This Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie tastes like a milkshake, but it’s dairy-free and naturally sweetened. All you need is 5 simple ingredients!
Why You’ll Love It
This smoothie recipe is filling and delicious, with 11 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber per serving. It makes a delicious breakfast, or mid-day snack, and it’s easy to customize.
When you use a dairy-free milk, like almond milk or coconut milk, it’s naturally vegan, too!
If you don’t have peanut butter on hand, feel free to swap it for another nut butter, like cashew butter or almond butter. You can add in any other ingredients you love, like greek yogurt, flaxseed, or chia seeds, too.
This shake is totally flexible.
Ingredients You’ll Need
What’s in a chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie?
- Peanut butter
- Frozen bananas
- Cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
- Almond milk (or milk of choice)
- Vanilla extract
You can add a big handful of spinach, if you’d like to sneak some greens in, too. You can’t taste it at all!
See substitution ideas below if you need them.
Want to add extra protein? Try adding in a tablespoon or two of hemp hearts, which have the 9 essential amino acids your body needs, or a scoop of your favorite protein powder.
How to Make It
- Combine. Add the frozen banana, peanut butter, cacao powder, milk, and vanilla to a blender.
- Blend. Blend everything together until it’s smooth and creamy. If you need to make any adjustments, now is the time to make them. You can add a little ice, if you want a thicker texture, or you can add a little extra milk or water, to thin it out, as needed. Keep in mind that the flavor will be slightly more diluted if you add extra ice and water.
- Enjoy! Serve this smoothie right away for the best taste and texture. You can try serving it as a smoothie bowl with some crunchy granola on top, if you’d like a breakfast you can eat with a spoon!
Note: Smoothies are never quite as delicious after you store them in the fridge, but check out my make-ahead tips below if you want an easier morning.
Make-Ahead Smoothie Bags
Want to make this smoothie ahead of time? Add the frozen banana, sliced into coins, cacao powder, peanut butter, and spinach into a freezer bag or airtight container.
You can store it in the fridge for up to 3 months, so fee free to make as many batches as you’d like to have on hand.
When you’re ready to make a smoothie, dump the contents of the bag into the blender and add the liquid ingredients, like milk and vanilla. When blending a smoothie bag, you’ll sometimes need to add extra liquid, since everything is frozen this time. Feel free to add it a splash at a time, until everything blends.
As a result, smoothie bags can sometimes be slightly less flavorful. Feel free to add a touch of honey or maple syrup, to help boost the flavor, if you need to.
Need a nut-free recipe? Try using sunflower butter, instead.
Tips for Making the Best Smoothie
1. Use frozen bananas. This is the key to creating an ice cream like texture, so make sure you have some bananas stashed in your freeze before you make this recipe.
I’ve covered how to freeze bananas, but it’s important to know that you need to peel your bananas before you freeze them. The peels are nearly impossible to remove after they are frozen.
For the easiest blending, cut the bananas into small pieces (like coins) so they will break down quickly in the blender. I usually freeze banana whole, then cut them later, but you can freeze them as coins first if you prefer.
2. Don’t use too much liquid. If you want a thick and creamy texture, start with less liquid than you might expect to. I typically plan on a 1/2 cup of milk per 1 large frozen banana. You can always add ice later to help thicken up a smoothie, but that will dilute the flavor, so it’s best to start with less liquid, since you can always add more, as needed, to help everything blend.
3. Taste as you go. If you want something sweeter, you can add a squeeze of honey or a splash of maple syrup. If you prefer a darker chocolate flavor, add more cacao powder.
4. Serve right away. Smoothies have the best flavor and texture when you enjoy them straight from the blender. For a make-ahead option, you can freeze the ingredients (minus the liquid) in a storage bag, so they are ready to dump into the blender for a faster morning. Just add liquid and blend!
Prefer a smoothie recipe without banana? Try my favorite chocolate smoothie, which is made with dates instead, for a fruit-sweetened dessert.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana , sliced for easy blending
- 1/2 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
- 1 tablespoon cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the banana, milk, cacao powder, peanut butter, and vanilla to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Taste and adjust the texture as needed, adding a little more liquid if you need help blending, or a handful of ice if you'd like a thicker texture. Just keep in mind that adding extra ice or liquid will dilute the flavor slightly. Feel free to add a little more cacao powder for a stronger chocolate flavor, or a squeeze of honey or maple syrup, if you want a sweeter taste.
- Serve right away for the best taste and texture. See the tips in the post above for making smoothie bags that you can store in the freezer, for a make-ahead idea.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
If you try this chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below so I’ll know how you like it!
Just made this shake; I’ve been back and forth for almost an hour as to whether or not I should make it this late (It’s after 11pm); but I saw in the comments section one of your followers has this when her kids are in bed & she doesn’t feel the slightest bit guilty as it’s so healthy; so I thought, who am I to argue???? 🙂
So glad I did, absolutely delish! Again Megan, you’ve outdone yourself 😉
I’ve had this recipe for a while now but just made it after receiving your reminder-post of sweet treats. Thank you for the reminder–it is delicious and just what I was looking for this afternoon!
This is amazing! Thank you for sharing it : )
Just made it. It’s really good, taste like real milkshake.
This was the most best shake I ever tried. Yummy
I made this with cacao powder ….and a little stevia powder instead of maple syrup…it was a very nice alternative to chocolate shakes, and so much better for you. Thank you I will be making this again…
Hello there. Me and my niece are about to make one of your recipes and we are so excited. My niece wanted to send you a little note and it as follows 🙂 Shes 6…
cat
doll
From and thank you,
nyah
and
kunji
fuyjgh
This sucker is delicious! I have made it at least 10 times and every time I am in love. I have started subbing molasses for some of the syrup and adding cinnamon to regulate the impact on glucose levels (and because its delicious. This recipe is totally milkshake quality and will curb the worst chocolate/sweet cravings for sure.
Yummy!!! I just added 1/4 cp. of oats for extra thickness
wow! this is so good! Tastes like I ordered a chocolate peanut butter shake from an old fashioned ice cream shoppe!
Do you let the frozen bananas sit out of the freezer for a little while first? I like them “sorta” frozen. I usually freeze and then defrost for about 15 mins.
I always throw a handful of spinach in the mix! You don’t even notice it. Thanks for this awesome website!
Wow. This is so amazing!!! I love the creamy and smooth texture of it… It really hits the spot:)
Thank you SO MUCH!!!
This shake is delicious! I made it exactly as the recipe says and I love it. Thank you so much for all of your dairy free recipe’s 🙂
I can’t eat bananas and this sounds yummy… Any other options that might work?
Dates would add a nice sweetness, but I can’t think of anything else that is quite as creamy as bananas.
I absolutely love this recipe. I refer to it several times on my blog when I talk about what my family eats every week because this is a great healthy treat that my family enjoys!
Wow! I have to give this a try! I’m trying hard to shed the weight and get into shape but I’m so bad with my own temptations, I think with this it could help stave off my choco and peanut butter cravings for a while.
My fav smoothie at the moment is diced up and frozen mango, frozen raspeberries blitzed with some fresh orange juice no ice needed and all blitzed with a hand blitzer so no need for lengthy clean ups of larger mixers! What could be better? Comes out really thick and lush! And this wonderful recipe from a big fat bloke haha
Wow! I made this for me and my husband one night as an after dinner treat. This was delicious! Now I keep frozen bananas and ice cubes in the freezer at all times. Thanks for sharing!
This is literally the best banana milkshake recipe ever!! I’m so happy to have this as an option this summer, as i recently found out I need to stay away from dairy. I made this for others who had no idea it was made with bananas, and it was a huge hit! THANK YOU
Literally the best shake I’ve had! Your recipes are amazing!
Will this work with soy milk rather than almond milk?
All of your recipes look so good! Do you have the calorie breakdown and serving size of each?
No, please see my FAQ regarding nutrition info: https://detoxinista.com/about/frequently-asked-questions/
My Vitamix came in a week ago and I’ve made this shake 3-4 times since then. Tonight, I tried out a different recipe that called for dairy and a LOT more sugar. It tasted about the same as this one and it completely melted within 5 minutes. I’ll be sticking with this shake! Thanks for the recipe!
Megan,
You have changed my life! Your recipes are amazing. I usually do one of your shakes in the morning, a soup in the afternoon, and some of your quick frozen dinners in the evening. Plus I make your cookies, cakes and snacks. I haven’t had one I didn’t like. I’m dairy free and don’t really care for meat. I’ve past along your website to several of my friends, family and co-workers. They all rave about your stuff.
Thanks Again!
Tira
This is the lower fat healthier cooler cousin to Jamba Juice’s “peanut butter mood”.
They taste almost the same! What a wonderful treat! My husband goes “bananas” for this…hehehe 😉
So do I 😀
I made this recipe this morning and my four year old loved it. I loved it too!
Can chia seeds be used instead of hemp hearts?
Second recipe I’ve tried…and it’s AWESOME!!! It’s exactly what I was hoping for…smooth, delicious, and refreshing!
Hi, Megan! I’m a fellow IIN grad and blogger and love your recipes! Can’t wait to get your cookbook. I made some modifications to the recipe and came up with what I called a Chunky Monkey Chocolate PB Smoothie: http://rachelsnourishingkitchen.wordpress.com/2014/07/15/chunky-monkey-peanut-butter-chocolate-milkshake-dairy-free/. Thanks for all you do to inspire us!!
I I just found this today and had to try it. I fallowed it as faithfully as I could with what I had on hand! I was so incredibly good! Maybe the best thing to ever come out of my Vitamix! Thank you for sharing this! Brandy
Would substituting almond milk for regular milk make a huge difference or any at all?
I was going to make this for dessert last night and realized too late that I forgot to buy peanut butter. So I made it without and it makes a very tasty chocolate shake (or chocolate milk if you leave out the icecubes).
Megan, I found your recipe on facebook and have to tell you thank you for posting it. The shake is awesome. What I am really amazed though is by how good I feel after drinking it. I have a little insulin resistance going on and am pregnant on top of that. This shake keeps me from crashing in the afternoon. What do you think it is about the shake and what other recipes would you recommend? So grateful! 🙂
Can you use 2 percent regular milk can not use almond vicky
this so good u=i went to eat all day and every day
I’ve made this recipe many times using either maple syrup or honey but tonight I made it for the first time with 3 medjool dates to replace the sweetener and sweetness from the frozen banana and extra ice cubes. I did not need to add the salt. It tasted almost exactly like the original! Delicious!!!
Best smoothie I’ve had in a long time! Sometimes I add a handful of spinach or frozen carrots to smoothie for variety.
Nab
So perfect! Thanks! and not too sweet (:
I like peanut butter in my smoothies also. I’ll have to try this one.
One of the versions of peanut butter smoothie I like is a Blueberry Peanut Butter Smoothie.
Recipe for 2 servings
2 cups of almond milk
1 frozen banana
1 to 1.5 cups of frozen blueberries
4 tablespoons of peanut butter
handful of spinach
optional: cocoa powder, or chocolate protein powder, kale
I made my husband the shake again today, but unfortunately we did not have any ice, so I substituted water. Since I do not like bananas much with chocolate and peanut butter I opted again for the frozen avocado in mine (I used two larges avocados – note: I don’t even like the taste of avocados or eat them at all otherwise). Because I didn’t have ice I used about 6 cupfuls (from the small plastic inlet cover of my vitamix) of water as it was really thick and creamy. To no avail the recipe just got creamier and began to whip up even more, so I gave into it being more like ice cream or a mousse. I used two small stevia scoops (in place of maple syrup since I am eliminating all sugar from my diet for a few weeks) from the container of dried stevia extract from Trader Joe’s (note: pure stevia leaf is bitter and grainy, so I am not sure how if would fare in this recipe) and added another 1/8 cup of peanut butter and another tablespoon of cocoa, so you will need to increase your maple syrup accordingly (add 1/2 Tbs more). This is the most awesome and creamy dessert ever!!! I am wondering now if I can make whipped cream with avocados, vanilla, and maple syrup? I’ll be experimenting with this soon. But I dare say my little 11 month old is a huge fan of my new concoction of your recipe which really just a super thick version of the shake making more like a frozen mousse! Yes, she is able to have a little chocolate here and there with no reaction. With 4 younger brothers and sisters that is a God-send. Of course all her siblings love the concoction as well. Thanks for your insights and recipes. I downloadable your new recipe book and look forward to using it soon. Blessings, Jennifer
I have a recipe like that made with avocado and coconut milk. So delicious!
You’ve inspired me to make it again!
faganeatspaleo.com
OMG. I never write reviews. But this was beyond amazing (and easy). I got a Vitamix for Christmas, so I’ve been on a smoothie/nut milk making kick recently. I wanted to recreate my favorite chocolate-peanut butter-banana milkshake from my local ice cream shop, but healthier. Not only is this recipe much healthier, but it honestly tastes as delicious and creamy as the dairy version made with ice cream and milk. Better, actually, since it doesn’t have that cloying commercial sweetness from corn syrup-laden chocolate syrup. Plus, I’m saving a lot of money by making it myself and not spending $6 on each shake :). Thank you so much!!
This shake is SOOO much better than any other shake I’ve ever had! Number one it tastes better. Number 2, it doesn’t make me feel like crap and make my stomach explode at 2 am. Lol…I’m lactose intolerant. I’m new to your blog and I’m totally obsessed! Thank you for this recipe and all the others who help a sugarholic such as myself get her fix yet still be healthy! Whoever could have imagined? Certainly not me!
My preference is Silk coconut milk over whole milk( lactose intolerant) to reduce calories and fat, use PB2 powdered peanut butter plus some oatmeal, about 1/3 cup. Some sweet pitted cherries help you to sleep
Thank you for this delicious and easy to prepare shake. I just made a gallon of almond milk and I was happy to use it today. I bought a great product I thought you all might be interested in. At Costco, Honeyville organic butter powder. Gluten free and made in the USA. It’s funny though – their website doesn’t have this one listed yet. Only their older peanut butter powder but this one has: peanuts, coconut sugar and sea salt. That’s it and it’s SO good. Only 1 gram of fat per serving too. I added it to your shake and it was fabulous! Thanks again.
Sorry, I meant PEANUT BUTTER POWDER
II was concerned about my almond milk going bad as I had it in the fridge for a few days, so I poured it into my muffin tins and mini muffin tins and froze them. Then popped them out into ziplock bags to store in the freezer. Worked beautifully today with this awesome shake. I just didn’t add the additional ice cubes, yet added a 1/2 cup of Zico coconut water. Delish! Thanks again.
Delicious thank you! =)
What kind of cocoa powder do you use? I have both Valrohona Poudre De Cacao and Nativa Raw Cacao powder?!
I usually use raw cacao in smoothies.
I loved this recipe so much, I made it for a girl scout troop for their healthy eating badge. No one could believe it wasn’t a chocolate ice cream shake! Great job!
I added a handful of baby spinach, cacao powder and no maple syrup (sweet enough with banana) and it was delicious! My 8 year old loved it & said it was the best way to drink his spinach. 🙂
I just wanted to point out an error in this delicious recipe.
You say it serves two, but it’s a serving for one person! 😉
I tried this taste amazing!! I like that I had everything on hand. No special purchased ingredients. Delicious