Best Chocolate Protein Thick Shake….EVER!
Want something cold, creamy and really delicious? Try this thick shake – it’s the best I’ve ever made. The healthy ingredients make it pure MAGIC. This chocolate thick shake recipe is my version of a homemade Frosty.
There is no doubt about it….you need this in your life now! It’s a simply delicious drink or a real meal depending on how thick you make it. It reminds me of a Frosty from Wendy’s, except the ingredient list is quite different. This chocolate shake is super healthy.
Thick shakes are typically made with ice cream, milk and sugar syrup. Nothing much for us there. So instead I’ve made the following tweaks to get our thick shake up to standard:
Ice cream – I’ve used a combination of frozen banana and cashews in this recipe. The cashews give it an unbeatable creaminess, as do the bananas, giving that classic ice cream feel but keeping it healthy.
Milk – I prefer full-fat canned coconut milk for this recipe or almond, cashew or oat milk.
Nut Butter – Almond butter is what I use for this thick shake. Nut butters are one of those ingredients that kick things up a notch, making them taste even more delicious! It contains heart-healthy monounsaturated fats as well as vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, magnesium, and calcium.
Nut butter adds depth, creaminess, and nuttiness, as well as an extra boost of nutrients to any smoothie or smoothie bowl.
Sugar syrup – Instead of something with truckloads of sugar, I use dates and banana to naturally sweeten things. Dates are a super fruit! They are a great source of nutrients and vitamins such as potassium, magnesium, vitamins B6 and K, calcium and iron, which contribute to various health benefits. They also provide a natural energy boost and are low on the glycemic index so your blood sugar won’t spike when eating them.
Protein or collagen peptides powder. A well-balanced diet with proper ratios of macro nutrients (protein, healthy carbs and fats) provides all of the: energy you need to keep active throughout the day. nutrients you need for growth and repair, helping you to stay strong and healthy and help to prevent diet-related illness.
Eating protein-rich foods has many health and fitness benefits, including:
Speeding recovery after exercise and/or injury
Reducing muscle loss
Building lean muscle
Helping maintain a healthy weight
Curbing hunger
When you find your optimal balance and amounts of macro nutrients, you take a major step toward reaching your health goals and this balance has been improved in this recipe by the addition of healthy protein.
This really is the best thick and creamy chocolate protein thick shake! It’s a great thing that you can pack it with so many nutrients and loaded with so many benefits! If you are serious about meeting your fitness and wellness goals you need to fuel your workouts and optimize recovery and get enough protein into your body throughout the day.
Better yet, it is also very balanced – which means it has a good ratio of carbohydrates, protein, and fat and this recipe provides a 2:1 carb-to-protein ratio. Its easy to digest and will give you balanced blood sugar, to avoid those spikes and crashes that some sugar loaded smoothies can do.
It emphasizes carbs and protein for recovery, while also having some healthy fats and fiber to help with fullness. This chocolate protein thick shake keeps me full for a handful of hours and has been my go-to after workouts.
You can totally customize the amounts of carbs and protein to fit your lifestyle and activity level though.
Frankly though, this thick shake is perfect as is. All I recommend is a glass or jar, and thick reusable straw (or spoon). The whole idea with a thick shake is it’s THICK. I recommend incorporating this bevvy into your diet as a satiating snack option, or healthy dessert. Quick. Easy. Super delicious.
The biggest question is – will you straw or will you spoon?
Best Chocolate Protein Thick Shake….EVER!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup cashews, soaked 3+hours and drained
- 1 banana, sliced, frozen
- 1/2 cup almond milk, or milk of choice
- 1/2 cup thick Greek-style yogurt
- 1/4 cup protein or collagen peptides powder
- 2 tablespoons almond or cashew butter
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 dates
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
Topping Optional
- Chocolate shavings
- Chopped nuts
- Fresh fruit or berries
- Granola
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Scoop out into 2 glasses and add your favourite toppings to serve.
If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, protein-rich, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites
