Naturally sweet and rich, this chocolate smoothie bowl is made with just 4 ingredients. See how easy it is to prepare this healthy treat at home.
Recipe Highlights
- This chocolate smoothie bowl is a very thick smoothie that’s eaten with a spoon. It takes just 5 minutes to make.
- Healthy yet decadent, it gets its flavor from high-quality cocoa powder. (The quality makes a huge difference in taste.)
- The perfect ratio of unsweetened almond milk, date syrup, cocoa powder, and frozen bananas creates this thick and tasty smoothie bowl.
RELATED: Strawberry Smoothie Bowl
5 Chocolate Smoothie Bowl Benefits
1. Contains Antioxidants
Eating this smoothie bowl is a great way to increase your intake of antioxidants. These compounds are found in cocoa powder and bananas.
Antioxidants are good for you because they protect healthy cells. This can help reduce the risk of disease.
2. Encourages Good Digestion
Bananas promote healthy bowel movements because they contain a lot of fiber.
Cocoa powder also supports the growth of good bacteria in the gut. This is important because gut bacteria helps your body digest food and absorb nutrients.
3. Promotes Immune Function
The gut benefits of cocoa powder are also good for immunity. When your gut is healthy, so is your immune system. Your gut bacteria work to control your immune response.
4. Supports Brain Wellness
Cocoa powder antioxidants can reduce inflammation. Over time, these anti-inflammatory effects can support brain function as you age.
5. Boosts Your Mood
Chocolate, including cocoa powder, increases serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a hormone that has natural mood-boosting properties.
RELATED: 12 Benefits of Eating Bananas
Ingredient Notes
- Oat milk: Slightly nutty and sweet, oat milk tastes great with chocolate. You can also use any milk you like, including dairy and other plant-based milk like almond or soy.
- Vanilla extract: Good quality vanilla extract is like a flavor enhancer and it goes well with all the other ingredients.
- Cocoa powder: This smoothie bowl gets its chocolate flavor from cocoa powder. To keep it healthy, use a cocoa powder with little to no sweeteners.
- Frozen bananas: Frozen bananas give this smoothie bowl a creamy and thick consistency. It also adds natural sweetness, along with essential vitamins and minerals.
For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Variations
Protein powder: Adding ½ to 1 scoop of powdered protein will make this recipe even healthier. Follow the instructions on the package to figure out how much to add. Chocolate protein powder will deepen the chocolate flavor, but you can also use vanilla or unflavored powder.
Seeds: You can add 1 tablespoon of flax seeds, chia seeds, and hemp seeds to this smoothie bowl. Put it in the blender after the powders and before the bananas. These ingredients contain healthy fats, plant-based protein, antioxidants, and vitamins.
Nut butters: Chocolate and nut butter are delicious together. Options include peanut butter, cashew butter, and almond butter. Start with 1 spoonful so it doesn’t overwhelm the recipe. They’ll help thicken the smoothie while adding protein.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Pour oat milk into the blender. Add vanilla extract.
Always start with the liquid ingredients.
Step 2: Add cocoa powder and frozen bananas.
Add ingredients in that order. The frozen bananas should be the last to go into the blender.
Step 3: Blend until smooth. Start on a low speed, then increase to high.
Use the tamper tool to move the ingredients around in the blender.
Step 4: Spoon into a bowl. Serve immediately.
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Blender Tips
Put in liquids first.
The secret to making a good smoothie bowl is to load ingredients from lightest to heaviest. Begin with the liquid ingredients, then follow with any powders, seeds, and nut butters. Finish with frozen fruits.
Use a tamper to push ingredients down.
Since smoothie bowls are mostly made of frozen fruit, it’s essential to use a tamper when blending the ingredients. A tamper will push the frozen fruit toward the blades, which will promote efficient blending.
Begin on low speed, then increase to high.
When making any smoothie bowl, begin to low speed. Increase the speed according to the time listed in the recipe. Avoid blending on low speed for a long time, which is not good for the blender’s motor.
Expert Tips
- When freezing bananas, always cut them into coins first. This will make it easier for your blender to break the food down.
- For the best flavor, choose ripe bananas. You can tell a banana is ripe if it has a yellow peel with some brown spots.
- If the smoothie is too thick, add a splash of milk and blend for 10 seconds.
- Smoothie bowls taste best freshly made. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in airtight container, but it will become thinner over time. Enjoy it within 1-2 days.
Questions You May Have
When part of a healthy diet and made with minimal sweeteners, chocolate smoothie bowls are nutritious. The key is to use quality cocoa powder and unsweetened milk.
To make the smoothie bowl thick like soft-serve ice cream, use frozen fruit as a base.
Avoid using fresh bananas, which will create a thin smoothie bowl. Frozen bananas are essential for adding thickness.
A smoothie bowl is a lot thicker than a smoothie. It’s meant to be eaten with a spoon. A smoothie has a thinner consistency, so it can be sipped through a straw.
Related
- Chocolate Almond Smoothie
- Acai Smoothie Bowl
- Mango Smoothie Bowl
- Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl
- Greek Yogurt Smoothie
- Oatmeal Smoothie
- Peanut Butter Smoothie
If you tried this Chocolate Smoothie Bowl recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and let me know how you like it in the comments below.
Chocolate Smoothie Bowl
INGREDIENTS
- ¾ cup oat milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 frozen bananas (sliced)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Put oat milk, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, and frozen bananas into a blender. Secure lid.Place ingredients into the blender in the order listed.
- Blend until smooth. Start the blender on LOW speed for 30 seconds. Increase speed to HIGH for a full minute. Use the tamper tool to help move the ingredients in the blender.
- Spoon into a bowl. Serve immediately.Add optional toppings like sliced banana and cocoa powder.
EQUIPMENT
NOTES
- The key to making the best smoothie bowl is to use a tamper. It allows you to push ingredients around without touching the blades.
- When freezing bananas, always cut them into coins first. This will make it easier for your blender to break down.
- For the best flavor, choose ripe bananas. You can tell a banana is ripe if it has a yellow peel with some brown spots.
- To keep it healthy, use a cocoa powder with little to no sweeteners.
- Instead of oat milk, you can also use any milk you like, including dairy and other plant-based milk like almond or soy.
- If the smoothie is too thick, add a splash of milk and blend for 10 seconds.
- Since smoothie bowls are mostly made of frozen fruit, it’s essential to use a tamper when blending the ingredients. A tamper will push the frozen fruit toward the blades, which will promote efficient blending.
- Smoothie bowls taste best freshly made. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in airtight container, but it will become thinner over time. Enjoy it within 1-2 days.