Cocoa Almond Protein Smoothie
This healthy Cocoa Almond Protein Smoothie is made with Greek yogurt, almond butter, banana, and cocoa powder. It’s full of protein and nutrition, and guess what? It tastes like dessert!
Happy New Year!!! Are you making any new year’s resolutions this year? I’m not setting too many goals, other than figuring out how to balance being a mom of 3 (only a few weeks until baby girl arrives!) with all of my other work and household responsibilities. I do want to remember to slow down and enjoy each day. I have a tendency to get so wrapped up in my to-do lists that I sometimes forget to enjoy all of the little moments along the way. I want to remember 2015 as a year filled with memorable moments with my kids and husband, not the year when I stayed on top of the housework and laundry. (Because even if we tried, we could never keep up with the cleaning and laundry anyways, could we?) 😉
The new year is a time when many of us like to refocus on a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating. The problem is, if you go totally crazy and try to eat healthy 100% of the time, you’re setting yourself up for failure. We all need a treat now and then, so you’ll continue to find a balance of healthy and sweet recipes here in the coming weeks.
You can find all of my favorite breakfast smoothies here. Smoothies are a delicious way to give your day a nutritious start!
This Cocoa Almond Protein Smoothie fits into both the healthy and treat categories. You’ll feel like you’re indulging when you drink this smoothie, but it’s totally healthy. The ingredient list is short and free of added sweeteners. Even the cocoa powder, which gives this smoothie its delicious chocolate flavor, is full of health-boosting antioxidants.
With just a few simple ingredients, including banana, almond butter and Greek yogurt, this smoothie is fast and easy to make. Try my banana smoothie next!
Blend up one of these Cocoa Almond Protein Smoothies for breakfast, lunch, or a snack and you’ll get a boost of energy and filling protein that will last for hours. A single smoothie has over 25 grams of protein:
Greek yogurt – 15 grams
almond butter – 7 grams
milk (if using 2% cow’s milk) – 3.75 grams
banana – 1 gram
For a grand total of 26.75 grams!
My kids and I cannot get enough of this smoothie. I love that I can make it for us every day with absolutely zero guilt. Healthy smoothies that taste like dessert are just what we need to start the new year off right. Because who wants to go all cold-turkey on the sweets and only eat salads? Not me.
Why you’ll love this Cocoa Almond Protein Smoothie:
- It has over 25 grams of protein per serving, all from real food ingredients. No protein powders here!
- The chocolate almond banana flavor combination can’t be beat!
- This smoothie is creamy, delicious, and will keep you full for hours!
Cocoa Almond Protein Smoothie
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup plus 2 tbsp. milk, almond, dairy, etc.
- 1 medium banana, sliced and frozen
- ½ tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons almond butter
- 2 teaspoon ground flaxseed, optional
- ¾ cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!
I think you’ll also love:
This is one gorgeous smoothie, Kristine! Totally what I need after all the weeks of indulging!
Thanks, Sarah! It’s the perfect way to get back on track with healthy eating after the holidays!
That’s so exciting that your new bundle of joy will arrive soon, Kristine! What a great way to start out the new year. This smoothie looks delicious! I love the chocolate and almond flavor. It’s almost like dessert for breakfast, but with a healthy twist. Pinned!
Thank you, Gayle! The chocolate and almond butter are so delicious together in this smoothie. Thanks for pinning!
Congrats for your baby girl!! I want to get more healthier this year but I see it more like a long term goal and not as a New Year resolution. I am not a smoothie girl but I can do this one! Love all the flavors in it. Pinned!
Thank you, Oriana! This smoothie is definitely a good one to start with if you’re not crazy about smoothies. 🙂
This smoothie looks delicious! I love that it is healthy, but still looks like a milkshake! Happy New Year!!
Thanks, Cate! Happy New Year to you, too!!
Can’t wait to give this one a try, Kristine as my menagerie and I love smoothies!
I hope you all like this smoothie as much as my kids and I do!
Congrats on the upcoming baby! This smoothie looks wonderful and a great energy booster! pinned!
Thank you, Deb!
I am totally craving this smoothie – almost like a healthy chocolate shake! Good luck in welcoming your third baby. So exciting!
Thank you, Jessica! Once you make this smoothie, you’ll crave it even more! I want one every day now!
I love that I can be healthy and still have chocolate with this smoothie 🙂
Me too!!
This is a beautiful smoothie! I hope you have a great start to the new year, and I love your resolution, it’s just perfect! You know the saying, “Babies don’t keep!” so it’s okay to let the housework go for a while and just love that new little one! 🙂
That saying is so true! I’m going to keep reminding myself of that in the coming months. 🙂 Happy New Year, Kelly!
I love breakfast that tastes like dessert! This looks really delicious, Kristine.
Thank you, Andi! I even added some uncooked old-fashioned oats to this smoothie when I made it for the kids and I yesterday and it was delicious!
This look so great!! Congrats on your soon to be baby!! 🙂 Also, happy 2015!! 🙂
Thanks so much, Alice!
This look so great!! Congrats on your soon to be baby!! 🙂 Also, happy 2015!! 🙂
Thank you, Cailee!
I love that you used almond butter! Congratulations on your 3rd!!
My daughter hates peanut butter but is ok with almond butter in her smoothies. I loved this with the almond butter, too!
I’m tying to het back on my smoothie kick for breakfast this year, and this looks perfect!!!
This is a great one to have in your smoothie rotation! Happy New Year!
This looks amazing! Congrats on the expected arrival of baby #3! You’ll find your new normal in no time at all right?! 🙂
Thank you, Julie! I sure hope so! 🙂
This smoothie looks so good! I just bought some almond butter so I will have to give it a try. Happy New Year!
Thank you, Christin! Yes, put that almond butter to good use! 😉
Happy New Year hon! I can’t wait to see your new bundle of joy. And I am with you. If you eat healthy every single minute, you will be doomed. This is a nice balance.
I am all about balance! Happy New Year, Jocelyn!
These look delicious and I love that your protein smoothie doesn’t require protein powder!congratulations on the upcoming arrival also and good luck with your very wise new year aims
Thanks, Cat! I don’t use protein powder, so making a protein smoothie without it was a goal of mine.
I can’t get enough of shakes right now so this look great! I haven’t tried adding protein before so I need to look for it!
Thanks, Nancy! No need to buy protein powder, as all of the protein in this smoothie comes from real ingredients in the smoothie!
i like the look/sound of this recipe! I can’t eat bananas, do have any other recommendations for fruit, or could I just leave it out?
Thanks!!
Hmmm, the banana works really well in this smoothie, but if you can’t eat bananas I’d try a pear instead. If you try it, let me know how it works! 🙂
love the smoothie
Thanks, Lisha!
This is one of my favorites smoothies!! I make it several times a week, Thank you for sharing!Â
I love this one as well! I’m glad you are enjoying it!
This sounds super tasty! What is your favorite green yogurt brand?
Thank you! My favorite is Fage. It’s thick and creamy and not too tart.
We made this recipe today.It was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!