This healthy chocolate milkshake is thick, rich, and luxuriously smooth... no ice cream needed! It tastes indulgent but is naturally sweetened and made with more wholesome ingredients like banana, almond butter, and cocoa. (Vegan, gluten-free, refined oil-free.)
This healthy chocolate milkshake is a creamy, vegan twist on the classic!
I love the texture of it - slightly thick, rich, and luxuriously smooth. It feels so indulgent, but is made with better-for-you ingredients and naturally sweetened.
Most importantly, we skip the ice cream and use whole-food frozen banana instead. (Plus almond butter, cocoa powder, and a touch of maple syrup.) So you still get all that rich, satisfying, chocolatey flavor... but without the dairy and refined sugar!
Ingredients for Healthy Chocolate Milkshake
For this recipe, you'll blend in a high-speed blender:
- Dairy-free milk: Most often I use homemade cashew milk but soy milk or oat milk work great too. (These help keep the texture thicker rather than using almond milk which runs thinner.)
- Frozen banana: Frozen banana works best to achieve a thicker, creamier consistency. Be sure to use a ripe banana with lots of brown spots because those are much sweeter. I slice mine into coins then freeze them the night before (or longer).
- Cocoa powder: I use Dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder. Or swap in cacao powder if you wish.
- Almond butter: It's best to use drippy almond butter so it blends well into the mixture. I use this for a more neutral flavor (as compared to peanut butter). You could also substitute cashew butter.
- Pure maple syrup: Or your own favorite sweetener such as pitted dates, agave nectar, etc. Just a couple teaspoons adds natural sweetness, but you can adjust the amount however you see fit.
- Vanilla extract
- Salt: Just a pinch of fine grain salt helps balance and enhance all the flavors.
Customizing
Add protein powder: A sweet lady named Catarine left a comment on this recipe that she swaps out the cocoa powder for a vegan chocolate protein powder for her 4-year-old daughter's breakfast and I love that idea!
Mocha: Add 1 shot espresso or about a teaspoon of instant coffee for a mocha-style twist. (I haven't tested this, but think it would be tasty!)
Mint chip: Add 1-2 drops of peppermint extract and 1-2 Tbsp. cacao nibs.
Looking for more? Check out these fudgy Chocolate Banana Popsicles made with similar ingredients!
For more inspiration, also browse all vegan drink recipes.
Healthy Chocolate Milkshake (Vegan!)
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup dairy-free milk
- 1 large ripe banana (sliced, frozen)
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. almond butter, drippy
- 2 tsp. pure maple syrup (more or less to taste)
- 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Optional add-ins:
- 1-2 Tbsp. vegan Greek yogurt, 1/8 tsp. almond extract, protein powder, etc.
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small high-speed blender. (I use a NutriBullet which works great.) Blend for about 30 seconds until silky smooth. Stop to scrape down the sides with a spatula if any cocoa powder or almond butter sticks to the side.
- Taste and adjust the flavors, sweetness, and thickness if desired.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)
Sodium content: This is omitted as I cannot provide an accurate number. I encourage you to calculate your own to provide a much more precise reading based on the exact ingredients, brands, and amounts you're using.
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CATARINE says
I love this. My 4 y/o will not eat breakfast and I feel terrible sending her off to school with an empty tummy. Enter this chocolate shake. I switched out the cocoa powder for a vegan chocolate protein powder and I always freeze the banana and she asks for it every day. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!! Seriously.
Kaitlin says
Hi Catarine! What a great idea swapping out the cocoa powder for a protein powder. So glad you found something for your daughter!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Sounds good to me Kaitlin. I just throw everything in to my blender too. I am on smoothies rather than shakes at the moment.
Lee Kaplan says
You can also add cinnamon and espresso powder to turn this into a Mexican chocolate shake. Adding powdered peanut butter will up the protein content. If you like a bit of “heat”, add a dash or two of cayenne pepper. I’ve had chocolate chip cookies with cayenne pepper that were divine!
Kaitlin says
All fantastic ideas, Lee. Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration!
Ashley Burton says
I made this for breakfast this morning. DELCIOUS!
Kaitlin says
Yay! Glad you enjoyed and thanks for sharing, Ashley!