Recipe: Chocolate Buttercup Smoothie

This filling vegan milkshake tastes indulgent, but packs a great nutritional power-punch. If you love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups but don’t want junk food, try this quick and easy recipe: enjoy the best of both worlds!

Ingredients

• 1 cup soy, almond, or other nondairy milk
• 1 frozen banana
• 3-4 ice cubes
• 3 tablespoons natural peanut butter
• 1-1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon natural cane sugar, to taste

Directions

In your blender container, stir chia seeds into nondairy milk. Remove banana from freezer. Go do something else for about 5 minutes, while chia seeds soften and banana thaws enough to peel.

Peel banana, break it in half or thirds, and add it to the blender along with remaining ingredients. Pulse a few times to break up the ice cubes, then blend until smooth. Add another splash or two of nondairy milk, if needed, depending on whether you prefer a milkshake or smoothie consistency.

Serve as a tasty and filling breakfast, snack, or dessert.

For a fancier dessert, keep the shake nice and thick, then layer it with dairy free vanilla ice cream in a parfait glass. Top with crushed peanuts and vegan chocolate chips.

Enjoy!

Production Notes

Whenever you have bananas starting to over ripen, just toss ’em in the freezer — it’s an easy way to reduce waste, and (bonus!) you’ll always have frozen bananas on hand for quick shakes and smoothies.

Image credit: Creative Commons photo by Rusty Clark.