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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, chocolatey flavor you love—without the heaviness and sugars of traditional hot chocolate. Made with simple, whole ingredients, it blends into a cozy drink you can enjoy as a nourishing breakfast, afternoon pick-me-up, or lighter dessert.

Table of Contents

hot chocolate smoothie topped with hazelnuts and whipped cream in a mug with a knit wrap.

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 without needing added sugar or cream.
  • Supports steadier energy: Without refined sugars, this smoothie helps avoid the spike-and-crash feeling common with classic hot chocolate.

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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.
  • 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!
Hot chocolate smoothie ingredients on table

How to Make Hot Chocolate Smoothie

  1. Start by gently warming your liquid so the smoothie stays cozy after blending.
  2. 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.
  3. Pour into a mug and enjoy right away, or gently reheat if needed.
Mug with hot chocolate smoothie and whipped cream

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.

Mug of hot chocolate smoothie on table
5 (4 votes)

Hot Chocolate Smoothie

This hot chocolate smoothie is rich, creamy, and naturally sweet with a nourishing twist. Warm almond milk blends with pear and Medjool dates for a smooth, cozy base, while cacao powder delivers deep chocolate flavor without being heavy. It comes together in minutes, making it a comforting drink you can enjoy any time.
Print Pin Rate
Prep: 3 minutes
Blend: 3 minutes
Total: 6 minutes
Serves: 1
Author: Jen Hansard
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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 

  • Blend almond milk, pear, dates, cacao and vanilla bean powder to blender. Blend on low until smooth. If using optional ingredients like spinach and hazelnuts, add to blender.
  • Add collagen and blend on low to mix.
  • Pour into mug and enjoy.

Helpful Tools

high-speed blender
smoothie blender

Notes

  • Use caution when blending hot liquids. Be sure to let the lid vent so the liquid doesn’t leak or splatter. Blend on low speed, working up to high speed until smooth.
  • The pear adds additional sweetness and makes the smoothie thicker, but it can be omitted for a thinner consistency.
  • The Medjool dates bring most of the natural sugar content. Use just one date for less natural sugar. 
  • If you aren’t able to find cacao powder, you can use 100% unsweetened cocoa powder instead.

Nutrition

Serving: 16 oz | Calories: 463 kcal | Carbohydrates: 72 g | Protein: 26 g | Fat: 13 g | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g | Sodium: 119 mg | Potassium: 853 mg | Fiber: 12 g | Sugar: 50 g | Vitamin A: 116 IU | Vitamin C: 8 mg | Calcium: 67 mg | Iron: 3 mg

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Rating




Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is so yummy! A great morning beverage on a cold autumn day… just before I head out to work!

    Reply

  2. 5 stars
    I loved this! Never had a warm smoothie before. Both the pear and hazelnut flavors came through, and the bitterness of the chocolate was great! I added extra almond milk to thin it out a little. Next time will add more.

    Reply

    1. Hey Camilla! I’m not sure there is a good substitute for cacao powder in this recipe. 🙁

      Reply

  5. I just got your book yesterday. I can’t wait to try some of the recipes. I’ve done your challenge in the past too. I can’t wait to try this recipe. I’m hoping it will be a way to get greens into my boys. I can’t wait to start my green smoothies again.

    Reply

    1. Hi Amy,

      We’re so excited to have you blendin’ with us! Thank you so much for all of your support. Make sure and reach back out and let us know what your boys think of this recipe!

      Cheers!

      Reply

  6. I just tried this (sans whipped coconut cream), and it’s fantastic! I will try it again, once I make the coconut milk later this week to make the cream.

    Reply

    1. Hi Tee,

      YAY! Adding coconut whipped cream makes it even more of a treat!!

      Reply

  7. I know what I will be drinking this weekend. Perfect for when you cannot decide between a smoothie and a warm beverage. Mmm!

    Reply

    1. Hi Lisa,

      YAY! Reach back out after the weekend + let us know what you think!

      Reply

  8. I’m excited to try this but I don’t have any hazelnuts on hand… any substitutions? Has anyone tried it without them? Or should I just wait until I can get to the store?

    Reply

    1. Hi Amanda,

      No hazelnuts on hand? No worries! Swap in another nut you do have, or even almond butter would be a yummy addition! 🙂

      Reply

  9. Sounds like a really good drink. But, where did you find that mug cozy? I love it!!!

    Reply

    1. Hi Nancy,

      You can find a ton of different styles to keep your hands cozy while enjoying your Hazelnut Hot Chocolate Green Smoothie on Esty.com!

      Cheers 🙂

      Reply

  10. This is so original! I love that you’ve done such a healthy twist on a classic hot chocolate – I will definitely be trying this out! Also ‘whipped coconut cream’ is new to me… love the sound of it!

    Reply

    1. Hi Georgia,

      We hope you love this recipe!! And Whipped Coconut Cream is our new obsession!

      Reply

    1. Hi Dieet,

      YAY! We’re so excited to hear your whole family enjoyed our recipe!

      Cheers 🙂

      Reply

  12. I think the Hazelnut Hot Chocolate green smoothie is out of this world! To take a green smoothie and make it into something decadent is fantastic! Yum, yum! The others are wonderful too, but this one tastes like something you should not be partaking of in a healthy diet!

    Reply

  13. Love all that I’ve tried. The proportions are so right. I think if I had a Vitamix everything would be that much smoother, creamier and more delicious. Thanks so much for sharing all the yumminess

    Reply

  14. Absolutely love the sound of the hazelnut hot chocolate. Thank you for all the recipes you have sent me by email. You both are truly a Godsend.

    Reply