We don’t often think desserts and leafy greens go together but hold on. This milkshake-like smoothie recipe is seriously decadent and contains bright leafy greens. My chocolate cherry smoothie will delight your tastebuds as well as fuel your body through plants with 100% whole food, plant-based ingredients.

chocolate cherry smoothie in a glass jar with a paper straw on a table with fresh cherries, cacao powder, bananas, spinach and cinnamon sticks.

To be honest, I’m not a huge chocolate lover. This is one chocolate smoothie I can get behind. It’s creamy and rich without being too sweet. I mean, how can you go wrong with chocolate and cherries?

Table of Contents
  1. How to Blend a Creamy Dessert Smoothie
  2. Topping Options
  3. Chocolate Cherry Smoothie FAQs
  4. Lowering Sugar in Smoothies
  5. More Dessert Smoothie Recipes
  6. Chocolate Cherry Smoothie Recipe

How to Blend a Creamy Dessert Smoothie

Part of the appeal of a dessert smoothie is the thick, creamy consistency. Even if it’s dairy-free, you still want to feel like you’re drinking a milkshake. Using creamy plant milk like almond, oat or cashew helps with this consistency.

ingredients for a dessert smoothie including almond milk, bananas, cherries, spinach, cacao and cinnamon.

Bananas also help thicken and naturally sweeten smoothies as well. You can also lessen the liquid base for a thicker smoothie. Start with 1/2 cup milk then slowly add in more milk while blending until the desired consistency is reached.

My chocolate cherry smoothie is the perfect dairy-free milkshake with a plant-based twist.

Topping Options

Toppings make all foods more fun, but this especially applies to desserts. Do you remember attending sleepovers with sundae bars or grad parties with a taco bar? My kids are partial to waffle bars. Smoothie bars are fun too! If you’re looking to add toppings to this chocolate cherry smoothie then here are my top suggestions:

Chocolate Cherry Smoothie FAQs

Does cherry go with chocolate?

Heck yes! While flavor pairings may be a personal opinion, I think that many antioxidant-rich fruits go well with chocolate.

Can you put whole cherries in a blender?

You’ll want to take out the pits in fresh cherries before tossing them in the blender. I like buying frozen cherries for smoothies since they come with the pits already removed.

How do you make a cherry chocolate milkshake?

My milkshake includes cherries, cacao powder, banana, cinnamon, almond milk and spinach. This may sound like a less than sweet combo, but try it before you deny it! This combo is plant-based and oh-so-amazing.

chocolate smoothie with paper straw and topped with cacao and a fresh cherry.

Lowering Sugar in Smoothies

While my smoothie recipes are full of whole food, plant-based ingredients, some fruits are naturally higher in sugar. If you’re watching your glucose levels then try these tips and tricks to blending a low-sugar smoothie, no matter the recipe:

  1. Swap higher sugar fruits with low sugar fruits.
  2. Add leafy greens for more fiber.
  3. Add homemade protein powder for protein and healthy fat to help process the natural sugar.
  4. Make sure your liquid base is unsweetened. This goes for dairy-free milk too!

In this chocolate cherry smoothie, cut the banana in half and then add 1/4 an avocado to keep up the creaminess and cut back on the natural sugar.

Swap cherries for strawberries (lower in sugar). Make sure to keep in the leafy green spinach as it contains fiber and protein to help your body break down the sugar.

More Dessert Smoothie Recipes

Dessert smoothies make great energy-boosting snacks or fun after-dinner treats. Double (or triple) and serve in cute glasses as well as add fun toppings to turn up the wow factor of these fun recipes:

Don’t forget to rate + review this smoothie once you’ve made it! I can’t wait to read your feedback.

chocolate cherry smoothie using plant-based ingredients.
4.91 from 22 votes

Chocolate Cherry Smoothie

This antioxidant-packed Chocolate Cherry Smoothie is a healthy indulgence that will satisfy any sweet tooth. Blend it as an energy-boosting snack or a fun and sippable dessert that will leave you smiling.
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Author: Jen Hansard
Course: Beverage, Dessert, Smoothie
Cuisine: Plant-Based
Serves: 1

Ingredients  

  • 1 cup spinach
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1 cup cherries frozen
  • 1 banana
  • ½ tsp cinnamon ground
  • 1-2 tbsp cacao powder

Instructions 

  • Blend spinach and almond milk until smooth.
  • Add the remaining ingredients and blend again.

Notes

  • Use at least one frozen fruit for a refreshingly cold smoothie.
  • To lower the natural sugar in this recipe, swap 1/2 banana for 1/4 avocado.
  • Swap almond milk with the plant milk of your choice (oat milk also works great!).

Nutrition

Calories: 248kcal, Carbohydrates: 55g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 351mg, Potassium: 977mg, Fiber: 10g, Sugar: 33g, Vitamin A: 2980IU, Vitamin C: 28mg, Calcium: 370mg, Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe? Show me!Mention @SimpleGreenSmoothies or tag #SimpleGreenSmoothies!

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is a delicious one! I had this one when I wasn’t feeling great, and it was wonderful!! Thank you!

  2. Hi!
    I’m wondering what kind of cherries You put into the smoothie? I live in Poland in Europe and we eat two different kinds of cherries – each one have it’s own name in our language and both are translated into english as ‘cherries’. One is rather sour-sweet and the other one is only sweet.

    I will be grateful for your help!

    P. S. I love your site and all the recipes!

    1. Hi there Agnieszka, (What a beautiful name!)

      I’m so happy that you’re enjoying our recipes and articles. Thank you! There are many types of cherries here in the states as well, but we use the general name most frequently. I would say – choose your preference. The only item in the recipe that is adding much sweetness is the banana, so I think sweeter cherries would be a great choice. Also – we have an awesome FREE 10-day Soup Challenge coming up that I think you’d love! You can click here to check it out!

  3. 5 stars
    This is so good. I am so surprised the sweetness even without anything added to it. It is in my top 5 favorite green smoothies. I pre froze this in a quart size ziplock bag. I used super greens: kale, spinach and chard. I added in a tbs of hemp seeds and another cup of almond milk due to everything being frozen. Taste like a frozen chocolate milk. My husband only likes 1 tbs of cocoa and go for 2. I have this premade for the week and I go through this smoothie first before my other ones. Thank you for helping me eat more greens

    1. Isn’t it amazing how sweet natural and healthy foods can be? I’m so glad you love this one, Whitney! Way to go eating more plants!

  4. 5 stars
    Love this recipe, Jen!! My husband and I use this for dessert often. It’s very versatile and open to modifications. Keep up the good work!

    1. Rawkin a smoothie for dessert is such a great way to avoid unhealthy habits with sweets. Yay Rhea!

    1. This yummy smoothie is def not for those following a strict keto diet. It’s a great dessert option for anyone looking to avoid eating junk food and get more greens in their life though! 🙂

  5. Hi! This looks fabulous except for the banana. I’m just crazy about bananas. I know banana is a staple in smoothies but can you recommend a good sub?

    Thanks,
    Tricia

    1. Our fav sub for banana is usually mango. Yet in this case, we’d recommend a nut butter of your choice instead.

  6. 5 stars
    I’m always looking for new and exciting smoothies to try! When I stumbled across this recipe I was nervous because I didn’t know if those ingredients went together… but i tried it anyway! And WOWZA!!! It’s a good one! Tastes amazing!!! Will definitely be doing this one again!!! Felt like every ingredient was perfectly balanced!! Thanks!!!

    1. I agree! This one is a favorite in my house. 😀

  7. 5 stars
    One of the most decadent tasting smoothies I’ve ever made. So rich, creamy and chocolate-y. A definite go to.