This smoothie truly tastes like a chocolate milkshake, even though it has no ice cream — in fact, no dairy at all. It also has no added sweeteners. Frozen bananas and coconut milk create a sweet, smooth creaminess. Use vanilla and a smidge of almond flavoring to make it really yummy. Raw almonds add protein. Unsweetened cocoa elevates this smoothie into the realm of the gods!
I use ice cubes to make it extra frosty. If you want a mocha flavor, just substitute some cold extra-strong coffee for some of the coconut milk. Even better, if you think ahead, you can freeze your cold coffee in ice-cube trays and use those instead of ice. Yumm!
Chocolate Non-Dairy Cream (Smoothie)
Makes 1 large smoothie, enough for one person for a small meal
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 frozen banana
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 2 T raw almonds
- 1-1/2 tsp unsweetened cocoa
- 4 cubes ice
PREPARATION:
- Freeze the glasses you will be using to serve your smoothies.
- Add the ingredients to your blender and pulse until the ice cubes and frozen bananas are pulverized. Blend on high until creamy. Adjust the flavorings as desired.
- Serve in tall frosty glasses. Enjoy.
Here’s a bit of awesomeness for all of you chocolate fans: chocolate is actually good for you. That’s a fact — sweet!
Chocolate has lots of nutrients including calcium and iron. It also provides potassium and Riboflavin. Most of the calories in chocolate come from cocoa butter fat, but this is really mostly monounsaturated fatty acid like the fat in olive oil; this is a ‘healthy’ fat all humans need. Some studies show that people who eat chocolate regularly have lower blood pressure and are less likely to die from cardiovascular disease than folks who don’t eat chocolate.
Contrary to what most people believe, chocolate does not contain caffeine. It does contain a unique stimulant, Theobromine, which occurs only in cacao (the ingredient in chocolate). In fact, the cacao tree’s latin name is “Theobroma cacao.” Theobromine is a gentle, long-lasting stimulant that increases feelings of wellbeing and stimulates the cardiovascular and muscular systems, as well as the kidneys. It is also a mild antidepressant. It is also not addictive, so calling oneself a “chocoholic” is a misnomer.
So … those are great health benefits to eating chocolate — pure chocolate, not the milky super sweet kind in most candy bars. The cacao tree’s genus name, Theobroma, comes from the phrase “food of the gods.” The recipe for Chocolate Cream Smoothie is truly fit for the gods! Why not try this delicious healthy drink right now? Breakfast, lunch, snack, dessert — just do it!
