This is my tried-and-tested cacao smoothie recipe – and it’s one I spent months perfecting.
It’s rich, chocolatey and naturally sweet – and it also sneaks in 23g of plant-based protein without a scoop of protein powder.
Hemp seeds, walnuts and peanut butter also deliver lots of healthy fats, fibre, and iron too – so it’s both nourishing and delicious.
Tips:
Dates: Most high-speed blenders can easily handle a whole date. If yours struggles, soak the date in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain before blending.
Banana: Make sure your banana is ripe before freezing – it adds natural sweetness and helps balance the cacao.
Milk swaps: Soy milk is great for extra protein, but oat or almond milk also work well if that’s what you have on hand.
Nut variations: You can swap the walnuts for almonds or cashews, or use tahini instead of peanut butter for a nut-free version.
Banana adds a creaminess, so a dozen or so cashews could work well as long as you have a high-powered blender. You could also add a couple of ice cubes to make it colder.
Frozen banana helps chill the smoothie so it’s more refreshing, which we prefer. But I guess it’s personal preference so you don’t have to use a frozen banana if you don’t want to.
5 Comments
Do you have any suggestions for substitutions for a banana allergy?
Banana adds a creaminess, so a dozen or so cashews could work well as long as you have a high-powered blender. You could also add a couple of ice cubes to make it colder.
Thank you!
Why does the banana need to be frozen?
Frozen banana helps chill the smoothie so it’s more refreshing, which we prefer. But I guess it’s personal preference so you don’t have to use a frozen banana if you don’t want to.