This Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie recipe works great as either a breakfast or snack option, keeping me full and satisfying a sweet craving at the same time. You can tweak the recipe to make it a bit lower in fat and calories, and/or higher in protein, depending on your goals. It has a wonderful balance of flavors, making it just as much of a chocolate smoothie (for you chocolate lovers out there!)
I like having a few easy smoothie recipes memorized, ones where I always have the ingredients ready to go. Sometimes it’s because I’m rushing, need a snack, or am simply feeling a bit lazy (when I’m feeling more motivated, I love a good smoothie bowl. Be sure to check out my Acai Berry Smoothie Bowl. More on these below).
Chocolate and peanut butter is one of my favorite flavor combinations, so this smoothie has been a staple of mine for quite some time. I can keep it reasonably light, or up the protein so it functions as a meal replacement.
How to Make a Smoothie Healthy (or “Healthier”)
The nutritional content in this recipe is valid if you use regular peanut butter, but I’ve recently become a huge fan of dehydrated peanut powder. Not the ones like PB2, which include sugar and other unnecessary ingredients.
There are several brands of peanut powder that are actually nothing but dehydrated peanuts. I found one at Whole Foods called Crazy Richards Pure PB, and now buy it in bulk on Amazon where it’s much cheaper. Two tablespoons is only 50 calories and 1.5 grams of fat! It also has 6 grams of protein.
I like adding a touch of protein powder as well sometimes if I’m having the smoothie in place of an actual breakfast. Stay away from this if you’re vegetarian, but I love Vital Proteins Collagen Powder. One scoop has 9 grams of protein (you can use up to two scoops), and is totally flavorless. I skip this step if I’m having the smoothie as a snack.
I don’t have a specific brand recommendation for a vegetarian protein powder, but I recommend using something that’s unflavored and unsweetened so it doesn’t interfere with the other ingredients.
How to Make a Smoothie Thicker
Cutting back on the liquids is the easiest way to thicken a smoothie. You can also increase the thickening agent. For a thicker smoothie, try cutting the milk back to 3/4 cup or less, and/or using a larger banana.
You can froth up a smoothie by adding a handful of ice, which is helpful if you’re not starting with a frozen banana. Make sure to drink the smoothie ASAP, or you’ll wind up getting the opposite effect when the ice melts! (Sorry if that one was too obvious).
Smoothie Ingredient Substitutions
If you’re using regular nut butter as opposed to the powdered version, you can swap out the peanut butter for cashew or almond butter. Cashew butter is one of my favorites! Try my homemade cashew butter or almond butter if you’re into DIY pantry staples.
I prefer using milk (usually 2%) over yogurt in this recipe. While yogurt is a great smoothie thickener, I think it adds too much tang here, and the flavor clashes with the chocolate and banana. But you can absolutely swap in yogurt if you prefer.
Try a Smoothie Bowl
Have you ever had a smoothie bowl? I thought they seemed gimmicky until I tried one myself. Now I’m a fan! Check out my green berry granola smoothie bowl for an example.
I like cereal (and yogurt with toppings), and smoothie bowls are basically the same thing but with a smoothie base. It’s an opportunity to add texture with complimentary flavors.
For a chocolate peanut butter smoothie, some great toppings would be sliced bananas, chopped, roasted nuts, granola and maybe some cacao nibs. Maybe with a bit of honey drizzled on top.
Looking for more breakfast recipes?
Be sure to check out my simple overnight oats and banana millet breakfast porridge!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 medium banana, chopped and preferably frozen
- 1 cup milk (skim, low-fat, non-dairy, etc)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2-3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter (cashew or almond butter, or peanut butter powder may be substituted)
- 1 teaspoon honey or light agave nectar (see notes)
- Optional: 1-2 scoops Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides (see notes)
Instructions
- Puree the banana, milk, cocoa powder, peanut butter, and honey in a blender. Taste and add more sweetener if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
If you want to add additional sweetness without using honey or agave nectar, you can add 1/2 a chopped apple (I don't bother peeling it, but you might want to since the peel adds some texture). Another option would be a few drops of liquid Stevia.
Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!
Nutrition
Recipe Troubleshooting
For immediate help troubleshooting a recipe, please email me using the form on my contact page. I’ll try to respond to urgent questions as quickly as possible! For all general questions, please leave a comment here :)
Saw your post on Google + and HAD to know what your rant was about lol. I totally agree with you though! I was always told I was a good writer in school, but when it comes to blogging, I so often feel like the writing is the hardest part, the part that doesn’t quite come as naturally. It’s nice to read this post and all the comments and see that I’m not the only one. :)
I think all bloggers can relate on some level… I certainly can! I find it’s best to be honest and brief, leave the flourishes for a post that’s really interesting for you to write. You did a fabulous job with this post… even if you didn’t mean to! And this smoothie? Well, it speaks for itself anyway! Wonderful recipe.
I’m not on Twitter much lately, but I did see that comment and it ruffled my feathers. While I do (try) to be a writer, anyone who says you’re just lazy is full of crapola. The creative process works differently in everyone and forcing it is not usually the answer. (And yes, as a food blogger, there is already enough pressure with also producing great photos and fabulous recipes on a regular schedule-eek!) I think it’s perfectly fine to let the gorgeous photos and recipe tell the story sometimes. Better that than writing just for the sake of hearing the keys click.
I have been to many eating establishments from the sublime to the sub-par and not once have I been approached by the chef and listened to him describe his creative process or his home life. I do not fault you for just wanting to create and share your culinary treats.
what an obnoxious and unhelpful thing to say! good for you to speak out against him! I find writing a post the hardest thing to do, it’s frustrating enough without being called lazy! this smoothie looks delicious too btw!
Jen,
Thanks so much for writing this. Newish to the blogging world, it’s refreshing to hear the thoughts on the writing part. And to read everyone’s comments, too! Such support! Kinda cool, because the shake looks awesome- maybe few words were needed here. ;)
At least it is the writing you struggle with. For many years for me it was the photography–and it is very hard to get anywhere in this business with interesting writing, good recipes and lousy pictures! (Which I want to stress is not me calling your writing lousy, but I think you know what I mean). So I sympathize. And despite everything I just said about me and writing, I too find it hard to have something interesting to say every single post. My blog has been (with the best intentions) criticized for occasionally just kind of saying here is the recipe, so I make a huge effort not to, but I feel your pain.
Gorgeous shake.
Lovely and healthy combination.. love it!!
This shake looks amazing !
Who can understand the creative process? I agree with the suck it comment! Lol! One of the best things I’ve ever heard on creativity- Stephen King said that he sets aside the same time every day and wait for your muse to show up. It trains the brain to go to the creative place more easily. He was very serious and included that it may be uncomfortable and inconvenient, but it is worth the effort and sacrifice. Hope that is helpful! You are doing great!!
What a great idea, I love that!
Sorry about the lack of continuity- was interrupted, then rushed! lol! oh well- glad you could decipher it! Take care:)
Oh I have a package of dried peanut powder and didn’t know what to do with it. I will have to try that.
The best combo ever for a smoothie!!!
What a delicious recipe! Perfect for a wonderful breakfast, but next I’m making a double batch so I can have another after dinner!
If you are making this in a turbo blender such as a Vitamix I would be careful about cutting down on the liquid to make it thicker. The liquid is essential to the proper blending and operation of the blender. My suggestion to make it thicker is to throw in a spoonful or two of oatmeal and keep the liquid about where it is.
Really? I’ve been making banana blender ice cream for years in my Vitamix without any issue (you can pull up a recipe on the blog if you search “banana”), and we used it in culinary school to make similar purees with very little liquid.
There needs to be enough liquid in the bottom of the machine to help move the fruit down into the blade and for the machine to operate correctly. You would have problems if you were not doing it correctly so I am sure you are fine but I was concerned that the advice about reducing the liquid would mislead an inexperienced person into not putting in enough fluid to properly operate the machine. I frequently use the frozen bananas also but to work correctly you need enough liquid in the machine.
Chocolate peanut butter anything is a winner in my book! Love this recipe. Simple and straight forward. No fuss!