This Chocolate Smoothie Bowl delivers a rich satisfying balance of sweetness and tang. Each bite is full of bold chocolate flavor and velvety texture making this breakfast feel like an indulgent dessert. This recipe uses bananas as its base for a naturally sweetened dish that can be enjoyed any time of day.
Topping it off, our nut-based granola adds just the right crunch, offering a necessary contrast of textures to each bite. Additionally, it packs a nutritional punch from healthy fats and fiber, all without any added sugars. Simple to whip up and enjoyable to devour, this smoothie bowl is your answer to a wholesome, tasty treat that keeps you energized throughout the day.
Why You’ll Love It
Nutritious: In addition to its amazing flavor, this smoothie bowl is packed with protein, healthy fats, and essential nutrients like antioxidants and potassium. With the New Year still fresh, it’s time to add some new recipes to your arsenal that feel like a treat but won’t derail your goals.
Quick & Easy: This bowl serves as a filling meal, but it still comes together quickly. No matter how busy your mornings are, this smoothie bowl is the perfect match. A quick blend of wholesome ingredients and a speedy sprinkle of NuTrail are all you need to set your day off right.
Versatile: This recipe gives you an excellent base for a delicious smoothie bowl, but there are endless ways that you can customize it to make a fresh and exciting spin off whenever you need it. You can switch up the flavors within the bowl or trade out your favorite toppings to make a new creation whenever the mood strikes.
Ingredients
NuTrail Granola: Any of our delicious flavors of nut-based granola can be used in this recipe. Cacao Nut is the perfect choice because of its chocolatey flavor but Vanilla Strawberry and Birthday Cake would also complement the flavors of the smoothie bowl well.
Bananas: Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and when frozen, make an ideal base for this satisfying bowl. When choosing bananas, look for those that have a few brown spots as those blend up better and are more sweet tasting.
Greek Yogurt: Its ultra creamy texture, dose of protein and zingy flavor make the flavors in this bowl pop. Full-fat plain Greek yogurt is recommended because it has a wonderfully thick texture and doesn’t contain added sugar, but feel free to use what you have on hand.
Cocoa Powder: Unsweetened cocoa powder gives this smoothie bowl its irresistible chocolate base. You can use regular or dark chocolate cocoa powder based on your preference.
Almond Butter: A small amount of almond butter goes a long way, especially in smoothies. Made from ground almonds, this delicious spread adds depth of flavor to your smoothie and elevates it to a truly indulgent-feeling dish. Choose an almond butter with a simple ingredient list, ideally just almonds and salt. Feel free to swap with peanut butter for a more prominent nutty flavor or macadamia nut butter for a rich and buttery taste.
How to Store
This smoothie bowl tastes best when served immediately. Refrigeration of leftovers is not advised due to changes in the taste and texture that will occur quickly.
Serving Suggestions
- Switch up the toppings to keep your chocolate smoothie bowls interesting. Try adding toasted coconut flakes, berries, chia seeds, or a sprinkle of sugar free chocolate chips.
- The best smoothie bowls have lots of contrasting colors and textures. Taking the extra time to make yours look aesthetically pleasing can make the meal even more enjoyable.
Perfect the Consistency
This recipe is meant to be very thick and spoonable. If the smoothie thins out from sitting, or if you’ve used a particularly runny yogurt, pour it into a bowl and freeze for 10-15 minutes to help it firm up.
However, if yours is too thick and you’d like it to be drinkable, you can add a splash of your favorite milk to thin it out. Start with a tablespoon then blend and add more until you reach your desired consistency.
Tips and Substitutions
- Remove the banana peels and cut the bananas into chunks before freezing for better blending.
- Feel free to use your choice of non-Greek yogurt, and add a couple of tablespoons of your preferred protein powder instead. You can also use coconut-based yogurt for a bold taste.
- Get creative! Try adding a pinch of espresso powder for a mocha flavor or add your favorite fruit in a gorgeous design on top.
- Be sure not to overblend the mixture as it can make it runny.
- Use pre-frozen bananas found in the freezer section at the grocery store to cut down on prep time.
More from our blog:
Frozen Food Essentials for Busy Foodies
Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites
Chocolate Protein Smoothie Bowl
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: N/A
Yield: Serves 2
Ingredients
4 frozen bananas, cut into cubes
2 tablespoons unsweetened dark cocoa powder
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons no sugar added almond butter
1/3 cup NuTrail Cacao Granola
Directions
1. Place the bananas, cocoa powder, yogurt, and almond butter into a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Depending on your blender, you may need to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula to ensure better blending.
2. Scrape the smoothie into two bowls and garnish with Nutrail granola. Add additional banana slices, sugar free chocolate chips, and a drizzle of warmed almond butter as desired. Serve cold.
Nutritional information
The nutrition information was calculated using the Cronometer app. These numbers are meant to be estimates and you should always be sure to double check your own ingredients as nutrition can vary by brand.
Per Serving-
12.g protein
45.5g net carbs
18.9g fat
