Chocolate Protein Smoothie Bowl

Indulgent yet healthy, this chocolate protein smoothie bowl tastes almost too good to be breakfast! It’s packed full of nutrients, antioxidants and has 28 grams of protein—super easy to make in just 5 minutes with simple ingredients. Vegan, gluten free and soy free.

Why You’ll Love This Smoothie Bowl

• Rich chocolate taste
• Has 28 grams of protein
• High in antioxidants

This chocolate protein smoothie bowl tastes more like a heavenly dessert than breakfast! The consistency is super thick and creamy, the perfect base for adding any combination of yummy toppings. It satisfies chocolate cravings and meets protein requirements all at once, making it the perfect post-workout snack.

Cocoa powder gives this smoothie bowl its rich chocolate flavour. There are antioxidants in cocoa powder like polyphenols, which protect your body from radical cell damage. This is important as radical cell damage accumulates over time and leads to chronic diseases. Cocoa powder also has an anti-inflammatory effect on the gut. That means regularly adding cocoa powder to your smoothie bowls can be a healthy choice.

The base of this smoothie is made with frozen bananas. Bananas are high in gut-healthy fibre and act as a prebiotic for good gut bacteria. If you hate banana don’t worry, just swap it out for frozen mango chunks instead!

Ingredients Needed

These are the ingredients you will need to make this chocolate protein smoothie bowl.

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

Cocoa powder: Gives the smoothie bowl its chocolate flavour. Can also use raw cacao powder.

Chocolate hazelnut butter: Any vegan Nutella alternative. If not available then use plain hazelnut or almond butter.

Protein powder: Any favourite chocolate vegan protein powder, sweetened or unsweetened.

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

Coconut 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

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 smoothie bowls 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 smoothie bowls nutrient rich.

Quick and easy

It’s incredibly fast to make a yummy smoothie bowl. Gather your ingredients and toss them in the blending container, blend, and you’re already done! Rinse the blender container. It doesn’t get much more simple than that. Smoothie bowls rarely take more than 5 minutes to make. This makes them a great option if you find yourself short on time for a healthy meal.

Variations

Lower the calories

For a lower calorie version of this smoothie bowl skip the hazelnut butter or use only half a tablespoon. The result is still creamy, delicious and chocolate-y, just a bit less rich!

Try an alternative plant milk

This recipe uses coconut 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.

Adjust the consistency

If you prefer a thicker consistency you can try the recipe using a bit less liquid than what is suggested. If you want a thinner consistency, try adding a bit of extra liquid to the recipe.

Switch base ingredients

If you don’t like bananas then try something else as the base! Mango usually substitutes banana well. If you’re allergic to or simply dislike a suggested ingredient then try to find something with a similar texture that you enjoy the flavour of. There is no wrong way to make a smoothie bowl, and you can always omit any ingredients you don’t have on hand.

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.

• Scoop into a bowl and add desired toppings. Serve your chocolate protein smoothie bowl immediately!

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 smoothie bowls from getting stuck, so you don’t have to stop blending and scrape down the sides of the container.

Avoid over blending

Try to blend your smoothie bowl for less than a couple of minutes. If blended for too long, even thick smoothie bowls 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 smoothie bowls that have a perfectly smooth and creamy texture use a high powered blender such as a Vitamix. A Vitamix 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 bowl

By placing your bowl in the freezer for a few moments you can help your smoothie bowl stay cool for longer. This way it won’t start melting instantly while you are eating it. 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 bowl!

FAQ’s

How can I make it dark chocolate?

If you love dark chocolate and don’t want the smoothie bowl to be too sweet then add 1 extra tablespoon of cocoa powder to the blender. Using raw cacao powder might result in a lighter chocolate taste so use cocoa powder if you’re going for a dark chocolate taste.

Can I lose weight with smoothie bowls?

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

Can smoothie bowls be refrigerated?

Smoothie bowls are best enjoyed immediately after blending, while they are freshest. However you can refrigerate most smoothie bowls for 1-2 days in an airtight container such as a jar. Be aware the consistency will not be as thick as a fresh smoothie bowl.

Can I make smoothie bowls without a high speed blender?

Yes, you can still make smoothie bowls 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 bowl 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 bowl. Alternatively you can try adding hemp seeds or even silken tofu.

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