Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Shake

Smoothies are back!  Even though it’s winter, and very nearly froze my face off walking my son to the bus stop this morning, I can’t get enough of smoothies.  Maybe it’s a New Years thing that I’m doing without even realizing it, who knows.  I’d apologize for sharing a smoothie, but this is an awesome smoothie!

First off, it’s thick.  Like, milkshake thick.  Who doesn’t love a smoothie that makes them believe they’re drinking a milkshake?  It may not be perfectly smooth, but… Second, this is breakfast in a cup.  I pack it with the things I usually eat for breakfast, oatmeal, a piece of fruit and a spoonful of peanut butter.  The chocolate part of this smoothie is optional.  It’s just as great without it, but who are we kidding?  You’ll want it

You’ll notice that the recipe uses cooked oatmeal.  This is because I usually have plain, already cooked oatmeal in the fridge.  I hate cooking steel cut oats in the morning.  If I’m going to do it, it better last me all week so I cook a huge pot and keep it in the fridge to reheat.  That way hungry little kids can be quickly appeased, or awesome smoothies can be just minutes away!  If you want to use uncooked oats I’d use rolled oats, give them a quick spin in the blender before adding everything else, and only use a couple tablespoons.

I also noted in the recipe that you can add a handful of spinach.  Don’t be afraid of the spinach!  Blend it long enough and you wont even know it’s there, except for the color.  This would also be an awesome place for a little bit of protein powder if you’d like.  What an awesome boost first thing in the morning

I have to be honest, I’ve wanted to share this with you for a looooong time, but the first time I took pictures they didn’t turn out so well and I’ve been waiting for another opportunity to try again since then.  This last weekend was full of kitchen failures, flat (although delicious) muffins, exploding spaghetti squash(don’t even ask)… so I went to something fool proof   I’ll be back later in the week with an amazing skinny spaghetti squash alfredo (that wont explode, I promise!)

Until then, enjoy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Smoothie

 

Print

Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

 

Author: Heidi @ Food Doodles

Yield: 1

Ingredients

• 1 large frozen banana, chopped
• 1 tbsp smooth, natural peanut butter
• 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• ⅓ – ½ C cooked and chilled oatmeal
• 1 C unsweetened almond milk(or your favorite milk, dairy or non dairy)
  Optional:
• 2 tsp honey
• A handful of spinach or other mild flavored greens
• Protein powder

Instructions

1. In a blender, place the chopped banana, peanut butter, cocoa powder oatmeal and milk. Blend until smooth adding milk as needed and serve immediately.

3.1.09