Recipe: Vegan Chocolate-Date Smoothie
Serves2
You’re an adult, so of course you can have chocolate for breakfast when you feel like it. But this is different because this is how to have chocolate for breakfast without it being a piece of cake. Every sip of this creamy smoothie — made with dates, bananas, and almond butter — tastes rich and satisfying, and you can count on its wholesome and nourishing ingredients to fill you up.
Blend the Dates First for a Smoother Smoothie
To get the smoothest, creamiest result possible, this drink is best when blended twice. Trust me — the extra step is worth it. Start by blending the liquid with the dates. Dates can take a while to break down, so it’s helpful to give them some extra blending time. You won’t end up with any chunky bits, and your smoothie will be better for it.
Take a Few Minutes to Rehydrate Hard Dates
If your dates are a little hard and dry, don’t worry — they’re still perfectly good and will work just fine. But they’ll benefit from soaking in hot water for about five minutes before whipping up your smoothie. This quick step will rehydrate and soften the flesh, helping them to blend into the creamy smoothie you’re after.
Vegan Chocolate-Date Smoothie
Serves 2
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 2 cups
unsweetened nut milk
- 4
dried dates, pitted
- 2
medium frozen bananas
- 2 tablespoons
unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons
almond butter
- 1/4 teaspoon
ground cinnamon
Instructions
Place the nut milk and dates in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth to break down the dates, about 30 seconds. Add the bananas, cocoa powder, almond butter, and cinnamon. Blend on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 45 seconds more.
Recipe Notes
Hydrating dates: If your dates seem dry or hard, soak them in hot water for 5 minutes prior to making this smoothie, then drain and blend.