Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie

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Rich chocolate, peanut butter, and frozen bananas are blended together to make this Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie. While still light enough to make a refreshing start to the day, this treat tastes more like a peanut butter milkshake than the average breakfast smoothie.

My kids were beyond excited the first time I handed each of them a “smoothie milkshake” with homemade chocolate sauce drizzled on top. It’s hard to believe that was well over ten years ago. My boys may all tower over me now, but they haven’t outgrown their love of these smoothies.

When I say my kids were excited about these smoothies, that really doesn’t even cover it. Those little boys thought their mom had lost her mind when she handed them what they thought were chocolate milkshakes for breakfast.

And, the truth is, I love this treat almost as much as they do. The banana contributes just a hint of background flavor in this smoothie, leaving the peanut butter and chocolate as the stars of the show. What’s not to love?

a mason jar full of peanut butter chocolate smoothie with the ingredients visible in the background

Ingredients and Substitutions

Bananas – Any time my bananas are turning, and I’m not planning to make a loaf of chocolate chip banana bread, I chuck them into the freezer. Those frozen bananas are what gives this smoothie it’s creamy consistency.

Peanut Butter – You’ll want to use creamy peanut butter, for its smooth consistency.

Chocolate Sauce – I make these smoothies with my homemade chocolate sauce. And to make them extra special, I drizzle the glasses with a little extra syrup. You can swap for store-bought if that’s your preference.

Milk – I use whole milk as the liquid for these smoothies, to keep them nice and thick. However, a dairy free milk can be substituted if that’s your preference.

Notes on Equipment

Blender – I’ve tried what feels like them all. The fancy ones. The cheap ones. I’ve come full circle. This is the same style that my grandma used, with an all glass pitcher, metal blades, and just two speeds. I couldn’t be happier.
Measuring cups and spoons

chocolate sauce, a banana, and a jar of jif peanut butter are visible in the background of this photo of a smoothie

This smoothie was amazinggg!! Tasted like a dessert milkshake honestly:) I made my own homemade chocolate syrup and it definitely amped it up.

– Jenna

How to Make a Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie

Combining the Ingredients: Start by adding all the ingredients to the pitcher of your blender. You’ll want to puree until the ingredients are smooth.

Adding Extra Milk: If the mixture seems too thick, add a splash more milk as needed and blend until reaching the desired consistency.

Serving: Pour into glasses and drizzle each smoothie with an additional teaspoon or so of chocolate sauce. Serve immediately.

Expert Tip

This smoothie requires a smooth, thick consistency that’s sweet but not overwhelming. For that purpose, you will want ripe bananas, with at least a few brown spots on the peel. They should be soft, but not squishy at all. If your bananas have slipped past that point, use them up with a sour cream banana bread instead.

Adding Liquids First – While the order won’t affect the end result, I usually add the milk and chocolate sauce to the blender first. This helps keep the peanut butter from sticking to the sides of the blender.

Loosening Hard Chocolate – If my chocolate sauce has set too much in the refrigerator, I microwave it for a few seconds until it is smooth enough to pour.

Go Wild With Toppings – You can add sliced bananas on top of these smoothies and keep them relatively light. Or you can go full send and add whipped cream and sprinkle with chocolate shavings. Either one is perfectly defensible.

a peanut butter smoothie has been drizzled with chocolate sauce and is ready to drink in this photo

Serving Suggestions

This smoothie makes a fast breakfast on its own, but it’s even better with something to round out the plate. I’ll pour it next to a batch of cottage cheese eggs when we want some protein to start the day, or stack up 2-ingredient cream cheese pancakes for a slower morning.

When I want to keep things really simple, a bowl of cottage cheese with fruit alongside turns it into an easy, no-cook breakfast. It’s ready when my coffee is.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do the bananas need to be frozen?

Yes. Using frozen bananas is necessary for the drink to be thick and cold enough. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck adding ice to the mix, which will melt and water it down.

Can I use store-bought chocolate syrup?

While I will always prefer my homemade chocolate sauce, I don’t judge. You’ve got my permission to drizzle whatever kind of syrup you want at your house.

I added too much milk. How can I thicken it?

Hey, it happens. If you need to thicken it up, you can either add some more frozen banana or another dollop of peanut butter.

a horizontally aligned photo of a smoothie with the ingredients visible in the background on a blue and white checkered napkin

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5 from 2 votes