Almond Butter Hot Chocolate Smoothie

Last Updated on June 20, 2025 by Christin Gillespie

This Almond Butter Hot Chocolate Smoothie recipe is the perfect healthy frozen indulgence to enjoy this Christmas season. It’s created with a functional mushroom hot cacao mix, rich cacao plant protein, raw almond butter, & sweetened with a banana. Top it off with a dollop of homemade coconut whipped cream for an extra special post-workout holiday treat!

Christmas time is here & so is another hot chocolate protein smoothie.

This Almond Butter Hot Chocolate Smoothie, in particular, is a creamy, nutty, & protein-packed blend that will have you impressed that it’s created with healthy ingredients.

Between the hot cacao mix, protein powder, raw almond butter, & the frozen banana, you’ll be loving this Christmas smoothie all season long.

Just don’t forget the homemade coconut whipped cream for topping, as it wouldn’t be complete without it!

Why You’ll Love This Hot Chocolate Smoothie Recipe

• Blended with Raw Almond Butter: For added healthy fats & creaminess. 
• Perfect Protein Smoothie: This Almond Butter Hot Chocolate Smoothie recipe features over 25 grams of plant-based protein & is a great festive post-workout treat.
• Nutritious Holiday Treat: Swap your holiday dessert with this protein-rich & healthy chocolate protein smoothie! It embodies all of the flavors that you love in a traditional dessert, without the sugar crash.

Hot Cacao Health Benefits & Nutrition 

It wouldn’t be hot chocolate without a hot cacao mix. If you have yet to sip on Four Sigmatic’s Organic Cacao Mix, you’re in for a real Christmas treat. It’s not like the typical, store-bought hot chocolate packets, as this one is basically hot cacao made healthy. Crafted with good-for-you ingredients, while being paired with reishi, it creates a calming blend to support stress & overall well-being. Through incorporating this specific hot cacao packet in this smoothie, some of the incredible benefits include

• Relief of Mild Stress & Promote Relaxation: Thanks to the adaptogen of reishi, Four Sigmatic’s Hot Cacao helps you adapt to those everyday stressors.
• Mental Clarity: The adaptogenic blend helps keep your mind calm to feel more centered throughout your day.
• Sustainably Sourced to Achieve All the Benefits: You don’t need to worry about anything funky in your mushrooms with Four Sigmatic. It’s certified organic, as well as tested for mycotoxins, molds, and pesticides.
• Tastes Good: Just because it’s loaded with mushrooms doesn’t mean the taste has to be compromised. It’s super delicious.

Ingredients

• Organic Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk: Any non-dairy milk works in this recipe; just be sure to use homemade or trusted brands—I like MALK Organics, Three Trees, or Native Forest.
• Organic Raw Almond Butter: It provides some extra creaminess, protein, & healthy fats! Be sure that your almond butter is organic, raw, & unsalted. 
• Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Organic ground flax seeds add a great little boost of fiber & minerals.
• Four Sigmatic’s Organic Cacao Mix: I love using Four Sigmatic’s Organic Cacao Mix packet in this smoothie because it’s creamy, uncaffeinated, and spicy-sweet. Oh, & my favorite part is that this organic cacao mix is made with good-for-you ingredients, & it’s paired with reishi, which creates a calming blend to support stress & overall well-being.
• Organic Cacao Plant Protein: Adding a scoop of protein powder helps to keep you full & satisfied longer. When selecting a protein powder brand, it’s crucial to look at the protein content and, most importantly, the ingredients. Check out this Cleanest Plant-Based & Vegan Protein Powders post to learn what to look for, the best brands, & the recommended daily protein intake.
• Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals & beautifully enhances the flavor.
• Organic Frozen Banana: It’s best to use a frozen banana to create that super thick & creamy texture.

How to Make

• Blend the Liquids & Powders. First, add the non-dairy milk, raw almond butter, seeds, hot cacao mix, cacao, plant protein, & sea salt to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
• Blend the Frozen Banana. Next, add in the frozen banana. Blend until smooth & creamy. If needed, you can pause the blender, remove the lid, & scrape down the sides so that everything is fully incorporated. You may need to add a little more liquid depending on how thick/thin you like your smoothies.
• Serve. Pour into a chilled glass & enjoy!

Optional Smoothie Add-Ins

Feel free to truly make this blend your own! Here are a few suggestions to amp up this healthy Almond Butter Hot Chocolate Smoothie recipe:

• Organic Hemp Seeds: Add in a tablespoon of organic hemp seeds for a boost of healthy fats, protein, omegas, & minerals.
• Organic Coconut Yogurt: Enhance the creaminess with a scoop of organic plain coconut yogurt.
• Organic Greens: Greens are packed with so many minerals, vitamins, & antioxidants. I recommend baby spinach if you’re new to green smoothies, but kale, Swiss chard, mustard greens, collard greens, or mixed greens all work.

Tips for Making the Perfect Smoothie

Interested in how to make the best Almond Butter Hot Chocolate Smoothie recipe? As someone who makes smoothies daily, here are my TOP tips:

1. Use Frozen Fruit: Adding a frozen banana to this smoothie is the only way to go! The ice from the frozen fruits adds thickness to the smoothie.
2. Adjust Liquid Amount: If you find that your smoothie is too thick to blend, don’t worry! Just add a bit more liquid, blend, open the cover, scrape down the sides if needed, & blend again. When possible, always use a larger high-speed blender instead, as it will blend the ingredients much better.
3. How to Make: Add your liquid first & blend your powders first, before adding your frozen ingredients. This is my personal favorite way of preparing my smoothies. By blending the liquid & powders first, it ensures that your powders blend completely.
4. Smoothie Blending Tip: Start your blender on low to medium speed. If you blend the smoothie too quickly from the beginning, it’s really hard for the blender to properly blend the frozen ingredients, so start lower & then gradually increase the speed.
5. Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold smoothie or, in this case, a chocolate superfood milkshake! Put your serving glass in the fridge or freezer while you’re making your blend to ensure a chilled smoothie at every sip.

Smoothie FAQs

Do I have to use a frozen banana?

The frozen banana provides a thick & creamy consistency. If using a fresh banana, be sure to add a handful of ice cubes to achieve a cold smoothie. However, if you’re looking to remove the banana altogether because you’re allergic or simply don’t like them, you can replace it with ½ cup of frozen organic zucchini, ½ cup of frozen organic cauliflower, ½ cup of frozen organic coconut meat, or ½ cup of frozen organic avocado chunks. If you elect to make this a banana-free smoothie, I recommend adding 1 organic pitted Medjool date or 2 tsp Manuka honey to maintain its sweetness.

Is it healthy to have a smoothie?

I wouldn’t post something that was unhealthy. Having a Christmas smoothie full of protein, healthy fats, & superfoods for a post-workout breakfast is great because you’ll be getting essential vitamins, nutrients, & protein first thing. However, some smoothies on the market or on the web can be loaded with tons of fruit, added sugar, & nonsense, making them a less healthy option. 

What is the best protein powder to use?

I used an organic cacao plant protein powder for this frozen hot chocolate recipe. When selecting a protein powder brand, it’s crucial to look at the protein content and, most importantly, the ingredients. Check out this Cleanest Plant-Based & Vegan Protein Powders post to learn what to look for, the best brands, & the recommended daily protein intake.

How can I add protein without using protein powder?

Of course! To increase the richness, use a total of 2 tablespoons of organic raw cacao powder. To increase the protein content , you can add a tablespoon or two of hemp seeds without changing the taste too much.

What if I don’t have Four Sigmatic’s Hot Cacao Mix?

Not a problem! Simply replace with 2 tsp of organic cacao powder, 1–2 tsp of organic coconut sugar, & a dash or two of organic Ceylon cinnamon.

Can I make this smoothie recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make this Almond Butter Hot Chocolate Smoothie recipe as is for later. To achieve the best results, check out this “How to Prepare Smoothies in Advance” post.

More Hot Chocolate Protein Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love

• Frozen Hot Chocolate Smoothie
• Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate Smoothie
• Peppermint Hot Chocolate Smoothie
• Coconut Hot Chocolate Protein Smoothie
• Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate Protein Smoothie

Sharing Is Caring!

If you make this Almond Butter Hot Chocolate Smoothie recipe, please leave a review & rating below. I love hearing from you, & it helps others learn more about the blog as well. Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, & TikTok for even more healthy content!

Xoxo.

CMG.

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