Whether you eat it for breakfast or dessert, this Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie Bowl will satisfy your chocolate craving, no matter what time of day it is. Loaded with creamy and protein-packed homemade peanut butter and banana for sweetness, this smoothie bowl can also be piled high with your favourite toppings. Filling and nutritious and ready in less than 5 minutes.
Why drink a smoothie out of a glass when you can pour it in to a bowl and then load it with toppings. Serving a smoothie in a bowl makes it feel like much more of a meal that drinking it out of a glass, and it can be more filling with toppings galore. If you love chocolate peanut butter cups, then you are going to LOVE this!
Chocolate and peanut butter is such a classic combination, but it is usually only combined in less nutrient dense things like brownies or ice cream. This smoothie is balanced and nutritious, providing that you can exercise some restraint around an open jar of peanut butter.
If you are looking for some other chocolate recipes to try, then why not try our Hot Chocolate Spoons, Avocado Chocolate Pudding, Chocolate Flapjacks, or Healthy Chocolate Mug Cake.
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Why You Will Love It
- Quick and easy - It only takes 5 minutes to make this chocolate smoothie bowl. Just blend up the smoothie, pour it in to a bowl and then load it with toppings. We love an easy breakfast.
- Vegan - This is vegan, but it can be adapted to use dairy milk if you would prefer.
- Adaptable - The great thing about smoothies is that they are easy to adapt to suit your own tastes, and what you have in your kitchen. We have given options of ways to adapt it below.
- Filling - This is a really filling smoothie. The banana makes it filling, and then all the added toppings in the bowl make it extra filling.
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Bananas - This not only adds thickness and helps to make it more filling, but it adds sweetness too. I know that not everyone loves banana, so you could swap it for avocado which would give it the thickness and creaminess. It wouldn't taste of avocado, but it wouldn't add any sweetness, so you would need so add a liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup (to keep it vegan).
- Almond milk - This is our go to milk for vegan smoothies, but you could use another plant based milk like cashew or oat. If you wanted to use a dairy milk, then you could. To make the smoothie even more indulgent, and still keep it vegan, then you can add a splash of coconut milk. The coconut flavour will be subtle, but it will go really well with the chocolate and peanut butter.
- Cocoa powder - This is where all the chocolate flavour comes from. We used unsweetened cocoa powder and try to use the best quality one you can, as you will be able to taste the difference.
- Peanut butter - This adds so much flavour and creaminess to the chocolate smoothie bowl. We use a smooth peanut butter that is easy to drizzle on top. You could even use almond or cashew butter for something a little different.
Variations
- If you want to make this smoothie bowl really thick and creamy, and also nice and cold, then you can freeze the bananas first. Slice them up and put them in a freezer bag and they will blend well when frozen like that.
- You can give a protein boost to this smoothie by adding a scoop of your favourite protein powder. Protein powder isn't an area that we have much experience with, so use which ever one you are used to. You could also add chia seeds for a protein boost.
- To give this chocolate smoothie bowl a vegetable boost, blend some spinach in to it. You won't be able to taste the spinach and it won't change the colour of it due to the darkness from the chocolate. But it will give it a real nutrition boost.
Step by Step Instructions
One: Put all of the smoothie ingredients into a blender.
Two: Blend until smooth.
Three: Pour into bowls and add toppings.
Toppings
Shall we talk about toppings again? I told you that I was all about the toppings. This is where you can really get crazy! I threw some coconut on there, because it contrasts well with the chocolate and also it tastes delicious. Then there was some carob nibs for some crunch.
I added some chia seeds for a protein boost, then some leftover banana and then some more peanut butter, because you can never have too much and it looks amazing too.
We try to make our own peanut butter as much as possible, so we can control exactly goes in to it and that is just peanuts. Nope, nothing else!
You need a pretty powerful food processor to make it though, and I have broken a cheap food processor before trying to make nut butter. But, it's all worth it in the end. Take a look at our Homemade Peanut Butter recipe.
There are lots of other options when it comes to toppings though and here are some of our favourites:
- Chocolate chips
- Granola
- Oats
- Berries
- Dried fruit
Extra Tips
- If you want to make this smoothie bowl really thick and creamy, and also nice and cold, then you can freeze the bananas first. Slice them up and put them in a freezer bag and they will blend well when frozen like that.
- If you really wanted to reduce the sugar in this smoothie, then you could swap half the banana for cauliflower, which would still give the smoothie creaminess.
- A little bit of vanilla adds some extra flavour to this smoothie bowl too. Make sure it is extract though, and not essence.
- You can also add ice cubes to the blender to make the smoothie cold.
- Over ripe bananas are best as they will have the most flavour and sweetness.
- You can add dates for some extra natural sweetness.
Frequently Asked Questions
This isn't overly sweet, but the banana does add sweetness. If you like really sweet smoothies, then add a squeeze of honey or maple syrup if you want to keep it vegan.
This smoothie bowl actually stores really well and we like to make it as a on the go breakfast. Store it in an air tight container and it will store in the fridge until the next day and you can take it to work with you.
Yes, this is vegan, however you can use dairy milk if you prefer.
Yes, as long as you make sure there is no cross contamination then this is a gluten free chocolate smoothie bowl.
More Chocolate Recipes
If you’ve tried this chocolate smoothie bowl, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 Banana - peeled
- 500 ml (2 cups) Almond milk
- 6 tablespoon Cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoon peanut butter
Toppings (optional)
- Carob nibs, banana, coconut, chia seeds, more peanut butter
Instructions
- Put all of the smoothie ingredients into a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
Recipe Tips
- If you want to make this smoothie bowl really thick and creamy, and also nice and cold, then you can freeze the bananas first. Slice them up and put them in a freezer bag and they will blend well when frozen like that.
- If you really wanted to reduce the sugar in this smoothie, then you could swap half the banana for cauliflower, which would still give the smoothie creaminess.
- A little bit of vanilla adds some extra flavour to this smoothie bowl too. Make sure it is extract though, and not essence.
- You can also add ice cubes to the blender to make the smoothie cold.
- Over ripe bananas are best as they will have the most flavour and sweetness.
- You can add dates for some extra natural sweetness.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Marsha | Marsha's Baking Addiction says
You just can't beat chocolate for breakfast! This smoothie bowl looks amazing!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
I usually just drink my smoothies in a glass, and I confess to never having made a smoothie bowl before, but you're right. The toppings are spectacular! Your photos are beautiful,
Tori Wright says
I'm allergic to peanuts, but I am going to make this with almond milk and cashew butter on Monday. Brilliant idea Danni.
Jasmine says
I never thought to serve a smoothie in a bowl, but that's such a great idea to be able to add toppings, or for a thicker smoothie.
Nikki@SoulfullyMade says
I have a new found love for smoothie bowls! Choc - Oh yes! This looks amazing!
Melanie says
Wow this looks amazing and just been looking for a milk replacement, so this almond product is ideal :) x
Julia @ Happy Foods Tube says
I like what I see :)! I must check where I can get those carob nibs!
Vicky @ Avocado Pesto says
I love a good smoothie bowl and this one sounds epic! Love Almond milk too and home made peanut butter really is best!
Elodie says
I love to add almond milk to my smoothies as it makes them so much creamier. I'll definitely have to give this recipe a go because it looks yummy!
WhatLauraLoves says
OMG this looks absolutely DELICIOUS!! I LOVE that it is made with Almond Milk as I am dairy free xxx
hannah says
This looks great. I've never tried almond milk before, but i've heard a lot of people saying good things about it
Jenni says
Ooh I'm going to try this for a change for our breakfast. I haven't tried my son with almond milk before
Nicole says
I am so with you on the toppings. It's the same with pizza and ice cream - the toppings are the best part. I am going to make this as my post workout snack, with some protein powder in it.
Hayley says
I think I need to cut out dairy, because I always get stomach ache after having milk or cheese. Maybe I should swap to almond milk in my tea and smoothies and see if it makes a difference?
This is making me hungry dannii. It totally doesn't look healthy, but I love that it is.
Celia says
I love smoothie bowls!! Also, these photos are making my mouth water!