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We don’t often think desserts and leafy greens go together, but hold on. This milkshake-like smoothie recipe is seriously decadent and contains bright leafy greens. My chocolate cherry smoothie will delight your tastebuds as well as fuel your body through plants with 100% whole food, plant-based ingredients.
To be honest, I’m not a huge chocolate lover. This is one cherry chocolate smoothie I can get behind. It’s creamy and rich without being too sweet. I mean, how can you go wrong with chocolate and cherries?
My chocolate cherry smoothie is the perfect dairy-free milkshake with a plant-based twist.
Why this Smoothie Rawks
This chocolate cherry smoothie is the ultimate blend of decadence and nourishment. Imagine sipping on the creamy, milkshake-like treat that satisfies your dessert cravings while fueling your body with wholesome, plant-based ingredients. It’s proof that indulgence doesn’t have to come at the cost of nutrition.
The velvety combination of rich cocoa and juicy cherries creates a flavor that feels downright luxurious, while hidden spinach brings a stealthy does of nutrients. Every sip is packed with antioxidants, fiber and vitamins to energize your body and support overall wellness.
Whether you’re looking for breakfast that feels like a cheat day, a midday pick-me-up, or a dessert-worthy snack, this smoothie delivers on all fronts. It’s a guilt-free pleasure that nourishes your taste buds and your body–because you really can have your cake and eat it too!
Chocolate Cherry Smoothie Ingredients
Wondering how this chocolate cherry smoothie recipe stacks up as a nutrient-packed powerhouse? Let’s break down the healthy, flavorful ingredients that make this recipe so special:
- Spinach: Look for fresh baby spinach at your local farmers’ market or produce section—its mild, slightly earthy flavor blends seamlessly into smoothies. Opt for bright green leaves with no wilting or yellowing for the freshest taste.
- Almond Milk: Choose unsweetened almond milk for a creamy, nutty base that won’t overpower the smoothie. Many grocery stores carry options from subtle to bold nuttiness. See my guide on the Best Almond Milk Brands or learn How to Make Almond Milk.
- Frozen Sweet Cherries: These cherries bring a sweet-tart burst of flavor to your smoothie. You can find them in the frozen section—look for pre-pitted ones for convenience. If fresh cherries are in season, freeze them yourself for the ultimate flavor boost.
- Banana: A ripe banana adds natural sweetness and creamy texture. Choose bananas with a few brown spots for optimal sweetness. If you want a thicker smoothie, try learning how to freeze bananas in advance for your smoothies.
- Ground Cinnamon: A pinch of cinnamon lends a warm, slightly sweet-spicy note that elevates the smoothie. For the best aroma, opt for fresh-ground cinnamon or high-quality Ceylon cinnamon from specialty spice shops.
- Cocoa Powder: Go for unsweetened cocoa powder to achieve a rich, chocolatey depth without added sugars. You can adjust the amount to suit your taste.
How to Make a Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
Making a chocolate cherry smoothie is quick, easy, and results in a creamy, delicious treat. Follow these simple steps for a nutrient-packed blend:
- Add the spinach and almond milk to your blender. Blend on high speed until the mixture is completely smooth and no visible spinach pieces remain.
- Toss in the frozen cherries and banana. The frozen cherries will create a thick, frosty texture, while the banana adds natural sweetness and creaminess.
- Sprinkle in the cacao powder and ground cinnamon. These ingredients will give the smoothie its rich chocolate flavor with a hint of warmth from the cinnamon.
- Blend everything together on high until the smoothie is creamy and well-combined. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a splash more almond milk to reach your desired consistency.
- Pour the smoothie into a glass. Garnish with a sprinkle of cocoa powder or a few extra cherries if desired.
Topping Ideas
Toppings make all foods more fun, but this especially applies to desserts. If you’re looking to add toppings to this chocolate cherry smoothie then here are my top suggestions: sprinkles, crushed nuts, hemp seeds, whipped cream, cherries, or cinnamon.
Easy Swaps and Add-ins
While my cherry chocolate smoothie recipe is full of vegan options, some fruits are naturally higher in sugar. If you’re watching your glucose levels, then try these tips and tricks to blending a low-sugar smoothie, no matter the recipe:
- Swap cherries: You can swap higher sugar fruits like cherries with low sugar fruits like strawberries.
- Add leafy greens: Spinach has strong fiber and protein but feel free to add more leafy greens for more nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
- Add protein: Try my homemade protein powder to help process the natural sugar.
- Swap almond milk: Any dairy-free milk works, like cashew milk or oat milk. Just make sure your liquid base is unsweetened.
- Add extra creaminess: Cut the banana in half and then add 1/4 an avocado to keep up the creaminess.
- Add thickness: You can also lessen the liquid base for a thicker smoothie. Start with 1/2 cup of milk, then gradually add more while blending until you reach the desired consistency.
Common Questions
Heck yes! While flavor pairings may be a personal opinion, I think that many antioxidant-rich fruits go well with chocolate.
You’ll want to take out the pits in fresh cherries before tossing them in the blender. I like buying frozen cherries for smoothies since they come with the pits already removed.
My milkshake includes cherries, cacao powder, banana, cinnamon, almond milk and spinach. This may sound like a less than sweet combo, but try it before you deny it! This combo is plant-based and oh-so-amazing.
To achieve a thick consistency, use frozen cherries, add half a frozen banana, or include a scoop of Greek yogurt. Adjust the amount of liquid to control the texture.
More Chocolate Smoothie Recipes
Dessert smoothies make great energy-boosting snacks or fun after-dinner treats. Double (or triple) and serve in cute glasses as well as add fun toppings to turn up the wow factor of these fun recipes:
If you make this Chocolate Cherry Smoothie, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.
Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 cup cherries frozen
- 1 banana
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon ground
- 1-2 tbsp cacao powder
Instructions
- Blend spinach and almond milk until smooth.
- Add the remaining ingredients and blend again.
Notes
- Use at least one frozen fruit for a refreshingly cold smoothie.
- To lower the natural sugar in this recipe, swap 1/2 banana for 1/4 avocado.
- Swap almond milk with the plant milk of your choice (oat milk also works great!).
I haven’t made a smoothie yet from this wonderful lady’s collection that has failed!!! This one was so good all I had to go do was get some cherries and Walmart has the best ones!! Thank you for these free recipes…I wish I had more funds to join the club but maybe one day! As a newbie to whole food plant based this is a excellent start to my lifelong journey
Love this smoothie. So creamy and decadent. Hard to believe it’s so good for you too
Decadent is right, Deb!
Chocolate cherry smoothies are my favorite! In addition to ingredients listed I always add 1/2 beet and sometime pomegranate arils. I also use red kale to keep with the “red” theme. Love adding spices to all the smoothies. Ceylon cinnamon is my go to but sometimes I add cardamon, cayenne, nutmeg, or turmeric.
Sounds like you definitely know how to make this one your own, Kristen! Yum!
One of the best smoothie recipes! Cherries are my favorite fruit and this is one the whole family enjoys. If I offer to make my daughter a smoothie, this is the recipe she requests…every time!!
Daughter-approved is definitely a compliment, Jennifer!
Yummmmmmmm! And a lot healthier than my normal afternoon Dr Pepper.
This was a perfect dessert topped with extra cherries. I added half a banana, 1 quarter avocado, and 1/4 cup of fresh mint leaves. The consistency was like pudding and so good! One of my top five favorites!
This is a delicious one! I had this one when I wasn’t feeling great, and it was wonderful!! Thank you!
Hi!
I’m wondering what kind of cherries You put into the smoothie? I live in Poland in Europe and we eat two different kinds of cherries – each one have it’s own name in our language and both are translated into english as ‘cherries’. One is rather sour-sweet and the other one is only sweet.
I will be grateful for your help!
P. S. I love your site and all the recipes!
Hi there Agnieszka, (What a beautiful name!)
I’m so happy that you’re enjoying our recipes and articles. Thank you! There are many types of cherries here in the states as well, but we use the general name most frequently. I would say – choose your preference. The only item in the recipe that is adding much sweetness is the banana, so I think sweeter cherries would be a great choice. Also – we have an awesome FREE 10-day Soup Challenge coming up that I think you’d love! You can click here to check it out!
We skipped the cinnamon. Gives us heart burn
This is so good. I am so surprised the sweetness even without anything added to it. It is in my top 5 favorite green smoothies. I pre froze this in a quart size ziplock bag. I used super greens: kale, spinach and chard. I added in a tbs of hemp seeds and another cup of almond milk due to everything being frozen. Taste like a frozen chocolate milk. My husband only likes 1 tbs of cocoa and go for 2. I have this premade for the week and I go through this smoothie first before my other ones. Thank you for helping me eat more greens
Isn’t it amazing how sweet natural and healthy foods can be? I’m so glad you love this one, Whitney! Way to go eating more plants!
Love this recipe, Jen!! My husband and I use this for dessert often. It’s very versatile and open to modifications. Keep up the good work!
Rawkin a smoothie for dessert is such a great way to avoid unhealthy habits with sweets. Yay Rhea!
My 10 year old daughter and I loved it! Definitely making it again.
Isn’t the carbs to high for keto or low carb diet
This yummy smoothie is def not for those following a strict keto diet. It’s a great dessert option for anyone looking to avoid eating junk food and get more greens in their life though! 🙂
Hi! This looks fabulous except for the banana. I’m just crazy about bananas. I know banana is a staple in smoothies but can you recommend a good sub?
Thanks,
Tricia
Our fav sub for banana is usually mango. Yet in this case, we’d recommend a nut butter of your choice instead.
I’m always looking for new and exciting smoothies to try! When I stumbled across this recipe I was nervous because I didn’t know if those ingredients went together… but i tried it anyway! And WOWZA!!! It’s a good one! Tastes amazing!!! Will definitely be doing this one again!!! Felt like every ingredient was perfectly balanced!! Thanks!!!
I agree! This one is a favorite in my house. 😀