A healthy chocolate smoothie with a deep cocoa flavor, and nutritious enough to be a meal replacement shake. It is high in protein and fiber yet tastes like your favorite milkshake or chocolate frosty. It's kid-friendly, dairy-free and banana-free.
This creamy healthy chocolate smoothie without bananas is the best way to energize your day. Filled with nourishing foods like rolled oats and dates, like my chocolate beet smoothie, and my chocolate peanut butter smoothie, this chocolate milkshake is also rich in a deep chocolate flavor. It is filling, easy to make and super kid-friendly. I provide a list of even more healthy add ins that you can use to customize it to raise the nutrition even higher.
Why You'll Love This Smoothie
Super easy to make. This healthy chocolate smoothie can be made in minutes. Just gather the ingredients, add them to a blender, process and enjoy! Or freeze into smoothie cubes to blend and drink later.
Rich chocolate flavor. The chocolate and date combination in this healthy vegan smoothie makes the most deeply chocolate flavor that will thrill you with every sip. Eating cocoa is proven to
High in protein and fiber. With 9 grams of protein and 12 grams of fiber, and untold healthy fats, this smoothie is a good meal replacer. If you are interested in more meal replacement shakes, try my ultimate meal replacement shake here.
Ingredients You'll Need
Milk Cubes - Freeze milk in ice cube trays and use these cubes to make your smoothie creamy and thick just like bananas would. (this is a banana-free smoothie). The higher the fat milk, the creamier your smoothie will be. I used canned coconut milk here, but almond or cashew milk are also perfect for this recipe.
Rolled Oats - Oats add fiber, nutrition and a thickening factor. [source]
Cocoa - I used unsweetened powdered cocoa. The higher the quality, the deeper the chocolate flavor. I used Ghiradelli's dark cocoa. Cocoa is known to support brain activity and support the heart. [source] [source]
Chocolate chips - Again, use a quality chocolate, either chips or even a chocolate bar. At least 70% cacao. I used Enjoy Life brand chips.
Dates - Medjool dates are best. Pit them before adding them to your blender. Find them boxed in your grocery produce section. If they are older, soak them in just boiled water for 5 minutes.
Peanut Butter - Up the protein with this or leave it off.
Milk to Blend - You can use water but it will be thinner smoothie. I used almond milk.
Why Dates?
Dates are such a valuable sweetener for a healthy chocolate smoothie. They sweetened the smoothie with a fresh caramel flavor, and provide extraordinary health benefits.
- Dates have a low glucose index so they don't raise your blood sugar.
- They are also high in antioxidants, vitamins C and E, fiber and iron. [source]
- Dates also have more potassium than a banana, and potassium is needed for muscle performance, blood pressure, heart health and brain support.
How to Make a Chocolate Smoothie
step 1: Freeze milk in ice cube trays or use half milk/half ice cubes. If your dates are on the dry-side, soak them in just boiled water for a few minutes.
step 2: Add into a blender the ingredients in this order: Frozen Milk Cubes, Oatmeal, Cocoa, Chocolate chips, Dates, Peanut Butter
step 3: Pour in 1 cup of milk and blend for at least a minute. Pour and serve!
Recipe Tips
Milk ice cubes for creamy texture. Use frozen milk cubes for a creamy and frosty texture. A high-fat milk is best such as canned coconut or almond or cashew. But if you want to reduce even the healthy fats, you can freeze zero fat yogurt instead. If you don't have milk frozen into cubes, add half milk and half ice cubes instead but the smoothie will be creamier with frozen milk ice cubes.
For easy blending. Although normally it is best to add liquids to a blender first when making a smoothie, with this one, add the ice cubes first because you want them to begin to melt straight away.
Adjust sweetness. I think this smoothie is perfect but if you want to reduce the sweet flavor, reduce the dates, to either 2 dates or even 1 ½ dates. It depends on how bitter your unsweetened cocoa is; different brands have different levels of bitter.
Boost The Nutrition
Of course you can add anything to any smoothie, but to keep the delicious taste and texture of this one, here is what you can add:
Seeds - Chia, flaxseeds, hemp are always good choices for added protein, fiber and omegas. Add 1 tablespoon of each.
Avocado - add ½ frozen for extra creaminess and added benefits. They actually contribute nutrients to every cell process in the body.
Spinach - ½ cup of packed raw spinach leaves won't be tasted and will add potassium.
Miso - Add ½ teaspoon of white miso paste to add a umami and salty flavor
Cayenne Pepper - Add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to give your chocolate smoothie a spicy Mexican or Aztec chocolate spin.
Yogurt - freeze yogurt instead of milk for the cubes, and/or replace half the added milk with plain yogurt.
Flavor Variations
Use this chocolate smoothie as a base of operations to make many other fun flavors, including:
- Banana Chocolate Smoothie - replace the rolled oats with half a ripe banana.
- Chocolate Milkshake - replace the frozen milk with your favorite vanilla ice cream or yogurt.
- Chocolate Berry Smoothie - replace the nut butter with ¼ cup mixed frozen berries.
- Chocolate Mint Smoothie - add ½ teaspoon mint extract or add 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves.
- Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie - replace the rolled oats with ¼ cup frozen strawberries.
- Chocolate Coffee Smoothie - add 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules.
Store this Smoothie
Make Ahead. You can easily make this smoothie ahead of time, and freeze it in ice cube trays. To have a smoothie ready for the next morning, simple add 6-7 ice cubes to a glass, refrigerate it overnight to thaw, and blend or stir or shake up the next morning.
Store refrigerated. Most smoothies hold their nutrition for up to two days refrigerated in a sealed container. The layers will seperate and you'll need to shake or stir before drinking. Longer than that, the smoothie will lose flavor and nutrition, so freeze it away in ice cube trays if you want to keep it longer than two days.
FAQS
Is this smoothie vegan and gluten-free?
Yes, this smoothie is both vegan and gluten-free provided you use rolled oats that are not from a gluten-contaminated factory.
Is a smoothie good for weight loss?
Smoothies high in protein and fiber may even aid weight loss by keeping you full. If you're looking for a creative way to boost your fruit and veggie intake, smoothies may be the way to go.
How do you make a cocoa smoothie?
Start by placing cocoa powder and chocolate chips in a blender.
What type of cocoa powder is best for smoothies?
Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder is used. If it is not available, you can use any other brand's sweetened or unsweetened cocoa powder.
Are chocolate smoothies healthy?
Chocolate smoothies made without bananas are high in protein, fiber, magnesium, and iron, primarily from the chocolate, dates and milk and peanut butter. And it is full of healthy fats.
More Delicious Smoothies
- Chocolate Smoothie
- Ultimate Green Smoothie
- Healthy Strawberry Smoothie
- Chocolate Beet Smoothie
- Meal Replacement Shake
- Weight Loss Smoothie
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
- Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
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📖 Recipe
Healthy Chocolate Smoothie
Ingredients
- ¼ cup milk frozen in an ice cube tray* or use 2 tablespoon milk and 2 ice cubes
- 3 tablespoon rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon cocoa
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips
- 3 dates
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter optional
- 1 cup dairy free milk
Instructions
Prep
- Freeze milk the night before in ice cube trays, unless you will opt to use a combo of milk and ice cubes.
- If your dates are dry, soak them for five minutes in just boiled water, then pit them.
Make Smoothie
- Add all ingredients into a blender and process.¼ cup milk frozen in an ice cube tray*, 3 tablespoon rolled oats, 1 tablespoon cocoa, 1 tablespoon chocolate chips, 3 dates, 1 tablespoon peanut butter, 1 cup dairy free milk
Store
- Drink the smoothie immediately. Or refrigerate for one day.
- Or freeze in ice cube trays and blend up again when you are ready, or put the cubes the night before in a glass or covered jar refrigerated, and let them thaw overnight then stir or shake.
Lauren
I found the flavor so chocolate. Excellent mixture.