Funky Monkey Healthy Dessert Smoothie

4.88 from 8 votes
•28 comments
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This deliciously healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie tastes like dessert! With the ultimate flavor combo, you can enjoy a protein-packed breakfast or snack (about 20 grams!) while you feel like you are indulging in a sweet milkshake. Kids of all ages will love to sip on rich and creamy Funky Monkey Smoothies.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie in a tall glass

Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Smoothie Recipe

I’m kind of a sucker for pairing chocolate and peanut butter together. Whether it’s a Peanut Butter Cup Flourless Chocolate Cake Roll or Peanut Butter Cup Brownies or Flourless Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies, who doesn’t love this amazing combination of flavors?

But any time I can get my favorite decadent flavor combo in a healthier way, I’m all over it. So this is the ultimate healthy dessert smoothie recipe for all the chocolate and peanut butter lovers out there. With a good dose of protein and some dark leafy greens, you’ll definitely fuel yourself through the morning until lunch or get yourself through the afternoon slump.

And when you want to cap off your evenings with a chocolaty dessert, just whip up a Funky Monkey Smoothie and indulge while you are treating your body well.

Chocolate Smoothie in a tall glass with bananas and a spoon of peanut butter

What is in a Funky Monkey Smoothie?

Let’s talk a little more about the simple ingredients that make this chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie so amazingly delicious and healthy. Plus I will share some substitutions you can make to customize your smoothie.

  • Milk. Unsweetened almondmilk or ny other non-dairy milk will work. If you want to add more protein, you can use regular dairy milk.
  • Leafy greens. Optional, but it’s a great way to sneak in extra vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Baby spinach has a mild flavor and basically disappears once you blend it. Kale is a nutritional powerhouse. Feel free to use your favorite or omit it completely.
  • Cottage cheese or Greek yogurt. Yogurt is the go-to for many people in smoothies to add protein and more creaminess. You can definitely use that , but cottage cheese is a great option in this recipe because blends up so super smooth, without that bit of tartness from the yogurt. And the salt in the cottage cheese just enhances the sweetness of the fruit, as well as the nuttiness of the peanut butter in this recipe. If you avoid dairy, substitute a non-dairy yogurt like coconut or soy yogurt.
  • Peanut Butter. Use your favorite brand or style, or even powdered peanut butter or peanut flour.
  • Cocoa Powder. Basic Hershey’s or any other brand of Cocoa Powder is just fine, but you can use cacao powder for even more of a nutritional punch of antioxidants.
  • Bananas. Frozen bananas blend up in smoothies so well to give them a creamy, almost milkshake-like texture. The more ripe your banana, the sweeter it will be.
  • Ice. Adding several ice cubes will produce a thick, frosty smoothie. Decide how much to add based on the size of your ice cubes and your preferred texture. If you leave them out, you will have a slightly thinner smoothie (though you could reduce the amount of milk), but a richer flavor.
  • Extras. Feel free to garnish your smoothie with banana slices, a drizzle of peanut butter or chocolate sauce, a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips or cacao nibs, or a bit of whipped cream.

How to make a banana chocolate peanut butter smoothie

Add the ingredients to your blender in the order listed above and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass or insulated smoothie cup and enjoy it immediately!

Funky Monkey Smoothie recipe in a milkshake glass with a metal straw

How to freeze bananas for smoothies:

I recommend peeling bananas before you freeze them, as the peel is very hard to remove from a frozen banana. You have a couple of options:

  • Freeze them whole. Peel your bananas and freeze them whole in a plastic freezer storage bag or airtight freezer-safe container. Then you will have to cut the frozen banana into chunks before adding it to your smoothie.
  • Freeze banana chunks. After peeling, cut the banana into chunks before freezing. You can place the chunks from each banana into a separate plastic baggie and put them all in a storage container before freezing so that you have them portioned out and ready to add to your blender.
Top half of a Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Smoothie in a glass
Brianne’s Favorite Blender

I always recommend a high-powered blender like the Blendtec for the smoothest, most creamy smoothies. The Mini Wildside+ Jar is the perfect size for one or two smoothies. You can even use the “Smoothie” setting to have it gradually increase the speed to perfectly incorporate the liquids and frozen ingredients. Note, I do usually stop it a little before the cycle is over because I prefer an extra thick smoothie.

I am a Blendtec ambassador, and should you make any purchases through my  Blendtec Store link, I will receive a small commission, but that also means you can use the code CUPCAKESANDKALECHIPS to receive 20% off.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Funky Monkey Smoothie
4.9 from 8 votes

Funky Monkey Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

The decadent combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and banana comes together in this healthy and protein-packed smoothie that tastes like dessert.
Prep: 5 mins
Total: 5 mins
Servings: 1

Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1 cup spinach or other dark, leafy greens, if desired
  • 1/2 cup cottage cheese or plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 Tablespoon peanut butter (or 1 Tablespoon peanut butter powder)
  • 1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 large frozen banana, cut into chunks
  • 4 ice cubes more or less depending on desired texture

Instructions

  • Add the ingredients to a blender in the order listed, and blend until smooth.
  • Pour into a glass and serve.
Nutrition Facts
Funky Monkey Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 371 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 4g20%
Cholesterol 17mg6%
Sodium 809mg34%
Potassium 943mg27%
Carbohydrates 42g14%
Fiber 7g28%
Sugar 21g23%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin A 3045IU61%
Vitamin C 20.3mg25%
Calcium 417mg42%
Iron 2.2mg12%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Author: Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keywords: gluten free, healthy smoothie recipes, kid friendly, peanut butter banana smoothie, smoothies, vegetarian
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Funky Monkey Smoothie

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Enjoy!

28 Comments
    1. Brianne Izzo
      Reply

      The banana is one of their newer flavors, so maybe it isn’t everywhere yet, but you have to try it. I like it right out of the cup with a scoop of peanut butter. Some mini chips wouldn’t be a bad thing either 🙂

  10. Terra
    Reply

    5 stars
    My favorite Ben and Jerry’s was the chunky monkey…..BUT not anymore!!! This really sounds fabulous, and my hubby would love love it:-) YUM!!! Hugs, Terra

  13. Alaine @ My GF DF Living
    Reply

    I just found your blog. I love the name of your blog, so cute! I love this recipe. I will have to try with some soy yogurt.

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Hi, I'm Brianne!

Gluten-Free Mom, Dinnertime Ninja, Lover of Cauliflower & Ice Cream. Welcome to Cupcakes & Kale Chips, where I share gluten free recipes & kid-tested family favorites!

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