High Protein Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

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This delicious bowl is a great way to start your day and offers great nutritional value. It is thick and creamy and is satisfying for your chocolate cravings. It offers healthy fats and is a great source of protein. It is low in natural sweetness and is very chocolatey.

Ingredients

For the Smoothie Bowl Base:

• 1 frozen banana (sliced and frozen beforehand)
• 1 scoop (about 25-30g) of chocolate protein powder
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon almond butter/peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• Honey or maple syrup (1-2 teaspoons or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt
• 3-4 ice cubes (Optional, to thicken)

For Topping:

• 2 tablespoons of granola
• 1 tablespoon of cacao nibs or dark chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon of sliced almonds or chopped nuts
• 1 tablespoon of coconut flakes
• Fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries)
• 1 tablespoon of nut butter drizzle
• Optional: raw shelled hemp seeds, bee pollen, sliced banana, or fresh mint leaves

Instructions

 

Step 1: Prepare your ingredients

Take your frozen banana slices and allow them to soften for about 2 to 3 minutes.

This should make blending much easier, and your blender won’t have to work as hard.

Collect your base ingredients so they are all easily accessible.

Step 2: Layer for Optimal Blending

In this recipe, the liquid goes in the blender first, so start with the almond milk.

Next, add the Greek yogurt, nut butter, protein powder, cocoa powder, frozen banana, chia seeds, honey, vanilla extract, and salt.

This order will help minimize the chances of the blender contents becoming stuck.

Step 3: Blend Until Thick and Creamy

Begin blending on low speed so everything can break down before increasing speed.

Blend on high speed for 45 to 60 seconds, scraping the sides of the container if necessary.

The final product should have the consistency of soft-serve ice cream, and therefore should be very thick.

If the mixture is too thin, add more ice cubes or frozen bananas. If the mixture is too thick, add almond milk in 1 tablespoon increments.

Step 4: Check Consistency and Taste

Blend for about 10 seconds and check the consistency.

It should hold its shape, and you should be able to stick a spoon into it, and it should not fall over.

If you would like to adjust the sweetness, add honey, and blend for a few seconds before serving.

Step 5: Transfer Your Smoothie

Using a spatula, scoop all the smoothie into the bowl.

Try to fill the bowl as much as possible, then use the back of a spoon to smooth the top. This will help with the toppings.

Step 6: Topping Arrangement

This is the satisfying part. Arrange the toppings however you like.

Try to start with the bigger toppings like granola and berries, and then use the smaller toppings like cacao nibs and nuts.

As the final touch, you can add a nut butter with a drizzle. Try to get all the toppings to touch.

Step 7: Enjoy

Grab a spoon and dig in. Enjoy the fresh smoothie bowl before it melts. Try to mix the toppings into the base as you eat.

This will provide a variety of flavors and textures in each bite.

Success Tips For Protein Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

Properly frozen bananas will greatly help your results.

Bananas should be sliced and arranged in a single layer before being placed in the freezer.

Once they are frozen, put them in a freezer bag. Sliced frozen bananas are much easier to blend.

• Which protein powder matters: Choose a quality chocolate protein powder that you enjoy drinking on its own. The protein powder is a major flavor component here. If you dislike it in a shake, you certainly won’t enjoy it in this bowl. Whey, plant-based, or collagen all will work fine.
• Achieve optimal thickness: Avoid the biggest mistake made with smoothie bowls, having a bowl too thin. The smoothie bowl must have a thickness that allows it to be eaten with a spoon. To reach the desired thickness, you must use frozen fruit. The smaller the amount of fruit, the softer the smoothie will be.
• Use unsweetened cocoa powder: Avoid using hot chocolate mix or sweetened cocoa powder. Unsweetened cocoa is the best option as it delivers the best chocolate taste. Provided you use the unsweetened cocoa, you can have hot cocoa on the side and it with chocolate!
• Blend in stages: If you notice the blender is struggling, blend the liquid, yogurt, and nut butter first, and then add the frozen ingredients. If you have a tamper tool, use it.
• Prepare toppings in advance: Measure your toppings and place them in small bowls to bundle everything with the smoothie and save time. This is to ensure everything is assembled in the smoothie bowl.

Ingredient Swaps and Subs

1. Mint Chocolate Chip: Include 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract and a handful of fresh spinach, which you won’t taste at all. Top with dark chocolate chips and fresh mint leaves.
2. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup: Change to peanut butter, and add another tablespoon of peanut butter, along with an extra drizzle of peanut butter. Top with chopped peanuts and chocolate chips.
3. Mocha Smoothie Bowl: Blend in a 1/2 cup of cold brew coffee, or a shot of espresso, and to keep the thickness, reduce almond milk to 3/4 cup.
4. Chocolate Cherry: Instead of having a frozen banana, have 1 cup of frozen cherries and 1/2 a frozen banana. Top with fresh cherries and dark chocolate shavings.
5. Brownie Batter Bowl: Include 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed and 1 teaspoon of espresso powder to help deepen the chocolate taste. Top with walnuts and a few brownie bites.
6. Vegan option: Use plant-based protein powder, coconut yogurt instead of Greek yogurt, and maple syrup instead of honey.
7. Nut-free option: Instead of nut butter, use sunflower seed butter or tahini. Use oat milk instead of almond milk and top with pumpkin seeds instead of the nuts.
8. Lower-carb version: Use half an avocado instead of a banana for creaminess, add extra ice, and use a low-carb protein powder. Top with berries, nuts, and unsweetened coconut.

Serving Suggestions

This chocolate protein smoothie bowl is a complete meal on its own, but here are some ways to enhance your breakfast experience:

• Power breakfast combo: Pair with a hard-boiled egg or a small handful of nuts on the side for extra staying power.
• Post-workout recovery: Enjoy within 30 minutes after exercise for optimal muscle recovery and energy replenishment.
• Brunch centerpiece: Serve as the main attraction at a healthy brunch alongside avocado toast and fresh fruit.
• Dessert alternative: Make this a guilt-free evening treat when chocolate cravings hit.
• Kid-friendly breakfast: Let children choose and arrange their own toppings to make healthy eating fun and interactive.
• Meal prep base: Blend the base ingredients in advance and freeze in portions. When ready to eat, let thaw for 10 minutes and add fresh toppings.

Storage Tips For 

Smoothie bowls are best enjoyed immediately after blending. The thick, creamy texture doesn’t hold well once it starts to melt.

You can store the blended base in the freezer (without the toppings) for two weeks.

To prepare it for serving, extract it from the fridge and warm it for 10 to 15 minutes.

It will then have a scoopable texture. Put on fresh toppings and enjoy.

For the freezer smoothie packs, take the dry and frozen ingredients (banana, protein powder, cocoa powder, and chia seeds) and place them in individual bags.

When it’s time to make a smoothie, pour the liquid ingredients into the blender. Dump the pre-portioned bags into the blender and blend as usual.

For quick access, keep topping prep in small containers in the pantry or fridge, and you can grab them as you please.

Pre-portioning granola, nuts, and seeds will give you grab-and-go snacks as well.

If you have leftover smoothie base, you can thin it out with extra milk to drink, or freeze it in popsicle molds for healthy chocolate protein popsicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How much protein is in this Smoothie bowl?

With the protein powder, Greek yogurt, nut butter, and milk, you’re getting around 30-35 grams of protein per bowl. This makes it a truly filling meal that will satiate you for hours.

Can I make this without protein powder?

Of course, you can, but you’ll lose a good portion of protein and the flavor of chocolate.

To balance this, you can increase the Greek yogurt amount to 1 cup, add 1 extra tablespoon of cocoa powder,

And maybe add 2 tablespoons of hemp hearts and ground flaxseed to make the recipe more nutritious.

Why is my smoothie bowl too runny?

You probably added too much liquid or not enough of the frozen components.

Always remember to freeze your banana completely and add the least amount of liquid possible.

You can add ice cubes one at a time to thicken the smoothie.

Can I use Fresh Bananas instead of frozen?

You can use a fresh banana, but you will need a lot more ice to get a thick enough consistency.

Frozen banana is what makes smoothie bowls creamy and ice-cream-like.

Can I prep this the night before?

The blended base doesn’t last well overnight as it separates and becomes icy.

However, you can prep all your ingredients the night before and blend in the morning; it only takes 2 minutes.

What’s the best blender to use?

A high-powered blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec works best, but any decent blender can handle this if you let the banana soften slightly and add liquid gradually.

A regular blender may just take a bit longer and require more scraping down.

Is this good for weight loss?

This is a nutrient-dense, protein-rich meal and can support weight loss goals by keeping you full and satisfied.

Just be mindful of portion sizes with toppings like nut butter and granola, which can add calories quickly.

Conclusion

This chocolate protein smoothie bowl makes healthy eating something you truly want to have.

It combines a wonderful, indulgent taste with great, healthy ingredients and shows that taking care of yourself can be really delicious.

Yield: 1

High Protein Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

Print

https://www.pinterest.com/Jusforfruits/

Prep Time 4 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 14 minutes

Ingredients

• For the Smoothie Bowl Base:
• 1 frozen banana (sliced and frozen beforehand)
• 1 scoop (about 25-30g) of chocolate protein powder
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon almond butter/peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• Honey or maple syrup (1-2 teaspoons or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt
• 3-4 ice cubes (Optional, to thicken)
• For Topping:
• 2 tablespoons of granola
• 1 tablespoon of cacao nibs or dark chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon of sliced almonds or chopped nuts
• 1 tablespoon of coconut flakes
• Fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries)
• 1 tablespoon of nut butter drizzle
• Optional: raw shelled hemp seeds, bee pollen, sliced banana, or fresh mint leaves

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare your ingredients

Take your frozen banana slices and allow them to soften for about 2 to 3 minutes.

This should make blending much easier, and your blender won’t have to work as hard.

Collect your base ingredients so they are all easily accessible.

Step 2: Layer for Optimal Blending

In this recipe, the liquid goes in the blender first, so start with the almond milk.

Next, add the Greek yogurt, nut butter, protein powder, cocoa powder, frozen banana, chia seeds, honey, vanilla extract, and salt.

This order will help minimize the chances of the blender contents becoming stuck.

Step 3: Blend Until Thick and Creamy

Begin blending on low speed so everything can break down before increasing speed.

Blend on high speed for 45 to 60 seconds, scraping the sides of the container if necessary.

The final product should have the consistency of soft-serve ice cream, and therefore should be very thick.

If the mixture is too thin, add more ice cubes or frozen bananas. If the mixture is too thick, add almond milk in 1 tablespoon increments.

Step 4: Check Consistency and Taste

Blend for about 10 seconds and check the consistency.

It should hold its shape, and you should be able to stick a spoon into it, and it should not fall over.

If you would like to adjust the sweetness, add honey, and blend for a few seconds before serving.

Step 5: Transfer Your Smoothie

Using a spatula, scoop all the smoothie into the bowl.

Try to fill the bowl as much as possible, then use the back of a spoon to smooth the top. This will help with the toppings.

Step 6: Topping Arrangement

This is the satisfying part. Arrange the toppings however you like.

Try to start with the bigger toppings like granola and berries, and then use the smaller toppings like cacao nibs and nuts.

As the final touch, you can add a nut butter with a drizzle. Try to get all the toppings to touch.

Step 7: Enjoy

Grab a spoon and dig in. Enjoy the fresh smoothie bowl before it melts. Try to mix the toppings into the base as you eat.

This will provide a variety of flavors and textures in each bite.

Notes

Success Tips For Protein Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

Properly frozen bananas will greatly help your results.

Bananas should be sliced and arranged in a single layer before being placed in the freezer.

Once they are frozen, put them in a freezer bag. Sliced frozen bananas are much easier to blend.

• Which protein powder matters: Choose a quality chocolate protein powder that you enjoy drinking on its own. The protein powder is a major flavor component here. If you dislike it in a shake, you certainly won’t enjoy it in this bowl. Whey, plant-based, or collagen all will work fine.
• Achieve optimal thickness: Avoid the biggest mistake made with smoothie bowls, having a bowl too thin. The smoothie bowl must have a thickness that allows it to be eaten with a spoon. To reach the desired thickness, you must use frozen fruit. The smaller the amount of fruit, the softer the smoothie will be.
• Use unsweetened cocoa powder: Avoid using hot chocolate mix or sweetened cocoa powder. Unsweetened cocoa is the best option as it delivers the best chocolate taste. Provided you use the unsweetened cocoa, you can have hot cocoa on the side and it with chocolate!
• Blend in stages: If you notice the blender is struggling, blend the liquid, yogurt, and nut butter first, and then add the frozen ingredients. If you have a tamper tool, use it.
• Prepare toppings in advance: Measure your toppings and place them in small bowls to bundle everything with the smoothie and save time. This is to ensure everything is assembled in the smoothie bowl.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

2
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 420gTotal Fat: 14ggCarbohydrates: 48ggFiber: 10ggProtein: 30gg

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