This peanut butter smoothie recipe is a super boost of protein in the morning. It’s loaded with antioxidants and energy boosting ingredients that will leave you full of life, ready to take on the world. Smoothies are a great way to get some extra fruits and veggies into your diet. But sometimes the regular smoothie recipes can get boring. In this Peanut Butter Smoothie recipe, you will learn how to create new smoothies with peanut butter to spice up your routine.
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Smoothies are one of the easiest and best ways to ensure you are having the most important meal of the day, breakfast. Tossing fruit in a blender beats cooking and washing dishes (and that’s coming from people who cook for a living). With just 6 pantry staple ingredients (plus ice), this smoothie couldn’t be simpler.
The combination of banana and peanut butter is totally iconic and is really well suited for a smoothie. After your first sip, you’re going to be wondering if you’re eating dessert or drinking a deliciously nutritious breakfast. Ready in just 3 minutes, you can also customize almost every single ingredient in this recipe and still walk away with a tall glass of satisfaction.
Freeze your bananas. A frozen banana will yield not only a colder smoothie, but also a thicker one. If you’d like your smoothie to be closer to a milkshake in texture, swap out the ice for a second frozen banana!
Change up your milk. Almond works great here, but you can also use coconut milk, soy milk, or oat milk. If you aren’t vegan and don’t need to use a non-dairy milk, regular cow’s milk would work fine too!
Change up your sweetener. If you’re vegan and honey is out of the picture, maple syrup and agave would work great too. Because honey is more concentrated in its sugar content than the alternatives, taste and see if you might need a teaspoon more of maple to hit that sweet spot.
Swap out cinnamon. We all love cinnamon but if you’re looking to change things up, sub in some pumpkin pie spice or cardamom instead!
This recipe makes one 16-oz. serving, but if you can’t finish it all in one go, pour the remaining into a clean glass jar and store in the fridge. Try to consume within 3 days! If you loved this smoothie or have any tips to spice it up, let us know in the comments below!
YIELDS:1 SERVING
PREP TIME:0 HOURS 5 MINS
TOTAL TIME:0 HOURS 5 MINS
INGREDIENTS
2
small bananas or 1 large
1 c.
unsweetened almond milk
1 c.
ice
2 tbsp.
peanut butter (preferably natural)
2 tsp.
honey
1/8 tsp.
pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp.
ground cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Cheers to a smooooooother new year! (No, giving up bad puns was not my resolution. #sorrynotsorry) This thick, creamy, naturally-sweetened Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie is guaranteed to brighten your morning.
This month I’m sharing a new, go-get-‘em smoothie recipe each week.
It kicked it off with this refreshing Green Smoothie. Like many of you, I too begin each year rejuvenated to (at least try to) build back in some healthy eating habits.
All those fruits and veggies we haven’t seen in a few weeks? Time to get reacquainted! And a smoothie is a super-efficient way to do just that.
I have a few smoothie rules.
The first and most important one is that my smoothies must taste legitimately delicious.
Wow, does this recipe deliver!
As much as I love a good green smoothie like this Kale Smoothie that’s not shy about bringing its nutritional “A-game”, sometimes we all want a type of healthy that likes to flirt with a little decadence.
Thick, creamy, and naturally sweet, this easy banana smoothie reminds me of a milkshake, it’s that yummy.
To say peanut butter and banana are a good combination is the understatement of the year (this Oatmeal Smoothie is another thick and creamy favorite).
If you’re new to the smoothie game and looking for a smoothie that’s good for you but that doesn’t taste overtly “healthy,” if you need smoothies for kids that will pass picky eater inspection, or if you are simply craving a tasty change of smoothie pace…this healthy breakfast smoothie recipe is ideal for you.
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie Benefits
I often rely on Healthy Breakfast Smoothies (<—see that post for my fave smoothie recipes and tips) to kick-start my day.
I bet you’ll also find it comforting knowing that you’ve made major progress with your requisite servings of fruits and veggies first thing in the A.M.
Or, if you are looking for a post-workout smoothie, this peanut butter banana version is one of my favorites.
It’s a perfect option because banana smoothies like this recipe are good for you.
- Bananas are high in fiber, potassium, and vitamins B6 and C.
- Peanut butter has protein and healthy fats too (I recommend using a brand of natural peanut butter with less added sugar).
Generally speaking, with the right ingredients a peanut butter smoothie can be good for weight loss. Smoothies with healthier foods like fruits, Greek yogurt, and peanut butter can be sufficiently filling with better nutrients than other breakfast options.
How to Make This Recipe
This is a great smoothie recipe for beginners thanks to its appealing taste and short ingredient list. Just add to a blender – it doesn’t get much easier than that.
Kids will love it too. They’ll feel like it’s a special treat, yet you’ll know the healthy truth.
The Ingredients
- Banana. As we discussed above, bananas are a smoothie favorite for a reason. They pair wonderfully with other ingredients, add nutritional value, and help create that desirable thick, creamy texture.
- Peanut Butter. The other half of our classic pairing. The beloved flavor of peanut butter helps give this smoothie universal appeal, while also helping make it rich and satisfying.
- Almond Milk. The liquid for our healthy breakfast smoothie. I like to use unsweetened almond milk to keep the smoothie from being too sweet.
- Greek Yogurt. To up the creamy factor and give this smoothie a protein boost.
- Cinnamon. Adds a warm and cozy element that you don’t want to miss.
The Directions
- Add all the ingredients to a blender.
- Blend until smooth. ENJOY!
Variations for a Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Not only is a smoothie a fantastic vehicle for nutritious food during the day, but is also very adaptable to your liking. Here are easy variations for this recipe:
- Chocolate. Thinking of having a chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie to stave off the temptation of a less healthy dessert? Add a few teaspoons of cocoa powder (a little goes a long way!) or a scoop of chocolate protein powder, and this very well may replace your favorite milkshake.
- Protein Powder. This peanut butter banana smoothie has protein because of the peanut butter and Greek yogurt. But if you need an extra boost in your banana smoothie after a workout, add a ½ to 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder (vanilla or chocolate).
- Bowl Style. For a new twist, try a peanut butter banana smoothie bowl. Add extra banana or ice to thicken it further, then serve it in a bowl with toppings, such as granola, banana slices, or blueberries, and a drizzle of additional peanut butter.
DIETARY NOTE
To make this peanut butter banana smoothie without milk and vegan-friendly, simply be sure to use a non-dairy milk (such as almond or soy milk) and remove the Greek yogurt. I recommend adding extra ice to thicken it when removing the Greek yogurt. You also can swap in a non-dairy yogurt.
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate leftover smoothies in airtight storage containers or jars for up to 1 day.
- To Freeze. Freeze smoothies in freezer-safe jars or ice cube trays for up to 3 months. Let the jars thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving. If using an ice cube tray, toss the frozen cubes into the blender for a smoothie on demand.
PEANUT BUTTER BANANA SMOOTHIE
Peanut butter banana smoothies have been a favorite snack (or dessert) of mine since I was a teenager. I usually always have the ingredients on have on hand, they’re ultra-creamy, just sweet enough to kill my sweet tooth, and filling enough to stand in for breakfast. Plus, they’re INEXPENSIVE. There are a lot of ways you can modify this simple banana smoothie if you want to make it your own, so if you haven’t tried this one yet, definitely put it on your list!
USE ANY NUT BUTTER
I love the classic peanut butter-banana combo, but if you don’t like peanut butter or can’t have it for other reasons, feel free to substitute it with any type of nut or seed butter. Almond butter or Sun Butter would be awesome, and it would also be fun to experiment with flavored nut butters. The nut butter makes this smoothie extra rich and delicious, so don’t skip this ingredient!
USE FROZEN BANANAS FOR THE BEST TEXTURE
The key to getting this ultra-creamy milkshake-like consistency is to use frozen bananas. Not only will frozen bananas make the smoothie extra thick and creamy, but they also keep it cold without having to add ice, which would water down the smoothie. So anytime I have bananas that are on their last leg, I make sure to peel, slice, and freeze them to use in smoothies and other desserts later.
USE ANY TYPE OF MILK
This smoothie recipe is incredibly flexible. You can use any type of dairy or non-dairy milk for this smoothie, keeping in mind that the creamier the milk, the creamier the smoothie will be. I like whole milk the best, but I think coconut would also pair nicely with these flavors!
WHAT ELSE CAN I ADD?
As mentioned above, there are a lot of different things you can add to this smoothie to take it in a different direction. Try adding some of these ingredients to your banana smoothie:
- Quick oats (about ¼ cup)
- Coconut
- Cinnamon
- Ground flaxseed
- Cocoa powder
- Instant coffee
- Chia seeds
- Spinach
PEANUT BUTTER BANANA SMOOTHIE
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothies are slightly sweet, super creamy, deliciously filling, and make a fast and easy snack or breakfast!
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
Servings: (approx. 12 oz.)
INGREDIENTS
- 1 frozen banana, sliced ($0.22)
- 2 Tbsp peanut butter ($0.14)
- 1 tsp brown sugar ($0.02)
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract ($0.13)
- 1 cup milk ($0.20)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add the sliced banana, peanut butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and milk to a blender.
- Blend the ingredients until smooth. If the smoothie is too thick, add more milk. If the smoothie is too thin, add more frozen banana. Taste and adjust the sweetness to your liking.