When I’m looking for a cool-down after a good workout, this creamy, icy, flavorful Vegan Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie hits the spot. Packed with fruit, veggies, and protein, it provides a nutrient boost that gets me feeling like I’m ready to take on my next mission. And, of course, it tastes AMAZING!
This recipe came about as I was craving that wonderful, classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate, but wanted a new and healthy twist on it.
Adding the vanilla vegan protein powder broadens the flavor profile and definitely satisfies that sweet tooth while adding calcium, iron – and, yes – protein.
Why you should make this recipe
Having such a simple recipe makes this an ultimate post-workout shake. It has all the protein and healthy carbs I need to rebuild muscle fibers and restore my energy reserves after a hard workout.
However, there is absolutely no law stating that you cannot drink it while lying on a pool chair in the sun and working on your tan instead. Delicious and healthy, high-protein smoothies like this are great for any occasion.
Ingredients
This delicious vanilla peanut butter shake recipe comes together in 7 basic ingredients. Check them out:
- kale leaves: use your favorite kale; washed with rib removed; you can also use baby kale as the taste is milder and it’s conveniently cleaned and bagged ready to go
- banana: overripe banana with brown spots is ideal for smoothies
- hemp seeds
- peanut butter: creamy peanut butter; no salt or sugar added
- dairy free milk: best choice is unsweetened almond milk or cashew milk
- cacao powder: also may be called cocoa powder; this will help make a delicious and rich chocolate peanut butter shake
- vanilla protein powder
You’ll also need a little bit of water and ice cubes to thin out your smoothie and a good blender. I use a NutriBullet.
Step-by-step instructions
You can enjoy a tall glass of this delightful vegan protein shake in 2 simple steps and 5 minutes of hands-on time.
Step 1: Add kale leaves, banana, hemp seeds, and peanut butter to a blender in that order. To make blending easier, aim the hemp seeds and peanut butter toward the center of the blender.
Step 2: Add choice of milk, water, and ice and blend until ingredients are combined.
Step 3: Aiming towards the center of the blender, add cacao powder and Vega vanilla protein powder. Blend on low speed until powders have been incorporated into the smoothie then increase the speed to the highest setting and blend until smooth.
Step 4: Pour into glasses and serve.
Expert tips
This vegan peanut butter smoothie is fairly simple at its core but there are a few tips that may help make it even easier:
- Add ingredients to the center of the blender. This will help avoid the sticky ingredients like peanut butter and powders sticking to the side of the blender.
- Go with a very ripe banana with spots. Though they don’t look as appetizing, bananas with brown spots actually are more nutritious and easier to digest. You can also use a frozen banana for an extra chilled protein shake.
- Hemp seeds are a nutritional powerhouse in smoothies. They are packed with fiber and protein so don’t skip this extraordinary ingredient.
Variations
The vega vanilla protein powder makes for a very delicious and refreshing shake. Developed by Brendan Brazier, a vegan, and former professional Ironman triathlete, Vega Protein & Greens Drink Mix is completely non-GMO, gluten-free, and plant-based, with no added sugar. The protein is sourced from a variety of plants including peas, hemp seed, and sprouted whole-grain brown rice.
If you don’t care whether it’s vegan or not, you can also just use the Met-Rx whey protein powder I use in some of my baking recipes (like the Chocolate Banana Bread Mug Cake). The flavor is about the same.
You can also use chocolate protein powder for an extra rich and delicious double chocolate protein shake. Or swap out the water for some cold brew to enjoy a glass of coffee protein shake.
Nutrition
This gluten-free, dairy-free protein shake recipe is a great source of nutrients. With under 300 calories and almost 17 grams of protein per serving, it’s a healthy treat for all.
Make sure your peanut butter has no added salt or sugar. And if you happen to use other protein powders, always make sure to read the ingredient list to check for unnecessary additives and sugar.
To reduce the carbs, you can use just half of the banana or omit it entirely. If you’re not dairy-free, you can bump up the protein by adding a little bit of plain Greek yogurt.
To learn more about the nutritional values of peanut butter, read Is Peanut Butter Good for People Living with Diabetes?
Frequently asked questions
Peanut butter is a great addition to protein shakes and smoothies. Depending on the brand, a serving of 2 tablespoons of plain peanut butter contains nearly 8 grams of protein. This peanut butter protein smoothie also has other ingredients that are rich in protein like hemp seeds and vanilla powder making it a great protein-packed snack.
Smoothies are commonly made with fruit or vegetables and are usually higher in carbs but lower in protein. Shakes, on the other hand, are creamier because they usually call for milk and other cream-based ingredients. This vegan peanut butter protein shake can be called a smoothie or shake as it qualifies as both.
Other healthy smoothie recipes
I LOVE healthy smoothies so I have experimented with a lot of different low-carb recipes. Here are some of my favorites:
You can also check out this collection of diabetes-friendly low-carb smoothies.
When you’ve tried this vegan protein smoothie, please don’t forget to let me know how you liked it and rate the recipe in the comments below!
Vegan Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups kale leaves approximately 4.7 ounces
- 1 banana overripe with brown spots
- 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter no added salt or sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or unsweetened cashew milk
- 2/3 cup water
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 2 tablespoons cacao powder
- 1 scoop Vega vanilla protein powder
Instructions
- Add kale leaves, banana, hemp seeds, and peanut butter, in that order, to a blender, (I use a NutriBullet). To make blending easier, aim the hemp seeds and peanut butter toward the center of the blender.2 cups kale leaves, 1 banana, 2 tablespoons hemp seeds, 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- Add unsweetened milk, water, and ice cubes and blend until ingredients are combined.2/3 cup water, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 2 cups ice cubes
- Aiming towards the center of the blender, add cacao powder and Vega vanilla protein powder. Blend on low speed until powders have been incorporated into the smoothie then increase the speed to the highest setting and blend until smooth.2 tablespoons cacao powder, 1 scoop Vega vanilla protein powder
- Pour into glasses and serve.
Recipe Notes
- Add ingredients to the center of the blender – this will help avoid the sticky ingredients like peanut butter and powders sticking to the side of the blender.
- Use a very ripe banana with spots. Though they don’t look as appetizing, bananas with brown spots actually are more nutritious and easier to digest.
- Hemp seeds are a nutritional powerhouse in smoothies. They are packed with fiber and protein so don’t skip this extraordinary ingredient.
- Use chocolate protein powder for an extra rich and delicious double chocolate protein shake.
- Or swap out the water for some cold brew to enjoy a glass of coffee protein shake.
- To reduce the carbs, you can use just half of the banana or omit it entirely.
- If you’re not dairy-free, you can bump up the protein by adding a little bit of plain Greek yogurt.
I loved the peanut butter smoothie It was great Thank you
I just love some of the ingredients you have going into this recipe. The hemp hearts, peanut butter, cacao, and banana all sound like a wonderful combination. Thanks for this creative recipe idea. Can’t wait to give it a go. Cheers! <3
This was delicious. I did notice when I entered the ingredients in My Fitness Pal, the calories and nutrients are higher than what is shown in the recipe.
I used the following for one serving:
1 tbsp green-wise (Publix) Hemp seeds
2 cups baby kale
1 cup Silk unsweetened Cashew Milk
1 medium banana
1 tbsp. Crazy Richards Peanut Butter
1 scoop Vega Chocolate Protein Powder
(plus ice and water)
MFP says that the recipe for one serving yields:
451 calories – 42g carbs – 17g fat- 34g protein – 9g fiber
It was amazing though! 🙂 I drank every bit.
You are right. It’s because it’s supposed to be 2 servings, not one (it makes about 3 cups total). I have updated the recipe. Thanks for pointing it out.
I enjoying reading the rescieps and the information on blood sugar I am diabetic for 4yrs I do excerise