Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie

I think it’s that time of year to slide in the protein chocolate peanut butter smoothies. After plenty of feel-good food that also sticks to the ribs, I just need something…refreshing.

With the combination of rich cocoa powder, sweet banana chunks, and creamy, soft natural peanut butter – I am in a good mood knowing that I also got my protein and plant-based fiber in.

This vegan protein smoothie has a total of 25 grams of muscle-building protein in one glass.

No protein powder needed – just healthy, wholesome, plant-based ingredients.

Protein Value In Each Ingredient

1. 1/2 cup soy milk | 4g
2. 1 frozen ripe banana | 1g
3. 2 tablespoons cocoa powder | 2g
4. 2 tablespoons chia seeds | 4g
5. 1 tablespoon peanut butter | 4g
6. 1/2 cup oat bran | 10g

Total Protein = 25g

More ideas on how to include more plant-based protein from 10 Cheap Plant-Based Protein Sources.

More Smoothie Recipes

• Pineapple Orange Smoothie 
• Banana Milkshake

My protein chocolate peanut butter smoothie was bursting and spilling out of my glass cup. It was out of control. So grab those straws and spoons – this snack is more like a meal.

If you were looking for a thick plant-based smoothie recipe that’s generous, creamy, and frosty – you came to the right place. 

Tips To A Thick Protein Smoothie

1. Use cold and frozen ingredients as often as you can. 
2. I used frozen bananas and some ice to add real substance to this smoothie. 
3. When oats are combined with liquid, they thicken up and expand – use them to your advantage  
4. Similarly to oats, chia seeds will also help create a chunky smoothie. A little goes a long way, though.

How To Freeze Banana

There are two ways to freeze a banana and it depends on if you want to foot the work now or later. I flip-flop both ways, depending on my laziness levels at the given moment. 

For any way you choose, I suggest starting with a very ripe banana. Ripe bananas become naturally sweet, which allows you to omit or reduce the addition of sugar/sweetener in the protein chocolate peanut butter smoothie. 

However to sweeten things up, feel free to add a couple or dates or date paste.

Freeze The Banana Whole 

Once the banana is ripe, throw the whole thing in the freezer. No additional steps needed. If you plan on using the banana for a smoothie that same day, freeze it for at least 3 or so hours. 

Easy, right? The work just comes later.

Unpeel And Cut Banana To Freeze

Unpeel a banana as you normally do. Once that’s done, cut up the banana into about ½ inch chunks. Place the piece on a plate and stick it into the freezer. No need to wrap or cover – just let them be cool, calm and collected all on their own. 

If you are batch freezing bananas, you can use a freezer-safe bag to keep things organized and make more space. 

For cut up bananas, freeze for at least an hour.

How To Unpeel A Frozen Banana

If you’ve thrown the entire banana into the freezer, then you’ll have to deal with the unpeeling later. 

The peels will be frozen and it will be much more challenging to unpeel them. However, there are a couple of ways to get this done. 

1. Run warm water over the frozen banana for a few seconds. 
2. Microwave the frozen banana. 
3. Cut the banana peels with a knife. 

For details on how to effectively unpeel a frozen banana, check out 3 Ways To Unpeel A Frozen Banana. 

Best Blender To Use 

Most blenders are pretty good at making smoothies. But if you want your protein smoothies perfectly creamy and whipped-like, a high-powered blender is a great way to get that result. 

I use Nutribullet for all of my personal smoothies. It also comes with a to-go lid and cup, which is great when you need to just blend and go. 

If you’re making smoothies for a crowd or for more than one person, use a larger blender like Oster. 

Want more protein for breakfast? Check out our Peanut Butter Protein Baked Oats.

Did you try out this Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie recipe?

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Get started with a plant-forward diet for the low-low with our Frugal Plant-Based Guide.