Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Sipping on a vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie is guaranteed to start your day off right. It’s rich, creamy, and filled with healthy ingredients to keep you feeling satisfied until lunch! Have it ready in less than 10 minutes! 

Dessert for breakfast anyone? Nothing makes me happier than a healthy plant-based breakfast that tastes like a milkshake. It’s a dreamy combination of sweet bananas, vegan chocolate, peanut butter, and hydrating coconut water. Good for you and good for your taste buds. Freeze those ripe bananas asap!

Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

• It’s a quick and easy breakfast option. Smoothies are one of my favorite vegan breakfasts, especially when I’m on the go or have a busy morning. They’re easy to make with just a few minutes to spare and are almost always packed with nutrition. 
• Tastes like peanut butter cups! Need I say more?
• Good source of dietary fiber. You don’t have to drink a Banana Kale Smoothie to reap the health benefits of smoothies. This healthy chocolate peanut butter smoothie is equally good for you and contains a few servings of fruit, dietary fiber, antioxidants, and more. 
• It’s customizable. Add your favorite smoothie add-ins and make this healthy smoothie your own. 

The Ingredients

• Frozen bananas: Freeze your own ripe bananas at home or purchase store-bought frozen bananas. I used about 3 medium-sized frozen bananas. 
• Coconut water: Adds sweetness, electrolytes, and enough liquid to help this thick and creamy chocolate smoothie blend. 
• Vanilla: A splash of vanilla extract enhances the chocolate and peanut butter flavors in this smoothie and makes it taste like a healthy dessert. 
• Maple syrup: You might find this smoothie sweet enough on its own with the bananas and coconut water, but if needed, add up to 1 tablespoon of your favorite liquid sweetener. I usually use maple syrup or agave. 
• Cocoa powder: Unsweetened cocoa powder is the source of the chocolate flavor and is naturally dairy-free. If you find chocolate cocoa powder to taste bitter, use Dutch-process cocoa. 
• Peanut butter: Naturally, creamy peanut butter is best, but any peanut butter of choice will work. 
• Ice (optional): Can help make thicker smoothies and keep your drink nice and cold! 

Add-ins and Substitutions

• Peanut butter substitutions: Use a similar nut butter such as almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower butter for a nut-free option. 
• Coconut water substitutions: For a creamier smoothie, use any unsweetened plant-based milk of choice like soy milk, cashew milk, or coconut milk. Regular tap water will also work well. 
• Protein powder: Make a chocolate peanut butter protein shake and add a scoop of your favorite plant-based protein powder. Neutral-flavored powders will work best.
• Seeds: Add healthy fats and omega 3s by adding up to 2 tablespoons of ground flax seeds, hemp seeds, or chia seeds. 
• Add coffee: Combine this smoothie with your morning cup of coffee and replace the coconut water with 1 cup of brewed coffee! 

How to Make a Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

• 1) Place all of the ingredients into the blender EXCEPT the cocoa powder and peanut butter. Blend until smooth.
• 2) Remove about half of the smoothie and set aside. Into the blender with the remaining smoothie, add the cocoa powder and peanut butter. 
• 3) Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over top the first half of the smoothie. 

• 4) Stir the two layers together and top with shredded coconut, or as desired and enjoy! 

Recipe FAQs

Top Recipe Tips 

• Add the liquid to the bottom of the blender first. Liquid closest to the blade will help things blend well without the blade getting stuck. 
• Scrape down the sides of the blender as needed. This chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie is on the thicker side. If necessary, stop the blender periodically and scrape down the sides or use the blender tamper, if possible to encourage blending. 
• Use extra-ripe bananas. The sweeter the bananas, the sweeter the smoothie will be. Depending on how ripe your bananas are, you may not need any added sweetener at all! 
• Frozen fruit is necessary. Fresh bananas will not work. If you only have fresh bananas on hand, freeze them before making this smoothie. 

Serving Suggestions 

Aside from being a delicious breakfast, this banana smoothie can also be enjoyed as a healthy dessert or mid-day snack. Enjoy on its own or with simple snacks like additional fresh fruit, toast, a bowl of stovetop oatmeal, energy balls, or apple snacks dipped in vegan chocolate!

Storage Instructions

Smoothies are best served immediately while chilled. This is when they are the best texture, thickness, and the nutrients are most abundant and bioavailable. 

However, smoothies can be stored in an airtight container such as a mason jar and refrigerated for 1-2 days or frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, divide the smoothie between an ice cube tray and freeze until frozen. Transfer the ice cubes to a Ziplock/Stasher bag or reusable freezer bag and remove as much excess air as possible. 

Alternatively, smoothies can be repurposed and poured into a popsicle mold to make a healthy dessert! 

More Easy Smoothie Recipes 

• Cherry Chocolate Smoothie
• Kale Pineapple Smoothie
• Banana Kale Smoothie
• Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
• Citrus Mango Smoothie

Photos by Alfonso Revilla