Chocolate Cherry Almond Smoothie

A vegan Chocolate Cherry Smoothie recipe with almond and banana (or avocado or yogurt). Deliciously rich, easy to make, and healthy... but tastes like a decadent dessert! (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)

This chocolate cherry smoothie is so rich & flavorful it tastes like a decadent dessert! But it's made with only 6 healthy ingredients.

Chocolate and cherries are such a dreamy combination. Then you can make it with your choice of banana, avocado, or vegan yogurt.

It's a great option for breakfast, a midday snack, or even a healthier dessert!

Ingredients for Chocolate Cherry Smoothie

For this recipe, you'll blend in a high-speed blender:

• Plant milk: Any non-dairy milk will work. I use homemade cashew milk, but almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, or oat milk are all great.
• Frozen cherries: I use frozen pitted sweet cherries, organic when possible. I haven't tested this with fresh cherries, but those could work too. Just be sure to remove the pits. (And you will probably want to use a frozen banana so the smoothie stays cold and creamy.)
• Almond butter: This is optional but recommended. I don't always have almond butter on hand, so feel free to omit if you don't have it. But a tablespoon or two of almond butter thickens the smoothie and creates a creamier texture. Plus it adds more plant-based protein and fiber. (I purchase unsalted & creamy almond butter with no added sugar, salt, or oil.)
• Cacao powder: Or substitute cocoa powder. We add this to achieve the rich, deep chocolate flavor. Most often I use "Navitas Organics" brand raw cacao powder. It's an unprocessed version of the cacao bean, and contains antioxidants & flavanols, iron, fiber, magnesium, and other minerals. (Be aware that it does contain some caffeine however.)
• Banana: Be sure to use a ripe/overripe banana (one with lots of brown spots) because it will add tasty natural sweetness to this smoothie. If you have frozen banana, that works great in smoothies to help create a creamier texture. (See below for banana-free options.)
• Almond extract: This has a strong, sweet flavor that's delightful in this smoothie. A little goes a long way, so start with a quarter teaspoon and add more to taste if desired. (I really enjoy almond extract so I'll often add a half teaspoon to mine.) If you don't have almond extract, then almond flavoring can be used as well. The taste is fairly similar. Pure almond extract is made from natural ingredients, while the flavoring is artificially and synthetically produced.

Customizing

Banana-free: Substitute with half of an avocado or vegan yogurt instead. (Either of these will help create the creamy component of the smoothie.) Or you can simply omit the banana altogether for a thinner smoothie.

Sweeten it: This smoothie isn't overly sweet. So for a sweeter taste, add 1 to 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup, a pitted date, a little agave, or simply your own favorite sweetener.

Other additions: Include fresh spinach or greens, ground flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, maca powder, or pure vanilla extract. Or you can also add an extra boost of nutrients with your favorite chocolate protein powder.

Serving

Toppings: Before serving, you can garnish your glass with a dollop of coconut whipped cream, cacao nibs, fresh cherries, vegan chocolate chips, etc.

Smoothie bowl: Instead of a drink, you can also enjoy this recipe as a smoothie bowl. Slightly decrease the amount of milk when blending to help keep the texture thick. Then top it with coconut flakes, granola, sliced banana, fresh berries, or your own favorites.

For more inspiration, also browse all smoothie recipes or dessert recipes.

If you're enjoying this vegan chocolate cherry almond smoothie recipe, also check out:

• Chunky Monkey Protein Smoothie
• Brownie Baked Oatmeal
• Creamy Banana Matcha Smoothie
• Vegan Almond Maple Cookies (Gluten-Free)

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