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Love green smoothies but can’t stomach the thought of a frozen smoothie on a cold winter morning? The answer is this healthy Warm Hot Chocolate Smoothie recipe.
Warm Hot Chocolate Smoothie
Welcome to #EatHealthy16 where over 30 bloggers are coming together to share recipes to help you with your start 2016 off on the right track with food that is nutritious and delicious. I’m so excited to welcome Dani from The Adventure Bite. Dani is fun, creative, talented, and a fellow mom of two active little boys. I know you’ll love her and this recipe. Then check out the recipes from the other hostesses – Jamie of Love Bakes Good Cakes will have healthy meals, and Jenny of The Melrose Family will have healthy desserts. And make sure you follow the #EatHealthy16 hashtag throughout the month of January for tons of inspiration.
Hi guys!
My name is Dani and I am so excited to be here this morning with you! A huge thank you to Brianne for letting me take over her amazing little space here this morning.
A little bit about me: I’m a wife and mommy to two wild little boys and I blog over at The Adventure Bite. I write about mostly healthy foods with a side dose of creamy comfort foods (I haven’t met a cheese I’m not in love with) and a few decadent desserts worth the splurge (ever had a whole wheat chocolate cake that tastes good? Yeah me neither).
I also run a totally adorable online shop on the blog with lots of my favorite kitchen goodies. We work with amazing artisans all around the world to stock some pretty fantastic kitchen and housewares and ship them in gorgeous packaging straight to you. It basically feels like Christmas morning all the time around here!
My blog name stems from the fact that when my husband met me I was an extremely picky eater…I’m talking no mustard, no tomatoes, plain turkey and cheese sandwich kind of gal. A curry had never passed my lips and coleslaw was a major no way. My husband however eats everything under the sun. So basically he told me that if he kept dating me he planned on marrying me and having kids with me…and that he wouldn’t have his kids be picky eaters. So basically I needed to start taking “adventure bites” or he was going to dump me ha!
But enough gab about us, let’s talk about this hot chocolate smoothie!
I originally was planning on bringing a totally normal orange banana smoothie to you this morning because I love it. But when I set out to make it I just could not bring myself to make a frozen smoothie because it is so dang cold here. So I got to wondering if it was possible to make a warm smoothie instead.
At first idea the thought sounded disgusting…a warm smoothie? Seriously this is the stuff of my nightmares. Smoothies and smoothie bowls must be ice cold with ice cubes in them for me to not be grossed out (remember recovering picky eater here).
But I got to thinking maybe…if it tasted like hot chocolate I could handle it. Turns out this was an amazingly good idea!
I tried it first with bananas because chocolate banana is always a solid combo and I was so relieved that it indeed was delicious. Warm, creamy, comforting.
But the next day I did something almost sacrilegious. I added a big handful of fresh spinach to it! It should be noted I was 100% ready to throw this smoothie out should it have failed and I almost couldn’t bear to take that first sip.
But the shocker for you and me both…you can’t even taste the greens! Delicious and a dose of healthy greens? I’ll take it and sneak it to my kids in the process!
Let’s jump in…
First off we start with 2 cups of almond milk, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 10-15 whole almonds (optional), a teaspoon of vanilla and a tablespoon of maple syrup to sweeten it up just a smidge. Warm them in a small saucepan until almost boiling.
In your Blendtec (or equivalent high speed blender) place 1/4 cup plain yogurt and your choice of goodies. I tried out a banana, a handful of fresh spinach and a scoop of plain protein powder (each by themselves not together) with each one lending tasty results. Upon further research on this warm smoothie trend I saw lots of people tossing in peanut butter into the mix as well which also sounds delicious.
Add the warmed chocolate milk mixture and firmly attach the lid. Blend on smoothie setting or medium high for 1 minute. Top with chocolate chips, almonds or a light dusting of cocoa powder.
And then drink up! These are the best right after you make them.
Thanks again to Brianne for allowing me to share my “adventure bite” here! I hope you try it and love it as much as we do.
We would love for you to come over and visit the blog and the shop! We are also loving Instagram lately so be sure to come on over there and say hi!
Warm Hot Chocolate Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond milk can substitute other milks
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla optional but tasty
- 10-15 almonds omit if you do not have a high speed blender!
- 1/4-1/2 cup yogurt I use full fat whole milk yogurt
- Optional goodies: scoop of plain protein powder banana, handful of spinach, peanut butter etc
- Optional toppings: mini chocolate chips slivered almonds, cocoa powder
Instructions
- In small saucepan whisk together almond milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup and vanilla. Heat until just before boiling.
- Add yogurt and any goodies to blender and then add warm milk mixture.
Categories:
Dani has lots more healthy snacks…
Here are some more chocolaty drinks from Brianne…
what an interesting idea for a smoothie, I have never tried one warm, but on this cold rainy morning it sounds perfect
What a delightful hot chocolate – loving the yogurt in there!
Nice to add some protein to hot cocoa!
Hello,
Would I be able to skip the saucepan by say…adding some hot water, and blending everything at the ‘soup’ setting on the blendtec?
I don’t see why not! I actually have a “soup” mode on my Blendtec that heats things up, so I just used that.
oooh this is essentially the way I already make my smoothies! Just warm! I’ll def. need to try for chilly days!
Love this idea – I made a Hot Apple Pie Green Smoothie a couple of years ago and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it served warm! Pinned and sharing this one today!
That sounds awesome!
I have never heard of a warm smoothie, but I drink hot chocolate almost every day. I am going to have to try this! I’ll head over and check out Dani’s blog. Pinned!
Dani is awesome! Such a great way to get more nutrition into that hot chocolate, right?!
You have convinced me to try a warm smoothie now 🙂 I have seen a few other recipes floating around and just couldn’t get on board until I read your story. Thank you! Yum!
Let us know what you think!
It’s about time for me to switch up my breakfast menu and this may do the trick. I look forward to trying it.
I enjoy hot drinks even if its 110 outside so this is right up my ally. Thanks for sharing on Keep It Simple.
Just like I eat ice cream in the winter 🙂 Enjoy!
Dear Brianne, This sounds like such a wonderful treat and I would love it even if it weren’t cold outside. xo, Catherine
I’ll just crank up the air conditioner in the summer to enjoy it 🙂