Ingredients
Method
- Peel, slice, and freeze bananas until solid, and ensure strawberries are also fully frozen.
- Combine frozen banana chunks, strawberries, non-dairy milk, vanilla extract, protein powder, and almond butter in a high-powered blender, adding cacao powder if desired.
- Blend on low speed, using a tamper to push ingredients toward the blades and scraping down the sides as needed; avoid adding excess liquid.
- Continue blending, pulsing, and tamping until smooth and at a soft-serve consistency, adding a small amount of extra milk only if the blender struggles.
- Transfer the mixture to a serving bowl and smooth the surface with the back of a spoon.
- Sprinkle chia seeds over the top and arrange additional toppings like fresh fruit, granola, or shredded coconut.
Notes
The Perfect Texture: I have learned that the secret to that thick, spoonable consistency is using the tamper constantly to push the frozen fruit into the blades.
Resist the urge to add more milk because even a splash too much can turn your beautiful bowl into a runny drink.
Frozen Fruit Prep: I always peel and slice my bananas into small coins before freezing them to make the blending process much easier on my machine.
If you try to blend whole frozen bananas, you might end up with chunky bits or a very frustrated motor.
Nut Butter Swaps: While I adore the creaminess of almond butter, I sometimes swap it for peanut butter when I want a flavor that reminds me of a classic sandwich.
Cashew butter also works beautifully if you want a more neutral, buttery finish that lets the strawberries shine.
Make Ahead Strategy: I like to prep my dry ingredients like the protein powder, chia seeds, and cacao in small jars ahead of time.
When I am rushing in the morning, I just have to grab a jar and my frozen fruit to get breakfast on the table in minutes.
Serving Suggestion: I find that chilling my bowl in the freezer for five minutes before filling it helps keep the smoothie from melting while I arrange my toppings.
It gives me a little extra time to get those perfect slices of fresh fruit or granola clusters just right.
Blending Technique: I suggest starting your blender on the lowest speed and gradually increasing it while you work the tamper.
I once made the mistake of starting on high and it just created an air pocket around the blades, leaving me with a stuck mess.