This 5-ingredient chocolate almond banana smoothie is rich, deliciously creamy and perfectly healthy. It makes a great breakfast or pick-me-up drink in the afternoon.
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I’ve been making this chocolate almond banana smoothie on repeat over the last decade. It’s become part of my healthy routine, and I love absolutely everything about it. This smoothie is quick and easy to prepare, it’s loaded with good-for-you ingredients that leave you full of energy, and most importantly it’s chocolatey, creamy and oh-so-delicious!
Whether you’re looking for a nutrient-rich snack, a breakfast-on-the-go or a healthy drink packed with protein after a good work-out, this chocolate almond banana smoothie always comes to the rescue. Without further ado, here’s the list of the wonderful ingredients you’ll need to make it. And make sure you check the possible add-ons and substitute ingredients to play around with the recipe.
What goes into chocolate almond banana smoothie?
You need just a handful of natural ingredients to create this amazing plant-based smoothie:
- Bananas. Use them ripe, fresh or frozen. If your bananas are ripe enough, you may skip the sweetener in the recipe; the smoothie should be perfectly sweet as is.
- Almond butter. Prefer natural, unsweetened almond butter (or any other nut butter of choice).
- Unsweetened cocoa powder. I like to use unsweetened cocoa powder. This guarantees an intense chocolate flavor without being too sweet.
- Milk of choice. If you want to keep it vegan or dairy-free, use vegetable milk (ideally almond milk or oat milk). Otherwise, cow milk works just fine.
- Natural sweetener. You may need or not need to use any sweetener, depending on how ripe your bananas are. To fix your sweet tooth, consider using agave syrup or maple syrup for a vegan alternative, or honey for a non-vegan option.
Tips for the creamiest smoothie
The secret to get the creamiest and thick chocolate almond banana smoothie is to use frozen bananas rather than fresh ones. You can also adjust the quantity of milk (the less, the creamiest) or add a few spoonfuls of Greek yogurt. A last tip consists in chilling the smoothie in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving. The smoothie will thicken as it chills. When ready to use, give it a good stir, and enjoy!
Easy swaps and add-ons to this smoothie
There are many ways to customize this chocolate almond banana smoothie. Play with the ingredients you have at hands, or explore the other possible variations so you never get tired of this wonderful creamy drink. Here are just a few ideas to consider:
- Swap the nut butter. I love this chocolate smoothie with almond butter, but you can also use natural peanut butter or cashew butter.
- Use your preferred milk. I tried this smoothie with possibly every kind of milk, but my favorite are cow milk, almond milk, cashew milk and oat milk.
- Add oats. When I want to make sure my chocolate almond banana smoothie leaves me full and satisfied until the next meal, I add a handful of oats to it and blend well (quick oats or rolled oats, your choice).
- Add flaxseed meal. This brings a little boost of fiber and minerals to the smoothie and doesn’t affect its flavor. I recommend adding one Tablespoon only.
- Replace cocoa powder with carob! This is a little unusual swap but I promise your smoothie will still be delicious! Carob powder contains more fiber than cacao but it doesn’t contain caffeine, which makes it lower in stimulant (which makes it a great option for kids).
Is this smoothie healthy?
This chocolate almond banana smoothie tastes like dessert but is actually perfectly healthy. It’s prepared with natural ingredients only, and it is nutrient-rich, loaded with protein, fiber, and iron. It’s also naturally sweetened and rich in fatty acids and monounsaturated fats (the ones that help to lower the “bad” cholesterol and raise the “good” cholesterol). For an additional boost of protein, you can also add a spoonful of Greek yogurt.
More smoothie recipe ideas:
- Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie (my other favorite smoothie recipe)
- Tropical Pineapple Coconut Smoothie
- Vegan Carob Smoothie Bowl
- Raspberry Banana Layered Smoothie
You may also like…
- No-Bake Chocolate Cashew Cheesecake
- Chocolate Almond Butter Banana Popsicles
- Sugar-Free Almond Butter Banana Muffins
Chocolate Almond Banana Smoothie
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Cuisine: Healthy
This 5-ingredient chocolate almond banana smoothie is rich, deliciously creamy and perfectly healthy. It makes a great breakfast or pick-me-up drink in the afternoon.
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Ingredients
- 2 large ripe bananas, fresh or frozen*
- 1 teaspoon honey, agave or maple syrup (optional)**
- 4 Tablespoons almond butter
- 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder, unsweetened
- 1 cup (240 ml) unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)***
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a high powered blender.
- Blend everything until smooth and creamy. Add a bit more almond milk if needed. Enjoy!
Notes
* You can use either fresh or frozen bananas. The latter typically make thicker and creamier smoothies but both options will have same results in terms of flavor.
** You can sweeten the smoothie to your liking or not use any sweetener at all, in particular if you use very ripe bananas that are already very sweetened. For a vegan option, consider agave syrup or maple syrup. For a non vegan version, honey is fine.
*** Any milk will do, but for a vegan or non-dairy option, you can consider unsweetened almond milk or oat milk. Both will yield a thick, rich and creamy smoothie.
Note: This recipe makes 2 smoothies. You can prep in advance and/or store the leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container with a lid.
Did you make this recipe?
Lastly, if you make this Chocolate Almond Banana Smoothie, be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. And of course, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Thank you and enjoy!
Ben
Thank you very much!!!!! I exactly followed your recipe, and the taste is truly amazing.
Delphine Fortin
Thank you, Ben!
Delphine Fortin
Oh, je n’aurais jamais pensé à y mettre de la margarine végétale. Mais heureuse de voir que cela fonctionne aussi 🙂 Du beurre de cacahuète, de noisettes, de noix de cajou, de l’huile de coco ou encore du tahini pourraient également faire l’affaire! Et parfois juste remplacer par une poignée d’amandes préalablement trempées dans un peu d’eau pour être plus souples peu aussi fonctionner.
YUCAA
délicieux le dernier smoothie au chocolat ! je n’avais pas de purée d’amande alors j’ai mis de la margarine végétale, j’espère que ce n’est pas trop grave
Delphine Fortin
Oh, je n’aurais jamais pensé à y mettre de la margarine végétale. Mais heureuse de voir que cela fonctionne aussi 🙂 Du beurre de cacahuète, de noisettes, de noix de cajou, de l’huile de coco ou encore du tahini pourraient également faire l’affaire! Et parfois juste remplacer par une poignée d’amandes préalablement trempées dans un peu d’eau pour être plus souples peu aussi fonctionner.
Florian @ContentednessCooking
Wow this looks delicious! Love that you used almond milk and almond butter in this recipe! Your pictures are beautiful as ever.
Delphine Fortin
Hi Cindy! I’m so happy to hear you liked my Raw Chocolate Almond Smoothie! This is one of my favorite lately. So tasty & healthy. Can’t wait to join your next party! Have a nice day 🙂
vegetarianmamma (Cindy)
Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays Party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you share next time!
-Cindy
Delphine Fortin
Hi Cindy! I’m so happy to hear you liked my Raw Chocolate Almond Smoothie! This is one of my favorite lately. So tasty & healthy. Can’t wait to join your next party! Have a nice day 🙂
Del
Eh oui, un smoothie nourrissant, sain et gourmand à la fois. Un petit déjeuner idéal en somme ! 🙂
Bistro de Jenna
Très gourmand ton smoothie pour commencer la semaine c’est parfait 🙂
Del
Eh oui, un smoothie nourrissant, sain et gourmand à la fois. Un petit déjeuner idéal en somme ! 🙂
Del
Le chocolat cru ressemble tout simplement à du cacao en poudre. Tu en trouves essentiellement dans les magasins bio. Tu peux également réaliser cette recette avec du chocolat en poudre type Vahlrona ou Vanhouten si tu préfères. À ta disposition pour toute question supplémentaire!
Mae
Où peut on trouver du chocolat cru ? Je ne vois pas trop à quoi ça correspond
Del
Le chocolat cru ressemble tout simplement à du cacao en poudre. Tu en trouves essentiellement dans les magasins bio. Tu peux également réaliser cette recette avec du chocolat en poudre type Vahlrona ou Vanhouten si tu préfères. À ta disposition pour toute question supplémentaire!
Emilie@TheCleverCarrot
Delicious & healthy! Who wouldn’t like chocolate for breakfast? I know I would!!. Yummy 🙂
Etoui
THANK YOU SO MUCH Del! 🙂 I just drink your Raw Choclate Almond Smoothie and am very happy to have now a new yummy recipe with my beloved almond butter (brown, almonds without peel btw.) I love the balance of the sweet almond drink, banana and honey together with the subtile bitterness of the almond peel and raw cocoa powder. Rich but still not heavy. 🙂 Great one!