On the hunt for the ultimate smoothie to elevate your day? This Cashew Cold Brew Smoothie is loaded with healthy fats, nutritious ingredients, and includes a kick of coffee. It’s the perfect coffee protein smoothie recipe when you need an extra boost to liven up your day.

Cold Brew Smoothie in a glass topped with coconut yogurt, with a straw in it. Sitting on a cutting board.

I’m back with another coffee smoothie recipe and I am so excited to share this one with you!

I know I say this with practically all of my smoothie blog posts, but this one is so good, it possibly could be my favorite. That’s until the next smoothie that I come up with.

Until then, this Cashew Cold Brew Smoothie is my new go-to coffee smoothie. It’s creamy, healthy, and out of this world delicious. Get ready to make your new favorite cold brew smoothie!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Caffeinated with Cold Brew: To give you that boost of energy to get through any day!
Perfect Protein Smoothie: This smoothie features over 20 grams of plant based protein and is a great post workout drink.
Coffee Shop Worthy: The flavor & texture in this coffee smoothie is that found at an overpriced coffee shop, but at a fraction of the cost.
Fully Customizable: Add even more wholesome ingredients to elevate your Cashew Cold Brew Smoothie. I’ve listed some delicious ways further down in the post.

Cold Brew Health Benefits & Nutrition

If you’re new to cold brew, let me give a little info. To start, cold brew is not the same as ice coffee and depending on who or what expert you listen to, it seems like everyone has a different opinion on whether cold brew is healthy or not. The factors such as the source, how often, & when you enjoy it play affect into the final predicament. I personally use caffeine with intention. I don’t have it everyday, I have occasionally…maybe once every couple of weeks, if less. But whether you’re a caffeine lover or not, there are benefits to enjoying cold brew.

I specifically used Chameleon Cold Brew Black Coffee Concentrate with this recipe. They take great pride in their cold brew process, in which they source specifically grade coffee beans and take precision to deliver a low acid, super smooth(ie) coffee. By the way, this isn’t sponsored, but I’m just sharing what I use, so that you can receive the benefits!

Coffee protein smoothie recipe in a glass topped with coconut yogurt, with a straw in it. Sitting on a cutting board.

Ingredients

Organic Coffee or Organic Cold Brew: To get that signature coffee flavor, you’ll want to use freshly brewed and COOLED coffee. For the smoothie sake, please cool your coffee in this smoothie, as it will cause the ingredients to melt! YICKS! I used Chameleon Cold Brew Black Coffee Concentrate for this particular cold brew smoothie. However, both leftover cold coffee or cold brew works.
Organic Unsweetened Oat Milk: Any non-dairy milk works in this coffee protein smoothie recipe, but I love oat milk! Just be sure to use trusted brands – I like MALK Organics or Three Trees.
Organic Vanilla Plant Protein: Adding a scoop of protein powder helps to keep you full and satisfied longer. I love Truvani Organic Vanilla Plant Based Protein Powder for this recipe. It’s made with no preservatives, no artificial colors, & no artificial sweeteners. Oh & it’s super delicious. Nevertheless, if you have yet to try Truvani Organic Vanilla Plant Based Protein Powder, you can add your favorite vanilla plant protein.
Organic Raw Cashew Butter: A little cashew butter adds extra creaminess and healthy fats to this coffee smoothie.
Organic Ceylon Cinnamon: Such a great addition to this cold brew smoothie!
Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals and beautifully enhances the flavor.
Medjool Dates: Adding a date to this coffee protein smoothie recipe, increases the natural sweetness. I recommend buying pitted dates, that way you don’t have to remove the pits yourself. Oh, & my favorite brand of dates is Joolies!
Organic Frozen Banana: It’s best to use frozen bananas to create that super thick & creamy texture.
Organic Coconut Yogurt: For topping! Completely optional, but adding a dollop of creamy coconut yogurt adds the perfect amount of “tang” to this cold brew smoothie.

How To Make

Blend the Liquids & Powders. Add the cold brew/coffee, milk, plant protein, nut butter, ceylon cinnamon, and sea salt, to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
Blend the Medjool Date. Add the soft medjool date to the blender and blend until smooth.
Blend the Frozen Ingredients. Next, add in the frozen banana. Blend until smooth and creamy. If needed, you can pause the blender, remove the lid, and scrape down the sides so that everything is fully incorporated. You may need to add a little more non-dairy milk depending on how thick/thin you like your smoothies
Serve. Pour into a chilled glass, top with a bit of coconut yogurt, and enjoy immediately.

Smoothie Add-Ins

Feel free to truly make this smoothie your own! Here are a few suggestions to amp-up this coffee protein smoothie recipe:

Organic Chia Seeds: Add a tablespoon of organic chia seeds for some omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, etc. + it helps thicken this coffee smoothie.
Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Elevate the fiber & minerals to this smoothie by adding a tablespoon of organic ground flax seeds.
Organic Hemp Seeds: To increase the amount of healthy fats, protein, omegas & minerals to this smoothie, add a tablespoon of organic hemp seeds.
Organic Coconut Yogurt: Add some creaminess to this smoothie with a scoop of coconut yogurt. You may have to eliminate the milk to the smoothie when adding yogurt.
Organic Greens: You can get your greens in too in this Cashew Cold Brew Smoothie. They blend easily & you can’t taste them. Plus, greens are packed with so many minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Spinach, kale, swiss chard, mustard greens, collard greens, or mixed greens all work. WARNING: it will change the color!

Tips for Making the Perfect Smoothie

Interested in how to make the absolute perfect Cashew Cold Brew Smoothie? As someone who makes smoothies daily, here are my TOP tips:

Use Frozen Fruit: Adding a frozen to this smoothie is the only way to go! The ice from the frozen fruits adds thickness to the smoothie.
Soak Medjool Date: If your dates aren’t soft, you will need to soak your pitted date in very warm water for 5 minutes. This will help them soften up, so that they can blend nicely.
Adjust Liquid Amount: If you find that your smoothie is too thick to blend, not to worry! Just add a bit more milk or cold brew, blend, open the cover, scrape down the sides if needed, and blend again. And 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 is my personal favorite way of preparing my smoothies. By blending the liquid & powders first, it ensures that your powders blend completely.
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 and then gradually increase the speed.
Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold smoothie, in this case, a cold brew milkshake. Put your serving glass in the fridge or freezer while you’re making your smoothie to ensure a chilled smoothie with every sip.

Healthy Breakfast Smoothie FAQ’s

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 to add a handful of ice cubes to achieve a cold, thick 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, frozen cauliflower, or frozen avocado chunks. If you elect to make this a banana free smoothie, I recommend keeping the organic medjool date to maintain its sweetness.

Is it healthy to have a smoothie?

Duh! 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 in the morning. 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?

For this particular coffee protein smoothie recipe, I love using Truvani’s Organic Vanilla Plant Based Protein Powder. It’s made with no preservatives, no artificial colors, & no artificial sweeteners. If you don’t have Truvani’s Protein on hand, you can use your favorite vanilla protein powder. However, when selecting a plant protein, it’s crucial to look at the protein content and most importantly, the ingredients.

How can I add protein without using protein powder?

If you don’t have vanilla plant protein on hand, no worries! To increase the protein content, you can add a tablespoon of organic chia seeds, organic ground flaxseeds, and/or organic hemp seeds, without changing the taste too much.

What if I don’t like coffee?

Not a coffee fan? Substitute the coffee for more organic unsweetened milk, to make this a cashew smoothie.

Can I make this protein smoothie recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make the smoothie as is or double it for later. Check out this “How to Prepare Smoothies in Advance” post to achieve the best results.

Cashew Cold Brew Smoothie in a glass topped with coconut yogurt, with a straw in it. Sitting on a cutting board.

More Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love

If you make this recipe, please leave a review & rating below! I love hearing from you and it helps others learn more about the recipe too. Lastly, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, & TikTok for even more deliciousness & wellness tips!

Xoxo.

Christin.