Vegan Chocolate Protein Smoothie

Vegan Chocolate Protein Smoothie Ingredients

This is a pretty classic list of smoothie ingredients, but there's something about this specific combination that's just addictive! It also has a really great nutritional profile to get your day started with plant-based protein (over 12 grams!) and fiber (9+ grams). As a Master Certified Health Education Specialist with a Master of Public Health degree, it's important to me that the dishes I create not only TASTE good but DO good in your body.

• Unsweetened, plain almond milk - Use store-bought, make your own, or try Joi plant-based almond milk concentrate (my code eatingbyelaine gets 15% off!) for a perfectly creamy smoothie base.
• Medjool dates - I include 5-6 large, pitted Medjool dates. These add a natural sweetness and great nutrition!
• Raw, creamy almond butter - I always have the best luck with a newer jar of almond butter since it's runny and easy to measure! With a powerful blender, though, you can even use the harder sections from the bottom of the jar.
• Unsweetened cocoa powder - The darker the better! Greater percentages of pure cocoa flavanols in your powder mean more of the nutritional benefits of cocoa beans.
• Chia & hemp seeds - These blend right into the smoothie, so there's no grainy or crunchy texture, and you're left with the incredible nutrition from chia and hemp seeds!
• Plain, unsweetened protein powder - Lately I've been loving this Pumpkin Seed Protein! It's made from one ingredient (pumpkin seeds) and doesn't have a strong flavor, so the chocolate in this recipe stays front and center.
• Pure vanilla extract - Vanilla always makes the chocolate shine.
• Optional veggies - I always add a handful of fresh baby spinach if I have it in the kitchen! You can't taste it and I'm always happy when I can get a serving of veggies into my kid's day. Another option is frozen riced cauliflower, which is another hidden veggie that you can't taste in smoothies.

All About Chocolate

The health benefits of chocolate come from antioxidants called flavanols found in the cocoa solids. When consumed in large amounts, years of nutrition studies have shown that flavanols in chocolate are nutritious in so many ways and really benefit your overall health. I really love the 365 brand of cocoa powder from Whole Foods and use it ALL the time in my kitchen!

All About Almonds

This smoothie is PACKED with plant-based protein, which is so important for vegans to get into their diet! A lot of that comes from almonds, which are low in carbohydrates and high in protein.  They also offer a good source of fiber, healthy fats, vitamin E and magnesium in addition to iron and calcium. I like the raw almond butter from Trader Joe's, but my favorite is to buy raw almonds in bulk and make my own almond milk and almond butter!

Make-Ahead Smoothie Jars

It's surprisingly easy to meal prep smoothies. This is one of my favorite ways to get ahead of a busy morning...especially because I am NOT a morning person! Add everything but the liquids into a freezer-safe jar or storage bag. In the morning, dump it into your blender and add the almond milk, vanilla, and ice. Once everything is blended you can pour it back into the freezer jar and have a frosty-cold glass!

My Smoothie Secrets

At this point I feel confident calling myself a smoothie expert! I even wrote an entire cookbook of my favorite smoothie recipes. It's called Rock Your Blender, and it's filled with exclusive recipes you won't find on the blog for smoothies that taste like treats. I recently conducted a test of blenders at every price point to find the best blender at every budget!

• The Ultimate Vegan Smoothie Recipe Roundup
• Blenders at Every Budget: Find the Best Blender For You! You can also shop my personal VIP blender, the Pro Line KitchenAid Blender.
• Rock Your Blender - My smoothie cookbook filled with delicious, plant-based smoothies that taste like treats.
• How to Make Frozen Spinach (or Kale!) Cubes for Green Smoothies
• Fun extras that make smoothies a little more fun: Glass Straws, my favorite adult-sized Glass Tumbler, kid-sized glass tumblers and Mini Spatulas to help me get every last delicious drop out of the blender!

More Chocolate Smoothie Recipes

• Almond Butter Cup Smoothie (vegan + paleo)
• Creamy Vegan Mint Chocolate Smoothie
• Healthy Chocolate Smoothie
• Vegan Salted Tahini Date Chocolate Smoothie
• Mint Cacao Nib Smoothie
• Healthy Chocolate Mocha Smoothie (vegan, paleo)
• Vegan “Nutella” Smoothie Bowl
• Chocolate-Covered Cherry Acai Smoothie Bowl
• Almond Butter Cup Smoothie (vegan + paleo)