In the past week I've made a smoothie almost every night for dessert. I had a hankering for sweets, but didn't want refined sugar, so I opted for fruit, since it's a more natural treat.
At any given time I generally have a bundle of bananas ripening on my counter, so I used those as a base for my smoothies and switched it up every night with different ingredients. Out of the four variations I tried, this is my favorite.
If you use really ripe bananas that have plenty of spots and are starting to blacken, it'll taste even better.
The combination of banana, chocolate (from the cacao powder), cream (from the milk) and ground cinnamon pairs wonderfully together and really satisfies cravings without going overboard.
The second time I made it I added in a teaspoon of peanut butter. :) I bet it'd be even better with grated chocolate or cacao nibs on top!
And while this doesn't have my usual smoothie protein enhancers (yogurt and organic hemp powder), I added in a bit of organic chia seeds for texture and fiber. So, next time you're craving a dessert, but want something lighter than a 1/2 or whole pint of ice cream, try this smoothie.
Creamy Banana, Cacao Powder & Chia Seed Smoothie
A creamy, decadent dessert smoothie with ripe banana, organic cacao powder, organic chia seeds, real maple syrup, milk and cinnamon. This smoothie is full of real food ingredients that will satisfy a sweet tooth naturally and help you stay away from processed foods.
| Original Recipe & Photograph by The Rising Spoon | © Elaina Newton 2013
Serves: 1
Ingredients
2 small ripened bananas
1-2 tablespoons of organic raw cacao powder
1 tablespoon of organic chia seeds
2 teaspoons of real maple syrup (you can omit if your bananas are SUPER ripe)
1/2 cup of ice cubes
Organic milk (I love homemade almond milk or coconut milk), to taste (add enough to reach your desired consistency)
Ground cinnamon, for garnish
Recommended Equipment
Blender (this is the one I'm saving up for)
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Directions
Combine all ingredients in a blender and pulse until the ice has been crushed, all ingredients are mixed and the smoothie has reached your desired consistency. If it's too thick, add more milk, if it's too thin add more ice. Serve immediately.
Love this smoothie recipe? Try these:
- creamy pan-fried peaches with cinnamon & honey (dairy-free)
- creamy pan-fried plantain with spices & maple syrup (dairy-free & vegan)
- homemade coconut oil chocolate sauce, syrup & shell
- homemade coconut milk recipe
- homemade almond milk coffee creamer
- cheddar and jalapeno coconut flour biscuits
- roasted butternut squash soup with coconut milk
- cheesy roasted garlic, onion & coconut cream mashed potatoes
Want to detox while drinking delicious smoothies? If you're looking for an easy and short whole foods based cleanse that will nourish your body while removing impurities, I highly recommend the 7 Day Diet Plan For Weight Loss and Improved Health by Katherine Kyle of Green Thickies.
Click here to learn more about the 7 Day Diet Plan.
Question for Discussion: What's your favorite ingredient to pair with bananas?
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