Home > Beverages > Shakes & Smoothies > Chocolate Protein Shake Chocolate Protein Shake October 24, 2019 | 25 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Thick and creamy, flavorful Chocolate Protein Shake, filled with protein powder, cocoa, banana, milk, and almond (or peanut) butter. This protein shake is good enough to pass for a healthy milkshake! Enjoy this Chocolate Protein Shake as a pre- or post-workout drink, a healthy snack to quell sugar cravings, or even for breakfast! Chocolate Protein Shake Probably the treat my mom made most often when I was growing up was milkshakes. We’d alternate between cookies and cream shakes, strawberry shakes, or chocolate shakes, but chocolate was always my preferred choice. Flash forward to being an adult (with a metabolism not quite as fast as when I was a kid) and having a couple of milkshakes a week isn’t practical for me anymore. I mean, there are still those weeks, but…I also want to fit in my jeans. So when developing this Chocolate Protein Shake recipe, it had to be as *close* to a chocolate milkshake as possible — thick, creamy, rich, and wonderfully chocolate flavored. And honestly, with a good protein powder and cocoa powder, this shake is 100% that. It takes away all my sugar cravings, is packed with protein, and is about as good as it gets for a healthy milkshake. I seriously think you’re going to love this! How do you make Chocolate Protein Shakes even better? Honestly, it comes down to the ingredients you use! My number one tip? Use a great-tasting protein powder. I’ve tried my fair share of protein powders and for this shake, I recommend protein powder that is whey-based and sweetened with stevia. The protein powder can make or break the shake — leaving you with great flavor or a nasty, powdery aftertaste. Here’s a list of the top-rated protein powders. My personal favorite: Optimum Nutrition® Gold Standard 100% whey protein powder (Double-Rich Chocolate). What should I put in my shake? I’ve played around with ingredients in this shake for years, and I’m telling you, the ingredients you use make all the difference. Good chocolate protein powder: See more on this in the paragraph above. Banana: We want the banana flavor to be virtually nonexistent, but for it to add nutrition and create a thick creamy texture. Make sure to completely freeze a fully ripe banana before adding to this shake. Also, don’t use more than 1/2 cup or it will be more banana-flavored than chocolate. Peanut butter or almond butter: Again, we want the main flavor to be chocolate, but the nut butter adds protein and healthy fats. It also adds a nice creaminess and subtle flavor. We only add 1 tablespoon so that the flavor isn’t overpowering. My personal favorite is almond butter (much more subtle), but use whichever you have on hand or like better. Unsweetened vanilla almond milk: My favorite milk in this shake, but any milk works. I like the vanilla flavored for even more flavor. Ice: Ice gives us a thick milkshake consistency without all the calories! I use 8 regular ice cubes, or about 1 cup of ice. Cocoa powder: See more on this below! Can I add cocoa powder to my protein shake? The other ingredient that makes a huge difference is the cocoa powder. The cocoa balances the protein and really amps up the chocolate flavor. Use a good cocoa powder for rich chocolate flavor in this shake. Here’s my all-time favorite cocoa powder (it will literally change your life if you bake with cocoa powder a lot!) Hershey’s ®Special Dark Cocoa Powder is also great in Chocolate Protein Shakes. How to make Chocolate Protein Shakes Freeze the banana: While this chocolate protein shake is quick and easy to make, it does require a bit of planning to make sure the banana is fully frozen. I like to prep the bananas right after I get home from the grocery store so I don’t forget. Remove the peel, slice the banana into coins, place in freezer-safe containers or bags, and freeze overnight. Measure: While it might seem silly to actually measure out ingredients instead of just throwing everything in the blender, I highly recommend measuring until you have a feel for the quantities. (Throwing random ingredients in a blender can often end up giving you way too much shake or it can taste, well… off.) It’s also a good idea to measure ingredients if you’re tracking macros or calories. Blend: If you have a high-powered blender (I recommend a Vitamix® or Blendtec®), you can add everything in and blend until smooth. This shake is very thick. You may need to blend it a couple of times or be patient as it blends; it’s worth it for how thick and creamy this shake ends up! Are Chocolate Protein Shakes good for weight loss? Protein is important for weight loss*. Getting enough protein can help increase your metabolism and help reduce your appetite while helping to lose body fat instead of muscle. That said, protein shakes (typically) contain quite a few calories. So if the shake works with your macro or calorie goal, it can be a great weight-loss aid. Consult with a certified nutritionist to see how this Chocolate Protein Shake works into your personal health or weight loss plans. *While I have a background in Exercise and Wellness (B.S.), all the content in this post is for informational purposes only. Please consult a doctor or dietitian for any specific dietary needs or questions. Other healthy breakfast recipes: Almond Coconut Protein Bars Healthy Banana Bread Cherry Smoothie Healthy Zucchini Muffins Green Smoothie Recipe FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Chocolate Protein Shake 5 from 12 votes - Review this recipe Thick and creamy, flavorful Chocolate Protein Shake, filled with protein powder, cocoa, banana, and almond (or peanut) butter. This protein shake is good enough to pass for a healthy milkshake. SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Chocolate Protein Shake 5 from 12 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Thick and creamy, flavorful Chocolate Protein Shake, filled with protein powder, cocoa, banana, and almond (or peanut) butter. This protein shake is good enough to pass for a healthy milkshake. Course Breakfast, Dessert, Protein Shake, Snack Cuisine American Keyword chocolate protein shake Prep Time 10 minutes Total Time 10 minutes Servings 1 large chocolate protein shake Calories 293kcal Cost $1.47 Ingredients3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk1 scoop (1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon (32g)) chocolate protein powder use a good-quality brand1 tablespoon Dutch-process cocoa powder (Hershey's Special Dark works well)1/2 cup frozen banana Note 11 tablespoon almond butter or peanut butter1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional8 ice cubesOptional: sweetener to taste Note 2 InstructionsIN ADVANCE: Remove the peel from the banana, slice into large coins, place in a plastic bag, and freeze.BLEND: Combine all of the ingredients into a high-powered blender. Blend until smooth and the ingredients are all incorporated. If needed, stir everything up and blend again. If you don't have a high-powered blender, you may need an additional 1/4 cup milk.ENJOY: Pour into a glass and enjoy! Recipe NotesNote 1: Bananas: When bananas are quite ripe, cut them up in coins and then put them in a small ziplock bag. Freeze overnight or until completely solid. Note 2: Protein powder: Depending on the protein powder you use (some are sweetened with stevia) you may want some additional sweetener in your shake. I often use a few drops of stevia or some maple syrup or honey. Add to personal preference. Nutrition FactsServing: 1shake | Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 364mg | Potassium: 672mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 48IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 477mg | Iron: 1mg We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
I love a good chocolate protein shake. This one is yummy. I’ve always frozen my bananas just cut in half but dealing with the coin sized made it so much easier. Great tip! Reply
I was one ice cube short but I did the extra 1/4 cup of almond milk. Taste and texture was all the way on point. Reply
Hi I make this protein shake almost every day and my husband and I love it! We drink it during the day and after workouts. I use a squeeze of raw honey for sweetener, and I use Hershey’s Special Dark instead of the Dutch process cocoa powder – makes a world of difference. Thank you for sharing this! Reply
I just made this for the first time for brekky here in Aus and it is DIVINE! My new favourite protein shake for sure. LOVE! Reply
Full nutrition facts are directly below the recipe. My personal favorite: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% whey protein powder ® (Double-Rich Chocolate) OR for a plant-based healthier protein I love Truvani’s chocolate protein Reply
Hi there! I’m 14 years old. I made this for my family and I. We all LOVE IT! It’s sooo good! They keep asking me to make seconds 😂. One thing… my dad is allergic to bananas.. do you think the taste would change if I didn’t add the bananas in? Or could I substitute it with something else? Thank you again! Reply
So glad to hear you enjoyed this shake! Unfortunately I don’t have a great substitute for the banana that will sweeten and thicken the shake the same 🙁 Reply
Frozen avocado should provide a similar texture but you will have to add honey or something to sweeten. Reply
These chocolate chunk brownie protein shakes look yummy and healthy! I must try these out. Thanks for sharing the recipe! Reply
Just wondering if I have to use half a cup of frozen banana? What if I used half a cup of fresh banana? Reply
This literally perfected my plant based protein powder. I have tried so many recipes for myself and my kids and have failed. This is absolute perfection. THANK YOU! Reply
