Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Name: Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup oat milk; ½ teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 tablespoons peanut butter; 2 tablespoons cocoa powder; 1 tablespoon chia seeds; 1 ½ frozen banana ((sliced))

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This decadent chocolate peanut butter banana will satisfy your sweet tooth. It’s full of antioxidants and takes just 5 minutes to make.

Chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie in a glass.

Recipe Highlights

Creamy and nutty, this chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie is ready in just 5 minutes in a blender.
Drink it any time of the day or whenever you’re craving a filling snack.
The chocolate flavor comes from 100% cocoa powder, a rich source of antioxidants.
This recipe makes 16 ounces (2 cups) per serving.

RELATED: Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

6 Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie Benefits

1. Reduces Inflammation

Over time, high levels of inflammation can lead to disease. This smoothie could help lower the risk thanks to the peanut butter and chia seeds. Both ingredients contain healthy omega-3 fats, which have anti-inflammatory effects.

2. Lowers Oxidative Stress

Some of the best foods for fighting oxidative stress are cocoa powder and bananas. Cocoa powder has polyphenols, a type of antioxidant. Bananas also have polyphenols, along with flavonoids and carotenoids.

It’s important to control oxidative stress because it can lead to disease, just like inflammation.

3. Promotes Healthy Digestion

Rich in fiber, this smoothie is great for your digestion. The fiber comes from the banana. Fiber is needed for preventing digestive issues. Cocoa powder also supports good bacteria in the gut.

4. Supports Immune Function

Your immune system is connected to your gut. When your gut is healthy, so is your immune system. Since the cocoa powder has benefits for the gut, it can also help your immunity.

5. Improves Brain Health

Inflammation and oxidative stress can harm your brain as you get older. But eating antioxidant-rich foods can help. Cocoa powder, which is used in this smoothie, is known to support brain function. It’s all thanks to its high content of antioxidants.

6. Elevates Mood

The next time you need a pick-me-up, enjoy this chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie. Cocoa powder antioxidants can improve blood flow when you’re stressed, helping boost your mood.

RELATED: Chocolate Smoothie

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for a chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie.

Oat milk: Bananas taste delicious with oat milk, but you can use your favorite type of milk. Soy milk and cow’s milk will add more protein to your smoothie.
Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract adds depth of flavor to the drink.
Peanut butter: Peanut butter makes smoothies extra creamy and rich. To keep it healthy, use a peanut butter that’s only made of peanuts.
Chia seeds: Chia seeds are slightly nutty, which emphasizes the peanut butter taste.
Cocoa powder: Use 100% cocoa powder without added sweeteners.
Frozen banana: Avoid fresh banana, which will make your smoothie too thin and watery. Frozen banana is best for creating a thick and cold drink.

For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Variations

Protein powder: Make your smoothie even more filling by adding protein powder. Chocolate protein powder will emphasize the chocolate flavor. But you can also use unflavored or vanilla protein powder. This add-in is great for exercise recovery and building muscle. If skin health is more important to you, use collagen powder instead.

Seeds: You can use hemp seeds or flax seeds instead of chia seeds. These options also have a mild nutty flavor. They’re high in anti-inflammatory fats too. Stick to 1 or 2 tablespoons to avoid overwhelming the recipe.

Fruit powder: For stronger banana flavor, add a teaspoon of banana powder. It will add extra antioxidants and vitamins as well. Another option is strawberry powder. This ingredient is great if you enjoy the combination of berries, chocolate, and peanut butter.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Peanut butter, cocoa powder, chia seeds, milk and vanilla in a blender.

Step 1: Put oat milk, vanilla extract, peanut butter, cocoa powder, and chia seeds into the blender.

To prevent air pockets, start with the liquids.

Bananas, peanut butter, cocoa powder, chia seeds, milk and vanilla in a blender.

Step 2: Add frozen banana.

Heaviest ingredients go into the blender last.

Chocolate peanut butter smoothie blended together.

Step 3: Blend until smooth.

Chocolate peanut butter smoothie poured into a cup.

Step 4: Pour into a cup. Serve immediately.

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Blender Tips

Cut fruits before blending.

An easy way to ensure your drink is smooth is to use chopped fruits. This is extra helpful if you’re freezing the fruit. It will be easier for your blender to puree smaller pieces of frozen fruit.

For this smoothie, cut the banana into coins or chunks before freezing it. The chunks can be about the size of apple wedges. Never put a whole frozen banana in your blender. This can damage the blades and container.

Add the lightest ingredients first.

When loading ingredients in your blender, start with the lightest ingredients and finish with the heaviest. By following this order, you’ll reduce air pockets and get the smoothest blend.

The first ingredients to go in should be the liquids and add-ins, like nut butters and powders. Next, you can add leafy greens and fresh fruits. Finish with frozen fruit or ice.

Blend on high to avoid overheating the motor.

To keep your blender in good shape, blend on high for most of the time. It will keep the motor of your blender cool. You can blend on low for the first 10 seconds. This will help start the pureeing process. Quickly increase the speed to high.

Improve blending with a tamper.

While the blades are moving, put a blender tamper through the lid and move it in a circle, hitting 4 sides of the container. This will move ingredients toward the blades and ensure everything is evenly blended.

Use a blade scraper to avoid waste.

After you pour the smoothie, there will likely be some leftover in the blender. You can easily remove it using a blade scraper. This tool will help you reach underneath the blades and get every last drop.

Expert Tips

For the best taste and texture, choose bananas that have a yellow-brown peel and sweet smell.
To make the smoothie thicker, add ice cubes or extra frozen banana.
If you want to thin the drink, add a splash of oat milk and blend for 10 seconds.
You can add a chopped and pitted Medjool date or 1 tablespoon date syrup to make the smoothie sweeter.
Refrigerate leftover smoothie in a a jar with an airtight lid. The flavor and texture will decline after 1-2 days, so be sure to drink it soon.

Questions You May Have

What does peanut butter do in smoothies?

Peanut butter boosts the flavor, richness, and creaminess of smoothies. It also adds some anti-inflammatory fats and protein.

Are chocolate peanut butter smoothies good for you?

A chocolate peanut butter smoothie can be healthy if it’s made with whole, natural ingredients and little to no sweetener.

Do I need to use oat milk?

You can use any type of milk for this smoothie. This includes dairy milk and plant-based milks, like almond milk or soy milk.

If you tried this Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and let me know how you like it in the comments below.