Funky Monkey Healthy Dessert Smoothie

1/27/20

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie is a deliciously healthy smoothie recipe that tastes like dessert! With the ultimate flavor trifecta of banana, chocolate, and peanut butter, 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.

How funky is your monkey? How loose is your goose?

Sorry, my mom is a lifelong cheerleader and cheerleading coach. Sometimes that kind of silliness just comes out of me.

But THIS RECIPE isn’t silly. This glass of chocolate peanut butter banana goodness masquerading as a rich dessert is good for you! It’s my Funky Monkey Smoothie!

I’m kind of a sucker for pairing chocolate, bananas, and peanut butter together, and I’m always happy to enjoy some funky monkey treats like banana peanut butter chocolate chip ice cream. And the next time I make a Reese’s Cake, I am totally adding a layer of banana pudding.

But any time I can get my favorite decadent flavor combo in a healthier way, I’m all over it. So I’ve squeezed this trifecta of deliciousness into everything from chocolate chip cheesecake frozen yogurt pops to chocolate peanut butter banana energy balls, and even healthier chocolate cupcakes!

And of course, there’s my personal favorite, a healthy dessert smoothie…

Healthy Chocolate Smoothie

So you know you want to cap off your evenings with a chocolaty dessert. Just whip up a Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie and indulge while you are treating your body well! No guilt here because it is packed with healthy ingredients and about 20 grams of satisfying protein.

How to make a banana chocolate peanut butter smoothie:

Add the following ingredients to your blender in the order listed:

• Milk
• Spinach
• Greek Yogurt or Cottage Cheese
• Peanut Butter
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – I use Hershey’s
• Frozen Banana
• Ice

Add blend until smooth. Pour into a glass or insulated smoothie cup and enjoy it immediately!

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

I like to use Silk Unsweetened Vanilla Almondmilk in my smoothies since it is so low in calories but still has a lot of calcium. If you want to add more protein, you can use regular dairy milk, and anything from skim to 1% to 2% to whole milk will work. And any non-dairy milk can be substituted as well.

LEAFY GREENS

Adding dark leafy greens to your smoothie is totally optional, but it’s a great way to sneak in extra vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

I prefer to use baby spinach since it has a milder flavor and basically disappears once you blend it. But others like to use kale because it is a nutritional powerhouse. Feel free to use your favorite dark leafy green, or omit it completely.

PEANUT BUTTER

Use your favorite brand or style – creamy or chunky, traditional or natural, store-bought or homemade. If you want to save a few calories, you can also use powdered peanut butter, but you will also lose a bit of the protein and healthy fats that help keep you full.

COCOA POWDER

Cocoa powder is a great ingredient to add a tone of chocolate flavor with minimal calories. I use plain old Hershey’s Cocoa Powder, but you can use cacao powder for even more of a nutritional punch of antioxidants.

ICE

I like a thick, frosty smoothie. So I do usually add several ice cubes. You will need to 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.

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More healthy chocolate smoothie recipes…

• Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
• Chocolate Berry Smoothie
• Banana Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie
• Chocolate Mint Smoothie
• Banana Almond Mocha Smoothie
• Chocolate Avocado Smoothie is a dairy-free treat from Texanerin Baking
• Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie from Two Peas and Their Pod
• White Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie from Big Bear’s Wife

Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Smoothie Recipe

Who doesn’t love this amazing combination of flavors? And when you can enjoy something that tastes like a rich and creamy milkshake, but still feel good about having it for breakfast or a healthy snack, then it’s a total win. This is the ultimate healthy dessert smoothie recipe for all the chocolate and peanut butter lovers out there. And 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.

I hope you’ll leave a comment and give it a FIVE STAR rating or share a review on Pinterest or photo on Instagram!
Tag me @cupcakekalechip and use #cupcakesandkalechips!

Print Recipe

5 from 6 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 Time5 mins

Total Time5 mins

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: gluten free, healthy smoothie recipes, kid friendly, peanut butter banana smoothie, smoothies, vegetarian

Servings: 1

Calories: 371kcal

Author: Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips

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.

Tried this recipe?Mention @cupcakekalechip or tag #cupcakesandkalechips!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 809mg | Potassium: 943mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 3045IU | Vitamin C: 20.3mg | Calcium: 417mg | Iron: 2.2mg

Enjoy!