Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
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This delicious Chocolate Cherry Smoothie recipe is made from nourishing ingredients but tastes like a milkshake! It’s a fan-favorite with kids and grown-ups alike!
This is the smoothie that got both of my kids on board with eating spinach.
Back when they were tiny, vegetables were mostly a no-go, but both my kids grew to happily eat just about anything in a smoothie. It sure helps when you can make that smoothie taste like dessert!
This easy chocolate cherry smoothie recipe really tastes like a milkshake. The chocolate and cherry combination is one of my favorites, and they’re so nice together in a smoothie. This one is nice and thick, perfectly sweet, and, with a little protein boost, has a nice balance of nutrients.
Frozen cherries, spinach, and cacao powder are all loaded with antioxidants, which makes me feel extra glad every time I sip this Chocolate Cherry Smoothie.
Simple Ingredients To Get Started
- Frozen Cherries. I’ve made this using both tart cherries and dark sweet cherries. I prefer it with sweet, but I always use what I have and what’s on sale. If you’re working with super tart cherries, you may find you want to add a small drizzle of syrup to moderate the tartness.
- Frozen Banana. I use frozen bananas to make a thicker smoothie. Pro tip: freezing bananas in slices makes them much easier to blend!
- Almond Milk (Or Your Favorite). We usually make this chocolate cherry smoothie dairy-free by using almond milk. I love the way almond and cherry pair together, but feel free to use whatever milk you drink and love. (Non-dairy milk or dairy, depending on your needs.)
- Spinach. It’s a great way to fit in some extra greens!
- Cocoa Powder. Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Vanilla & Almond Extract. A little bit of each really complements the cherry flavor!
- Collagen or Vegan Protein. I love unflavored collagen protein for its neutral flavor and ultra-smooth texture (no grit!). It’s gluten-free, paleo, and dairy-free, but it isn’t suitable for vegans. If you’re vegan, you can use vegan protein powder, or add hemp seeds and nut butter for a few more grams of protein.
Optional Extras
The great thing about an easy smoothie recipe like this is that you can absolutely add some extras to make this smoothie even more nourishing and filling. A few of our favorites:
- Nut Butter. Almond butter, peanut butter, or cashew butter.
- Seeds. Hemp seeds and chia seeds can add more healthy fats and extra protein!
- Leafy Greens. Feel free to swap the spinach out for some kale or chard.
- Greek Yogurt. Want a bigger protein boost? Some plain greek yogurt can be a great option! (Note: this doesn’t work for paleo or vegan)
How To Make This Chocolate Cherry Smoothie, Step By Step
As always, you can find the full recipe, including ingredient amounts, instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.
- Combine. Add frozen cherries, frozen banana, almond milk, spinach, cocoa powder, vanilla, almond extract, and collagen or protein powder to a blender. Add any extras you’d like (flax, peanut butter, etc.)
- Blend. Puree the smoothie until it’s completely smooth, pausing to scrape down the sides of the blender jar as needed.
- Taste & Adjust. Taste the smoothie and adjust as needed (more cocoa, more banana, etc.) Pour into glasses and enjoy!
FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Chocolate Cherry Smoothie:
Try Some Cacao Nibs. I LOVE adding some cacao nibs on top of this smoothie. They add a satisfying crunch and intense chocolate flavor without any added sugar. (That said, I won’t tell if you add some mini chocolate chips instead!)
If you don’t have a high-speed blender… try pureeing your greens and milk before adding the other ingredients. This will help get you that velvety smooth finish, without any leftover pieces of spinach floating around.
Sweets for the sweet. Depending on how sweet your cherries are, you may want to add 1-2 tsp of pure maple syrup, some extra banana, or a softened date to the smoothie. This is totally based on your preference, and in my experience, is rarely needed. The natural sweetness we have going on is usually perfect for my family!
Can I Use Fresh Fruit? I prefer making this cherry chocolate smoothie with frozen fruit for a thicker, creamier texture, but if all you have is a fresh banana and fresh cherries, you can still make it. I recommend adding a cup of ice cubes to give it a slightly frosty texture.
⭐ Don’t forget to leave a star rating below when you make our Chocolate Cherry Smoothie recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
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Chocolate Cherry Smoothie (Paleo or Vegan)
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: About 4 cups 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
The BEST smoothie of my life! This chocolate cherry smoothie is made from nourishing ingredients but tastes more like a chocolate shake. It’s perfect any time of the day.
Ingredients
For The Chocolate Cherry Smoothie:
- 2 cups frozen cherries (sweet or tart)
- 1 frozen banana, cut into chunks
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk (can sub any milk you like)
- 1–2 cups baby spinach
- 2–3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder or raw cacao
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2–3 drops almond extract
- 2–3 scoops collagen protein or vegan protein powder
Optional Extras:
- 1–2 Tablespoons ground flax seed, 1 Tablespoon of chia seeds, or 1–2 Tablespoons of hemp hearts, 1-2 Tablespoons almond butter or peanut butter
Instructions
- Combine. Add frozen cherries, frozen banana, almond milk, spinach, cocoa powder, vanilla, almond extract, and collagen or protein powder to a blender. Add any extras you’d like (flax, peanut butter, etc.)
- Blend. Puree the smoothie until it’s completely smooth, pausing to scrape down the sides of the blender jar as needed.
- Taste & Adjust. Taste the smoothie and adjust as needed (more cocoa, more banana, etc.) Pour into glasses and enjoy!
Notes
- VEGAN NOTES. You can swap in an unflavored vegan protein powder, or use 2 Tbsp chia or hemp seeds in place of the collagen
- NO HIGH SPEED BLENDER? Puree your spinach and milk together before adding the other ingredients. This will help give you the smoothest finish.
- MILK. Use whatever your family drinks and enjoys–soy milk, dairy milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, and oat milk can all work here if you enjoy the flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Drink
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
Originally shared March 2018. Fully updated March 2024.
This is delicious! I cut the recipe in half for me and my toddler and she drank as much as I did. We plan to try the dole whip popsicles next. Thank you for a great recipe!
Oh, this makes me so happy! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hello, can i ask something? İs a cup how much ml or mg? İ mean 1 cup cherries how many cherries? How many grams?
I don’t have cherries on hand to measure myself, but a quick Google search tells me that you’re looking at about 138 grams for 1 cup raw cherries (that includes pits). I hope that helps!
This was awesome! Thanks so much!