A chocolate zucchini smoothie, rich with cocoa and fresh avocado, made in 5 minutes with 5 ingredients with no banana and no refined sugar. A thick chocolate milkshake that energizes and tastes like a chocolate frosty.
This chocolate zucchini smoothie is super easy to make, with simple ingredients, and not only has an zucchini but also hidden avocado. Like my chocolate smoothie, my chocolate avocado mousse , my chocolate avocado tart, and my chocolate peanut butter smoothie, this zucchini smoothie is an energy-boosting with hidden veggies, and rich in mood boosting chocolate.
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Why You'll Love This
- Easy to make. Toss fresh raw zucchini, avocado, and other pantry-ready ingredients into a blender and process.
- Rich chocolate flavor. This is such a rich chocolate shake that you will be bowled over with the decadent flavor. Can you taste the avocados and zucchini? Not at all.
- Nutrition. The zucchini and avocado thicken the smoothie and provides micronutrients as well as slow-burning healthy fats. The cocoa fires up your brain and boosts your mood by triggering feel-good hormones. [source]
Ingredients
- Zucchini. Use raw zucchini, don't peel, but try to buy organic because zucchini absorbs pesticides into its skin. You can chop and freeze zucchini ahead of time.
- Avocado. Choose a soft one but with no blemishes. You'll want it ripe enough to be able to blend well. Peel off the skin, and remove the pit. You can chop and freeze avocado ahead of time.
- Cocoa powder. Use unsweetened regular cocoa or dutch processed.
- Maple syrup. You can also use 2 soft dates if you have them. Or use your own favorite liquid sweetener.
- Milk. You can use water, but the shake will be far creamier with milk, or even a cream such as half and half or coconut milk. Or use homemade oat milk. I sometimes add some of the milk as frozen milk ice cubes.
- Optional Flavors. Add in vanilla, salt, and even ½ a teaspoon of instant coffee granules.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions
- Instead of zucchini, you can use a banana as I did in this apple banana smoothie. Your smoothie will be sweeter so you can leave off the maple syrup. Or taste at the end and add what you need.
- Instead of maple syrup, you can use two dates. Drop them in just-boiled water for 2 minutes, pit and add to the blender. Blender a bit longer to be sure the dates are broken down.
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Step to Make Chocolate Zucchini Smoothie
For more detail, visit the complete recipe at the bottom of this post, but here are general steps.
Step 1: Wash and chop the zucchini. Peel and pit the avocado. Add all ingredients to the blender.
Step 2: Process about 30 seconds to 1 minute until smooth. Taste for sweetness and add more maple syrup if needed. You can drink right away or chill first for a few hours.
Storage
Refrigerate this smoothie for 24 hours. Freeze in ice cube trays, and bag to save long term, or up to 3 months.
Variations & Additions
Add spicy flavors such as 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, or even a pinch of cayenne pepper or a knob of fresh unpeeled ginger.
Change the flavor from chocolate to blueberry or cherry by swapping out the cocoa for ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries or cherries.
Consider these additional mix-ins:
- Mint leaves. Add 6 fresh mint leaves or mint extract for a mint chocolate smoothie.
- Peanut butter. Add 2 tablespoons of peanut butter or any nut or seed butter to boost the protein content.
- Seeds. Add 3 tablespoons of chia seeds or flax seed to boost the protein and fiber in this shake.
FAQS
No, you cannot taste the vegetables, only a strong chocolate flavor.
You can use any milk of your choice. The higher the fat content, the creamier your smoothie will be. The lower the fat content, the lower in calories your smoothie will be. I often use my homemade oat milk which is not high fat but has a thick creamy texture, or coconut milk frozen into ice cubes which are high in healthy fats.
Yes, this zucchini smoothie is high in fiber with 11 grams and high in protein with 8 grams. It is also low in sugar for a smoothie and can be made lower by reducing the sweetener by one-third.
Yes, you can freeze both avocado and zucchini first. You'll have to blend an extra 30 seconds probably, but your smoothie will be frosty.
More Healthy Drinks
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📖 Recipe
Chocolate Zucchini Smoothie (no banana)
Ingredients
- 1 cup zucchini* raw, not peeled
- ½ avocado* peeled, pitted
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 2 cups milk any milk or milk ice cubes
- ¼ cup maple syrup
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Instructions
- Wash and chop the zucchini. Peel and pit the avocado.
- Add all ingredients to the blender.**½ avocado*, 2 tablespoon cocoa powder, 2 cups milk, 1 cup zucchini*, ¼ cup maple syrup
- Process about 30 seconds to 1 minute until smooth.
- Taste for sweetness and add more maple syrup if needed. You can drink right away or chill first for a few hours.
Storage
- Refrigerate this smoothie for 24 hours. Freeze in ice cube trays, and bag to save long term, or up to 3 months.
223barnraising says
Best chocolate milkshake I have EVER had. Not vegan. Eat dairy all the time. This is WAY better than haagen dazs mayan chocolate shake that I thought no one could touch.
Dee Dine says
That is the best news ever! Exactly what I am trying to achieve! Thank you for sharing your opinion! Dee xx
Barney Soho says
Made this and currently have super powers. Thanks for sharing your brilliance!
Dee Dine says
Hahaha, thank you Barney!
Sarah says
Can I leave off the maple syrup in both smoothies and the sauce to make it sugar free?
Dee Dine says
Hi Sarah, I would leave it on the chocolate smoothie and chocolate sauce because they have no other sweet source. The cashew cream doesn't need it, the cashews will carry it. Dee xx
Serena Stewart says
I made only the chocolate and didn't even add the toppings and it was to DIE for! I can't believe it's healthy.
Dee Dine says
So happy you liked the chocolate, that part is my favorite too! Dee xx