Chocolate banana protein shake

This healthy vegan chocolate banana protein shake is deliciously cool, chocolatey and creamy. It takes just a few minutes to make, and it’ll keep you going for hours. Barista oat milk, organic raw cacao powder, banana, vegan protein powder and ice cubes. Low in calories but high in nutrients and flavour!

How this chocolate banana protein shake came to be

This morning I was looking for something to eat for breakfast. I usually have a smoothie, but I ran out of fruit days ago. There’s usually a stash of fruit in the freezer that I use for making smoothies like my mixed berry superfood smoothie, but I deliberately finished it all because I need to defrost the freezer. The only fruit I had was bananas – lots of them. I exaggerated the last time I went shopping and now needed to use them up.

So this morning, I had to get creative with bananas. A quick search in the fridge revealed a carton of barista oat milk. Promising. One thing that goes really well with banana and oat milk is chocolate, of course! That I had – in the form of organic raw cacao powder. I wanted to add some protein powder because it was workout day, and I’d soon run out of steam without a good breakfast. There were plenty of ice cubes in the freezer (I hate warm shakes and smoothies), so I was all set up to make a chocolate and banana protein shake.

It’s so easy to make – just put all the ingredients into a blender, powders and ice last, and blend until smooth. To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t expecting it to be anything special (I’m a fruit smoothie addict), but it was actually far nicer than I thought it would be! In fact, it was so delicious I think it deserves a place here on my blog. Especially for all the chocolate lovers out there. So, I made it again today, took some pics and uploaded everything in this post for you. I hope you like it!

Vegan chocolate banana protein shake – about the Ingredients

Vegan milk

I already had a carton of barista oat milk open, so I used that. I use Aldi barista oat milk because I like the taste and it has no added sugar. It’s naturally sweet because of the way the oats are processed. Processing methods encourage the production of natural sugars, allowing the oat milk to become sweeter while still qualifying as “unsweetened”. These, however, are simple sugars that cause spikes in blood sugar levels, so they should be consumed in moderation.

On the positive side, oat milk provides the sweetness necessary to counterbalance the natural bitterness of organic raw cacao powder. 6,7 g of sugar per 100 g of product isn’t a big deal for people without health problems. There are brands of oat milk on the market that boast a full zero grams of sugar if you prefer it to be completely sugar-free. Other types of plant-based milk, such as soya, almond, and cashew, are also perfectly suitable for making this chocolate banana protein shake. Choose what is best for you.

Banana

No shake or smoothie is complete without banana! Half a banana is the first thing to go into my smoothie beaker in the morning. Bananas make shakes and smoothies creamy and act as a natural sweetener. Everyone knows that bananas contain potassium – although not as much as we’ve been led to believe. One medium-sized banana contains around 420 mg of potassium. They’re also a source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, manganese and dietary fibre.

Raw organic cacao powder

Raw organic cacao powder has multiple health benefits, so it’s the perfect chocolatey addition to your protein shakes. I believe it’s far better to buy a neutral protein powder and flavour it yourself rather than buying ready-flavoured ones. You have no control over what kind of chocolate they are using. Raw organic cacao powder, on the other hand, is renowned for its outstanding nutritional properties. Cacao (pronounced ka kaw) is not to be confused with cocoa (pronounced kow kow). The term cacao is used when referring to unprocessed versions of the cacao bean.

Cocoa, on the other hand, refers to cacao which has undergone industrial refining, chemical processing and roasting. Unfortunately, these processes destroy a lot of the original nutrients. Processing was originally developed in the early 19th Century to reduce the bitterness, darken the colour, and create a more mellow flavour to chocolate.

I decided to do a little more research myself and came across some surprising nutritional data. Organic raw cacao powder is a rich source of antioxidants, flavonoids, and minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium and calcium.

Interesting facts about organic raw cacao powder

• Raw organic cacao has over 40 times the antioxidants of blueberries. Antioxidants help to protect cells from damage and boost the immune system.
• The flavonoids in raw cacao have been shown to improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, and improve cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease.
• Raw organic cacao contains compounds that may boost cognitive performance and reduce stress levels, improving brain function.
• Small amounts of caffeine and theobromine are found in organic raw cacao powder, which can provide a mild energy boost and improve physical performance.
• The fibre in organic raw cacao helps digestion and promotes a healthy gut microbiome.
• Raw organic cacao is a good source of serotonin, tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylethylamine. These neurotransmitters are associated with feelings of well-being and happiness. They can even alleviate depression.  
• It’s important to know, however, that high amounts of raw cacao can have negative effects, such as jitters, anxiety, and digestive issues. As always, moderation is key.

Protein powder or meal replacement formula

You can use any kind of protein powder or meal replacement formula for this banana and chocolate protein shake, as long as it’s vegan. Most people have their own favourite brand. I have two favourites – a meal replacement formula and a sport protein powder.

D-eat meal replacement formula

My preferred complete meal replacement is Ringana d-eat. It’s vegan, of course, and has no chemical ingredients, preservatives or synthetic fragrances. I love it because it’s absolutely natural, and it has a neutral taste that I can flavour with whatever I fancy.

Ringana d-eat is low in calories – only 200 cal per 50 g sachet. In this chocolate banana protein shake, I used one sachet for two 350 ml glasses. I find that 1/2 sachet is enough for one glass of smoothie or shake (well, it is for me, at least). It’s very filling and keeps me going until lunchtime. 1/2 sachet only has 100 calories, but it provides the body with all the nutrients it needs. The box in the picture below contains 14 sachets, so it lasts me a month if I have it every day. Read the full list of ingredients and nutritional information.

Ringana sport protein powder

When it’s workout day, I go for Ringana sport protein powder, which has a slightly higher protein content.

At the time of writing, Ringana products are available in most European countries and Mexico but not in the USA (yet). For prices and how to order their products, click here. These are affiliate links. If you decide to buy something, I will earn a small commission, which goes towards financing my blog, at no extra cost to you.

Ice cubes

Ice cubes are just for cooling the smoothie. Even if your oat milk and banana are straight from the fridge, the blender generates a certain amount of heat. The ice cubes bring the ingredients back to fridge temperature.

Dark vegan chocolate for garnish

I use Lindt dark vegan chocolate (I live in Switzerland, remember). To grate it, use a standard fine cheese grater. It makes a really attractive garnish if you’re making this chocolate banana protein shake for friends.

How to make chocolate banana protein shake

For exact quantities, see the recipe card below.

• Put the ingredients into a blender beaker – first, the oat milk and banana, and then the powders and ice. The powders tend to stick to the bottom and sides if you put them in first. Add the ice last. That’ll help get things moving once you turn the blender on.
• Blend until smooth (about 20 seconds).

How to serve chocolate banana protein shake

Pour into pretty glasses and garnish with grated dark chocolate and banana slices. Add a reusable glass or metal straw and serve immediately while still chilled.

Some other healthy ingredients you could add to your chocolate banana protein shake

If you’re not using a protein powder or meal replacement, you could add other ingredients to your chocolate banana protein shake to bump up the nutrients. Here are a few suggestions:

Nut butter (peanut, cashew, almond, pistachio, hazelnut, macadamia, etc.)

Greens (spinach leaves, moringa leaves, wheat grass, etc.) You won’t be able to taste the greens.

Whole nuts (nut varieties as per nut butter above, plus walnuts, pine nuts, brazil nuts, pecans, etc.)

Almonds

Coconut (dried or fresh)

Vanilla

Seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, flaxseeds, etc.)

Cinnamon

How to keep chocolate banana protein shAKE

This chocolate banana protein shake is best enjoyed freshly made while it’s still chilled. If you have any left over, you could put it in the fridge and drink it later. While I was testing this recipe, I did put some in the fridge for a few hours to see how well it kept. It was perfectly fine 4 hours later – the same colour, taste and consistency. How long it will keep depends on whether you use the same ingredients as I did or not. Some additions, like seeds or other types of protein powder, may cause the shake to become gloopy after a while.

I don’t recommend freezing this chocolate banana protein shake. Why would you want to? It takes 5 minutes to make from scratch.

I hope you enjoy this chocolate banana protein shake as much as we do! If you like it and want to leave a comment, you can do so below – I’d really appreciate it. It’s a great way to show your support, and it’s useful for other readers too.

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