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 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?
How to Blend a Creamy Dessert Smoothie
Part of the appeal of a dessert smoothie is the thick, creamy consistency. Even if it's dairy-free, you still want to feel like you're drinking a milkshake. Using creamy plant milk like almond, oat or cashew helps with this consistency. Bananas also help thicken and naturally sweeten smoothies as well. You can also lessen the liquid base for a thicker smoothie. Start with ½ cup milk then slowly add in more milk while blending until the desired consistency is reached.
My chocolate cherry smoothie is the perfect dairy-free milkshake with a plant-based twist.
Smoothie Topping Options
Toppings make all foods more fun, but this especially applies to desserts. Do you remember attending sleepovers with sundae bars or grad parties with a taco bar? My kids are partial to waffle bars. Smoothie bars are fun too! If you're looking to add toppings to this chocolate cherry smoothie then here are my top suggestions:
- Dye-Free Sprinkles
- Crushed Nuts
- Hemp Seeds
- Cherries
- Cinnamon
- Coconut Whipped Cream
Chocolate Cherry Smoothie FAQs
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.
Lowering Sugar in Smoothies
While my smoothie recipes are full of whole food, plant-based ingredients, 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 higher sugar fruits with low sugar fruits.
- Add leafy greens for more fiber.
- Add plant-based protein powder for protein and healthy fat to help process the natural sugar.
- Make sure your liquid base is unsweetened. This goes for plant milk too!
In this chocolate cherry smoothie, cut the banana in half and then add ¼ an avocado to keep up the creaminess and cut back on the natural sugar. Swap cherries for strawberries (lower in sugar). Make sure to keep in the leafy green spinach as it contains fiber and protein to help your body break down the sugar.
Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
Rate this Recipe Print RecipeIngredients
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 cup cherries (frozen)
- 1 banana
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon (ground)
- 1-2 tablespoon 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 ½ banana for ¼ avocado.
- Swap almond milk with the plant milk of your choice (oat milk also works great!).
Nutrition (estimated)
Dessert 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:
Whitney
We skipped the cinnamon. Gives us heart burn
Whitney
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
Simple Green Smoothies
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!
Rhea Hayes
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!
Simple Green Smoothies
Rawkin a smoothie for dessert is such a great way to avoid unhealthy habits with sweets. Yay Rhea!
Kristin Listecki
My 10 year old daughter and I loved it! Definitely making it again.
Marianne
Isn't the carbs to high for keto or low carb diet
Simple Green Smoothies
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! 🙂
Tricia Berkow
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
Simple Green Smoothies
Our fav sub for banana is usually mango. Yet in this case, we'd recommend a nut butter of your choice instead.
Amber
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!!!
Simple Green Smoothies
I agree! This one is a favorite in my house. 😀
Carolyn Craft
One of the most decadent tasting smoothies I’ve ever made. So rich, creamy and chocolate-y. A definite go to.
Simple Green Smoothies
This is one of my absolute favorites!!