Description
This Chocolate Cherry Protein Shake is a delicious and nutritious blend of frozen sweet cherries, chocolate protein powder, and dairy-free milk. Enhanced with optional ingredients like baby spinach and cashew butter, it offers a rich, creamy texture and a perfect balance of flavors for a quick, energizing snack or light meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen sweet cherries
- 3/4 cup ice cubes
- 3/4-1 cup dairy-free milk (plain, unsweetened; we recommend almond)
- 1-2 scoops chocolate protein powder (or vanilla or unflavored)
- 1-3 tsp cocoa powder (or cacao powder)
Optional Ingredients
- 1 small handful baby spinach (for added nutrition)
- 1 Tbsp cashew butter (for richness)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 tsp maple syrup (for sweetness or if using unsweetened protein powder; can be substituted with pitted dates)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Add frozen cherries, ice cubes, dairy-free milk (start with 3/4 cup), protein powder, and cocoa powder (start with 1 tsp if using chocolate protein, or 3 tsp if using unflavored/vanilla) into a high-speed blender.
- Add Optional Ingredients: Add baby spinach, cashew butter, vanilla extract, and maple syrup if desired for extra nutrition, richness, and sweetness.
- Blend Smooth: Blend on high speed until the mixture is thick and smooth. Use the tamper if available, and add more dairy-free milk gradually if needed to aid blending.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the shake and add more cocoa powder or maple syrup to suit your preference, then blend briefly again to mix.
- Serve: Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor, or freeze any leftovers in ice cube trays to reblend later with additional dairy-free milk as needed.
Notes
- The recommended protein powders are Aloha Chocolate Protein (vegan option) or Orchestra Provisions Chocolate Protein (non-vegan option).
- Nutrition facts depend on the protein powder brand and amount used. The estimate is based on 2 scoops of Aloha protein powder and excludes optional ingredients.
- If you prefer extra sweetness and use an unsweetened protein powder, add maple syrup or substitute with pitted dates.
- Spinach and cashew butter add nutrition and creaminess but can be omitted if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 shake
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: thirty-nine g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: thirty-five g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
