Creamy Chocolate Smoothie

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

If you have questions about an ingredient or want to know whether you can use another ingredient instead, this is the section for you!

ripe, frozen bananas: Using ripe bananas will add sweetness and creaminess to your smoothie, and freezing them will ensure your smoothie is cold and thick. Cut the bananas into quarters and freeze in a freezer bag for at least 3-4 hours or overnight (spread the banana pieces flat inside the bag so they don't stick together). If you don't like bananas, you could use half of an avocado instead, plus a sweetener like dates, agave, or maple syrup to taste.

plain, unsweetened almond milk: Any kind of plain, unsweetened non-dairy milk would work here, like cashew milk, soy milk, or oat milk. I wouldn't use canned coconut milk, however, because it has a thicker texture.

rolled oats: The oats make the smoothie thicker and more filling, but you can leave them out if you prefer.

cocoa powder: You can use cocoa or cacao powder in this smoothie.

creamy peanut butter: This enhances the creamy texture and chocolate flavor and adds some protein. You can use any nut or seed butter you like, including almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower butter.

ground cinnamon and salt: These both enhance the flavor of the smoothie. The cinnamon has a more subtle effect, so you could leave it out if you prefer, but I wouldn't skip the salt.

Customize Your Chocolate Smoothie

This chocolate banana smoothie is flexible, so there are plenty of ways to adapt it to your taste and nutritional preferences. If you want to make it thicker, freeze half of your almond milk in an ice cube tray before blending. The bananas naturally sweeten the smoothie, but to make it even sweeter, you can add pitted dates, maple syrup, agave, stevia, or another sweetener of your choice.

Here are some other add-ins you might want to try:

• a handful of spinach

• a scoop of protein powder (be sure to choose a plant-based powder like pea, hemp, or soy protein)

• half of an avocado

• 1 tablespoon chia seeds

• 1 tablespoon hemp seeds

Recipe Tips and FAQ

Keep frozen bananas ready to use. If you enjoy making smoothies regularly, it's a good idea to keep a supply of bananas in the freezer. I wait for the bananas to get very ripe, then peel and cut them and arrange them in a single layer in a freezer bag before freezing them. (This keeps them from sticking together). I replenish my supply every time I go to the grocery store, so I always have frozen bananas ready for my smoothies.

Adjust the amount of milk. If you want a thicker or thinner smoothie, you can just reduce the amount of milk or add more. Adding more milk can also make it easier to blend your smoothie if you don't have a high-powered blender.

What's the difference between cocoa powder and cacao powder? Cacao and cocoa powder both come from cacao beans, but cocoa powder gets processed at a higher temperature. Cacao powder may taste a little more bitter than cocoa powder, but it also typically has more minerals.

How do I store leftovers? I prefer this smoothie fresh, but you can also store it in an airtight container (mason jars or reusable freezer bags work well) in the refrigerator for a day or two. Be sure to stir it up before drinking. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. To use after freezing, leave it in the refrigerator overnight or defrost for a few hours in the refrigerator, then blend it up again.

More Delicious and Nutritious Morning Smoothies

• Watermelon Banana Smoothie

• Apple Banana Smoothie

• Strawberry Açai Smoothie

• Pineapple Ginger Açai Smoothie

• Chocolate Açai Smoothie

• Peanut Butter Açai Smoothie