Favorite recipes aren’t just about taste, they have to be that perfect trifecta of flavor, ease and consistency or texture that makes you want to enjoy them every day. For me, this almond shake is one of those top picks.
I’ve always loved thick, spoonable smoothies like this protein almond shake that are relatively rich and almost a little ice cream-like, but healthy and energizing enough to enjoy for breakfast or as a post-activity treat. And really, you can’t beat the combination of frozen banana, heart-healthy almonds and cinnamon.
I like to use Almond Plus Almond Milk in this almond shake (and many other recipes!) because it has a nice creamy consistency with an added pump of dairy-free protein formulated right in. It comes in Original and Vanilla varieties, which are lightly sweetened, but I always go for the Unsweetened, which has 0 grams of sugars per serving! All flavors have 5 grams of protein per cup, a better balance of calcium to magnesium than many milk beverages, and are generously fortified with vitamins D and B12.
This protein almond shake recipe post was sponsored by So Delicious Dairy Free, but this creamy almond shake really is a recipe that I enjoy often!
Special Diet Notes: Craveable Protein Almond Shake
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian.
- 1 heaping cup ripe, frozen banana chunks (or 1 large banana, frozen and broken into chunks)
- ½ cup dairy-free almond milk beverage, plus additional if desired
- 2 tablespoons creamy almond butter
- 1 tablespoon vanilla dairy-free protein powder (such as Vega Sport Performance; optional)
- 1 medjool date, pitted (soaked if not soft)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch salt (omit if using salted almond butter)
- Ice (optional)
- Sliced almond, to garnish (optional)
- Add the banana, almond milk, almond butter, protein powder, date, cinnamon, and salt, if using, to your blender and blend until smooth. If using a lower power blender, pulse on high several times to help break up the chunks before whizzing away. If needed or desired, add more milk alternative to thin. Alternately, if needed or desired, blend in ice to desired consistency and temperature (I use crushed ice and pulse it first since my blender is wimpy).
- Pour into a glass and garnish with sliced almonds if desired.
115 Comments
I crave a Vega One chocolate smoothie with all natural peanut butter & banana. Yum! ? I have one basically every day.☺️
You and me both, Mickey, but I use the Vanilla 🙂
This is a tough question for me right now, because I have been craving a mango-orange smoothie all summer, and while I make it with mango, orange, vega vanilla protein powder, ice, and a bit of almond milk, it’s still a special sweet treat. My son, however, is still on anything green, especially mint-chocolate chip.
Oops. Hit send a minute to soon. The green in the mint-chocolate chip comes from fresh mint and spinach.
So awesome that you can get your son to drink green goodness!
Oh yes, mango and orange are a magical combo!
I crave a chocolate cherry green smoothie. It is sooooo good.
Ooh, with chocolate chips or cacao nibs pulsed in, too 🙂
I am craving a pina colada inspired shake, anything coconut and I am dreaming of the beach… MMMM…
So funny, I was just re-sharing this oldie but goodie – http://www.godairyfree.org/recipes/pina-colada-smoothie
That sounds yummy! I love all kinds of smoothies. Sometimes, I have a craving for fruity smoothies, such as strawberry banana or tropical fruits like mango and papaya. Other times, I crave chocolate. I like having a chocolate smoothie with peanut butter or maple and pecans. I’m always up for a good new recipe.
Maple pecan sounds divine and it’s been ages since I’ve enjoyed papaya in a smoothie! Thanks for sharing Barbara!
I love and crave a peanut butter smoothie. Sometimes I like chocolate and peanut butter. It really gets my day started and gets me going.
Me too! Don’t tell, but I often make this almond smoothie with pb 🙂
I always crave a strawberry smoothie with frozen bananas, strawberries, apple juice and coconut.
That sounds like an interesting sweet combo!
I love the vega sport mocha, love it with some coffee, almond milk, espresso dynamic greens and some almond butter, best part of being at work 🙂
Wow, talk about a healthy jolt!
this looks delicious! I usually crave a “chunky monkey” –chocolate with PB2 & banana 😉
Love the name!
Anything pb and chocolate or almond joy flavored are at the top of my crave list!!
Now I’m totally craving an almond joy shake 🙂
I love the vanilla vega sport performance protein powder. Thinking about my post-workout shake gives me the extra push to finish my run or strength training session. My basic recipe is a half scoop of powder, unsweetened almond milk, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, a few drops of vanilla stevia, ice or frozen fruit. Depending on what I have on hand it could also include any combination nuts, seeds, and spinach.
I’m so that way, too, Michele – it’s like a reward at the finish line!
It was love at first sip the first time I tried the Vanilla Vega Sports Performance protein powder. I usually make a shake similar to your version above. My basic recipe is half a scoop of protein powder with unsweetened almond milk, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, ice or frozen fruit, and vanilla stevia. Sometimes I add spinach or nuts/nut butter, just depends on what I’m in the mood for. Yuuummmm!
This looks like an amazing breakfast OR snack! So creamy and delicious!
It is!
I’m hooked on the VEGA sport Mocha flavored protein. I add in some spinach, espresso, almond butter or Nuttzo and some Almond milk and I’m good to go 🙂 Love everything VEGA!!!!
They are such a tasty brand! I bet that Nuttzo puts it over the top.
I love the Cookies & Cream Smoothie from the Thrive Energy Cookbook! It’s wonderful after a long brick session!
That one looks so amazing – I’m going to have to try it!
I love nut butters in smoothies! Makes the so thick and creamy and delicious! My favorite is a peanut butter/chocolate combo!
Is there any situation where PB and chocolate doesn’t work well?
I’m always, always, always in the mood for a peanut-butter-chocolate-banana protein smoothie. So good.
Yes, SO good! I recommend a little cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice in that, too 🙂
Definitely my kind of shake! I always have frozen bananas, almond butter, almonds, and dates, but I’ll admit I have not yet tried this Protein Plus version of So Delicious Almond Milk, Alisa. Thanks for this recipe and pointing out this product to me!
Shirley
I think we have similar palates Shirley! Yes, I really like the nutrient balance in the Almond Plus.
I love any smoothies with plenty of greens!
I admire people who drink their greens!
My daughter loves smoothies as her “after-school” snack. I love that this smoothie is naturally sweetened, I’m adding this recipe to my list of smoothie recipes to make for her.
I love that your daughter is enjoying smoothies at a young age!