Once in a blue moon, I crave a thin sippable smoothie. But most of the time, I prefer a thick, rich blend, like this dairy-free chocolate peanut butter smoothie. It’s nutritious, but can be enjoyed for breakfast or as a satisfying afternoon shake. It’s both post workout and dessert worthy!
This Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie Doubles as a Healthy Shake
This recipe was originally in the first edition of my flagship book. I removed it in the 2nd Edition of Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook, to make room for some new smoothie recipes. But I want to ensure it isn’t lost, so I’m posting it here! And I have a few ingredient notes to help perfect your blend.
- Milk Beverage:Â Back when I first whipped up this dairy-free chocolate peanut butter smoothie, chocolate milk beverage was all the rage. It fell from popularity as dairy-free protein took center stage, but there are still some mainstream brands like Almond Breeze, Califia Farms, So Delicious, Silk Protein, and Silk Soy. If you can’t find one, or just prefer to keep another flavor on hand, see the substitution notes in the recipe.
- Peanut Butter: Of course you can substitute your favorite nut or seed butter. But I do use a creamy, natural (the type that separates), lightly salted peanut butter, like Santa Cruz Organic or Laura Scudder’s. I prefer a wee bit of salt as it does round out the peanut flavor in the smoothie.
- Sweetener: If you do need to add any sweetener, I like a pinch of stevia or a drizzle of maple syrup in this recipe. But feel free to use your sweetener of choice. Most go well with this flavor blend.
Special Diet Notes: Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian. Just be sure to choose the milk beverage that suits your dietary needs.
For a peanut-free smoothie that’s equally delicious, substitute sunflower seed butter for the peanut butter. You can alternately use the Chocolate Almond Option if you are okay with tree nuts.
- 1 medium very ripe banana, sliced and frozen
- ¾ cup dairy-free chocolate milk beverage (see Milk Beverage Note below)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter, to taste
- 2 to 3 teaspoons cocoa powder, to taste
- ½ cup ice
- Blend the banana and milk beverage together in your blender until smooth.
- Add the peanut butter and cocoa powder, adjusting the two flavors to your taste, and give it another blend.
- Add the ice and process until thick and creamy.
Chocolate Almond Option: For a more sophisticated shake, swap almond butter for the peanut butter, use chocolate almond milk, and optionally add ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon.
Protein Smoothie Option: Use an unsweetened plain or vanilla milk beverage, and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of dairy-free chocolate protein powder. Start with just 1 teaspoon cocoa powder, and add more to taste.