Last Updated on September 14, 2025 by Christin Gillespie
This Almond Joy Smoothie brings everything you love about the iconic candy bar, but in a healthy, protein-packed form. It’s made with rich cacao plant protein, raw almond butter, a sweet Medjool date, a frozen banana, & three forms of coconut for that creamy, indulgent texture. The end result is a feel-good treat that satisfies your sweet tooth & nourishes your body!

If you grew up loving Almond Joys but are now in your wellness era, this smoothie is for you. It embodies all the flavors you once adored from the candy bar, without any of the stuff you don’t. It’s indulgent without the sugar crash, sweet without the junk, & creamy without the dairy.
With Halloween just around the corner, this Almond Joy Smoothie is the perfect nourishing post-workout breakfast that tastes like a decadent dessert. The rich chocolate, creamy coconut, & nutty almond flavors will leave your taste buds absolutely stunned!
Why You’ll Love This Almond Joy Smoothie Recipe
- Tastes like a Candy Bar: All the classic Almond Joy flavors, chocolate, coconut, & almond, without the nonsense.
- Dairy-Free & Plant-Based: The perfect sweet treat for clean-eating lifestyles.
- Quick & Easy: Ready in 10 minutes, ideal for a healthy post-workout breakfast treat!
Almond Joy Smoothie vs. Candy Bar
This Almond Joy Smoothie is a healthy, protein-packed twist on the iconic candy bar you know.
Personally, I haven’t had the candy bar in over 10 years, mainly because of what’s inside. If you check the label, you’ll find soy lecithin, artificial flavors, corn syrup, vegetables, & a long list of ingredients that don’t exactly scream “healthy.” Simply put, it’s not the best choice for anyone, at any age.
Of course, you can make your own choice, but I prefer finding or creating healthier alternatives, like this Almond Joy Smoothie. That way, you get to enjoy all the delicious flavors without the unnecessary additives or the guilt.

Ingredients
- Organic Full-Fat Unsweetened Coconut Milk: This is what gives the smoothie its super creamy consistency. I recommend using a high-quality brand like Native Forest, which contains only organic coconut & filtered water—no gums, additives, or fillers.
- Organic Coconut Water: My favorite brand is Harmless Harvest. It’s pure organic coconut water—nothing else. Plus, it’s naturally pink, which is a cute bonus!
- Organic Unsweetened Coconut: Shredded or flaked, both blend beautifully.
- Organic Raw Almond Butter: Select raw, organic almond butter for creaminess, healthy fats, & that signature nutty flavor.
- Organic Cacao Powder: For a rich, chocolate boost, cacao powder is a must! To be clear, cacao powder is different from regular Dutch-processed cocoa powder. Review this Cacao Powder 101 post to learn more!
- 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, & recommended daily protein intake.
- Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals & beautifully enhances the flavor.
- Organic Medjool Date: One date adds the perfect amount of natural sweetness. I recommend buying pitted dates so you don’t have to remove the pits yourself. My go-to brand is Joolies—they’re sweet, soft, & always superb!
- Organic Frozen Banana: Frozen is best, as it enhances the creaminess & natural sweetness. It helps create that smooth, thick texture.
How to Make
- Blend the Liquids & Powders: First, add the non-dairy milk, seeds, almond butter, coconut, cacao, plant protein, & sea salt to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
- Blend the Medjool Date. Add the soft Medjool date & blend until smooth.
- Blend the Frozen Ingredients. 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. Transfer to a chilled glass & enjoy!
Optional Add-Ins
Make this smoothie truly yours! Here are some tasty ways to elevate your Almond Joy Smoothie:
- Organic Coconut Yogurt: Enhance the creaminess with a scoop of organic plain coconut yogurt.
- Organic Cacao Nibs: Add 1 tablespoon of organic cacao nibs at the last minute to your smoothie, then blend once more to provide lots of texture at every sip!
- Organic Cold Brew: Need a boost? Check out this Mocha Maca Protein Smoothie recipe!
- 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
Want to master the perfect healthy, high-protein Almond Joy Smoothie? As a daily smoothie maker, here are my top tips to get it just right eveytime:
- Use a Frozen Banana: The natural ice from a frozen banana adds thickness & creaminess without watering down the smoothie.
- Soak the Medjool Date: If your date feels a tad hard, soak it in very warm water for 5 minutes to soften it up.
- Organic Full-Fat Unsweetened Coconut Milk: Avoid regular non-dairy milk here, as canned coconut milk gives the rich, creamy texture this Almond Joy Smoothie needs. I recommend chilling it overnight for a perfectly cold smoothie. Native Forest is a great brand that contains only organic coconut & filtered water—no gums, additives, or fillers.
- 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.
- How to Make: Add your liquid first & blend your powders first, then the Medjool date, before adding your frozen ingredients. This method helps the powders blend fully & prevents clumps.
- Smoothie Blending Tip: Begin blending on low speed, then gradually increase to high. Starting on can make it harder for the ingredients to mix properly.
- Chill Your Glass: For the ultimate Almond Joy milkshake experience, chill your serving glass in the freezer while you blend. It keeps every sip cold!
Smoothie FAQs
Do I have to use a frozen banana?
The frozen banana in this recipe provides a thick & creamy texture. 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 zucchini, ½ cup of frozen cauliflower, ½ cup of frozen coconut meat, or ½ cup of frozen avocado chunks. If you elect to make this a banana-free smoothie, I recommend keeping the organic pitted Medjool date to maintain its sweetness.
Is it healthy to have a smoothie?
Duh! I wouldn’t post something that was unhealthy (even though it does taste like a treat). Having a 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 Almond Joy Smoothie 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, & recommended daily protein intake.
How can I add protein without using protein powder?
If you don’t have cacao protein powder on hand, no worries! To increase the richness, use a total of 5 tsp of cacao powder, & to amp up the protein content, you can add a tablespoon of organic hemp seeds without changing the taste that much.
Can I make this smoothie recipe in advance?
Totally! Feel free to make this candy bar smoothie recipe as is or double it for later. To achieve the best results, check out this How to Prepare Smoothies in Advance post.

More Chocolate Protein Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love
- Almond Mocha Smoothie
- Chocolate Coconut Yogurt Smoothie
- Brownie Batter Protein Smoothie
- Chocolate Coconut Avocado Smoothie
- Chocolate Almond Maca Smoothie
Sharing Is Caring!
If you make this Almond Joy 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.
Print
Almond Joy Smoothie
- Prep Time: 10
- Total Time: 10
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Blend
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Almond Joy Smoothie recipe embodies all of the flavors found in the classic candy bar, but in a healthy and high-protein form. Featuring rich cacao plant protein, raw almond butter, 3 forms of coconut, sweet medjool dates, and frozen banana. It’s the perfect protein treat for your sweet tooth!
Ingredients
Always opt for organic ingredients.
- ½ cup full-fat unsweetened coconut milk
- ½ cup coconut water
- 1 tbsp raw almond butter
- 1 tbsp unsweetened coconut
- 1 scoop cacao plant protein
- 2 tsp cacao powder
- Sea salt, a pinch
- 1 pitted Medjool date
- ¼ –⅓ frozen banana
Instructions
- Blend the Liquids & Powders: First, add the non-dairy milk, seeds, almond butter, coconut, cacao, plant protein, & sea salt to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
- Blend the Medjool Date. Add the soft Medjool date & blend until smooth.
- Blend the Frozen Ingredients. 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. Transfer to a chilled glass & enjoy!














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