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Let’s be real, sometimes healthy shakes taste…well, healthy. You know, that grassy, vaguely green flavor that screams “I’m doing something good for myself!”? But what if you could have a creamy, indulgent chocolate shake that tasted like a treat, while still packing a serious nutritional punch? Enter my secret weapon: the Banana Chocolate Protein Shake.
Why this Chocolate Protein Shake Rawks
This isn’t your average protein shake. We’re talking velvety smooth, rich chocolate flavor, with a subtle sweetness from banana and boosted with a variety of plant-based protein sources to give you customization freedom to the max!
Here’s a few more reasons I love this recipe:
- I’ve hidden an ingredient that’ll revolutionize your shake game: Frozen cauliflower florets! When blended, they add an incredible creaminess to shakes without altering the flavor. They’re also a sneaky way to add extra fiber and nutrients without anyone getting all cray-cray on you.
- It tastes like a dessert, not a diet drink.
- It’s packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats, keeping me full for hours.
- It’s a fantastic post-workout recovery drink.
- It is easily customizable. Use your favorite protein powder (or make my homemade protein powder recipe) for an even bigger protein boost.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chilled Almond Milk: The base of our creamy concoction.
- Frozen Cauliflower Florets: The secret ingredient for ultimate creaminess and extra fiber.
- Almond Butter: Healthy fats and protein for sustained energy.
- Hemp Hearts: A boost of plant-based protein, omega-3s, and fiber.
- Cacao Powder: Rich chocolate flavor and antioxidants.
- Medjool Date: Natural sweetness and a touch of caramel flavor.
- Banana: Creaminess, sweetness, and potassium.
- Cacao Nibs: A crunchy, antioxidant-rich topping.
- Protein powder: Use what you love. My recommendation is an unflavored and unsweetened plant-based blend or make my homemade protein powder.
More Protein Shake Add-Ins
To significantly boost the protein content of a shake, add additional protein powder (whey, plant-based, collagen). You can also add greek yogurt, nut butters, seeds like chia, flax, and hemp, silken tofu, and cottage cheese.
How to Make a Banana Chocolate Protein Shake
Simply toss all the ingredients (except the cacao nibs) into a high-powered blender and blend until smooth and creamy. If you like your shakes extra cold, add a handful of ice. Pour into a glass, sprinkle with cacao nibs, add some sliced banana and toss on some more hemp hearts for a satisfying crunch.
Give it a try, and you might just find your new favorite shake!
Ingredient Swaps
This recipe offer so many easy swap options, so don’t shy away it if you can’t do one of the ingredients! Instead, try one of these substitutes:
Use half a banana or swap it with 1/4 avocado to still be super creamy, yet lower in sugar.
Swap almond milk for oat milk or coconut milk.
Swap almond butter for sunflower seed butter or peanut butter.
Swap dates for a tablespoon of maple syrup (vegan) or honey (vegetarian) to keep the natural sweeteners flowing.
More Protein-Packed Recipes
If you make this banana chocolate protein shake, I wanna know how it turns out for you. Comment below and let me know!
Banana Chocolate Protein Shake
Ingredients
- 1 cups almond milk chilled
- ½ cup frozen cauliflower florets
- 1 scoop protein powder
- 1 tbsp almond butter
- 1 tbsp hemp hearts
- 2 tbsp cacao powder
- 1 medjool date pitted
- 1 banana
- ice optional
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients until smooth.
- Add ice to glass (if using) and pour smoothie on top.
- Feel free to top with a drizzle of almond butter and sprinkle with hemp hearts and cacao nibs.
Notes
- Use a serving of Homemade Protein Powder to make this a 25-gram protein shake.
- Add a serving of collagen to get it to be a 45+ gram protein shake.
- To cut down on the natural sugar, swap the banana with avocado.
Chocolate deliciousness!
This one is just not for me. It tasted more like a Banana smoothie rather than a Chocolate Protein Shake. Hard to find any flavor besides banana with 1.5 bananas per 1.5 cups milk. Banana lovers will like it for sure.
Awesome and very filling as a mean replacement.
I just wanted to 399kcal is interperated as 399 calories, I know it seems obvious as a kcal is 1,000 but just making sure I’m not missing something!
Great question! Funny enough – kcal is the same thing as the traditional calorie, so it’s all good. Here’s a really helpful article that explains in detail. This Chocolate Protein Shake is def 399 calories per serving, not 399,000! 🙂
Do you blend the ice?
Wow! Best smoothie ever!!!
Jen nailed it again! This smoothie is delicious. It honestly tastes like a chocolate milkshake. I am so impressed.
This is so good!
Very gooood!!
Where do I buy hemp hearts?
Great question Kimberly! Due to their rising popularity, hemp hearts can now be found widely at local grocery stores (check the aisle with the nuts and seeds). We love to buy them at Costco or other large big box retailers. You can also find them online with Amazon or Thrive Market.
This has officially become part of my weekly breakfast rotation. SO good and filling, I use it on the mornings I do more intense workouts.
My kids are ALL ABOUT this smoothie. It’s the perfect after-school fuel while we’re running to practices.
This was actually really good. I didn’t have the Foursigmatic stuff, but I did have homemade protein powder. It was very chocolate-y, which I liked.
One word…HEAVEN!!
This was so delicious – one of my favorites!!
I made the Chocolate Protein Shake….yummy……I subbed the date for maple syrup and added a little almond butter during the blending……great night time snack… will be making apple ginger smoothie and pineapple ginger smoothie tomorrow…..thanks
Love that you’re giving your blender a workout, Trisha! You’re right – this is a waaay better evening snack that what most of us reach for. Nicely done!
I tried this recipe over the weekend and it was really good. Almost left out the almond butter!