Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Make this deliciously simple and tummy-filling to-go Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie your new go-to breakfast!

Blend up an easy breakfast that is perfect for you and the kids when running out the door with five simple ingredients! Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie is like a healthy sweet treat in the morning, or any time of day, with hearty oats and frozen banana, almond milk, smooth peanut butter, and cocoa powder, blended with ice. 

So Much to Love About Chocolate, Bananas, and Peanut Butter

The combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and bananas is perfect for so many reasons! First, we just love how these ingredients taste when they’re all together, it truly is a magical arrangement. More than that though is how bananas become sweeter when frozen, which makes the smoothie nice and thick but sweetens the cocoa powder without adding sugar. Peanut butter is a great source of protein and healthy fats, which keep you feeling full longer, unlike something filled with just sugar. I love adding rolled oats to various recipes because not only are they good for you but they also hold everything together perfectly. Don’t let all of this “good for you” info fool you though, this smoothie is 100% dessert quality and feels like a total treat first thing in the morning!    

Other Recipes to Serve with Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Cookies have the same great flavor but in a chewy, bite-able form! These are also a super easy to-go breakfast- perfect for hectic mornings.

Chocolate PB Smoothie Bowl is for those of us who love topping our smoothies with goodies like sliced banana, shaved chocolate, fruit, or crunchy granola!

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients: We’re using old-fashioned rolled oats and unsweetened cocoa powder as the thickener and flavor component for this smoothie.

Wet Ingredients: You’ll need almond milk, or your milk of choice, and smooth peanut butter. You can find natural peanut butter in most grocery stores that contain less sugar if you’d like to keep the amount of sugar low. 

Frozen: Cutting up the banana and freezing it ahead of time makes the banana sweeter and really makes this smoothie a cinch to make. You’ll also need ice cubes. 

How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

STEP ONE: Gather the ingredients and set up your blender or food processor. 

STEP TWO: Combine all of the ingredients in the blender. Turn on the blender and puree until smooth. 

STEP THREE: Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Tips for Success

• Freeze the bananas ahead of time in slices around 2 inches thick. If you freeze the entire banana before cutting it, it will be too difficult to blend or chop. This is also a great way of using those very ripe bananas on your counter!
• Make sure to use Old Fashioned Rolled Oats and not instant oats to ensure a thick, hearty smoothie.
• If you’d like a little less sugar in your smoothie, use natural peanut butter instead of most of the major brands of peanut butter. Natural peanut butter can usually be found in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores. 
• I like to top my smoothie with some banana slices, oats, and a little cocoa powder. My kdis like banana slices, chocolate chips, and a little mealted peanut butter. Top it however you like and drink as is. It’s delicious each way!

Should I add the ingredients in a certain order?

Depending on your blender this may not be an issue but it’s good to know to add your liquid ingredients first, in this case, the milk and frozen banana, followed by the thicker ingredients. This can help some blenders fully incorporate all of the ingredients and make a really smooth smoothie.

Can I add yogurt?

If you’d like more protein or those healthy probiotics, then add around 1/2 cup of yogurt.

Need More Smoothies or Breakfast On The Go Ideas?

• Pineapple Banana Smoothie
• Berry Smoothie Bowl
• Freezer Breakfast Burritos
• Cherry Almond Breakfast Cookies
• Bacon Cheese Breakfast Muffins

*This post originally posted on 07/15/2015.