Cacao Glow Smoothie 

Last Updated on June 8, 2025 by Christin Gillespie

This Cacao Glow Smoothie is loaded with superfoods, packed with plant protein, & is a healthy breakfast recipe that will have your skin radiating!

Do you know what will never go out of style?! Aside from chocolate protein smoothies, clear + glowing skin will always be sought after. 

I know that I’m making big claims by saying that this smoothie will make your skin glow, but it’s so true. 

Clear skin starts from the inside out, & while there are several components to make that possible (stress, environment, toxic products, etc.), diet plays a massive role. And having a clean diet doesn’t have to lack flavor or be boring. 

In fact, this Cacao Glow Smoothie is the most delicious recipe that will leave you feeling good from the inside out!

Why You’ll Love This Cacao Glow Smoothie Recipe

• Perfect Glowing Skin Protein Smoothie: This smoothie is the best recipe to kickstart the day in a healthy way!
• Loaded with Superfoods: For added health benefits without compromising the taste!
• Fully Customizable: I have listed options further down in the post to add even more wholesome ingredients to your Cacao Glow Smoothie recipe.

Superfoods Benefits

One of the key components to making this chocolate protein smoothie extraordinary, is the addition of organic superfoods. More specifically, cacao powder, pearl powder, tocotrienols, & Manuka honey.

Superfoods provide you with an extra boost that your body needs. Here are just a few incredible health benefits of incorporating superfoods into this protein smoothie.

• Radiant Skin
• High-Vibrational Energy
• Relieve Mild Stress & Promote Relaxation
• Decrease Inflammation
• Hormonal Balance
• Improve Cognitive Function

For additional superfood information, be sure to check out this Superfoods 101 post!

Ingredients

• Organic Coconut Water: Coconut water is super delicious & it’s full of electrolytes, which is great for hydrating our skin! Thus, it’s the perfect liquid to get things blended. My favorite brand is Harmless Harvest. It’s just one ingredient: organic coconut water. Oh, & it’s pink! So cute.
• Organic Seeds: A combination of organic chia seeds & organic ground flax seeds adds some omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, & so much more!
• Organic Pearl Powder: The ultimate skin superfood! Pearl powder contains antioxidants, as well as anti-inflammatory properties to help support the body’s natural collagen production & repair skin cells to even the appearance.
• Organic Tocotrienols: Tocos contains several vitamins, folic acid, biotin, choline, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, & so much more. In addition, tocos has been known for supporting skin health & healthy detox. This nutrient-dense superfood is a phenomenal addition to our glowing skin smoothie.
• Organic Unflavored 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.
• Organic Vanilla Powder: If using an unflavored plant protein, I highly recommend adding just a smidge to enhance the flavor.
• Organic Cacao Powder: It’s the perfect addition to make this protein smoothie decadent! To be clear, cacao powder is different from regular Dutch cocoa powder. Check out this Cacao Powder 101 post to learn more!
• Organic Manuka Honey: Manuka honey is not the same as regular honey & it’s loaded with incredible health benefits, especially for the skin. To learn more, see this Manuka Honey 101 post for everything you need to know about the naturally sweet addition!
• Sea Salt: A pinch to enhance the flavor & minerals.
• Organic Avocado: The avocado adds an extra level of creaminess + healthy fats. Fresh or frozen, both work, just be sure that it’s ripe.
• 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 coconut water, seeds, pearl powder, tocotrienols, plant protein, vanilla, cacao powder, Manuka honey, & sea salt to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
• Blend the Frozen Ingredients. Next, add in the avocado & frozen banana. Blend until smooth and 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 Cacao Glow Smoothie recipe:

• 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 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 Cacao Glow Smoothie? As someone who makes smoothies daily, here are my TOP tips:

1. Use Frozen Fruit: 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 favorite way of preparing my smoothies. Blending the liquid & powders first 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 hard for the blender to blend the frozen ingredients properly, so start lower, then gradually increase the speed.
5. Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold smoothie, in this case, a chocolate 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 in this recipe gives the smoothie 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 certainly can. If you elect to make this a banana-free smoothie, I recommend keeping the Manuka honey to maintain its sweetness.

Is it healthy to have a smoothie?

I wouldn’t post something that was unhealthy. 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, unflavored plant protein powder for this chocolate avocado 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 protein powder on hand, no worries! To increase the richness, use a total of 5 teaspoons of organic cacao powder. To amp up the protein content, you can add a tablespoon or two of organic raw cashew butter without changing the taste that much.

Can I make this protein smoothie recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make this Cacao Glow 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

• Chocolate Superfood Protein Smoothie
• Chocolate Avocado Protein Smoothie
• Chocolate Green Protein Smoothie
• Chocolate Adaptogenic Protein Smoothie
• Chocolate Maca Protein Smoothie
• Chocolate Yogurt Protein Smoothie

Sharing Is Caring!

If you make this Cacao Glow 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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