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.
117 Comments
This looks so nice, I am going to try this the moment I get home! Well at least after I’ve frozen the banana.
Quick question though, what is a Medjool date? Not heard of this before??
Here is a primer on dates – http://www.thekitchn.com/baking-with-dates-which-variety-reigns-supreme-175477
I crave a healthy chocolate vegan protein shake!
Great recipe; I would have to throw in some blueberries & wheat germ as well !
I’m so surprised by the wheat germ notes – I’ll have to think about using that next time.
Banana or chocolate please!
I’m craving Vega Chocolate, Blueberry and Banana with Rice Milk smoothie.
Interesting – I don’t hear of the chocolate-blueberry combo very often.
I like anything that has banana and peanut butter, especially my smoothies.
i would like a mango smoothie
I crave smoothies with almond butter, spinach and frozen berries — so good!!
This smoothie looks pretty craveable to me, but lately I’ve been loving chocolate and peanut butter smoothies made with frozen zucchini, frozen banana, frozen spinach, powdered PB, chocolate protein powder, and cashew milk. AMAZING. With Autumn approaching, I’ll make the switch to pumpkin pie smoothies, yum!
Zucchini?! Now that is unique!
I love chocolate dairy free protein with a banana.
It’s the simple things – this makes great pudding, too!
Anything pumpkin!
Yes! Looking forward to pumpkin season!
I crave chocolate for my smoothies
I crave chocolate for everything 🙂
Peanut Butter Banana smoothies with some greens us my usual go to smoothie mix.
I think that is the crowd favorite 🙂
I crave any shake with banana and peanut butter, yum!! Smoothies is that one thing that can really conquer any cravings. My favorite time to have them are mid morning when you need a little something extra to get you through until lunch.
I totally agree Ashley!
My favorite smoothie flavor is Chocolate & Cherry: Frozen cherries, Cocoa powder, Almond milk – Yum!
Yes! With chocolate chips, too 🙂
A creamy almond butter smoothie with coconut milk and mango would be a great tropical treat.
Almond AND mango – unique!
I can’t wait to try this almond smoothie, it sounds delicious. I love blackberries, bananas and greens together.
I love the way blackberries hide the greens 🙂
I love peach smoothies in the summer!
Yes! We can’t forget about peaches 🙂
This smoothie sounds so delicious. I can’t wait to try it. My favorite smoothies tend to be more on the fruity side. Strawberry banana is one of my favorites.
A natural pair 🙂
Coffee gets me up in the morning, but smoothies get me through the afternoon slump. This is a lot like one my kids and I often enjoy after school (that one includes unsweetened cocoa powder). We’ll be trying yours today!
Sounds like you need a latte smoothie!