Chocolate & Banana Oat Smoothie

Chocolate for breakfast, but make it healthy! This Chocolate & Banana Oat Smoothie is so easy to make, it tastes delicious and it's good for you! Smoothies are great for breakfasts on the go, post workout treats or sneaking some fruit and veg into your kids diet. Try this smoothie next time you have a chocolate craving, you won't regret it!

What's great about this recipe

• It's simple and quick to make
• It's full of goodness and one of your five a day
• It tastes like chocolate but without the calories
• It's refined sugar free
• It's a delicious way to start the day!

What you will need

• Bananas - The riper the bananas, the sweeter they will make the smoothie taste. You can also use frozen bananas
• Oats - I use standard porridge oats for this recipe, also called instant or rolled oats
• Cocoa powder - gives the smoothie a chocolate flavour
• Milk - any kind of milk can be used. My favourite is almond milk, but you can use oat, coconut, soy or cow’s milk
• Maple syrup - make sure you are using pure maple syrup, and not a maple flavoured pancake syrup. Or you can use any other natural liquid sweetener like honey, agave nectar or date syrup

How to make Chocolate & Banana Oat Smoothie

This recipe is so simple to make I haven't even included any step by step photos! All you need to do is put all of the ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and enjoy!

A natural and unsweetened cocoa powder is the best choice for this recipe. You don't want to be adding any additional sugars, as the banana and maple syrup add plenty of sweetness. In the UK, we have one type of cocoa powder that is readily available, however in the US there is natural cocoa powder and dutch processed cocoa powder. The vast majority of cocoa powder in the UK and Europe is dutch processed (also known as alkalised). You can also get cacao powder now in most health food shops, large supermarkets and online, so this is an even healthier choice.

Can this recipe be made vegan?

Yes! Simply use a plant based milk to make the smoothie, such as almond, soy, coconut or oat milk. You will also need to avoid using honey as a sweetener.

Can this smoothie be made in advance?

While it is best served immediately, I have often made this smoothie before going to bed, then sealed it in an airtight container overnight in the fridge and enjoyed the next morning. Give it a good shake before tucking in.

More tips for making Chocolate & Banana Oat Smoothie:

• If you're enjoying this after a workout, you can add a scoop of your favourite unflavoured protein powder too
• I like this smoothie quite sweet, so I'm generous with the maple syrup. You can add less if you prefer
• If you are using frozen bananas, let the smoothie blend for a bit longer to make sure it gets every last bit of the banana blended
• This recipe is enough for two glasses of smoothie, if you're making it for one person, just halve the ingredients. Or for a family of four, double the ingredients.

Recommended equipment & ingredients*

• Kitchen scales
• Measuring spoons
• Blender
• Maple syrup

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If you like this, check out more of my breakfast recipes!