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I’ve transformed the classic chocolate and peanut butter combo into a healthy, nutrient-rich smoothie with just four simple ingredients. Perfect for a wholesome breakfast, quick snack, or pre-workout boost, this creamy chocolate peanut butter smoothie recipe delivers long-lasting energy—and it might just replace your afternoon coffee! This is also on my list of top smoothies for kids since it is an easy win. It makes a great snack or dessert option.
Blend this for a natural energy boost or a great post workout recovery smoothie.
Ingredients You’ll Need
It’s super easy to make a “good” chocolate smoothie, but making it “good for you” takes a few simple tweaks and tastes amazing, too.
- Bananas (frozen): A frozen banana adds a cold creamy texture to your smoothie. Ripe bananas have natural sweetness, so you don’t need any refined sugars.
- Peanut butter: Delivers rich, nutty flavor and a boost of protein. 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.
- 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 (or plant milk): A creamy, dairy-free base that ties all the flavors together. Choose unsweetened oat milk to avoid unnecessary added sugars, and check the label for simple, wholesome ingredients. Or, make your own if you’re feeling adventurous!
- Ground cinnamon (optional): Adds a warm, subtly spicy flavor that enhances the chocolate and peanut butter combination. Plus, it offers anti-inflammatory properties and a touch of sweetness without adding extra sugar.
What’s the healthiest peaNut butter?
Look at the ingredient label and make sure it’s just peanuts (no need for extra oils or sweeteners). You can always make your own homemade nut butter in a high-speed blender as well. I don’t recommend using peanut powder, like PB1, since it contains additional sweeteners.
How to Make a Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
- Place your frozen ripe banana, cacao powder, peanut butter, and oat milk in a blender.
- Combine until smooth and creamy.
- Scrape down the sides of the blender if the peanut butter sticks and add extra oat milk if the smoothie is too thick.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy and garnish with cinnamon if desired.
How to Boost the protein
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.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie Health Benefits
Don’t let the decadent flavor fool you—this chocolate peanut butter smoothie isn’t just a treat, it’s packed with ingredients that may nourish your body and fuel your day. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits!
peanut Butter
Peanuts get a bad rap. Yes: 1% of the United States population has a peanut or tree nut allergy. Yes: peanuts are actually a fungus and not a nut. But hear me out: peanuts also have a whole host of nutrition!
Peanuts contain 7 grams of protein in two tablespoons, along with good amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, niacin and vitamin B6. Add in a scoop or two to your next smoothie and enjoy the boost! It contributes both protein and healthy fat in the chocolate peanut butter smoothie below. The natural oil in a peanut is about as heart healthy as olive oil. Peanut butter can also help regulate blood sugar and may reduce the risk of breast disease.
Raw Cacao Powder
Raw cacao powder is one of those ingredients that feels like a treat but may actually be doing your body a favor. It’s made by cold-pressing unroasted cacao beans, which helps it keep more of its natural nutrients compared to cocoa powder. Thanks to its antioxidants (hello, flavonoids!), it may support heart health, help ease inflammation, and even give your brain a little boost.
It’s also a great source of magnesium, which might help with muscle function, relaxation, and energy production—perfect for a busy day. Plus, cacao contains theobromine, which could give you a gentle pick-me-up and even brighten your mood a bit.
Adding raw cacao to your smoothie is such a simple way to elevate the flavor and sneak in some extra goodness. It’s like having dessert for breakfast, but better for you!
Common Questions
Peanut butter can be a nutritious addition to your smoothie! While peanuts are technically a legume and not a nut, they’re packed with protein, healthy fats, and essential nutrients like magnesium, zinc, and vitamin B6. If you’re not allergic, peanut butter may help with managing blood sugar, supporting heart health, and keeping you feeling full longer. Just opt for natural peanut butter with no added sugars or oils for the healthiest option!
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!
More Chocolate Smoothie Recipes
If you’ve got a craving then I bet I’ve got a chocolate smoothie for you. These are all deliciously healthy and actually taste good. Pick one and get blending!
Don’t forget to let me know how you like this chocolate peanut butter smoothie below with your rating + review. It’s filling, yummy and gives a natural energy boost.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 bananas frozen
- 1 Tbsp peanut butter
- 2 Tbsp cacao powder
- 1 cup oat milk or another plant milk
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon optional
- 1 serving homemade protein powder optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until creamy.
- Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon, if desired.
Equipment
Video
Notes
- Peanut Butter allergy? No problem! Swap in almond butter or sunflower butter instead.
- Oat milk gives this peanut butter and chocolate shake extra creaminess, yet you can swap it with cashew, almond, coconut, or another plant 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.
Subbed the banana for cherries and avocado. Reduced the PB and cinnamon. Worked out well – would make again.
The Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie was like a creamy milkshake! Absolutely delicious! I wouldn’t change anything! Almost a guilty pleasure!
This is simply delicious!! You can taste the chocolate and peanut butter! I’ll add some chocolate collagan next time
This is a really nice smoothie, really rich in chocolate. I will reduce the cacao powder next time.
10/10. Day 6 #challenge
Well of course this one was super yummy 🙂
I’ll look forward to this as a dessert treat in the future, especially after my unflavored protein powder arrived.
I mixed in some fresh mint, which gives it a nice little lift. I also used some almond butter/sweet potato mix that I had in the fridge instead of the peanut butter. (That mix was a failed recipe as a dip from an otherwise favorite Ayurvedic cookbook, but worked fabulously in this recipe.)
Both of us are not a fan of this one.
Chocolate peanut butter
I used carob powder instead of cacao because I’m caffeine sensitive. I also added protein powder. Still tastes like dessert! I use this recipe when everyone else is having ice cream.
Very yummy. Nice chocolate treat. I only added the one banana and that was sweet enough for me. Also added spinach which I couldn’t taste.
This one is a keeper! Great taste, rich and creamy.
Delicious chocolate-y dessert or treat.
I prefer more fruit and vegetables in my morning smoothie.
Really delicious but a little too chocolatey. I used half a cup of fairlife 2% chocolate milk half a cup of mooala banana and strawberry banana milk, Only 1 tbsp of cocoa & 1 tbsp of carob.
Mine didn’t turn out as sweet, I used on one banana, chocolate protein powder instead of cocoa, I added romaine lettuce, cinnamon, chia and hemp and flax seeds and I tried using sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter. Mine does taste cocaoy.
My cocoa powder is very bitter so I did add a tablespoon of Nutella. Now I’m having this smoothie as dessert. Delicious
Anything with chocolate and peanut butter, is a good treat. The cinnamon was a good addition. It was rich, and more desserty for me, but I made it into a midday meal smoothie.
I gave this a 1 star, BUT that weird aftertaste might be because I used COCOA powder in stead of COCAO powder, or because I added my homemade Rawkstar Protein Powder, or because I used my homemade cashew milk. The consistency is almost pudding-like.