.

Cocoa powder: Gives the smoothie its rich chocolate flavour.

Peanut butter: The star ingredient! Salted or unsalted types both work well.

Frozen bananas: Creates the thick, creamy base of the smoothie and adds sweetness.

Oat milk: The liquid that brings all of the other ingredients together to blend smoothly and adds a creamy consistency.

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

Benefits

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.

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 soy, almond or cashew! You can also make your own plant milk from scratch.

Make it dark chocolate

Add 3 tbsp of cocoa powder for more of a dark chocolate taste. Keep in mind this will make the smoothie more bitter, just like a bar of dark chocolate. Include a little maple or agave syrup to increase the sweetness of this chocolate peanut butter smoothie if becomes too bitter.

Lower the calories

To make this smoothie lower calories use PB2 peanut butter powder instead of actual peanut butter. Substitute for the same amount as the peanut butter in the recipe.

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to blender.

• Start blending at low speed for 5-10 seconds. Increase to high speed and blend for 1-2 minutes. Use the blender tamper to push ingredients down towards the blades.

• Pour into a glass and serve your chocolate peanut butter banana 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!

FAQ’s

Are vegan smoothies healthy?

Yes! Generally smoothies are very healthy to consume, depending on what ingredients are used. Plant based smoothies are rich in fibre and nutrients.

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.

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 (more) protein powder to the recipe. Plain unsweetened plant based protein will work in any smoothie. Alternatively you can try adding hemp seeds or even silken tofu.

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