Satisfy your sweet tooth with this rich and creamy banana chocolate smoothie bowl! Frozen banana and zucchini create the ultimate thick texture, while peanut butter and chocolate protein powder pack a punch of flavor and protein!
Let's get one thing straight - peanut butter and chocolate are the best flavor combination. It's the perfect balance salty and sweet, just like a Reese's peanut butter cup!
And this banana chocolate smoothie bowl takes that delicious combo of salty peanut butter & sweet chocolate, and turns it into a healthy breakfast.
Smoothie bowls are one of my favorite breakfasts. It's a much thicker version of a normal smoothie, so you can eat it with a spoon. If you've never had one, you're in for a treat.
And for more tasty smoothie bowls, try my peanut butter smoothie bowl and green avocado smoothie bowl.
Ingredients
- Steamed and frozen zucchini - Read below for instructions to make steamed frozen zucchini. It adds the thickest texture ever!
- Frozen banana - Frozen bananas thicken the texture and naturally sweeten the flavor. Keep reading for tips to freeze bananas.
- Cocoa powder - Adds a rich, chocolatey flavor.
- Peanut butter - Thickens the smoothie bowl and adds a salty flavor to compliment the chocolate.
- Non-dairy milk - I usually use oat milk, but almond milk, coconut milk and cashew milk all work great too. Use cow's milk if you don't want to keep this recipe vegan.
- Chocolate protein powder - Optional to pump in some extra protein.
- Toppings - See below for my recommended list of smoothie bowl toppings
Best Smoothie Bowl Toppings
- Sliced banana
- Chopped nuts
- Chia seeds, hemp seeds, or ground flax seeds
- Granola
- Berries
- Chocolate chips
- Shredded coconut
- Drizzle of natural creamy peanut butter or homemade chocolate almond butter
How to Make a Smoothie Bowl
- Blend: Blend all the ingredients in a high-speed blender until everything is smooth.
- Scoop: Scoop the smoothie into a bowl.
- Decorate: Top with the shredded coconut, nuts, banana slices, and a drizzle of peanut butter.
How to Make Steamed Frozen Zucchini
Steamed frozen zucchini is the secret ingredient to making the thickest smoothies ever. And the best part is while you add some hidden vegetables into your smoothie bowl, you won't even taste them!
- Prep: Trim the ends off a few fresh zucchini and slice them into one-inch chunks. Boil a small pot of water on the stove on high heat.
- Steam: Place the zucchini chunks in a steamer basket into the pot and steam with the lid on for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Cool: Carefully remove the zucchini and set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Freeze: Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for one hour. Then transfer to a freezer-safe Ziplock bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Recipe Tips and Variations
- Use a high speed blender or food processor to get everything creamy. If you don't have one, you can add more milk or water to help everything blend together.
- Natural creamy peanut butter is thin enough to drizzle. Sometimes peanut butter with added ingredients other than peanuts and salt are too thick to drizzle.
- You can leave out the chocolate protein powder, and it will still taste chocolatey and delicious.
- The best way to freeze bananas is to peel an overripe banana with lots of brown spots. Slice it into large chunks then store it in an airtight container in the freezer.
- Add a handful of raw baby spinach to add yet another vegetable.
- Substitute the steamed frozen zucchini with frozen avocado to make a delicious chocolate avocado smoothie bowl.
How to Make a Super Thick Smoothie Bowl
Frozen bananas, peanut butter, avocado, and frozen steamed zucchini all help thicken smoothies and smoothie bowls.
Also, the less liquid you add, the more thick your smoothie will be. And while ice may add some thickness when your smoothie is first blended, it will cause the smoothie to thin as the ice melts.
Banana Chocolate Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup steamed and frozen zucchini cut into chunks
- 1 medium frozen banana
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup non-dairy milk
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (optional)
- toppings (example - sliced fresh banana, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, peanut butter drizzle)
Instructions
- To make the steamed frozen zucchini, trim the ends off a few fresh zucchini and slice them into one-inch chunks. Boil a small pot of water on the stove on high heat.Place the zucchini chunks in a steamer basket into the pot and steam with the lid on for 10 to 15 minutes, until the zucchini are tender.Carefully remove the zucchini from the steamer basket and set aside to cool to room temperature.Place them in a single layer (don't stack them) on a baking sheet and freeze for one hour. Then transfer to a freezer-safe ziplock bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Blend all the ingredients in a high speed blender until everything is smooth. You may need to scrape down the sides of the blender a few times to ensure everything gets mixed in and blended.
- Scoop the smoothie into a bowl.Optional: Top with sliced fresh banana, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, peanut butter drizzle
Notes
- You can substitute cold water for the dairy-free milk. Oat milk, coconut milk and almond milk all work great in this recipe.
- Freeze a ripe (or overripe) banana for the best flavor.
- The protein powder is optional; the smoothie bowl will still have a decadent chocolate flavor from the cocoa powder.
Samantha
I recently got back into having a smoothie bowl as an afternoon snack, and I've been trying all sorts of different recipes. I've never put zucchini in my smoothies before, but I have to tell you, I'm a convert now! The texture is insanely thick, I absolutely love it!
Carissa Erzen
Ooh a smoothie bowl afternoon snack sounds amazing! Isn't the zucchini such an amazing addition!?
Torrance
I loveee chocolate and peanut butter and bananas together, so this is now my new favorite smoothie bowl!!
Carissa Erzen
Aww I'm so glad to hear that! Thanks!