Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Are there any two tastes that come together as great as chocolate and peanut butter? Yummy! Peanut butter cups! I could eat them by the dozen. When I lived in a residential area where I got kids coming around on Halloween, I always bought mixed chocolates that included Reese’s peanut butter cups and hoped for leftovers!

Is it any wonder that a smoothie that contains chocolate and peanut butter would be of huge interest to me? Oh sure, I’ve made chocolate peanut butter milkshakes in the past. When you get right down to it, a chocolate peanut butter smoothie is nearly the same as a chocolate peanut butter milkshake, minus the ice cream.

And speaking of ice cream – who else loves chocolate peanut butter ice cream? Yummy! The first place I head to when I want to buy chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream is the Real Canadian Superstore and their own President’s Choice brand of ice cream. Sadly, that flavor is hardly ever available when I shop there. There are too many chocolate peanut butter ice cream lovers in this world and they’re all beating me to the frozen section of the grocery store!

And even more sadder, seeing as how I’m watching my blood sugar and what I’m eating, ice cream is generally not part of my eating plan.

Though i did plan for ice cream in September 2018 when I stopped at the Tillamook Creamery! I make a quick mention of that in my post on things to see when driving between Seaside and Lincoln City, Oregon.

Who remembers drinking Carnation Instant Breakfast either as a teenager or when you started work and didn’t have time to eat breakfast? They came in packages of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla and also a multi flavor pack that included those three flavors plus mocha. Each box contained 8 individual serving packets. Open one up, add it to a glass of milk, stir, and call it breakfast. I can’t even begin to count how many times that was my go-to breakfast over the years.

At some point, the name slightly changed to Carnation Breakfast Essentials.

And, sad to say, at some point in the fall of 2023, Carnation Breakfast Essentials was discontinued. After all these years! Sob!

The manufacturer, Nestle Heath Science on the Boost brands instead. I recently purchased Boost chocolate powder from Amazon, and honestly with the peanut butter and banana competition, I can’t tell that there’s a big difference between the products. And I find it cheapest on Amazon.

Disclosure: if you click the links for Carnation Breakfast Essentials, you’ll be taken to Amazon, and if you make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission for the referral.

Here’s the thing: it’s mega expensive on Amazon.com. As of September 4, 2024, Boost chocolate powder costs $32.97 – and yes that’s in US dollars!

On Amazon Canada, it costs $15.68.

Keeping in mind that prices can change at any moment….

It’s my guess you might be able to buy these cheaper at your local grocery store, but if they don’t sell them, Amazon is a good back up.

Yes, it’s a handy dandy canister that apparently has 22 servings. I should try counting it out sometime, but I think I get more than that, and I use the recommended 1/3 cup scoop.

So let’s get to my recipe for peanut butter banana smoothie. Even though I used Carnation Breakfast Essentials, and have now switched to Boost chocolate powder, if you have another chocolate protein powder that you prefer – go for it!

I have a KitchenAid blender. I’ve also made this in my Hamilton Beach single serving blender.

I’ve also been eyeing getting a Ninja because one of my friends uses it for smoothies, but he uses a lot more ice than I do, so I find the KitchenAid blender works just fine.

I use cashew milk, but you can use regular milk or almond milk, or whatever type of milk product you keep in the fridge.

I add about a cup of milk to the blender, to where it just about covers the blades.

Next I add 1/3 cup scoop of chocolate Carnation Breakfast Essentials. Again, you can use a different type of chocolate powder, whatever you have on hand. Sob again to this product being discontinued! I’m using Boost chocolate mix powder.

Then I sprinkle cinnamon on it because cinnamon helps lower blood sugar levels and has other health benefits. Whenever possible, I add cinnamon to the food I’m preparing.

I take a spoon of peanut butter and add it to the blender. The amount on my spoon is about the same amount I’d be using on a peanut butter sandwich, maybe a little less.

Next, add a banana. If I have a fresh banana, it goes in the blender.

When it looks like my bananas are getting over-ripe, I break them into chunks, put them in a freezer bag, and keep them in my freezer to use when I’m making my chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie.

So either fresh or frozen, one way or the other, I always have bananas on hand for smoothies. And so should you! If you haven’t already done so, buy freezer bags the next time you’re shopping. If you’re a single, freezer bags are invaluable for freezing extra food to have at a later date.

If I’m using a ripe banana, I’ll add about 4 or 5 ice cubes to the blender.

If I’m using frozen banana chunks, I’ll sometimes add 2 ice cubes, sometimes not. However, I do like the way the smoothie comes out when ice cubes have been added.

Turn the blender on for 30 seconds, or a little longer depending on how many ice cubes have been used.

Pour into a glass and enjoy!

My chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie keeps me feeling full for hours. I don’t always drink it for breakfast, but it’s a frequent choice for lunch, and sometimes a dinner substitute. For example, the nights when I’m going to the pool for a deep water fitness class, I’ll drink a chocolate peanut butter smoothie and call it dinner.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER BANANA SMOOTHIE

Published by Cheryl @ The Lifestyle Digs on December 29, 2018 and updated on September 4, 2024.