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This Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie tastes like a milkshake, but it’s made without any added sugar. The ratio of ingredients below gives you the perfect texture every time!
If you’re trying to cut back on added sugar, but you want to enjoy something sweet, this smoothie recipe is the perfect solution. It’s filling enough to make for breakfast, or you can share it for an easy snack.
Using frozen banana is key to this recipe, as it gives the smoothie an ice cream-like texture. Paired with peanut butter and ground flax seeds, this smoothie packs extra protein and omega-3 fatty acids in each sip.
Ingredients You’ll Need
All you need is a few simple ingredients, including frozen bananas (yes, frozen is key!), peanut butter, and a little liquid to make this smoothie recipe come together. Be sure to freeze ripe bananas, with plenty of brown spots on their skin, to achieve a sweet flavor.
Flaxseed adds filling fiber and helps the shake thicken up even more, but you can omit these if you don’t keep ground flax on hand. Chia seeds or rolled oats would also make an excellent add-in for thickening purposes. Feel free to use cashew butter, almond butter, or any other nut butter you have on hand.
Add a scoop of protein powder or Greek yogurt for extra protein, or switch up the flavor by adding cocoa powder or a dash of cinnamon. You can customize a smoothie with any add-ins you like!
Pro Tip: Be sure to remove the peel before freezing bananas. The peel is difficult to remove after freezing.
How to Make a Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Slice a frozen banana into small chunks for easier blending. Then add the banana pieces, peanut butter, ground flax seeds, vanilla extract, and almond milk to a high-speed blender.
Secure the lid and blend until very smooth, which takes about 60 seconds. You may need to use a tamper to keep everything blending smoothly. If you need to add an extra splash of water or milk, add just 1 tablespoon at a time, so the smoothie doesn’t become too runny in texture.
For a thicker smoothie texture, add a handful of ice to the blended smoothie. Secure the lid and blend again, until the ice is pulverized, with no visible chunks remaining.
Adding ice cubes will dilute the flavor slightly, so don’t add too much at once! You can always keep adding more if needed. This is a good option if you prefer to enjoy your smoothie with a spoon, rather than sipping it through a straw.
Serve this creamy peanut butter banana smoothie right away, for the best flavor and texture. Pour it into a glass, or serve it as a smoothie bowl with your favorite toppings, like a handful of peanut butter granola, hemp seeds, or sliced banana.
Any leftover smoothie can be poured into an ice pop mold and stored in the freezer if you want a frozen treat for later. Or, you can store it in the fridge for up to 48 hours, if you don’t mind a more runny texture later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, of course! You can use any non-dairy milk like oat milk, coconut milk, soy milk, or even just plain water for blending this smoothie. (Regular milk works, too, if you don’t need a dairy-free recipe.) The combination of peanut butter and frozen banana provides a creamy texture, so the liquid isn’t a big deal in this case.
Feel free to add in a big handful of spinach to this smoothie, if you don’t mind it having a green hue. The spinach won’t affect the peanut butter smoothie flavor, so it’s a great way to get more leafy greens into your life. (If you prefer to use kale, try my Tropical Kale Smoothie, instead.)
Check out my chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie, for another variation.
You can add a squeeze of honey (but it’s not vegan, FYI), a splash of maple syrup, or a pitted date to this recipe, for a sweeter flavor.
Looking for more smoothie variations? Try my favorite green smoothie, PB&J Smoothie, Flax Seed Smoothie, or Oatmeal Smoothie for more ideas.
Ingredients
- ½ cup almond milk (or water)
- 1 frozen banana , cut into pieces
- 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Handful of ice (optional; to thicken)
Instructions
- In a high-speed blender, combine the almond milk, frozen banana, peanut butter, flax seeds, and vanilla. Blend until very smooth, stopping to scrape down the blender as needed.
- At this point you can make adjustments, adding an extra tablespoon of water or milk if the smoothie isn't blending well, or you can add a handful of ice cubes to help it thicken up into more of a slushy texture. Just keep in mind that additions will dilute the flavor slightly, so keep them to a minimum. You can also add a squeeze of honey, or a splash of maple syrup, for extra sweetness.
- Once the smoothie is blended, it's ready to serve right away for the best taste and texture. Top with extra sliced banana or a drizzle of peanut butter, if you'd like.
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Notes
Nutrition
If you try this peanut butter banana smoothie recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it.
Delish! I used 12 oz of unsweetened almond milk & added non-flavored protein powder. Soo tasty – I love it!
Yummy!
Loved this! I blended with unsweetened almond Malk & it turned out so creamy!
This is perfect as written! I want to drink it every day for the rest of my life 🙂
Delicious!!! I love it! Thank you!
Love this smoothie!
Love your peanut butter shake recipe. I can not do flax seed (or chia seeds). What else would you recommend? Thank you.
It’s not necessary for the flavor, so you can leave it out or you could try an extra spoonful of peanut butter or a little avocado for creaminess.
I make this smoothie with PB2 powder instead of peanut butter and it’s just as smooth and creamy minus the fat and calories. I also add spinach and use it as a meal on the go for busy days. Just found your blog and I’m loving all your content.
Thanks for letting me know! Hope you’ll enjoy more recipes soon. 🙂
How much powder did you use?
I did the same thing and just used the equivalent to what the recipe calls for! Came out so delicious!
I did the same thing as well! It was delicious. Added some cinnamon 😋
I love your smoothie combinations. Your ratios are always spot-on! I thought 1/2 cup of liquid might not be enough for this smoothie, but it was perfect. (And my frozen banana was even pretty big!)
I saw that you posted this today and made it right away. Wow, it really is like a milkshake! So good, and guilt-free without the added sugar. Yum!!