Vegan Nutella Smoothie Bowl

This vegan Nutella smoothie bowl is made with all healthy ingredients and has 19 grams of protein! It’s super thick, creamy and indulgent. Easy to make in just 5 minutes! Vegan, gluten free and soy free.

Why You’ll Love This Smoothie Bowl

• Antioxidant-rich
• Has 19 grams of protein
• Promotes gut health

This vegan Nutella smoothie bowl is a delicious breakfast or healthy dessert! It’s rich and creamy but doesn’t require any unhealthy ingredients to make. The consistency is super thick, making it ideal for toppings and scooping up with a spoon. Nutella isn’t vegan, but with the right combination of ingredients a Nutella-like flavour can be created! It’s healthier too, so you can enjoy it guilt-free as often as you like.

Chocolate protein powder helps create the super sweet chocolate aspect of Nutella in this smoothie bowl and provides 19 grams of protein per serving! Use a sweetened type for the best result. Hazelnut butter is also key to achieving a Nutella-like flavour. In place of hazelnut butter almond butter can also be used.

The base of this smoothie bowl is made with frozen bananas. Bananas create the perfectly thick consistency and have plenty of fibre. This fibre acts as a prebiotic in the gut, improving good gut bacteria levels and encouraging healthy digestion. Hemp seeds add creaminess, rich flavour and healthy fats like omega-3.

All of the ingredients in this smoothie bowl are antioxidant rich. Antioxidants protect the body by neutralizing free radicals and lowering oxidative stress. This reduces the risk of chronic diseases that develop over time. Regularly consuming foods like fruits, nuts and seeds is the best way to benefit from antioxidants.

Hazelnuts for Health

Adding hazelnut butter to smoothies is a great way to easily get the benefits of hazelnuts! These nuts are a great source of vitamin K, B6, E, folate, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

Hazelnuts promote heart health thanks to monounsaturated fats like oleic acid and may lower bad cholesterol levels! This is because hazelnuts are rich in antioxidants like phenolic compounds. Hazelnuts also reduce inflammation, aid digestion and improve insulin sensitivity. They are helpful for managing weight as they have a low glycemic index.

Ingredients Needed

These are the ingredients you will need to make this vegan Nutella smoothie bowl.

Frozen banana: Creates the super thick base of the smoothie bowl. Be sure the bananas are completely frozen (overnight) for a good result.

Hemp seeds: Adds creaminess and a subtle nutty flavour. Use a hulled variety for easy blending.

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

Cocoa powder: Adds a rich chocolate flavour. Raw cacao powder can also be used.

Hazelnut butter: This is the key ingredient to achieving a Nutella-like vegan smoothie bowl. If you don’t have hazelnut butter almond butter is also delicious!

Protein powder: Use any favourite chocolate vegan protein powder. Sweetened varieties work best for this smoothie bowl.

Coconut milk: The liquid that brings all of the other ingredients together to blend smoothly and adds a creamy consistency. Use the type of coconut milk that comes in a carton. The coconut milk in cans tends to be too thick.

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

Smoothie Bowl 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 treat.

Topping Ideas

You can add any toppings to this vegan Nutella smoothie bowl! They can be healthier or more indulgent, depending on if you are making this smoothie bowl for breakfast or dessert. Here are some delicious ideas:

• Hazelnuts
• Almonds
• Melted vegan chocolate
• Dark chocolate shavings
• Puffed quinoa
• Hazelnut butter
• Dried mulberries
• Goji berries
• Blueberries
• Freeze dried strawberries
• Raspberries
• Raw cacao nibs
• Walnuts
• Chia seeds
• Hemp seeds
• Toasted coconut chips
• Granola
• Chocolate protein bar pieces
• Banana slices
• Vegan white chocolate chips

Variations

Coconut milk alternatives

This recipe uses coconut milk but you can try using any plant based milk you prefer. Some alternatives include soy, almond, hemp or cashew! You can also make your own plant milk from scratch in a blender. The key is to avoid using just water to blend. We want to use something more creamy, it makes the smoothie bowl thicker in texture.

Make it without banana

This smoothie bowl really works best with frozen banana. But if you really hate banana try using frozen pineapple chunks as the base fruit instead. Pineapple is quite mild and actually blends well with chocolate-y flavours. Make sure the pineapple is completely frozen for a thick result.

Reduce the sweetness

For a less sweet version use an unsweetened chocolate protein powder. The natural sweetness of bananas will be enough for those with a taste for dark chocolate. Simply swapping out the protein powder makes a huge difference to how sweet this smoothie bowl tastes.

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 vegan Nutella 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!

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

Is this vegan Nutella smoothie bowl healthy?

This smoothie bowl is very healthy! It’s made with antioxidant and nutrient rich ingredients. This means you can enjoy it as often as you like, totally guilt free!

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 thick, but you will have a drinkable smoothie to enjoy later.

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. 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. Add one extra large scoop of chocolate protein powder to this recipe. Be careful adding much more than this as it may change the smoothie bowl texture.

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