Healthy Chocolate Smoothie (No Refined Sugar)

Name: Healthy Chocolate Smoothie
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk ((can substitute any type of milk)); 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 banana, frozen; 1 pitted Medjool date (can add more for a sweeter smoothie); 1 tablespoon almond butter; 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 cup ice cubes (if banana is not frozen); Optional add-ins: ground flaxseed, chia seeds or protein powder

Published: Apr 28, 2016 · Last Updated: May 31, 2023 by Dr. Sonali Ruder · This post may contain affiliate links · 21 Comments

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This delicious healthy chocolate smoothie is sweetened naturally with bananas and dates and will definitely satisfy any chocolate cravings! It will also give you a boost of essential nutrients to fuel your body.

Two healthy chocolate smoothies in glasses with metal straws in them.

I make a lot of smoothies- not only do I love them but my kids love them too! Some of our favorites are my hydrating green smoothie, strawberry lassi, and immunity-boosting orange berry smoothie.

If you're looking for a delicious and healthy way to indulge your sweet tooth, then look no further than this healthy chocolate smoothie made with bananas and dates!

All you need to make this delicious, chocolatey smoothie is a few ingredients, a high-speed blender, and about 5 minutes. Check out my Quick Guide to Making Homemade Smoothies.

Simply blend your ingredients together and you'll have a nutritious and delicious chocolate banana smoothie that's perfect for breakfast, a snack, or even dessert!

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Chocolate Smoothie with Bananas and Dates
Doctor's Tip:
Why You'll Love This Smoothie
Ingredients
How To Make A Healthy Chocolate Smoothie Step-By-Step
Chef's Tips
Recipe FAQs
More Smoothies and Smoothie Bowls
Recipe
Reviews

Chocolate Smoothie with Bananas and Dates

This rich and creamy treat is the perfect way to satisfy your cravings without sacrificing your health.

Cocoa powder provides antioxidants and a rich chocolate flavor. Almond butter adds healthy fats and an array of nutrients, including vitamin E.

Bananas and dates add natural sweetness to this chocolate smoothie without any refined sugar. They also provide plenty of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The bananas also make the smoothie extra creamy.

Using Medjool dates as a natural sweetener is one of my favorite tricks to sweeten foods without adding refined sugar. Dates are also perfect for sweetening muffins, cakes, and quick breads.

For an extra boost of nutrients, feel free to add a tablespoon of ground flaxseed or chia seeds to this healthy chocolate date smoothie. Both are rich in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and phytochemicals. To learn more, read my post all about the health benefits of flaxseed or my post about chia seeds.

Doctor's Tip:

Ground flaxseed, which is also called flaxseed meal, is produced by grinding whole flaxseeds. Our bodies absorb ground flaxseed better than whole flaxseed. You can buy ground flaxseed or grind it yourself in a coffee grinder or a blender. Adding flaxseed to banana bread, muffins, oatmeal, and smoothies is an excellent way to add a boost of nutrients.

Why You'll Love This Smoothie

You can whip it up in minutes with just 6 ingredients!
It's delicious with a rich, chocolatey flavor!
It's healthy! It's packed with essential nutrients.
It's kid-friendly! Smoothies are a great way to get your kids to eat nutritious foods like fruit

Ingredients

Ingredient notes and substitutions:

Milk- I like to use unsweetened vanilla almond milk to keep this recipe dairy-free, but you can use any type of milk that you like. If you don't use vanilla-flavored milk, you can add a dash of vanilla extract.
Cocoa powder- this is what gives the smoothie rich chocolatey flavor
Banana- use a frozen banana for best results- it will give the smoothie a creamy texture. Use the ripest banana you have for extra sweetness.
Dates- I also use medjool dates to sweeten this chocolate smoothie. Dates are a natural sweetener and are full of nutrients; buy pitted dates or be sure to remove the pits yourself before adding them to the blender.
Almond butter- adds creaminess and healthy fat; can substitute peanut butter or cashew butter
Cinnamon- I love the combination of chocolate and cinnamon but you can leave it out if preferred

How To Ripen Bananas Fast:

If you don’t have any ripe bananas, you can ripen them quickly in the oven or air fryer! Then they’ll be perfectly soft, sweet, and ready to add to your smoothie or other recipes. Read my post on How To Quickly Ripen Bananas in the Oven or Air Fryer.

How To Make A Healthy Chocolate Smoothie Step-By-Step

Steps for making healthy chocolate smoothies.

Step 1- Place all of the ingredients in a high-speed blender.
Step 2- Blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Chef's Tips

Use a frozen banana since it makes the smoothie extra creamy and cools it down so that you don't need to add ice. I always keep peeled, frozen bananas in my freezer to add to smoothies.
Make sure to buy pitted dates or remove the pits yourself, otherwise you'll ruin your blender!
Add an extra date if the smoothie is not sweet enough; you can also add a little honey or maple syrup.
Add a tablespoon of flaxseed or chia seeds for a boost of nutrients.
Add a scoop of protein powder for a boost of protein.

This recipe is part of my 10 Healthy Smoothie Recipes For The New Year Collection

Recipe FAQs

How do you sweeten a healthy smoothie?

I like to sweeten this healthy chocolate smoothie with bananas and dates, which are natural sweeteners. You can also use a little honey, maple syrup coconut sugar, agave or Stevia.

How do you thicken a smoothie?

This chocolate smoothie is not a super thick smoothie. Using a frozen banana helps thicken it and make it creamy. You can also add a few ice cubes or a little Greek yogurt to thicken it.