Start your day with a decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie that’s vegan, gluten-free, and tastes like a milkshake! This wholesome smoothie requires just five ingredients and it’s easy to customize with your favorite add-ins.
If you’re looking for a recipe that’s just as delicious but lower in carbs, you’ll love my Low-Carb Chocolate Smoothie or my Keto Green Smoothie.
I have another delicious smoothie recipe for you today, but this one is a little bit different than the tropical fruit smoothies I’ve been making lately.
This Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie is a chocolate lover’s dream! It’s rich, creamy, and tastes just like a chocolate peanut butter cup milkshake! But, unlike ice-cream-based milkshakes, this recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and full of vitamins and minerals.
This smoothie has the perfect consistency from the frozen bananas and a rich chocolatey flavor that’s naturally sweet thanks to the peanut butter and cocoa powder. It’s just as good for breakfast as it is for dessert, and it’s always a big hit with even the pickiest eaters.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Frozen ripe banana — Using a frozen banana gives the smoothie natural sweetness and a thick, creamy texture. But you can use fresh banana too.
- Cocoa powder — I use unsweetened cocoa powder because it provides a rich chocolatey flavor but doesn’t have any processed sugar. You can also use cacao powder.
- Peanut butter — Pick a natural peanut butter with healthy fats and no added sugars to enjoy the true creamy peanut butter flavor. You can also make this recipe with any nut or seed butter you prefer. Feel free to use almond butter or cashew butter, if you prefer.
- Vanilla extract — Gives the smoothie an extra layer of flavor.
- Non-dairy milk — I prefer unsweetened coconut, almond milk or oat milk, but any milk (dairy or non-dairy) will work.
- Maple syrup — Optional for an extra hint of sweetness. Honey, agave, or stevia are great options too.
Make Your Smoothie More Filling
Protein powder: Replace the cocoa powder with 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder.
Greek yogurt: Also adds protein and makes the smoothie extra creamy.
Raw oats: Packed with fiber to add bulk and keep you full longer. You can also add some chia seeds, hemp seeds or flaxseed too.
Greens: Add some greens, such as spinach or kale.
How To Make A Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
- Combine all the ingredients into a high-powered blender.
- Blend until it’s smooth and well combined.
- Adjust the flavor or consistency, if needed.
- Enjoy the creamiest chocolate peanut butter smoothie ever for breakfast or afternoon snack!
Olivia’s Recipe Tips
- The more ripe your bananas are, the sweeter they’ll be.
- It’s much easier to peel the bananas *before* you freeze them. You can also break them into chunks so they’re easier to fit in the blender.
- Add a couple of ice cubes if you want a thicker consistency.
- Using chilled milk helps the smoothie stay cold while you blend it.
My Favorite Blender For Smoothies
Smoothies are one of the easiest recipes to make! But a good blender makes the process even easier.
I highly recommend the Vitamix. It’s one of my most used kitchen tools and easily crushes frozen ingredients, so it’s ideal for smoothies. (But I also use it all the time for recipes like my low-carb blueberry muffins or mashed cauliflower.)
If you’re making small-batch smoothies, try the NutriBullet. You can blend and drink the smoothie in the same cup, so clean-up is a breeze.
How to meal prep this smoothie
Since banana is the only fruit in this healthy chocolate peanut butter smoothie, it’s a great recipe to make in advance.
You can store the smoothie for an extra day or two in the fridge as a quick grab-and-go option. I like to keep them in a mason jar and give them a shake before serving, as they may separate a bit.
You can also freeze peanut butter chocolate smoothies in a freezer-safe container (or these ones too) and then let them thaw to your preferred consistency when you’re ready to enjoy. Just remember to leave extra room because the liquid will expand as it freezes.
Frequently Asked Questions
The frozen bananas are what give this smoothie a thick and creamy texture. But, if you don’t care for bananas, a frozen avocado or frozen cauliflower are good alternatives.
As long as you use non-dairy milk, this recipe is suitable for a vegan diet.
Toss in the bananas at room temperature and add in a few ice cubes to make the smoothie thick and cold.
If you don’t have cocoa powder on hand, I recommend using chocolate protein powder instead. You can add a spoonful of my sugar-free Nutella, dark chocolate chips, or cacao nibs for a rich chocolate flavor.
Cacao powder is made from raw cacao beans and retains more nutrients and antioxidants, while cocoa powder is made from roasted beans and may have slightly fewer nutrients. Cacao has a richer, more intense flavor, whereas cocoa is milder.
If you make this Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie or any of my dairy-free recipes, please comment and tell me how it went. And don’t forget to leave a star rating to let other readers know how much you liked this recipe!
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes To Try!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
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Ingredients
- 2 large ripe bananas peeled and frozen into chunks
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup coconut milk or almond milk plus more to thin as necessary
- 1 tbsp maple syrup optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a large, high-powered blender and blend on high for 1-2 minutes, or until everything is well combined.
- Taste to adjust flavor and serve immediately.
Tips
- Using a frozen banana leads to a creamier smoothie. Freeze it the night before or a few hours beforehand.
- You can swap the peanut butter for any nut butter.
- If you are using natural peanut butter, make sure you mix it before using.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Sues says
Despite the fact that I am absolutely freezing right now, I’d totally be up for sipping on this delicious-looking smoothie!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Smoothies are such a great way to ease in to healthier eating, especially delicious ones like this peanut butter and chocolate version! Tastes like a dessert, but healthy enough for breakfast : )
Cailee says
This looks amazing!! Only 5 ingredients? Gluten free? Vegan? …and chocolate for a healthy breakfast?? Sign me up!! Great recipe girlie!! 🙂
Manali @ CookWithManali says
looks so good! I am always up for some Peanut Butter and Chocolate in my life!
Kristine @ Kristine's Kitchen says
This smoothie is right up my alley! The combination of peanut butter, chocolate, and banana can’t be beat. I love it when a healthy breakfast or snack tastes like a treat!
Julia says
Ah heck, I may just have to make this for dessert right now! I’ve got all the ingredients and the will to slurp this thing down in 2 seconds flat! YUM!
Grace @ Earthy Feast says
Happy New Year my friend! This smoothie looks so dreamy! I’ll make it and add a scoop of vegan protein powder and call it dinner! Yum!
Diana @ Soulful Necessities says
Delicious….perfect for anytime of the day.
sandra says
What would you suggest substituting bananas for? I am allergic.
Olivia says
I think one avocado would work 😉
Priti says
What else can I use instead of bananas and avocados?
Olivia says
I think you can substitute avocado with coconut cream, and you can also use papaya. However, these changes will naturally affect the flavor of the smoothie.