We’ve never been big into smoothies, but when I realized I could make CHOCOLATE ones, I was all over it. Inspired by Wardeh’s Chocolate Kefir Smoothie that I discovered through her eCourse, I went in search of other chocolate smoothie recipes to see what else is out there.
When I found this recipe at Healthy Green Kitchen, I knew I was onto something. Bananas and chocolate? Be still my heart!
I’ve been experimenting with the recipe and here’s my version. My kids LOVE it. For now, I’m using yogurt made from raw milk that I buy at a local farm. I am planning to start making dairy kefir. The starter is in my fridge, just waiting for me to get up the gumption to try it. If it works out, I’ll replace the yogurt in this recipe with raw milk kefir because it’s supposed to be even better for you than yogurt.
Chocolate Banana Smoothie
INGREDIENTS:
6 oz plain or vanilla flavored yogurt (full fat yogurt, pretty please)
2 egg yolks from healthy pastured chickens*
1/2 cup raw milk
1 med-large frozen banana, cut into chunks
1-2 Tbsp unrefined coconut oil
2 Tbsp cacao powder**
~1 Tbsp honey
~1/2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of sea salt
ice
INSTRUCTIONS:
Throw the above ingredients into a blender. Blend and serve!
*The egg yolks are optional. If you aren’t comfortable with raw egg yolks, the smoothies taste just fine without them, but they won’t be nearly as nutritious.
**Cacao powder in this case refers to raw cocoa powder.
This recipe serves one very hungry person or two people who want a snack. Of course you can make a bigger batch, but you can see my piddling little blender up there in the first photo.
Now for my disclaimers:
The measurements for honey and vanilla extract are approximate. I don’t measure.
*The egg yolks are optional. If you aren’t comfortable with raw egg yolks, the smoothies taste just fine without them, but they won’t be nearly as nutritious. I would not use raw egg yolks from conventional chickens, because they aren’t healthy animals, but I feel good about using eggs from healthy chickens that are raised on grass. The risk of contracting salmonella from healthy chickens is minimal and no one in my family has a compromised immune system. But don’t trust me. Do your research, come to your own conclusions, and do what you believe is best.
Why just egg yolks? I refer you, once again, to the fabulous resource that is Kelly the Kitchen Kop.
**Cacao powder in this case refers to raw cocoa powder. Cacao is actually the name of the bean, and cocoa is generally the Anglicized name for the powder you buy at the grocery store. Like everything else, not all cocoa powder is created equal. There are various ways to process cocoa and as always, the least refined option is preferred. When you see bags of cacao powder, the assumption is that it is raw. It is very pricey, as I found out when I got to the REGISTER and the cashier rang up this bag of cacao powder to the tune of about $15. GACK!
I went ahead and bought it because I only use a Tbsp or 2 at a time, and I feel good about the nutritional benefits, but you can totally use whatever cocoa powder you have in your pantry — Hershey’s or otherwise.
Well, that’s enough disclaimers for one post, dontchathink? Do you have a favorite smoothie recipe? I’d love to hear it!
P.S. This Chocolate Banana Smoothie recipe was linked to Fight Back Friday at Food Renegade.
It’s funny and sad that you had to include so many disclaimers, but I totally understand. We are on a “healing” diet right now that has completely changed my energy, my skin and my body (not to mention my soul). We’ve been incorporating so many raw foods, started out working towards 51% raw at each meal but it’s just been more and more since it’s what our bodies are craving now. Even the kids are doing it!
xoxo
P.S. let me know when you try chia seeds, we’ve been loving those too!
I know, but there is so much people don’t know. They hear RAW! EGGS! and freak. It’s understandable, as there is so much bad information out there from mainstream and respected sources.
So how do you get so much raw in your diet? I am learning more about the benefits too, but I’m not crazy about raw veggies.
I had a question about adding the coconut oil. Do you find it solidifies into little granules when you add the ice? Or do you blend in the oil first and then add the ice?
I does, but you don’t notice it with the ice. If I don’t add ice, then I notice them and they’re a bit off-putting. But if there’s ice in there, they aren’t noticeable b/c you’re already crunching on something.
I’ve been on a smoothie kick lately. The one that I’ve made the most is:
1 cup of strawberries (or more – because I loveeee strawberries)
1 banana
3/4 cup of orange juice
6 oz. plain or vanilla yogurt.
Toss into the blender and you’re set! I split mine into two drinks (probably because of how many strawberries I throw into the blender.) It’s seriously easy, and it fills me up in the mornings, while still giving me fruit and yogurt. (I hate yogurt by itself. I have to mask it in something else, like smoothies.)
That sounds yummy. Sometimes I throw strawberries into the chocolate smoothie above. It tasted great, helped make it sweeter, but it gave me an upset stomach. I think the berries in combo with the rest didn’t agree with my sensitive tummy. But it was TASTY.
I don’t really do smoothies because I don’t like to drink lumpy things and it seems I can never get mine blended all the way.
And I have that same blender. And big blender. And a magic bullet. And one of those hand held kinds.
I have no idea why I have so many blenders.
LOL. Do you have one you recommend?
I’ve been enjoying smoothies a lot lately, but never IMAGINED chocolate ones! Thanks
BTW, I have a 7 cup Hamilton Beach plastic blender, that I’ve had for about 3 years. It works great, and I never have lumps. I think the secret may be to keep blending even when you think you can stop. We stop b/c we think we’re melting the stuff, but actually, those last moments of blending make it really smooth.
Funny to see you post this now. I am also dabbling in a raw food diet, going on two weeks now. I eat raw until dinner and then eat a regular dinner. It really has increased my energy and I have hardly any sugar cravings, which is a huge change from the way I used to be. I know I’ll stay raw for the summer, but I imagine in the winter (which last all of two days in San Antonio, TX), I’ll eat more cooked foods.
Anyway, I’ve been making a big green smoothie every morning. It always has spinach, kale and bananas. I then vary it up with whatever other fresh or frozen fruit I have on hand. Very good and very filling. My kids love it too.
Also, I read about the raw banana ‘soft serve’ on this post:http://www.choosingraw.com/this-post-will-change-your-life/ and have been making it a lot. SOO GOOD! I sometimes stir in raw shredded coconut and/or raw cocoa. Also a kid friendly ‘treat.’
That link’s not working for me. :0(
I’d love to know how you make kale and spinach and bananas taste good. YIKES! lol
I love Chocolate Banana smoothies! Glad you cleared up what happens w/the coconut oil….I have thought of adding it but normally will use coconut milk in my smoothies.
)
Oh and in my Choc-banana smoothies I add 1/5- 1/4 avocado (shhh don’t tell my boys, ok
We are “raw dairy” and “pastured local ” egg people too. Yum! I make 2-3 smoothies a day for two of my boys, using raw dairy kefir that I – well, I guess kefir would be the verb here as well, but you know what I mean. I use 1/2 an avocado, 1 ripe banana, some frozen strawberries and blueberries, slightly thawed, and about a cup and a half of kefir. They love them. The banana adds enough sweetness for them and I love getting all that good raw kefir in them.
And, on another note, I was distraught that my local Costco did not have Kerrygold butter when I was there yesterday! Arghhhh! I’m going to have to call someone about this…or join a 12-step Kerrygold program….
I enjoy your blog.
Andrea Jones
I just made smoothies for breakfast this morning. I just tossed a banana, frozen blueberries, and plain organic yogurt in the blender. Mmmm.
Yum! Bananas & chocolate is one of my favorite combinations!
I am so going to try this once I am done with my Cleanse!
Tell me more about this cleanse!
I am giving my digestive system a 21 day break, posted about it on my blog at http://www.oboyorganic.com I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Looks yummy! I really enjoy making green smoothies with baby spinach. Here are a few recipes I have tried and really liked. http://www.flavorfulfork.com/2011/10/5-benefits-of-green-smoothies-2-recipes/