If you’re looking for a minty fresh smoothie that tastes exactly like creamy, delicious, mint chocolate chip ice cream, you’re in luck because this Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie is exactly that.
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What I love about smoothies is that you can hide vegetables in them without tasting them. And throw in fruit, seeds, nuts, nut butters, you name it, and come out with something delicious and healthy!
This smoothie is no exception. We use a whole cup of raw spinach and a whole banana in each serving!
We use banana to create a smooth and creamy texture. Unsweetened chocolate almond milk gives a dose of chocolatey goodness. Cacao nibs lend a layer of rich chocolate flavor and crunch without the added sugar of chocolate chips and also packs in powerful plant compounds that are known to have beneficial health properties. Dates give us all the natural sugar we need (and is completely optional!). And lastly mint extract gives us that lovely minty flavor that sets this smoothie apart.
I also like to throw in a scoop of chocolate protein powder in my smoothies from time to time to give it some extra creaminess and protein boost. It takes this smoothie to the next level creaminess of ice cream without all the unhealthy fats and added sugars. I really love this whey protein powder. I also am a fan of this plant-based protein powder.
If you use the protein powder, I would advise skipping the dates. The smoothie will be plenty sweet without them.
Additionally, I use sweetened chocolate almond milk from time to time if there is no unsweetened available. I prefer not to, since it has 18g of added sugars. But if I do use it, I don’t add the dates.
Making the Smoothie
I prefer to dice my banana and add it, along with 1 cup of spinach, to a freezer baggie and freeze several hours at least before makng my smoothie. Generally, I’ll freeze the baggie overnight.
I will also keep several of these baggies at a time in my freezer for smoothie purposes, as I use banana and spinach as a base in most of my smoothies.
To make the smoothie, add the frozen spinach and banana to a blender, along with 2/3 cups of unsweetened chocolate almond milk, 1 tablespoon cacao nibs, 1 to 2 pitted dates, 1/8 teaspoon mint extract, and 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (if desired). Blend for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until ingredients are broken down and incorporated.
Drink your smoothie straight, or turn it into a smoothie bowl and top 1 tsp cacao nibs or dark chocolate chip, 1/4 cup of granola, and/or 2 tablespoons chopped almonds . It’s entirely up to you!
Let us know what you think about this Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie by dropping a comment and/or rating on the recipe card below! Also, please consider sharing to social media/Pinterest if you enjoyed this recipe.
Looking for some more smoothie ideas? Give these a try:
- Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
- Chai Tea Latte Smoothie
- Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
- Peach Smoothie
- Blackberry Smoothie
Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie
Ingredients
- â…” c unsweetened chocolate almond milk
- 1 c whole spinach or kale leaves, frozen, loosely packed (½ cup chopped)
- 1 medium banana, diced and frozen
- 1-2 dates, pitted (if not using protein powder)
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (optional)
- 1 Tbsp cacao nibs
- â…› tsp mint extract (sub peppermint extract for more mild flavor)
Instructions
- Freeze spinach and banana ahead of time. We recommend at least 3 hours, but prefer overnight.
- Combine almond milk, frozen banana, frozen spinach, pitted dates (if not using protein powder), cacao nibs, mint extract and protein powder (if desired) in blender. Blend until smooth (about 30 seconds to 1 minute). We recommend not adding the dates if you are using protein powder, as it results in an overly sweet smoothie.
- Transfer to a glass or create a smoothie bowl by topping with 1 tsp cacao nibs or dark chocolate chip, 1/4 cup of granola, or 2 tablespoons chopped almonds. Enjoy!
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