Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie 

Last Updated on May 11, 2024 by Christin Gillespie

This Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie recipe tastes just like a healthy Nutella milkshake, but is made with plant based and wholesome ingredients. Featuring nutty hazelnuts, rich cacao plant protein, sweet medjool date syrup, & ripe banana. It’s a nutritious, yet decadent chocolate protein smoothie recipe that is perfect for a post-workout recovery treat.

Creamy, chocolatey, nutty, and best of all, healthy! That’s what this Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie recipe is all about. 

I’m not joking, this smoothie seriously tastes like liquid Nutella, but in healthy smoothie form. While, this decadent smoothie can be considered a dessert, it’s made with wholesome ingredients, so you can indulge & appreciate the deliciousness that this nutritious smoothie provides your body with. 

Oh & if you’re feeling fancy, go ahead melt some dark chocolate alongside the glass to make it a dessert smoothie. I had been longing to use Erewhon’s Organic Chocolate Bar with Hazelnut Ganache & I felt like this was my sign to use it. However, it’s still just as rich without it!

No matter if you’re considering this for dessert, breakfast, post workout, or heck all of the above, you can take a sip, relax, & enjoy!

Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie Recipe 

• Tastes like Nutella: The flavor is that of store bought Nutella, but in a healthy smoothie form.
• Perfect Protein Smoothie: Whether you’re making it post workout or breakfast, this smoothie is packed with over 25 grams of plant protein.
• Loaded with Wholesome Ingredients: For added nutrition, without compromising the taste!
• Tastes like a Dessert: The flavor is that of a healthy Nutella milkshake, but without the sugar crash.

Hazelnuts Health Benefits & Nutrition 

To make this chocolate protein smoothie recipe nutty, we’ll be adding in a handful of hazelnuts. Not only do hazelnuts add a unique flavor to our smoothie, but they also provide key nutrients like vitamin E, thiamine, folate, & fatty acids, just to name a few. I couldn’t stop there, so here are a few more impressive health benefits of hazelnuts.

• High in Antioxidants
• Boost Brain Function
• Support Gut Health
• Reduce Inflammation
• Maintain Healthy Hair & Skin

Ingredients

• Organic Unsweetened Almond Milk: Any non-dairy milk works in this recipe, but I love unsweetened almond milk. Just be sure to use trusted brands – I like MALK Organics or Three Trees.
• Organic Hazelnuts: It wouldn’t be a hazelnut smoothie without them! Hazelnuts are high in healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, & is the perfect addition to this chocolate protein smoothie. No soaking required, if you have a high speed blender. 
• Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Organic ground flax seeds adds a great little boost of fiber & minerals.
• Organic Chia Seeds: Organic chia seeds add some omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, etc. + it helps thicken the smoothie.
• Organic Cacao Plant Protein: Adding a scoop of cacao plant protein makes this hazelnut smoothie chocolatey, while keeping you full and satisfied longer. I love Four Sigmatic’s Creamy Cacao Plant Protein, as it’s ​​made with real unrefined cacao with no grains, gums or fillers. Oh & it’s super delicious! Nevertheless, if you have yet to try Four Sigmatic’s Creamy Cacao Plant Protein, add your favorite chocolate plant protein.
• Organic Medjool Date Syrup: To make this hazelnut smoothie sweeter, we’re adding a splash of date syrup. I love the Joolies brand. It’s made with one ingredient – organic medjool dates!
• Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals and beautifully enhances the flavor of this chocolate protein smoothie recipe.
• 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, nuts, seeds, plant protein, date syrup, and sea salt, to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients 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.
• Chocolate Swirl. In a glass, swirl the melted dark chocolate around the sides.
• Serve. Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately.

Optional Smoothie Add-Ins

Feel free to truly make this smoothie your own! Here are a few suggestions to amp-up this healthy Nutella milkshake:

• Organic Hemp Seeds: Add in a tablespoon of organic hemp seeds for a boost of healthy fats, protein, omegas & minerals.
• Organic Coconut Yogurt: Add some creaminess to this smoothie with a scoop of coconut yogurt. You may have to reduce the milk to ½ cup in this smoothie when adding yogurt.
• Organic Cacao Nibs: Wanting a little crunch to your smoothie? Add anywhere between 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of organic cacao nibs. Simply add organic cacao nibs at the last minute to your smoothie, then blend once more. 
• Organic Greens: You can get your greens in too in this chocolate 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. 

Tips for Making the Perfect Hazelnut Smoothie 

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

1. 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.
2. Organic Medjool Date Syrup: If you don’t have date syrup on hand, you can easily substitute it for one organic pitted medjool date. I recommend soaking your date in hot water before adding it to your high speed blender as well.
3. Adjust Liquid Amount: If you find that your smoothie is too thick to blend, not to worry! Just add a bit more milk, 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold smoothie, in this case, a healthy Nutella milkshake. Put your serving glass in the fridge or freezer while you’re making your smoothie to ensure a chilled smoothie with every sip.

Smoothie FAQ’s

Do I have to use a frozen banana?

The frozen banana provides this Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie recipe a thick & creamy texture, one found in a healthy Nutella milkshake. 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 syrup 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 chocolate protein smoothie recipe, I love using Four Sigmatic’s Creamy Cacao Plant Protein. It’s ​​made with real organic ingredients with no grains, gums, or fillers. If you don’t have Four Sigmatic’s Creamy Cacao Plant Protein on hand, you can use your favorite cacao protein powder. 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 cacao protein powder on hand, you can substitute 4 teaspoons of cacao powder. To increase the protein content, you add a tablespoon of hemp seeds, without changing the taste to much.

Can I make this smoothie into a chocolate hazelnut smoothie bowl?

Absolutely! Either use this recipe & decrease the organic unsweetened non-dairy milk to a ¼ cup. Alternatively, you can try my Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie Bowl. Both are delicious!

Can I make this 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.

More Chocolate Protein Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love

• Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie
• German Chocolate Cake Smoothie
• Snickers Protein Smoothie
• Superfood Chocolate Cashew Cookie Smoothie
• Chunky Monkey Superfood Smoothie
• Butterfinger Smoothie
• Almond Joy Smoothie

Sharing Is Caring!

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.

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