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When the weather turns cool and you’re craving something warm and comforting, this hot chocolate smoothie hits the spot. It delivers that rich, chocolate flavor you love—without the heaviness and sugars of traditional hot chocolate or the cold factor of most smoothies. Made with simple, whole ingredients, it blends into a warm smoothie you can enjoy as a nourishing breakfast, afternoon pick-me-up, or lighter dessert.
This one wraps up my list of warm smoothie recipes to get you through the colder months. It’s also featured in my high-calorie smoothies for weight gain with something that feels like a treat in every sip.
What's in this post
Why You’ll Love It
- Quick and simple to make: This smoothie comes together in just a few minutes using a blender, making it easy to prepare on busy mornings or when a craving hits.
- Made with natural ingredients: Whole-food ingredients provide fiber and natural sweetness, helping you feel full and satisfied longer than traditional hot chocolate.
- Deeper, richer chocolate flavor: Using cacao creates a more complex, chocolate-forward taste that feels indulgent. If you love it, try my other cacao powder recipes.
- Supports steadier energy: Without refined sugars, this smoothie helps avoid the spike-and-crash feeling common with classic hot chocolate.
November 9-13, 2026
Jen’s Free Soup Challenge
I’d love for you to soup it up with me! For 5 days, I’ll send you a daily veggie-packed soup that’s easy enough for a busy weeknight and makes enough to freeze and pull out all winter.
Hot Chocolate Smoothie Ingredients
- Almond milk: Warm it gently before blending to keep the smoothie cozy and smooth. Unsweetened almond milk works best. Check out the best almond milk brands to buy or try my homemade almond milk recipe.
- Pear: Core and roughly chop for easy blending. Ripe pear adds natural sweetness and a silky texture.
- Medjool dates: Pit before using. These give the smoothie its rich, caramel-like sweetness and are one of my top natural sweeteners for smoothies.
- Cacao powder: Adds deep chocolate flavor and antioxidants. Cocoa powder can be used if needed. If you love chocolate, try my Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie next!
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the chocolate flavor and adds warmth.
- Collagen peptides: Collagen dissolves smoothly in warm drinks, helping balance natural sugars, support fullness, and promote steadier energy. It also provides amino acids that support skin, hair, nails, and joint health—making your cozy chocolate drink more nourishing and satisfying.
Recipe Tips
- Blend longer than usual to achieve a smooth, creamy texture. If you want it extra warm, use one of my recommended smoothie blenders and set to “soup mode” or gently reheat after blending.
- Add in 1 cup baby spinach and 1 tablespoon hazelnuts to create a fiber-rich green smoothie that tastes like Nutella.
- Top with whipped cream or coconut whipped cream.
- Swap almond milk for any non-dairy milk of your choice. Oat milk is really good in it too!
How to Make Hot Chocolate Smoothie
- Start by gently warming your liquid so the smoothie stays cozy after blending.
- Add all ingredients to your blender and blend on low speed, gradually increasing to high, until completely smooth and creamy. Because this smoothie is meant to be enjoyed warm, don’t be afraid to blend a little longer.
- Pour into a mug and enjoy right away, or gently reheat if needed.
More Warm Smoothie Recipes
You read that right—I’ve got more cozy recipes just like this hot chocolate smoothie. When the weather turns chilly, sipping an icy smoothie isn’t always appealing, so these warm smoothies are perfect for fall and winter. They’re comforting, nourishing, and easy to blend when you want something cozy in a mug.
- Apple pie warm smoothie: Cozy and lightly spiced with classic apple pie flavor, this smoothie is creamy, comforting, and perfect for chilly mornings.
- Warm butternut squash smoothie: Smooth, subtly sweet, and naturally creamy with fall-inspired flavor that feels nourishing and grounding.
- Cozy chai smoothie: Gently spiced and creamy with warming chai flavors, ideal when you want something comforting yet energizing.
- Warm wassail smoothie: A festive blend of apple, citrus, and spices that delivers holiday vibes in a nourishing, sippable form.
If you make this hot chocolate smoothie recipe, 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.
Recipe Card
Hot Chocolate Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond milk warmed
- 1 pear cored
- 2 medjool dates pitted
- 2 tablespoon cacao powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla bean powder
- 1 serving collagen peptides
Optional Mix-Ins
- 1 tablespoon chopped hazelnuts optional
- 1 cup spinach optional
- 1 tablespoon coconut whipped cream optional
Instructions
- Add the warm almond milk, pear, dates, cacao powder and vanilla bean powder to a blender, along with the spinach and hazelnuts, if using. Blend on low until smooth.
- Add the collagen peptides and blend on low just to combine.
- Pour into a mug and top with coconut whipped cream, if using. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- Blender Tip: Vent the lid and start blending on low, working up to high, so the hot liquid doesn’t splatter.
- Lower Sugar: The pear and dates add sweetness and body. For a thinner, less sweet drink, leave out the pear or use just 1 date.
- Vegan Swap: Leave out the collagen or use a plant-based protein powder. Unsweetened cocoa powder works in place of cacao.
- Storing: Keep leftovers in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Shake or whisk to mix the cacao back in, then rewarm gently on the stove.
Nutrition
Serving: 16 oz | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g | Sodium: 119 mg | Potassium: 853 mg | Sugar: 50 g | Vitamin A: 116 IU | Vitamin C: 8 mg | Calcium: 67 mg | Iron: 3 mg
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Very very impressive!! I didn’t have the exact ingredients, I used an apple and almonds. And I’ve put way less cacao to be more kids friendly. Oh, and the kids didn’t want to try with the spinach (but next time they said they would )….So I haven’t tried this exact recipe, but the concept is sooooo clever! You put something nutritious in your belly AND you have the deliciousness of a hot chocolate. Everyone was happy. It was so good, I’m never making a regular hot cocoa again ☕️
This is so yummy! A great morning beverage on a cold autumn day… just before I head out to work!
Warm and healthy to start the day. Way to rawk it Carla!