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Home » Smoothies

Almond Butter Smoothie

Published on 7.30.2021 by Jen Hansard

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Ingredients for almond butter smoothie

This banana almond butter smoothie takes a page right out of my childhood. It's inspired by the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich, yet optimized with a healthy twist.

By adding plenty of protein and healthy fats, we've been able to boost this smoothie into a great meal replacement. This means you won't gulp down these 16 ounces and be hungry 30 minutes later. You'll be full until the next meal!

banana almond butter smoothie in mason jar

Healthy benefits of a banana almond butter smoothie

Spinach and grapes are packed with antioxidants and phytonutrients-- so this green smoothie is super healthy and yummy. No added sugar or water needed— this is a sweet take on a child's classic sandwich filled with fresh fruit and leafy greens.

Grapes are a low glycemic index fruit, so it has a better blood sugar balance.

Almond butter is a healthy protein source and the better alternative for a paleo diet because almonds are true nuts that grow on trees (peanuts are actually legumes and grow underground, so not paleo-friendly).

Spinach is a powerhouse leafy green packed with vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, manganese for bone health; and plenty of vitamin B2 and B6 for a perfect energy booster!

Bananas are a natural sweetener that also make a super creamy smoothie.

How much almond butter to put in a smoothie?

If you're new to the world of almond butter, it's always best to go less. Start with 1 tablespoon, which has nearly 4 grams of protein right there! Taste to see how you like it and add more if you want to.

When using almond butter, I almost always use a banana to sweeten it up and help remove any gritty texture. The banana binds to it and turns it more into a creamy smoothie, than a gritty chunky one.

Pro tip: alternate between storing right side up and upside down to help the natural oils mix back in with your nut butter instead of collecting in one spot inside the jar.

protein benefits of almond butter in smoothies

More protein rich smoothies  

There are so many great combinations of almond butter smoothies. Below are a few more that I think you'll like:

  • Cacao Weight-loss Smoothie
  • Chocolate Banana Protein Smoothie
  • Simple Banana Chocolate Smoothie
  • 5 Post Workout Smoothie Boosts

Want more protein?

And if you're looking to level-up this banana almond butter smoothie recipe (or any other) by an additional 10 grams of protein, adding Protein Smoothie Boost is an easy win! I got so tired of finding hard to pronounce and not-so-good for me ingredients in my protein powders.

That's why I decided to create my own and pass the benefit along to you. Protein Smoothie Boost is made entirely of organic hemp, chia and flax seed, ground to such a fine powder that it is beautifully blendable. Add it to your next smoothies and let us know what you think!

FAQs

Why do people put almond butter in smoothies?

For the protein of course! And the yumminess! Almond butter is a plant based protein and healthy fat that can add a creamy thickness to your next green smoothie. Plus almond, along with other nut butters like cashew butter can make a great alternative to those allergic to peanut butter.

Is almond butter good for weight loss?

It totally sounds counter-intuitive, yet almonds are higher in fat + help you lose weight. Here's how: drinking a green smoothie with almond butter or other healthy fat alternative vs. one without helps you stay full longer. Fat takes longer to digest, leaving you less hungry for longer periods of time. If you're still full, you're not gonna grab that bag of chips or cookies in between meals. Instead, you'll opt to drink more water and ride out that full feeling all the way til your next meal. Winner!

Do you refrigerate almond butter?

Great question! And the answer is... it depends. Most of the time, storing in your pantry is just fine. However, if you don't use your almond butter as quickly as I do in my house, then it might be wise to store in the fridge. This is especially true if you purchase nut butters without preservatives. Keeping it in the fridge extends the shelf life from approx. 2 years to a whopping 4 years.

If you try this smoothie recipe, please leave a comment below letting me know how it works for you. If you make any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too! We can all benefit from your experience.

Blended almond butter green smoothie with banana

Almond Butter Smoothie

4.77 from 13 votes
Rate this Recipe Print Recipe
This protein packed recipe is perfectly balanced with the natural sweetness in fruit, making i my favorite almond butter smoothie.
Total Time7 minutes
Servings1

Ingredients

  • 1 cup spinach
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1 cup grapes (red)
  • 1 banana
  • 2 tablespoon almond butter
  • 1 serving Protein Smoothie Boost (optional)

Instructions

  • Blend spinach and almond milk until smooth.
  • Next add the remaining fruits and blend again.

Notes

  • Freeze your grapes overnight to chill this green smoothie and top with sliced almonds for an added crunch.
  • Swap banana with ½ cup frozen cauliflower to lower the natural sugar in this recipe.
  • Swap spinach with the leafy green of your choice.

Nutrition (estimated)

Calories: 448kcal (22%) Carbohydrates: 62g (21%) Protein: 11g (22%) Fat: 22g (34%) Saturated Fat: 2g (13%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g Monounsaturated Fat: 12g Sodium: 355mg (15%) Potassium: 1118mg (32%) Fiber: 9g (38%) Sugar: 40g (44%) Vitamin A: 2989IU (60%) Vitamin C: 24mg (29%) Calcium: 462mg (46%) Iron: 3mg (17%)
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Millie

    February 15, 2022 at 12:30 pm

    I had never used grapes in my smoothie and was a bit skeptical but this smoothie was amazing! Love it. Definitely will be making it more often.

    Reply
    • Millie

      February 15, 2022 at 12:30 pm

      5 stars
      5 stars!

  2. Carol

    December 08, 2021 at 9:45 pm

    3 stars
    I am a diabetic and 40 grams of sugar is way too much.
    Would you please create a diabetic-friendly Almond Smoothie? ...with no more than 8 to 10 grams of sugar? - Thanks.

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      December 13, 2021 at 8:49 pm

      We can def look into that Carol! Thanks for the suggestion! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this Fresh Blackberry Smoothie, which is only 14g of sugar per serving.

  3. Kelly

    September 29, 2021 at 2:56 pm

    5 stars
    Almond butter makes everything yummy in my book!

    Reply
  4. Kelly

    September 29, 2021 at 2:54 pm

    5 stars
    I love this smoothie! Almond butter makes everything yummy in my book!

    Reply
  5. Kat

    September 28, 2021 at 7:36 pm

    5 stars
    This one is a huge hit in our house!

    Reply
  6. Kim

    September 27, 2021 at 9:18 am

    5 stars
    I loved the frozen grape trick! Made the perfect smoothie. 🙂

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      September 27, 2021 at 3:40 pm

      Frozen grapes make many things better - like hot summer days! So glad you used them in this Almond Butter Smoothie! 🙂

  7. Shawn Shafer

    August 25, 2021 at 1:43 pm

    4 stars
    This is one of my favorites! Amazing!

    Reply
  8. Joyce

    August 13, 2021 at 7:02 pm

    5 stars
    Yummy, yummy, yummy!!! I love this smoothie. I made the recipe exactly as instructed. I did freeze my grapes and bananas. I may add a little more almond butter to it next time, but it really is fabulous as is. I will definitely make this as a go to smoothie.

    Reply
  9. Leila

    August 04, 2021 at 11:06 am

    I have a peanut butter and banana smoothie with chia seeds quite often for breakfast and love it. I’ll try switching to almond butter and adding spinach to it with this recipe (we usually add spinach to just our fruity smoothies). Excited to try it! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      August 04, 2021 at 7:15 pm

      We're excited you're gonna try greens in that smoothie too! Def check back in and let us know what you thought. 🙂

  10. Kathryn Kennedy

    August 03, 2021 at 12:13 pm

    5 stars
    For a nut-free version, I made this with sunflower seed butter instead. I used a cocoa-flavoured sunflower seed butter so it had a chocolate-banana milkshake taste. Loved it - will make again.

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      August 04, 2021 at 7:14 pm

      Way to rawk a nut free version! Thank you so much for sharing your smoothie success!

  11. Erin

    August 03, 2021 at 11:21 am

    5 stars
    This is actually a fav smoothie in our house, and I love adding the almond butter for extra healthy fat for my 2 year old. We often swap grapes out for strawberries, as we have those on hand more often. This is definitely kid approved.

    Reply
  12. morgan

    April 01, 2021 at 12:28 pm

    Used peaches instead of grapes and plant protein milk instead of almond it is so smooth and creamy 10/10

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      April 03, 2021 at 10:15 pm

      Awesome Morgan! So glad you loved it!

  13. Rebekah

    October 28, 2020 at 2:18 pm

    5 stars
    I only had green grapes so used those, and it was SO DELICIOUS. My husband loves PB&J so much, I can't wait to make one for him!

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      December 01, 2020 at 6:25 pm

      Let us know what he thinks after you make him one! 🙂

  14. Julie Quinn

    July 23, 2020 at 10:40 am

    5 stars
    This tastes like a peanut butter and jelly/banana sandwich to me. Needed to use up some grapes, but I wasn't sure about them in a smoothie. All of the reviews helped me go ahead and try. Yummy goodness!

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      July 23, 2020 at 6:22 pm

      Awesome, Julie! 😀

  15. Sarah

    October 28, 2019 at 4:33 pm

    5 stars
    Somebody needed to review this. I’ve made it lots and like it lots! My three year old really likes how sweet it is 🙂

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      October 29, 2019 at 10:18 am

      Thank you Sarah!!! I am so happy to hear that your three year old loves this recipe!!!

  16. Ha Hoang

    August 02, 2018 at 4:02 am

    Can I eat this smoothie instead of normal meals? Thank you so much

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      August 03, 2018 at 1:46 pm

      Hi Ha,

      Yes, you totally can! When it comes to green smoothies we suggest adding protein and healthy fats to ensure you're fueling your body with a complete meal. Because this recipe has almond butter, you're halfway there. Learn more about our favorite meal replacement booster combos here...

      https://simplegreensmoothies.com/meal-replacement-smoothie

  17. Charlene

    March 15, 2016 at 5:37 pm

    I have turmoil with my blood pressure. Most generally always high, but once in awhile I get it lowered, still a bit on the high side. Is there a certain smoothie that helps high blood pressure?

    Reply
    • SGS Rawkstar

      March 15, 2016 at 6:00 pm

      Hi Charlene,

      Thanks for reaching out! Looking to help lower your blood pressure? Some great smoothie ingredients are blueberries, fiber (Leafy greens (especially turnip greens and mustard greens), Raspberries, Cinnamon, Pear, Flax Seeds, Beets, Carrots, Oranges, Strawberries), watermelon, + bananas. Add them to your green smoothie, along with your doctor's guidance to improve your heart health.

      Cheers!

  18. Maria

    November 23, 2015 at 11:41 am

    My smoothie--

    2 cups spinach
    1 carrot
    1 banana
    1/2 cup seedless grapes
    1 TB. chia seeds
    2 cups water

    Reply
    • SGS Rawkstar

      November 23, 2015 at 5:48 pm

      Yum! Thank you so much for sharing, Maria! 🙂

  19. SabChgo

    February 13, 2015 at 10:17 am

    The link to this one from your main recipe page is broken- one of my faves, so wanted people to see it 🙂

    Reply
    • SGS Rawkstar

      November 02, 2015 at 10:51 am

      Hi SabChgo,

      Thank you so much for reaching out + letting us know. We're updating all of our photos, so a few links are out of sorts. We're working hard to have everything back to 100%.

      Cheers 🙂

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Jen hansard blogger at Simple Green Smoothies About

I'm Jen Hansard, mom of two, plant-based foodie, adventure junkie + cookbook author.

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