Chocolate Protein Smoothie Bowl

This Protein Smoothie Bowl tastes like dessert for breakfast, but it’s healthy and packed with protein. Rich and chocolatey, this thick chocolate smoothie bowl comes together in just 5 minutes!

It’s summer here in Spain and it’s hot, boiling hot. Or I should better say… it’s scorching! Temperatures have been well over 39°C (102°F) for more than 2 weeks now and the heat gives no sign of leaving the city.  Well, I don’t complain. I honestly LOVE summer.

Summer means vacations, sun, pasta salads and…Smoothie bowls! Second only to oatmeal (because yes, despite the heat I still eat my protein oats), protein smoothies are my favorite summer breakfast. But hey, not all smoothies are great. It needs to be my super THICK smoothie bowl, with protein powder and a lot of toppings.

Curious to learn how I make it? Here’s a gift for you: the recipe for chocolate protein smoothie.

The best, thickest and most delicious smoothie bowl EVER!

The ingredients

Five simple ingredients – all you need to make chocolate smoothie bowl with protein powder. Keep on reading for all details, tips and substitutes.

• Frozen bananas: Use peeled and sliced frozen bananas, the riper they are, the sweeter the protein smoothie. As it essential for a creamy texture, bananas should not be replaced.
• Protein powder: I recommend whey protein powder because it produces smoother and creamier smoothie without forming lumps. But you can also use vegan protein powder or casein. 
• Nut butter: For a smooth and delicate taste, choose almond butter or cashew butter, also peanut butter works but it is “stronger”. Use sunflower seed butter or tahini if you have a nut allergy.
• Cocoa powder: Unsweetened cocoa powder gives this protein smoothie bowl a rich chocolate taste while keeping calories, fats and sugars down.
• Milk of choice: This recipe can be prepared with dairy milk or dairy-free options. My favorite are unsweetened almond milk, oat milk, and unsweetened soy milk or semi-skimmed milk for more protein.

Sugar-free smoothie bowl..?

As you may have noticed, my go-to protein smoothie recipe does include additional sweeteners. The reasons are mainly two: first the bananas give plenty of natural sweetness, second flavored protein powders are usually sweetened (without sugar). Oh, and I don’t enjoy when my food tastes overly sweet, to be honest.

But…What if you have the sweet tooth? What if your protein powder comes without flavors? In these cases you may need to fix your protein bowl with about half a tablespoon of maple syrup or honey. Also calorie sweeteners such as erythritol or stevia will serve the purpose.

Best protein powder for smoothie

This thick smoothie bowl can be prepared with any protein powder you prefer: plant based, whey or casein. Nevertheless it is worth mentioning that some options are better than others, with whey being the the cream of the crop.

Whey protein powder produces a smoother and creamier texture without grains. The reason is that it mixes very well and does not absorb plenty of moisture. Conversely, vegan protein powders and casein are highly absorbent. As a consequence, your protein smoothie bowl may come out slightly grainy (especially with plant based options).

This being said, nothing holds you from making smoothie with vegan protein powder or casein. Just bear in mind that you may need to fix the consistency with more milk if it is too thick.

Which protein powder flavor is best?

Moving to the best flavors, my recommendations are vanilla, chocolate or unflavored protein powders. These are relatively neutral and do not influence the taste profile of your chocolate bowl.

Recipe variations

Whether chocolate is not your thing or whether you are looking for alternatives, here are seven different ways how you can make protein smoothie bowl.

• Banana bread smoothie: Instead of cocoa powder, blend in a hint of ground cinnamon, vanilla extract and some walnuts, if you want!
• Vanilla protein smoothie: Use vanilla protein powder or add about 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
• Strawberry chocolate bowl: Replace half of the frozen banana with 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries; for a simple strawberry protein smoothie, feel free to omit the cocoa powder.
• Blueberry protein smoothie: Substitute half of the frozen banana with about 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries.
• Superfood bowl: Blend in a handful of walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds or a mix of these.
• Chocolate avocado smoothie: Add half of an avocado for a creamier texture. Amongst others, the avocado will add plenty of vitamins, taste and healthy fats.
• Cookies and cream protein smoothie: Omit the cocoa powder, blend and crush in some Oreos before serving. It will feel like eating McFlurry, but healthier and macro-friendly.

Topping ideas

This thick protein smoothie bowl is designed for toppings. Fruit, granola and nut butters will make your breakfast incredibly satisfying!

When topping my protein bowl, I opted for sliced banana, oat cereals, shredded coconut and dark chocolate chips. But this was just a random combination, as I like changing up my toppings based on my cravings. Somedays it is banana peanut butter, somedays it is fresh berries & seeds…And if you still need inspiration, here are some ways how you can top chocolate protein smoothie. In all combos, make sure to include a source of complex carbohydrates such as granola, cereals or muesli for a more filling breakfast.

• Banana and peanut butter
• Blueberries and almond butter
• Fresh berries and cashew butter
• Mango and coconut
• A selection of fresh fruit and seeds
• Strawberries and chocolate chips
• Sliced fruit, nut butter and chocolate chips
• A mix of superfood, such as pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds and goji berries

How to make protein smoothie bowl

If you like quick and easy recipes, this chocolate smoothie bowl is for you. It comes together in under 5 minutes in a blender. Here’s how!

Add all ingredients to a high speed blender: the frozen banana, the protein powder, the nut butter, the cocoa powder and the milk. My recommendation is to start with 60 ml or ¼ cup of milk only, and adjust with more if the smoothie is still too thick. As we have mentioned above, this depends on the protein powder that you are using.

Blend on high until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed. If the smoothie is too thick, adjust with more milk until you fix the consistency. Serve with your favorite toppings.

How to store protein smoothie

Storing a smoothie bowl can be a bit challenging because the texture and freshness can quickly deteriorate. So, make sure to follow all the instructions below.

• Place the smoothie in an airtight container, preferably made of glass, to preserve the freshness. Make sure you do not add any toppings for now, as they would get soft and soggy.
• Refrigerate as soon as possible, as the smoothie needs to be stored at low temperatures. 
• Consume within 24 hours, as it won’t keep fresh for any longer. Before serving, give it a good stir and decorate with your favorite toppings.

The secrets for thick smoothie bowl

Many people think that making a smoothie is as simple as mixing fruit. But then, when it’s time to serve, they complain about the result: a liquid boring stuff. Well, I was there too. I still remember my frustration at the time.

But not anymore. Over the years I’ve learned a lot. So today I’m happy to share with you a couple tips on how to make your smoothie thick and creamy.

• Don’t exaggerate with milk. If you add too much your smoothie won’t come out as thick.
• Use frozen fruit, especially frozen bananas are the best for thicker smoothies.
• Besides fruit, add other ingredients such as protein powder, nut butter and cocoa powder.
• Don’t skip the nut butter, it will make your smoothie incredibly smooth and creamy.
• Mix in extra ingredients such as rolled oats, cashew, walnuts, almonds and hemp seeds.

More high protein breakfast recipes

• Simple protein pancakes
• Chocolate protein oatmeal
• Protein pancake pizza
• Cottage cheese pancakes
• Whey protein powder oatmeal
• Vanilla protein French toast bites
• Muscle building oatmeal
• High calorie smoothie for bulking