This Chocolate Almond Date Smoothie is thick, creamy, chocolatey, and naturally sweet without needing regular sugar. Frozen bananas give it that almost milkshake-like texture, while cocoa powder brings the chocolate flavor and almond butter adds a little richness.
Then come the Medjool dates, which add extra sweetness and a subtle caramel-like flavor. Everything goes into the blender, so breakfast or snack time is handled in about 5 minutes.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in 5 minutes: Just blend and pour.
- Naturally sweet: Bananas and Medjool dates provide the sweetness.
- Rich chocolate flavor: Unsweetened cocoa gives you plenty of chocolate without making the smoothie overly sweet.
- Creamy without dairy: Frozen bananas and almond butter create a smooth texture.
- Simple ingredients: You only need five ingredients.
- Plant-based: The smoothie is naturally vegan and dairy-free.
- Great for breakfast or snacks: Quick enough for busy mornings.
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What You’ll Need to Make Chocolate Almond Date Smoothie
- 8 fluid ounces (240 ml) unsweetened almond milk
- 2 frozen bananas
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- 2 Medjool dates, pitted
What You’ll Need to Do
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 2
- Grab your blender and pour in the almond milk first. Starting with the liquid makes everything easier to blend.
- Add the frozen bananas.
- Spoon in the unsweetened cocoa powder and almond butter.
- Add the pitted Medjool dates.
- Pop the lid on and blend on high until everything is completely smooth and creamy.
- Stop and scrape down the sides if any cocoa powder or almond butter gets stuck.
- Blend again until there are no visible pieces of date or banana.
- If the smoothie is thicker than you like, add a small splash of almond milk and blend again.
- Divide evenly between two glasses.
- Serve straight away while it is cold and creamy.
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Easy Ingredient Swaps
Almond milk: Unsweetened oat, soy, or cashew milk can work.
Almond butter: Peanut butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter are easy alternatives.
Medjool dates: Other soft dates can work, although you may need an extra one if they are smaller.
Cocoa powder: Cacao powder can be used for a slightly different chocolate flavor.
Bananas: Frozen bananas are important for the creamy texture, but you can use fresh bananas with a handful of ice if necessary.
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Some Twist and Tweak Ideas
Add a pinch of cinnamon.
Add a little vanilla extract.
Blend in chia seeds.
Add ground flaxseed.
Add a pinch of sea salt to bring out the chocolate flavor.
Add espresso powder for a mocha-style smoothie.
Use peanut butter instead of almond butter.
Add vegan chocolate protein powder.
Blend in a handful of spinach.
Add a few ice cubes if you want it extra cold.
Some Helpful Tips
Use frozen bananas. They make the smoothie much thicker and creamier than fresh bananas.
Pit the dates first. It sounds obvious, but date pits and blender blades are not a good combination.
Add the milk first. Liquid at the bottom helps the blender move everything around.
Use soft dates. If your Medjool dates feel dry, soak them in warm water for 5–10 minutes and drain before blending.
Start with less liquid. You can always thin a smoothie, but making it thicker again is harder.
Blend thoroughly. Dates can take a little longer than bananas to become completely smooth.
Why Dates Work So Well With Chocolate
Dates have a naturally rich, caramel-like sweetness that works especially well with cocoa.
Instead of making the smoothie taste simply sugary, they add a deeper sweetness that pairs nicely with almond butter and banana.
They also help contribute to the thick, creamy texture.
Some Budget-Friendly Tips
Buy bananas in larger bunches and freeze ripe ones before they become overripe.
Store-brand unsweetened almond milk works perfectly well.
Peanut butter is usually cheaper than almond butter and makes an easy substitution.
Buy cocoa powder in larger containers if you use it regularly.
Medjool dates can be expensive, so buy them in larger packs or from bulk bins when available.
Some Serving Ideas
Serve this Chocolate Almond Date Smoothie:
- For breakfast
- As an afternoon snack
- Alongside toast
- With overnight oats
- With fresh berries
- After a busy morning
- With granola
- Alongside a breakfast muffin
- As a quick dessert-style drink
For an extra chocolatey finish, dust a little cocoa powder over the top.
Great for Busy Mornings
This is exactly the kind of recipe I like when there is no time for actual cooking.
Everything goes into one blender, there is barely any cleanup, and you can have two smoothies ready in about 5 minutes.
If you freeze bananas ahead of time, most of the work is already done.
Some Storage Tips
This smoothie is best served immediately because that is when it is thickest and creamiest.
If needed, store leftovers in a tightly sealed container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
The smoothie may separate slightly while refrigerated.
Give it a good shake or stir before drinking.
You can also blend it briefly again with a couple of ice cubes.
There is no need to reheat this recipe.
Final Thoughts
This Chocolate Almond Date Smoothie is one of those recipes that proves five ingredients can do plenty.
Frozen banana makes it creamy, cocoa brings the chocolate, almond butter adds richness, and Medjool dates provide that naturally sweet caramel-like finish.
Blend it all together in 5 minutes and you’ve got an easy breakfast, snack, or chocolate fix without much effort.
Chocolate Almond Date Smoothie
This Chocolate Almond Date Smoothie blends frozen banana, cocoa, dates and almond butter into an easy creamy vegan breakfast or snack.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Pour the unsweetened almond milk into a high-speed blender.
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Add the frozen bananas, unsweetened cocoa powder, almond butter, and pitted Medjool dates.
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Secure the blender lid and process on high speed until completely smooth and creamy.
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Stop the blender and scrape down the sides if necessary.
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Blend again until no pieces of banana or date remain.
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If a thinner consistency is preferred, add a small amount of additional almond milk and blend briefly.
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Divide the smoothie evenly between two glasses.
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Serve immediately while cold and creamy.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 2
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 245kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 6g10%
- Sodium 95mg4%
- Total Carbohydrate 49g17%
- Dietary Fiber 7g29%
- Sugars 29g
- Protein 5g10%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
Estimated GI: ~48
Estimated GL per serving: ~18
