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This Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Shake is creamy, sweet and satisfying. Perfect as a quick breakfast, snack or any time you get a chocolate craving!
A Chocolate Shake for Any Time of Day
When the weather warms up, smoothies and protein shakes are a go-to breakfast option or after school snack in my home! They’re just so quick to make and there are so many variations to try so my kids never get bored.
This chocolate peanut butter version tastes indulgent but is full of nutritious ingredients like frozen banana, flax seeds and creamy peanut butter. As a certified nutrition coach, I love the fact that It’s got a great balance of healthy fats, lean protein and fiber for a shake that’ll keep you going all morning.
The key here is using frozen bananas which blend up into an almost ice cream-like texture, adding body and sweetness to the shakes. When I have some overripe bananas in the fruit bowl, I like to slice them up and freeze so I always have a stash on hand for making recipes like this!
Recipe Overview
A Few Key Ingredients
Below are the key ingredients you’ll need to make this Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Shake. The full quantities can be found in the recipe card further down the post.
Frozen bananas: These sweeten the shake but also have the magical ability to make the creamiest blended drinks. The bananas must be frozen for the creamy texture to be achieved! But if you only have fresh bananas, you can use those too, the shake just won’t be as velvety.
Quick tip!
Want to make this recipe with no banana? Swap the frozen banana for an equal quantity of frozen cauliflower (I know it sounds strange but it doesn’t add any flavor to the smoothie, just a nice creamy texture!).
Chocolate protein powder: Go with your favorite brand here. You can use a plant-based protein powder to keep things vegan. If you only have vanilla protein powder, that works too, you’ll just have to increase the amount of cocoa powder in the recipe to 1/4 cup.
Peanut butter: I like to use a smooth, natural peanut butter here (the kind made with just peanuts and maybe some salt). Chunky peanut butter will also work but you may end up with some small pieces of peanut in the finished shake.
Ice cubes: Blending ice cubes into the shake chills it down while giving it a light texture.
Other Flavors to Try
- Add a shot of brewed espresso for a mocha variation.
- Mash up some fresh strawberries with a little honey and a sprinkle of chia seeds then swirl into the shake.
- Change up the nut butter! Almond butter or cashew butter will lend a more neutral flavor. Use sunflower seed butter or tahini if you need to avoid peanuts.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon for a warming flavor and natural sweetness.
How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Shake
This is so easy to make, simply blend everything together until thick and creamy!
Step 1. Add all your ingredients (except toppings) to a high speed blender.
Step 2. Blend on high until smooth. You can always add a little more almond milk if needed to help things blitz up more easily.
Step 3. Pour into two glasses, add any toppings you like (I went with chocolate shavings here!) and serve them up immediately.
Recipe Notes
Want more protein? Use cows milk, soy milk or add a few tablespoons of low-fat cottage cheese.
Lower calorie option: Swap the peanut butter for peanut butter powder (like PB2).
Sweetness: Depending on how sweet your bananas and protein powder are, you may not need to add the honey. You can also add a couple of pitted dates in place of the honey for sweetness and fiber.
Questions I Get Asked a Lot
Yes! Use your favorite plant-based chocolate protein powder and opt for a non-dairy milk.
Depending on how sweet your bananas and protein powder are, you may not need to add the honey. You can blend the shake up without the honey first, give it a taste, and then add it in if necessary.
Yes you can make the smoothie without protein powder! Just add 1/2 cup cottage cheese instead for some natural protein, if you like. You’ll also probably have to add more cocoa powder to get it to taste chocolatey enough.
That’s fine. You can use vanilla protein powder without changing anything else or you can add another teaspoon of cocoa powder.
More Smoothies & Shakes
- Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie
- Coffee Smoothie
- Strawberry Cottage Cheese Smoothie
- Banana Avocado Smoothie
- Mocha Protein Shake
- Strawberry Protein Shake
- Mango Smoothie
Made these? Leave a comment below and let me know how it went. And tag me on Instagram so I can see your protein shakes!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Shake
Ingredients
- 2 frozen bananas, freeze ahead or use storebought
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- ½ cup almond milk, or milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder, (around 1/3 cup)
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seed
- 1 tablespoon honey, optional
- handful of ice cubes
Toppings:
- Shaved or chopped chocolate, rolled oats, sprinkles, chopped roasted peanuts, or a drizzle of peanut butter or chocolate syrup
Instructions
- Place2 frozen bananas, 2 tablespoons peanut butter, ½ cup almond milk, 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 scoop chocolate protein powder, 1 tablespoon ground flax seed, 1 tablespoon honey, and handful of ice cubes in a high-powered blender.
- Blend on high until smooth.
- Pour in 2 glasses or mason jars, add your choice of toppings like Shaved or chopped chocolate, rolled oats, sprinkles, chopped roasted peanuts, or a drizzle of peanut butter or chocolate syrup, and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
