This Chocolate Date Smoothie tastes like a rich chocolate milkshake! All you need is a few simple ingredients to make it.
I first started making this chocolate smoothie when I was pregnant and learned that dates may help to improve your labor & delivery experience. But, I’ve continued to drink this smoothie ever since because it’s delicious and nutrient-dense. It makes a healthy breakfast or delicious mid-day snack!
Dates are not only a source of plant-based iron and potassium, but they also are high in fiber. Research suggests that consuming dates may help to improve memory and they also may lower the risk for certain cancers.
Plus, they are a great way to add natural sweetness to a smoothie, without relying on frozen bananas.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe calls for Medjool dates, which are often bigger than other varieties. Look for dates that are squishy and moist-looking for the best results. Drier dates will be harder to blend.
If you have dry dates that are difficult to split apart with your fingers, try soaking them in a bowl of very hot water for 10 minutes to help soften them up. After you drain away the soaking water, they are ready to use in this recipe.
Hemp hearts (which are hulled hemp seeds) add protein and the ground flax seed helps to thicken this date smoothie. If you would like to add protein powder, or would rather use peanut butter instead of almond butter, feel free! This smoothie recipe is easy to customize.
How to Make a Date Smoothie
1. Blend.
Add the almond milk, pitted dates, cocoa powder, flax seeds, hemp hearts, and almond butter to a high-speed blender. Blend until the dates are totally pulverized.
The mixture should look like a thick, smooth chocolate pudding when it’s done blending. Taste the mixture to make sure it’s as sweet as you’d like it to be, but keep in mind the flavor will be diluted with the next step. (It gets better with ice!)
2. Add ice.
For a slushy texture, add 1 cup of ice cubes and blend again. Depending on the consistency you are going for, you might need to add a little more ice.
The more ice you add, the more diluted the chocolate flavor will be.
3. Enjoy!
Serve this chocolate date smoothie right away for the best flavor and texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can blend a handful of almonds or cashews into this smoothie for creaminess, if you have a high-speed blender. Or, try chia seeds, greek yogurt, or rolled oats as a nut-free alternative.
No, you can actually just use water as the base for this recipe, since the nut butter will add creaminess on its own. Oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, or any other non-dairy milk will also work, but may slightly alter the flavor.
You can replace 3 of the dates with a ripe banana, but this will create more of a banana date smoothie with plenty of banana flavor. If you want to make a banana smoothie, try my Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie for another variation.
Yes, as written this recipe is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, so it’s also vegan-friendly.
Add a dash of cinnamon for a Mexican chocolate flavor, or a splash of vanilla extract to make it taste like even more of a milkshake. You can also add a big handful of fresh baby spinach, which you won’t be able to taste at all. (But it will give the smoothie a slight greenish-brown hue.)
Looking for more smoothie recipes? Try my Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie, Strawberry Mango Smoothie, or Chocolate Avocado Smoothie for more ideas.
Chocolate Date Smoothie
This Date Smoothie has a rich chocolate flavor and tastes like a milkshake! It’s a delicious way to sneak more nutrients into your day.
Servings:
Instructions
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In a high-speed blender, combine the almond milk, 4 dates (use 5 if they are on the small side), ground flax, hemp hearts, cacao powder, and almond butter. Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape down the blender if needed.
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Taste the smoothie and make any adjustments you need. The flavor will be diluted once you add the ice, but this is your chance to add more sweetness or cacao powder if needed.
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Add the ice cubes, and blend again, until the shake has a slushy texture. The more ice you add, the more diluted the chocolate flavor will be.
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Serve right away for the best taste and texture.
Notes
Make-Ahead Tip: Place the pitted dates, hemp hearts, flax, cacao powder, and almond butter in a freezer-safe bag. Store the bag in the fridge for up to a week. When you’re ready to make the smoothie, dump the bag’s contents into the blender, add the almond milk, and blend until smooth. Add ice as directed above, and blend again. Serve right away.
Update Note: This recipe was updated in July 2023 with minor adjustments. The original recipe calls for water instead of almond milk, 1 heaping tablespoon of cocoa powder (instead of 2 level), and an optional handful of spinach, if you prefer to start with that version. Either way it’s delicious!
Nutrition
Calories: 546kcal, Carbohydrates: 85g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Sodium: 343mg, Potassium: 997mg, Fiber: 15g, Sugar: 65g, Vitamin A: 221IU, Vitamin C: 0.04mg, Calcium: 476mg, Iron: 5mg
If you try this chocolate date smoothie recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it.