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Healthy Chocolate Smoothie Recipe {Rich, Creamy, and Chocolatey}

May 16, 2018 by Mary 5 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links, which help keep this content free.
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A healthy chocolate smoothie recipe with no refined sugar but the same rich chocolatey taste you crave in a chocolate shake. This chocolate smoothie includes raw cacao powder, coconut milk, and dates. Not only is it mega delicious, it is actually very healthy as well – full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants!

Enjoy this healthy chocolate shake for a decadent breakfast or a lighter dessert. All you need is a few simple ingredients and a blender to create the healthy chocolate smoothie of your dreams.

Healthy chocolate smoothie garnished with cacao nibs in a small glass on a checkered tea towel.

My love affair with chocolate has been alive for as long as I can remember. Literally, not a day goes by that I don’t consume chocolate in some form. My husband never has to ask whether I want vanilla in my ice cream bowl. Indeed, chocolate has become a part of me.

And today, we have another chocolate-filled recipe for the blog to stand beside Chocolate Chia Avocado Mousse and Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Muffins. With summer upon us, who doesn’t want a chocolate shake?? Of course you do.

Healthy chocolate shake in a small glass cup with cacao nibs on top of a checkered tea towel.

Chocolate shakes are the perfect classic treat, but with all the ice cream, milk, and chocolate syrup in a typical shake, they leave you feeling a bit…. blah.

Not so with this recipe. You can enjoy your chocolate shake without the guilt.

Instead of feeling weighed down, this homemade chocolate smoothie will energize you for the rest of your day. That’s because raw cacao is filled with natural antioxidants. Let’s detail the ingredients and their benefits.

Healthy Chocolate Smoothie Recipe Ingredients

Healthy chocolate smoothie ingredients in a wooden board: cacao powder, chia seeds, collagen powder, and dates.

Raw Cacao Powder

Prior to writing this post, I honestly wasn’t sure what the difference was between raw cacao powder and regular cocoa powder (other than the spelling). After doing some research, I discovered that cacao powder is made from less processed cacao beans. In contrast, typical cocoa powder is made from beans roasted at a high temperature, which destroys most of the beneficial enzymes and reduces nutritional value (source). We all know that dark chocolate has health benefits, but did you know that this is mostly referring to raw cacao, not regular chocolate bars? (Sorry to burst your bubble.)

So basically, raw cacao powder is a healthier choice if you have access to it. Obviously, this recipe will still work with regular cocoa powder. Another great bonus of using cacao: it contains more antioxidants than blueberries or acai berries. The antioxidant content comprises 10 percent of it’s makeup (source)! These antioxidants protect against free radical damage. Cacao also helps lower blood pressure, reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke, and protects the nervous system. It’s rich in magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, and more (source).

Related Post: The Ultimate Guide to Magnesium

Banana

Sometimes bananas don’t get the credit they deserve in today’s starch-phobic world. But they are a nutrition powerhouse and have actually been proven to assist with fat burning. Bananas are another great source of magnesium, a must for relaxation. They are also a powerful mood-booster, containing folate and tryptophan which are both crucial for brain health. Bananas are also great for digestion and help you feel fuller longer (source).

Coconut Milk

Coconut has to be one of the best flavors in all the world. Not only is it’s tropical taste the perfect pairing with chocolate, coconut milk also has wonderful health benefits. It is rich in lauric acid, which protects the heart and reduces cholesterol. It also has lots of vitamin C along with antiviral and antibacterial properties (source). Make sure you get pure coconut milk (organic canned or homemade), not the kind in the refrigerated section which contains additives.

Chia Seeds

I’ve droned on and on about the wonders of chia seeds on this blog (read all about them here), but let me repeat myself just a bit. Chia seeds are a fantastic source of plant-based Omega-3s, antioxidants, and minerals. Plus, they thicken this homemade chocolate shake beautifully and are completely tasteless.

Collagen Powder

I love adding collagen powder to all my smoothies. It’s tasteless, but adds a good source of protein and has hefty benefits for joints, skin, hair, and nails. Collagen powder is basically the same good stuff you get in homemade bone broth (gelatin), but in powder form.

Dates

Dates are known as the healthiest sugar replacement on the planet. These ultra-sweet dried fruits are rich in potassium, magnesium, copper, and manganese. They have been shown to be good for bone health and brain health, helping to prevent the formation of brain plaques leading to diseases like Alzheimer’s. Dates also contain lots of fiber and antioxidants, too (source).

Honey

Honey is also used as a natural sweetener in this healthy chocolate smoothie recipe, and you don’t need much since the dates provide a lot of sweetness. It has wonderful antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Feel free to skip it and throw in an extra date if your diet doesn’t allow honey.
Chocolate smoothie in a small glass cup on a red checkered cloth.

For this recipe, you will need:

  • A blender (preferably a high-powered one like this)
  • Ice
  • Banana (frozen optional)
  • Cacao powder
  • Chia seeds
  • Collagen powder
  • Pitted dates
  • Coconut Milk
  • Honey (optional)
  • Cacao nibs (optional)

Healthy Chocolate Smoothie Recipe Method

Chocolate smoothie ingredients on a wooden surface: chia seeds, cacao powder, collagen powder, dates.

Add ice, banana, coconut milk, cacao powder, collagen powder, chia seeds, dates, and honey to a blender.

Healthy chocolate smoothie ingredients in a blender, including a banana, ice, and dates.

Blend on HIGH for about a minute, or until smooth.

Homemade chocolate shake being blended in a high speed blender.

Top with cacao nibs as a garnish, if desired. Enjoy!

Homemade chocolate smoothie in a small glass, garnished with cacao nibs.

Homemade chocolate smoothie in a small glass, garnished with cacao nibs.
Print

Healthy Chocolate Smoothie

A decadent, healthy chocolate smoothie filled with real food ingredients and no refined sugar.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 3 6 oz. servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups ice
  • 1/2 can coconut milk about 7 oz.
  • 1 banana
  • 2 TBSP cacao powder
  • 1 TBSP chia seeds
  • 1 TBSP collagen powder
  • 4-5 pitted dates
  • 1 TBSP honey (optional)

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients into a blender and blend on HIGH until smooth.

5-Day Traditional Real Food Meal Plan

Think eating healthy meals with nourishing ingredients 3 times a day is hard? Think again! 

This meal plan has 5 breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and even a couple of desserts and snacks — ALL made with real food ingredients prepared the traditional gut-friendly way. Jump start your family’s health today!

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Leave your favorite healthy chocolate recipe below in the comments! I’m always looking for more 🙂

You may also like: Healthy Pumpkin Roll

A healthy pumpkin roll recipe with non-GMO flour, less sugar, lighter cream cheese, and fewer calories is just what you need for your holiday table! A few slight alterations make this easy pumpkin roll recipe much healthier and lighter, but it tastes just as good as the original!

With Joy,

PIN IT!

A healthy chocolate smoothie recipe filled with real-food ingredients and zero refined sugar. This healthy chocolate shake will energize you, thanks to it's antioxidant power. Filled with raw cacao powder, coconut milk, dates, and chia seeds, this chocolate smoothie recipe is the perfect wholesome treat.

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Filed Under: Beverages, Breakfast, Real Food Recipes, Snacks

About Mary

Mary is a minister's wife, mom of two boys, and former missionary to Scotland. She’s also the creator of Healthy Christian Home, where she points to God's spiritual and physical nourishment through the natural world He has created. In her free time, you can find her with a cup of hot tea and a stack of books -- or watching a new BBC series.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Megan Stevens says

    May 18, 2018 at 8:10 pm

    I’m super excited to make this for my kids this weekend!! It looks perfect. They’ll love it, and it’s supposed to be hot!

    Reply
    • Mary says

      August 21, 2018 at 5:08 pm

      Yay, Megan! Enjoy! (Sorry for the delayed response. I had a glitch on my blog and it wasn’t displaying any comments).

      Reply
  2. SAMIRAN RAI says

    November 22, 2021 at 9:55 pm

    THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL MEANINGFUL AND VERY HELPFUL COMMENTS AND WORK
    MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL ABUNDANTLY 😇💞

    Reply
  3. Julie G. says

    May 24, 2023 at 12:37 pm

    What are your thoughts on “blooming” the chia seeds for this? Should I bother?

    Reply
    • Mary says

      May 24, 2023 at 12:45 pm

      You could, but it’s not necessary

      Reply

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Christ-follower, Wife, Mama, Health Enthusiast, & Real Food Lover. Let’s learn how to take care of ourselves body & spirit! Meet Mary…

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