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In college, my late-night study treat was a chocolate peanut butter cup—I would stash them in the fridge, and I swear they tasted even better chilled. That inspired me to craft this chocolate peanut butter smoothie—it’s like nostalgia in a glass, but with a healthy twist.
- It tastes like dessert. Frozen bananas, cacao, and peanut butter powder blend into a rich, chocolatey treat that feels indulgent without added sugar (or a ton of calories).
- Simple, pantry-friendly ingredients. Everything in this smoothie is easy to keep on hand, making it a go-to when you want something fast and satisfying.
- Filling and energizing. Fiber from the cauliflower and natural carbs from bananas help keep you full and fueled for hours.
Table of Contents
Smoothie Ingredients
It’s super easy to make a tasty chocolate smoothie, but making it “good for you” takes a few simple tweaks that I’m excited to share with you today:
- Bananas (frozen): A frozen banana adds a cold creamy texture to your smoothie. Ripe bananas are one of the best natural sweeteners, so you don’t need any refined sugars. Freeze bananas ahead of time so you have them on hand.
- Peanut butter powder: Delivers rich, nutty flavor and a boost of protein while being lower in calories and less messy on the blender than traditional peanut butter. If you want to use peanut butter, look for natural peanut butter with no added sugar or hydrogenated oils. You can swap with any other nut butter you like such as cashew or almond butter.
- Frozen riced cauliflower: Frozen riced cauliflower is one of those sneaky smoothie upgrades that no one sees coming! It blends right in, adding a subtle boost of fiber and nutrients without altering the flavor. Not only does it make your smoothie thicker and creamier, but it also keeps things extra cold.
- Raw cacao powder: Provides a deep chocolate taste with antioxidant benefits. Look for raw cacao powder in the baking aisle or health food section of most grocery stores. I like picking mine up at Trader Joe’s or Thrive Market to save money.
- Oat milk: A creamy, non-dairy milk base that ties all the flavors together. Choose unsweetened oat milk to avoid unnecessary added sugars, and check the label for simple, wholesome ingredients. Make oat milk or choose from the cleanest oat milk brands.
- Vanilla bean powder: Adds a warm flavor that enhances the chocolate and peanut butter combination. Plus, it offers a touch of sweetness without adding extra sugar.
Why I use Powdered Peanut Butter
I’ve updated this smoothie recipe to use peanut butter powder instead of traditional peanut butter, and here’s why: Peanut butter is just plain messy in the blender—sticky, hard to measure, and, let’s be honest, tricky to clean.
Plus, it’s tough to find truly clean versions without added oils or sugars. Peanut butter powder, on the other hand, is a game-changer: they’ve removed the fat, so it’s lower in calories but still packed with that peanut flavor and protein. Just be sure to pick a brand without sneaky sweeteners—I’ve done the homework and this is the one I use in my kitchen.
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How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
- Place your frozen ripe banana, cacao powder, powdered peanut butter, cauliflower, oat milk and vanilla bean powder in a high-speed blender for smoothies.
- Combine until smooth and creamy.
- Scrape down the sides of the blender, if needed, and add extra oat milk if the smoothie is too thick.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- If I’m blending this healthy chocolate peanut butter smoothie for breakfast, I like to add additional protein by throwing in a serving of homemade protein powder, or a plant-based protein powder of your choice.
- For more tips, see my how to make a smoothie guide.
Storing Tips
You can store this chocolate smoothie in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. If freezing, pour into ice cube trays and transfer to a freezer safe bag once frozen. When ready to enjoy, thaw in fridge overnight and re-blend to get the best consistency.
More Chocolate Smoothie Recipes
If you’ve got a craving then these chocolate smoothies are for you. These are all deliciously healthy and actually taste good. Pick one and get blending!
- Chocolate cherry smoothie
- Chocolate weight loss shake
- Chocolate strawberry green smoothie
- Skinny mint chocolate chip smoothie
If you make this chocolate peanut butter 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 Peanut Butter Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 ½ bananas
- ½ cup riced cauliflower frozen
- 2 tablespoon powdered peanut butter unsweetened
- 2 tablespoon cacao powder
- 1 cup oat milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until creamy.
Video
Helpful Tools
Notes
- Recipe updated 5/18/2026 based on my goal of making this healthier for all. Video hasn’t been updated yet— if you want to see the previous recipe version.
- Oat milk gives this peanut butter and chocolate shake extra creaminess, yet you can swap it with cashew, almond, coconut, or another non-dairy milk.
- Use unsweetened cacao or cocoa powder; either works fine!
- Using homemade protein powder will give you 10 extra grams of protein, turning this smoothie into a complete meal.
- Bananas give this smoothie creaminess + sweetness, yet you can swap it out with avocado + maple syrup, avocado + date or cauliflower + maple syrup.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review for a chance to win signed copies of my cookbooks!Common Questions
I wouldn’t say peanut butter is bad for you in a smoothie—it’s a popular, easy-to-find option, and it brings healthy fats and protein. That said, I personally prefer powdered peanut butter. It’s less messy, easier to clean up, and lower in calories—so I get that peanut flavor and protein without the extra oil. It’s all about what works best for you!
Chocolate and peanut butter make a smoothie feel like a treat, but they can also be surprisingly healthy! Raw cacao powder adds antioxidants, and natural peanut butter brings protein and healthy fats. Together, they create a delicious, nutrient-packed blend you can feel good about!
Absolutely! Adding raw cacao powder to your smoothie infuses it with rich chocolate flavor and a boost of antioxidants. Typically, 1-2 tablespoons per serving works well. Since ‘cacao’ is less sweet than ‘cocoa’, consider balancing it with natural sweeteners like ripe bananas or dates. Experimenting with cacao can transform your smoothie into a delicious, nutrient-packed treat!
Just wondering, did you change the ingredients? I feel like I don’t remember the cauliflower or the powdered peanut butter being there. I think there was protein powder too. Also, the notes and the ingredients don’t exactly match up. Is this version healthier or tastier?
You caught me mid-refresh! I’m updating this recipe for our Summer Smoothie Challenge in July. I took a closer look and made tweaks to boost protein and fiber while lowering calories—so now it’s even better for you, without losing any of the flavor. I hope you enjoy the refresh!
Perfect- the cinnamon sprinkled on the top added just a tad more flavor!
The cinnamon is the icing on the cake! Glad you enjoyed it.
Absolutely loved this, especially with the touch of cinnamon.
So glad you loved this smoothie. I think the cinnamon gives it that special touch.
I enjoyed this smoothie so much more than I expected. I plan to make it again for some friends.
So glad you will share this recipe with your friends. It is really yummy!
Day 2 of the 5 day challenge : chocolate peanut butter smoothie. I did substitute special dark cocoa powder for plain cacao powder, and only used 1 tablespoon. I added the homemade protein powder for extra texture. This was a very thick ‘use a spoon’ smoothie with great flavors and mouthfeel. A wonderful desert. One could be tempted to add a dollop of whipped cream. (I may do this next time)
Yum! Yes, could definitely be a healthy dessert. Thanks for the review.
This is one of my favorite smoothies. The love of chocolate and peanut butter mixed together. Creamy and smooth, just wonderful
This is one of my favorites! Thanks for the review.
“Velvety smooth chocolate peanut butter smoothie” You say!. I totally agree, creamy, irresistible and want to eat it every evening to satisfy any cravings for chocolate. Me Bad. Not really! So weird as I use this same Raw Organic Cacao Powder. I changed out the peanut butter for Almond Butter I make from left over pulp after making my Almond Milk.
Wow! That sounds amazing! So glad you are finding ways to use the almond pulp.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie, Well I Chose Almond Butter For Me. This Is One Of My Favorites. I Love A Lot Of Things With Chocolate . I Added Protein Powder And Chia Seeds. I Will Make This Again, I May Try Adding Avocado Next Time.
Avacado would add a nice bit of earthy flavor and some excellent heart healthy protein. I’m glad you having fun with these smoothie recipes!
This was a great smoothie. I have had chocolate peanut butter smoothies before, this was not too sweet, just perfect and didn’t give me a sugar rush! I will make this again!
It’s a favorite for sure. And nutritious energy is the name of the game. Glad you liked it, Tari.
Made for my husband who loved it!! He’s on a soft diet and this is perfect for him. It has the added protein the doctor told him to have each day.
Love that this one was husband-approved, Kim! That definitely means a lot!
Love this smoothie! Really filling and perfect for when you’re looking for a sweeter smoothie
I’m with you, Kristen. I love any of them with chocolate.
I made this today. It was so delicious and refreshing!!
Glad you gave this one a try, Liz!
I’ve been trying to ditch the sweets to obtain my fitness goals, and this smoothie hits the spot! It’s like a healthified chocolate, peanut butter and banana milkshake. So so delicious and guilt free!
Yes!! It’s a great substitute for our more unhealthy faves, Emily!
Delicious. It is closer to a milkshake because of the chocolate flavor.
Yeah, I’m always in favor of chocolatey, anything really.
Surprised by how strong the peanut butter flavor was with just a tablespoon!
I really enjoyed this smoothie. The cinnamon overpowered the other flavors so I’m probably back off on that a bit and add more peanut butter (couldn’t really taste) next time. But a keeper for sure!
I like making smoothies like this after I make peanut butter in the Vitamix… just leave some of the nut butter in the blender container and go from there. This smoothie also handles any craving for a chocolate shake in a totally delicious way.
Love the chocolate and peanut butter! Delicious!
Always a favorite of mine! A bit too much chocolate for me first thing in the morning, so made mine just before lunch. Added a few cacao nibs on top for a little extra chocolate with added crunch