Your favorite peanut butter flavor wrapped into a smooth, creamy smoothie with a bit of crunch. This chocolate peanut butter cup smoothie is the ultimate protein shake. Rich, indulgent, and deliciously fueling.
Trying to amp up your protein intake but can't stand gagging down protein powder and water (ugh, ew).
Boosting your intake doesn't have to be boring. With the right tweaks, as a Certified Nutrition Coach, I believe that you can enjoy all your favorite flavors and still fuel your goals.
This peanut butter cup smoothie is made from easy ingredients and rich chocolate flavor. Topped with crunchy peanut butter balls and it's an easy way to both increase your protein and curb a craving.
Learn more about the benefits of a high protein diet and why you want to amp it up!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Allergy-friendly: This smoothie is dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free. If you skip the peanut butter balls it's also totally paleo.
Best flavor: All the classic flavors of chocolate and peanut butter wrapped into a deliciously creamy smoothie.
High protein: With 22 grams of protein it's a smoothie that helps you gain energy.
Ingredients You'll Need
You only need 5 main ingredients for the peanut butter smoothie to come together.
If you want to top it with a crunchy peanut butter ball you'll also need rice puffs and honey,
Know that cacao powder is different from cocoa powder and you'll reap more benefits with cacao.
Expert Tips
Though the peanut butter balls aren't necessary, they're truly what makes this smoothie taste like dessert. You can obviously omit them though. I sometimes like to top my smoothie with peanut butter protein cups too.
This shake uses collagen powder and not protein powder. Though protein powder can be used, it will alter the taste and texture depending on which one you use. Learn more about choosing a protein powder for your goals.
Frozen bananas are what's used to thicken up smoothies. If using fresh, you'll need to add some extra ice cubes and the texture will be a bit chunkier versus thick.
"This was the perfect treat to come home to after a vigorous workout, thank you!" - Julianne
How To Make The Peanut Butter Balls
- Make the peanut butter balls by mixing together the peanut butter, puffed rice, and honey.
- Use a very small ice cream scoop or roll your hands in coconut oil and roll them into balls.
- Place them in the freezer to set.
Topping The Smoothie
Any smoothie toppings work for this recipe. However, the best ones to pair with it are chocolate peanut butter protein cups split in half or the no bake, peanut butter balls from above.
Choosing Collagen Powder
Collagen powder is what's used in this peanut butter cup smoothie to amp up the protein intake.
As one of the cleanest sources of protein, I get mine from Perfect Supplements as there are no extra additives or flavors in it.
If you choose a flavored collagen powder, opt for peanut butter or chocolate.
FAQs
Frozen bananas will always make a creamier smoothie. This is how you obtain the "ice cream-like" consistency everyone loves. However, in a pinch, the fresh banana will work.
This chocolate smoothie uses collagen powder in place of protein powder however, you can definitely use peanut butter protein powder in its place. Know that each protein powder absorbs and tastes differently though so it will affect the flavor and texture of the smoothie.
Yes! With the ingredients for the protein balls, you'll have extra if you only make two small smoothies. Double the smoothie batch to make 4 mini servings or two super large.
Of course! Almond butter, cashew butter, and even almond hazelnut butter all taste delicious.
Fast, crave-worthy snacks that hit your protein goals (without tracking or extra cooking time).
Other Recipes You'll Love
- Easy Peanut Butter Overnight Oats (6 Ingredients!) Dairy-Free
- Peanut butter protein balls
- Chocolate peanut butter protien balls
- Peach breakfast smoothie
- High protein snack recipes
- Chocolate fudge protein balls
- Fudgy protein brownies
- Savory blueberry protein oatmeal
- Chocolate peanut butter bomb shake
- Chocolate protein fluff
- Coconut protein balls
- High protein cookies
- High protein pancakes
- Yogurt protein pancakes
- Energizing protein bar
- Easy, no-bake vanilla protein bar
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Protein Smoothie
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
For The Peanut Butter Balls
- 1 tablespoon Natural Peanut Butter
- 0.75 tbs honey
- ¼ cup rice puffs
For The Smoothie
- 1 banana frozen
- 6-8 ice cubes
- 2 tbs raw cacao powder
- 2 tbs peanut butter
- 1 cup almond milk
- 3 tbs pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup collagen powder
Instructions
- Heat the honey and peanut butter in a small pot or the microwave until just melted. Heating too much will cause the peanut butter to burn.
- Pour the puffs into the mixture. Mix the puffs into the peanut butter until everything is coated. You'll have one big, sticky, ball.
- Use your hands to portion and roll the mixture into small balls. Place the balls on a baking sheet or parchment paper in the freezer to set for twenty minutes.
- While the balls are freezing, place all the ingredients for the shake into a blender. Blend on high until fully combined.
- Pour the smoothie into mason jars and top with the peanut butter balls.
Notes
- Even though this is a peanut butter protein smoothie, if you need to make it nut-free you can always sub in Sun Butter in its place.
- Likewise, you can use homemade hemp milk instead of almond milk. Add a splash more milk if needed.
- In place of natural peanut butter, peanut butter powder will work for the base of the smoothie. However, it won't work for the balls.
- This recipe makes two very small smoothies or one regular serving. There are two mini peanut butter crunch balls in each smoothie.
- Grab the ingredients for the smoothie from my pantry staples.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Melissa says
This is one of my go-to smoothie recipes. PB & Chocolate is my favorite flavor combo.