Chocolate and cherries combine perfectly in this tempting vegan chocolate cherry smoothie. You wouldn’t know this shake was full of healthy veggies if you hadn’t had them in yourself! It also contains bananas, almond milk and flax seeds. This easy green smoothie recipe mixes up in seconds! It’s perfect for a light breakfast for an afternoon pick-me-up snack. It is dairy-free and gluten-free.
Chocolate and cherry
Cherries have always been my favorite fruit, and as a self-confessed chocoholic, I find the combination of chocolate and cherries highly addictive. Chocolate covered cherries are a drug to me.
Every spring, I cruise the produce aisles of the grocery store, eagerly awaiting the return of cherry season. They are usually very expensive when they first make their appearance, but since the season is so short-lived, I go ahead and splurge.
I make this chocolate cherry smoothie recipe often. It uses frozen cherries, because keeping a pound of fresh cherries would take too long and be too messy.
A few years ago, there was a shortage of frozen cherries, and I didn’t know what to do with mine. Once my local Whole Foods put them back in stock, I bought all the bags of them. Yes, I’ve been that person who’s seen buying an item in front of you in the checkout line that makes you wonder “What’s he planning to do with all this? Stockpiling it for the zombie apocalypse?” To be honest, they only had seven bags, so I didn’t look that crazy
what do you want
- frozen cherries
- banana
- hemp seed
- Cocoa powder
- Baby spinach or baby kale
- Almond milk or your favorite non-dairy milk
- Ice cubes, optional
See recipe card for exact amounts.
How to Make Chocolate Cherry Smoothies
This smoothie is so easy to make! Just throw everything together in a blender and blend until it’s smooth and creamy! It whips up in seconds on my Blendtec!
Recipe notes
I love using frozen bananas to make smoothies, because they make smoothies extra creamy. Since they are a little thicker, they may need extra liquid. If your blender gets stuck, add a little more non-dairy milk or some water. When using fresh bananas, I like to add a few ice cubes to the blender to make my smoothie very cold. Because warm smoothies aren’t that appealing!
If you want to add protein powder to your smoothie, go ahead and add a scoop.
Health Benefits of Cacao Powder
Cacao is made from cold-pressed raw cacao beans. It is said to have many health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease and reducing insulin resistance. It’s a mood booster, and who couldn’t use a little jolt of happiness?
Cacao powder can be pricey, although I’ve found it reasonably priced at Trader Joe’s. You can buy it relatively inexpensively in bulk on Amazon.
If you can’t find cocoa, dairy-free cocoa powder can be used instead, but keep in mind that cocoa powder is roasted at high temperatures and doesn’t have the same health benefits as cocoa.
Health benefits of cherries
Cherries are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They’re also known for their anti-inflammatory properties, and it’s been said that cherries can actually have the same effect as aspirin!
This smoothie contains flax seeds for protein and green leafy vegetables for vitamins and minerals.
Serve your smoothie
I love drinking this chocolate cherry smoothie for breakfast on hot summer mornings. I also enjoy sipping on it as an afternoon snack. It also makes a great dessert shake.
Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
Chocolate and cherries pair perfectly together in this tempting vegan chocolate cherry smoothie. You wouldn’t know this shake is full of healthy veggies if you didn’t put them in yourself!
material
- 1 16 ounce package frozen cherries
- 2 banana
- 2 table spoon hemp seed
- 2 table spoon Cocoa powder
- 2 A big handful baby vegetables or baby calls
- 1½ the cup almond milk Or your favorite non-dairy milk
- 3 or 4 ice cube optional
Calories: 235kcal | Sugars: 33g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 7g | Monounsaturated fats: 2g | Sodium: 249mg | Potassium: 522mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 252IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 262mg | Iron: 3mg
