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    Home Β» Vegan Smoothies

    Banana Almond Butter Cacao Smoothie

    Published: Jan 14, 2019 by Sherri Hall Β· This post may contain affiliate links.

    This Banana Almond Butter Cacao Smoothie is a nutritious and refreshing treat that hits the sweet spot without adding any sugar. This dairy-free smoothie recipe is also both vegan and paleo.

    Jump to Recipe
    overhead of smoothie in mason jar with a straw in it topped with cacao nibs

    When I first decided to challenge myself to give up added sugar for 30 days, one of the things I wondered was, “How am I going to go a whole month without chocolate?”

    And then I discovered cacao nibs.

    It had already been a few days so I was in a serious state of chocolate withdrawal by then.

    I don’t even think the grocery store bags were unpacked when I ripped open the package and shoved a bunch of nibs into my mouth.

    overhead of Banana Almond Butter Cacao Smoothie in a Mason Jar with cacao nibs on top

    All I can say is DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! I can tell you from experience that you will not have the chocolate experience you are hoping for.

    The nibs, which are simply crushed cacao beans, are bitter due to the fact that there is no added sugar.

    While they are chocolate in its purest form, their flavor needs a little enhancing.

    So, is it possible to still have a delicious chocolaty treat that hits the spot without giving into the sugar demons?

    The answer is YES!

    But how? Great question!

    Sweetening up the flavor with some natural sugar is your best bet. For example, you can use a little maple syrup or coconut sugar.

    But for this recipe, I chose not to use any added sugar.

    Instead, I opted to incorporate ingredients with naturally occurring sugars by enlisting the help of our friends, banana and almond butter.

    smoothie in mason jar with a straw and cacao nibs on top

    A Bit on Bananas...B-A-N-A-N-A-S

    Bananas provide a decent amount of sweetness and are rich in a number of nutrients, such as potassium, manganese, fiber, folate, riboflavin, niacin, iron, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C and protein.

    Almond Butter Power

    Almond butter, even in its unsweetened form, also contains natural sugar as well as healthy fats, protein, fiber, magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium and vitamin E.

    As an added bonus, almonds actually help regulate blood sugar.

    Cuckoo for Cacao Nibs

    And while both bananas and almonds contain antioxidants, organic raw cacao contains a super high amount in the form of flavonoids, making it a super superfood!

    Nutritious and delicious, this VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE, NO SUGAR ADDED, PALEO and WHOLE30-COMPLIANT Banana Almond Butter Cacao Smoothie is a win, win!

    And all this goodness helps keep you full and satisfied too!

    smoothie in mason jar topped with cacao nibs

    So, what are you waiting for? 

    How to Make This Banana Almond Butter Cacao Smoothie

    Add 1 frozen banana, 2 tablespoons almond butter, 2 tablespoons cacao nibs (you can substitute with an equal amount of cacao powder if preferred), 1 cup unsweetened almond milk and 3 ice cubes to a high-powered blender.

    overhead view of smoothie ingredients in blender cup
    side view of smoothie ingredients in blender cup

    Blend until smooth and ingredients are well-incorporated.

    smoothie in blender after being blended

    You might also enjoy:

    • Apple Banana Smoothie with Peanut Butter Powder
    • 3-Ingredient Chocolate Nice Cream
    • Vegan Chocolate Cookies
    overhead of smoothie with straw in it
    Print Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    5 from 14 votes

    Banana Almond Butter Cacao Smoothie

    This Banana Almond Butter Cacao Smoothie is a nutritious and refreshing treat that hits the sweet spot without adding any sugar. This dairy-free smoothie recipe is also both vegan and paleo.
    Course Breakfast, Drink, Snack
    Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan
    Keyword almond butter, banana, cacao, dairy-free, gluten free, grain-free, no added sugar, no sugar added, paleo, smoothie, vegan, whole30
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 5 minutes
    Servings 1 -2 (makes 16 oz.)
    Calories 417kcal
    Author Sherri Hall

    Ingredients

    • 1 medium frozen banana, peeled and sliced prior to freezing
    • 2 tablespoon unsweetened, unsalted creamy almond butter (I used 365 brand)
    • 2 tablespoon cacao nibs (I used Navitas Organics; sub with equal amount of cacao powder if preferred)
    • 1 cup unsweetened, plain almond milk
    • 3 ice cubes, standard size

    Instructions

    • Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender, and blend until smooth.

    (Please refer to the post above for instructional photographs and other helpful information for this recipe)

    Suggested Equipment/Tools

    High-Powered Blender

    Notes

    This recipes makes one 16-ounce serving or two 8-ounce servings. Nutrition was calculated based on one serving of 16 ounces.
    The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. Accuracy is not guaranteed. Information shown should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 417kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Fiber: 9g

    ©Watch Learn Eat. All content and images are copyright protected. Recipes and images are not to be used or republished without prior permission. If you adapt this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, and link back to this post for the original recipe.

    You Might Also Enjoy...

    • Vegan Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
    • Apple Banana Smoothie with Peanut Butter Powder
    • Strawberry-Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie
    • Blueberry Pie Smoothie

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    1. Amanda Mason

      January 20, 2019 at 9:06 pm

      5 stars
      Love this! I'm going to try it with a scoop of protein powder!! This will be a great post workout snack! Thanks for linking the cacao nibs! I had no idea what they were until I clicked the links!

      Reply
      • Sherri Hall

        January 22, 2019 at 10:05 am

        Thanks Amanda! Hope you enjoy! Adding the protein powder sounds delicious! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    2. Leslie Haasch

      January 20, 2019 at 6:26 pm

      I don't have any almond milk on hand, but I do have hazelnut and cashew milks - gonna give this a try with one of those!

      Reply
      • Sherri Hall

        January 22, 2019 at 10:04 am

        Thanks Leslie! Those should work well too! Hope you enjoy! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    3. Krista Price

      January 20, 2019 at 8:17 am

      5 stars
      It's like a grown up version of a Wendy's frosty and I'M ALL ABOUT IT! My boyfriend and I are actually committing to a strict Paleo diet in February, so I know this is going to come in handy when we're craving something sweet! So glad I found this! Pinning!

      Reply
      • Sherri Hall

        January 22, 2019 at 10:04 am

        Thanks Krista! I hope you and he both enjoy it! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    4. Nicolas Hortense

      January 20, 2019 at 2:49 am

      Definitely the kind of thing I need in the morning. Loving this (:

      Reply
      • Sherri Hall

        January 22, 2019 at 10:03 am

        Thanks so much, Nicolas! It's definitely a great start to the day! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    5. Jennifer

      January 19, 2019 at 10:03 am

      5 stars
      I love this smoothie! I make a smoothie every morning and this one is so delicious!!!

      Reply
      • Sherri Hall

        January 19, 2019 at 2:36 pm

        Thanks so much, Jennifer! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    6. Denise

      January 19, 2019 at 9:08 am

      5 stars
      I love cacao nibs but never know what to use them with so thank you! I found adding almond butter to smoothies makes them really filling (which is a plus for me!) Great recipe!

      Reply
      • Sherri Hall

        January 19, 2019 at 2:36 pm

        Thanks so much, Denise! The almond butter and cacao nibs go so nicely together. πŸ™‚

        Reply
    7. Farwin

      January 18, 2019 at 4:03 pm

      5 stars
      Lol ! Same thing happened to me too! Put them in the mouth only to find them bitter. Now I add it to my oatmeal. This smoothie looks delicious and I'll give a try.

      Reply
      • Sherri Hall

        January 19, 2019 at 2:35 pm

        Too funny, Farwin! Thanks so much! Hope you enjoy the smoothie! I will have to try the nibs in my oatmeal; that sounds delicious!

        Reply
    8. Analida Braeger

      January 18, 2019 at 2:48 pm

      5 stars
      How lucky that I keep all of these ingredients on hand! Cannot wait to try this "nice cream" πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • Sherri Hall

        January 19, 2019 at 2:35 pm

        Thanks Analida! Hope you enjoy it! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    9. Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli

      January 16, 2019 at 2:13 pm

      5 stars
      Love that is nutritious and delicious a and sugar-free at the same time! It looks like something I would like to start my morning with.

      Reply
      • Sherri Hall

        January 16, 2019 at 7:44 pm

        Thank you so much, Nicoletta! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    10. Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen

      January 16, 2019 at 9:29 am

      5 stars
      I am a huge smoothie fan, they are my go to for breakfasts! I love how you have got the chocolate flavor without the sugar!

      Reply
      • Sherri Hall

        January 16, 2019 at 7:44 pm

        Thank you Carrie! Smoothies are so easy for morning craziness! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    11. Elaine Benoit

      January 15, 2019 at 8:31 am

      5 stars
      Hehe. When I read that you shoved a bunch of nibs in your mouth, I actually giggled and thought 'oh-oh'. I've been there, done that. But I love cooking with them, or adding them to smoothies as you did. Your smoothie looks delicious, thick and I bet you don't even miss the chocolate!! πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • Sherri Hall

        January 16, 2019 at 7:43 pm

        LOL πŸ™‚ Thanks Elaine! It's super tasty! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    12. Aleta

      January 14, 2019 at 11:46 pm

      5 stars
      What a delicious combination of flavours! It would be a great breakfast on the go, or a healthy treat for my kids. Thanks for sharing πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • Sherri Hall

        January 16, 2019 at 7:43 pm

        Thank you Aleta! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    Newer Comments »

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    Founder, Author, Recipe Developer, & Photographer

    With a lifelong passion for cooking, I specialize in creating easy meatless meals that are omnivore-approved!

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