Banana Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

While I could happily eat ice cream all day, every day, I know that it’s not the way to really get myself going in the morning. So I love discovering ways to get the cool, creaminess of ice cream in something that feels good to me as breakfast or a snack. Sometimes it’s a Cinnamon Apple Yogurt Parfait. Other times it’s a Strawberry Matcha Smoothie.

Years ago, smoothie bowls became popular, and they were like a dream come true for me. Instead of sipping a smoothie through a straw, you make it a little thicker, pour it into a bowl, and then add your favorite toppings. Then dig in like a smoothie-style sundae. And this chocolate banana smoothie is my favorite!

Chocolate Banana Smoothie Bowl is a Breakfast that Tastes Like Dessert

Here’s why this is a chocolate smoothie bowl that deserves all the love…

• So rich. Blending a frozen banana produces an ultra-creamy consistency. And a little cocoa powder is all you need to add plenty of chocolaty goodness. It’s like eating a decadent frozen dessert, but lighter!
• Easy to customize. I show this smoothie bowl recipe with my favorite toppings for adding a little chunky texture to pair with the creaminess. But you can change this up with anything you like, or even blend in different ingredients like protein powder and more. Keep reading for ideas.
• Allergy-friendly. This chocolate banana smoothie bowl is already gluten free, but it can also be made with dairy free ingredients, and you can skip the nuts as a topping, if needed.

Smoothie Bowl Ingredients

• Frozen banana – cut into chunks. Check out how to freeze bananas for tips on freezing them whole or already cut into pieces.
• Yogurt – plain or vanilla, and you can use Greek or non-dairy yogurt.
• Cocoa powder – unsweetened, and you can use regular or dark.
• Milk – you may need to add a splash to get everything to blend, especially if you don’t have a high-powered blender.
• Other Mix-ins – If you use plain yogurt, you may find you want to add a little honey or another sweetener. You can also blend in baby spinach or kale, as you would in a green smoothie, or add protein powder, collagen, creatine, a scoop of peanut butter, or anything else that meets your needs or preferences.

Smoothie Bowl Toppings

I wanted a smoothie bowl with chocolate, chunks, and plenty of texture, so I used chopped walnuts, cacao nibs, chia seeds, and banana slices. But there are tons of options, even ones that make it feel a bit more indulgent.

• Nuts – walnuts (Try Honey Glazed Walnuts!), pecans, or even a drizzle of peanut butter or almond butter.
• Chocolate – cacao nibs, mini chocolate chips, chopped dark chocolate.
• Seeds – chia, hemp.
• Fruit – slices of banana or strawberries, coconut flakes, or even some dried fruit.
• Granola – store bought or make a batch of Chia Coconut Granola or Maple Brown Sugar Granola Clusters.

More Chocolate Breakfast Recipes

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
• Mexican Chocolate Oatmeal
• Mini Chocolate Banana Oatmeal Pancakes
• Gluten Free Double Chocolate Muffins