This chocolate berry protein smoothie is made with whole food ingredients making it good for you, yet so delicious. High in protein from the hemp hearts and almond butter (or peanut butter) and bursting with flavor.
Why You Will Love This Smoothie:
- Ingredients You Have: For this smoothie (and other recipes I create) I want the ingredients to already be in your kitchen or are easy to get at the grocery store. Let's not make eating healthy complicated!
- Amazing Taste & Texture: This smoothie is honestly, so thick, creamy, and flavorful. The combo of berries, chocolate, and nut butter is delicious!
- High Protein: There are 20 grams of protein per smoothie coming from almond butter (or peanut butter) and hemp hearts just like my frozen apple smoothie. No protein powder is needed.
If you love berry snacks you are gonna love these easy blueberry muffins!
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Smoothie:
- Ingredients and Alternatives
- A Note About Berries
- Why I Love Hemp Hearts
- Almond Butter Please!
- How to Make A Chocolate Berry Smoothie
- Top Tips for a Creamy Chocolate Berry Smoothie
- Two ways you can prep this smoothie in advance:
- FAQ
- Other Smoothie Recipes
- Chocolate Berry Protein Smoothie
Ingredients and Alternatives
7 whole food ingredients are needed to make this healthy protein smoothie. Below I listed what specifically is needed and what you can swap it out for according to your preference or needs.
- Cocoa Powder: To make this shake chocolatey, a few scoops of cocoa powder is needed.
- Frozen Mixed Berries: I used frozen strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. A mixture of berries, or one type of berries works fine for this smoothie. Being frozen gives the smoothie a cold thick taste.
- Almond Butter: Nut butter makes the smoothie high in protein and gives it a nutty taste. Peanut butter can be used instead of almond butter if needed. Almonds can also be used instead of almond butter however, you will want a high-power blender so you don't get any chunks in your smoothie!
- Hemp Hearts: These little seeds pack the smoothie with protein! Alternatively, you can use whatever protein powder you have.
- Dates: I like to use large Medjool dates as they have an incredible flavor, and they are often soft and chewy. Hard dates will be tough to blend. If you don't have dates you can use maple syrup to sweeten the smoothie!
- Almond Milk: Any milk can be used, however, almond milk is my go-to!
- Fresh Bananas: For a creamy and sweet texture bananas are needed. Frozen bananas can be used instead of fresh, however, you will need more milk to make it a thinner texture.
A Note About Berries
- Berries are high in antioxidants and fiber.
- They have higher amounts of in vitamin C, iron, manganese, folate, and calcium.
- I really like smoothies with berries. Also try this blackberry one, this strawberry date smoothie, or this three-ingredient strawberry smoothie that tastes like ice cream!
Why I Love Hemp Hearts
Hemp hearts contain 9.5 grams of protein for every 3 tablespoons. Think of them as little green protein seeds. They don't have a strong taste and can be added to many things to increase protein.
I always add it to my smoothies, try this turmeric smoothie featuring hemp hearts! Hemp is also the main protein in one of my most popular recipes on the blog: chocolate sea salt RX bars.
Almond Butter Please!
Did you know almond butter is high in calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, and rich in protein? Almonds are the nut with the highest calcium and fiber. For another yummy recipe full of almonds check out these almond butter protein bars!
How to Make A Chocolate Berry Smoothie
- Add the soft ingredients to the blender first. The banana, almond milk, cocoa powder, dates, and hemp hearts. This will support the blender blade and make the best smoothie texture.
2. On top of everything else add the frozen berries. Blend for 1-2 minutes until everything is well combined and there are no chunks. Stop to scrape down the sides if needed.
This will make 2 medium protein smoothies.
Top Tips for a Creamy Chocolate Berry Smoothie
- Put the soft ingredients into the blender first, this helps everything blend well.
- Start the blender on low and turn it to high speed.
- Use frozen fruit. Using frozen berries makes this smoothie the perfect cold texture.
Two ways you can prep this smoothie in advance:
- Make the smoothie, then freeze the smoothie in jars with a lid. Take the smoothie out of the freezer to let it thaw a couple of hours before you want to have it. This will last in your freezer for up to three months.
- In a freezer bag, place the cocoa powder, hemp hearts, almond butter, dates, and frozen berries. When you are ready to make this smoothie, place bananas and almond milk in the bottom of the blender. Add the frozen bag contents and blend until smooth, add more milk if needed.
FAQ
Yes, you can use peanut butter instead of almond butter for this smoothie. Almonds can also be used instead of almond butter however, you will want a high-power blender so you don't get any chunks in your smoothie!
To increase the protein in a smoothie, I like to add hemp hearts, almonds, other nuts, nut butter, or oats. Cooked quinoa in a smoothie is also an ingredient high in protein that will keep you full longer! Including proteins and fats in your smoothie will keep you full for an extended time.
Other Smoothie Recipes
Looking for other healthy smoothie recipes like this? Try these:
Did you make this chocolate berry protein smoothie? Take a picture and share it on Instagram & tag @besidethemountain. I’d love to see it and know what you think!!
Chocolate Berry Protein Smoothie
Equipment
- 1 blender
Ingredients
- 3 fresh bananas
- 1 cup almond milk
- 3 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoon hemp hearts or protein powder
- ¼ cup almond butter or peanut butter
- 3 large dates or 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 3 cups frozen berries raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and/or strawberries
Instructions
- Add the ingredients into the blender in the order listed. Start the blender on low and turn to high speed. Blend 1-2 minutes until everything is well combine and there are no chunks.
- This smoothie makes 2 medium smoothies. Enjoy right away!
Notes
- Almond Butter: Peanut butter can be used instead of almond butter. Almonds can be used instead of almond butter however, you will want a high-power blender so you don't get any chunks in your smoothie!
- Hemp Hearts: You could also use whatever protein powder you have (chocolate protein powder would work great!).
- Dates: If you don't have dates you can use maple syrup to sweeten the smoothie!
- Almond Milk: Any milk can be used.
- Fresh Bananas: Frozen bananas can be used instead of fresh, however, you may need more milk to make it a thinner texture.
- Spinach or Kale, these greens are not strong tasting when they are raw and can be added for more nutrition. Honestly, you won't taste them! Use 1 - 2 handfuls of greens.
- In a freezer bag place the cocoa powder, hemp hearts, almond butter, dates, and frozen berries. When you are ready to make this smoothie, place bananas and almond milk in the bottom of the blender. Add the frozen bag contents and blend until smooth.
Celine Unrau says
Soo tasty!
It was chocolatey, nutty and delicious! I will definitely be making this one again.
Danika Vanderpyl says
Yay glad you tried this Celine! A favorite at my house too.
Caitlynn Benson says
Delicious and filling!
Sonora Lindsey says
This smoothie recipe was *chef's kiss.* It was super simple to make, very filling, and the berry chocolate combo was the bomb. This smoothie recipe was the perfect no cook meal for me today! Thank you for the recipe Danika!
danikavanderpyl says
Yay! So glad you made this, totally one of my favorite smoothies!