Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
This Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie is thick, creamy, naturally sweetened, and ready in 5 minutes! Made with only 4 ingredients, it tastes like a milkshake (or a Wendy’s Frosty!) and is perfect for breakfast, snack, or even dessert.
If you love smoothies that taste like dessert, be sure to try my Almond Joy Smoothie and Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie next!
My love for this smoothie goes way back. When I was little, my dad would take me to a local smoothie shop for a chunky monkey smoothie, and I was obsessed! So I recreated it at home with just 4 simple ingredients. It’s creamy, chocolatey, peanut buttery, naturally sweetened with banana, and SO GOOD.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Smoothie
- Tastes like a milkshake with Wendy’s frosty vibes
- Rich, creamy, and chocolatey
- Naturally sweetened with banana
- Ready in 5 minutes
- Made with 4 simple ingredients
- Vegan and dairy-free
- Easy to customize
- Perfect for breakfast, post-workout snack, or guilt-free dessert
Ingredient Notes
I’ve tried plenty of chocolate peanut butter banana smoothies over the years and realized you don’t need a dozen ingredients to make a great one. This version uses just 4 simple ingredients and lets the chocolate, peanut butter, and banana shine.
- Banana: Use a frozen ripe banana for natural sweetness and a thick, creamy texture.
- Cocoa Powder: This is what gives the smoothie its rich chocolate flavor. I use unsweetened cocoa powder since the banana adds enough natural sweetness.
- Peanut Butter: Adds that classic peanut butter flavor. Use a natural peanut butter made with just peanuts (and salt). You can even try it with my homemade peanut butter!
- Non-Dairy Milk: I use soy milk because it adds extra protein, but any non-dairy milk works here. Try oat milk for extra creaminess or almond milk for a lighter option.
Smoothie Variations
- High Protein: Add 1 scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder and use soy milk for an extra boost of plant-based protein.
- Low Cal Option: Swap the peanut butter for peanut butter powder. I do this sometimes – you still get that classic peanut butter flavor with fewer calories and a little extra protein.
- Nut-Free Option: Use sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter
- Peanut Allergy? If you have a peanut allergy, try almond butter or hazelnut butter for a Nutella-inspired twist.
- Add-Ins: Add ground flaxseed, hemp seeds, maca powder, or even a handful of spinach (you won’t taste the spinach!).
- Make It Sweeter: I think this smoothie has the perfect amount sweetness, but if you prefer a sweeter smoothie, add 1 pitted medjool date or 1 tablespoon of maple syrup.
How to Make a Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
This is just a recipe overview! Scroll down to the recipe card to get the full recipe with measurements.
- Step 1: Add the frozen banana, non-dairy milk, cocoa powder, and peanut butter to a high-speed blender.
- Step 2: Blend for 30–60 seconds until completely smooth and creamy, then pour into a glass.
- Step 3: Add your favorite toppings, and enjoy!
Secrets to Making a Thick Smoothie
I’ll let you in on a little secret here!
- Use frozen bananas: This is key to getting that thick, creamy consistency. I don’t recommend using ice, as ice can water it down and dilute the chocolate flavor. I’ve tested this smoothie both ways, and frozen banana wins every time.
- Start with less milk: It’s always easier to thin a smoothie than to thicken it!
- Blend longer: Give your blender enough time to break down the frozen banana. You should blend it for at least 30–60 seconds.
How to Freeze Bananas for Smoothies
Frozen bananas are one of my favorite smoothie secrets! I always keep a stash of them in my freezer. They add natural sweetness and create a thick, creamy texture without needing ice (which can actually water down the flavor).
How to freeze bananas:
- Peel ripe bananas
- Slice into chunks
- Place in a freezer-safe bag or container
- Freeze
Then they’re ready to use in smoothies, Homemade Acai Bowls, and Vegan Cookie Dough Nice Cream!
Those spotty bananas don’t always make it to the freezer though… sometimes they’re saved for my Healthy Banana Bread or Vegan Banana Muffins instead 😉
Toppings
While this chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie is delicious on its own, adding toppings makes it feel extra special (and a little more like dessert!).
- Sliced banana
- Hemp seeds
- Cacao nibs
- Granola (SO GOOD with my homemade peanut butter granola)
- Drizzle of peanut butter
FAQs
Sure! Swap the peanut butter for almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter.
Personally, I like using cocoa powder in this peanut butter banana smoothie because it has a smoother chocolate flavor. Cacao powder is slightly more bitter.
It could be one of three things (or all of them): your banana wasn’t frozen, you added too much milk, or you didn’t blend long enough. For the thickest smoothie, make sure to use a frozen banana and start with less milk.
The best way to make a thick smoothie without ice is to use frozen fruit, especially frozen bananas, which create a super creamy texture without watering down the flavor like ice does!
More Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love
If you loved sipping on this chocolate banana smoothie, try these next!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ★★★★★ star rating below. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- ¾ cup non-dairy milk
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp peanut butter
Instructions
- Add the frozen banana, non-dairy milk, cocoa powder, and peanut butter to a high-speed blender.
- Blend for 30–60 seconds until completely smooth and creamy. Add an extra splash of milk if needed.
- Pour into a glass, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy!
Notes
- Use a frozen ripe banana for the thickest, creamiest, frosty-like texture.
- The riper the banana (the more brown spots!), the sweeter your smoothie will be.
- I use soy milk for extra protein and creaminess, but any non-dairy milk works.
- For a higher-protein smoothie, add 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder.
- For a nut-free option, swap peanut butter for sunflower seed butter.
- For extra sweetness, add 1 pitted medjool date or 1 tablespoon of maple syrup.
This chocolate peanut butter smoothie tastes like a milkshake 😋 I love having it after dinner for a sweet treat that’s still healthy
So glad you enjoy this smoothie!
Very tasty, I will certainly make this again!
So happy you loved it! Thanks for sharing 🙂