Last Updated on June 2, 2025 by Christin Gillespie

This Chocolate Macadamia Smoothie recipe is created with healthy ingredients while tasting like a protein-packed milkshake. It’s the best drink to kickstart your day in a rich, creamy, & decadent way!

Chocolate Macadamia Smoothie in a glass with a straw in it sitting on a white marble counter with macadamia nuts in the background.

Cacao meets macadamia nuts. This Chocolate Macadamia Smoothie is super decadent & insanely delicious. If you have yet to incorporate macadamia nuts into a smoothie yet, this is the blend to do it! In fact, this was the first creation in which I included macadamia nuts in my chocolate protein smoothie. Why did I wait so long?!

I feel like macadamia nuts are not as common when it comes to smoothies, which I don’t get, because they are not only flavorful but also incredibly nutritious. I’ve listed several of the benefits below, so you can check it out there!

I will say this: the macadamia nuts transpire the most incredible flavor, which makes this smoothie taste like a milkshake!

Why You’ll Love This Macadamia Smoothie Recipe

Nutrient Packed: Thanks to the addition of macadamia nuts, this chocolate protein smoothie recipe has an abundant amount of benefits for optimal health.
Perfect Protein Smoothie: Whether you’re making it post-workout or for breakfast, this macadamia nut smoothie recipe is packed with over 25 grams of plant protein.
Fully Customizable: Make this milkshake-like smoothie your own by adding in some extra nutrients—I’ve listed some options further down in the post!

Macadamia Nuts Health Benefits

Macadamia nuts, the star of this healthy chocolate protein smoothie recipe! Where do I even begin? To start, these tree nuts have a subtle, butter-like flavor & creamy texture, which is what makes this blend extraordinary. Not only are macadamia nuts insanely delicious, but they’re also rich in nutrients & beneficial compounds. Here are just a few of the health benefits of consuming organic macadamia nuts:

Boost in Energy
Improved Skin Elasticity & Appearance
Promoted Brain Health
Strengthen Bones & Teeth
Decreased Inflammation
Disease Prevention

Healthy Chocolate Macadamia Smoothie in a glass with a straw in it sitting on a white marble counter with macadamia nuts in the background.

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 Macadamia Nuts: Unsalted, please! Macadamia nuts blend right up with the other ingredients for flavor & added creaminess. Plus, they’re high in healthy fats, vitamins, & minerals.
Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Organic ground flax seeds add a great little boost of fiber & minerals.
Organic 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.
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 healthy protein smoothie chocolatey! To be clear, cacao powder is different from regular Dutch cocoa powder. To learn more, review this Cacao Powder 101 post!
Manuka Honey: Adds the perfect amount of sweetness.
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 make this blend super thick & creamy.

How to Make

Blend the Liquids & Powders. First, add the non-dairy milk, macadamia nuts, seeds, 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 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!

Chocolate Macadamia Smoothie in a Vitamix on a white marble counter.

Optional Smoothie Add-Ins

Feel free to truly make this blend your own! Here are a few suggestions to amp up this Chocolate Macadamia 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 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 Recipe

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

Use Frozen Fruit: The ice from the frozen banana adds thickness to the smoothie.
Adjust Liquid Amount: If you find that your smoothie is too thick to blend, not to 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, 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 chocolate macadamia 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 can replace it with ½ cup of organic frozen zucchini, ½ cup of organic frozen cauliflower, ½ cup of organic frozen coconut meat, or ½ cup of organic frozen avocado chunks. 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?

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. 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 Chocolate Macadamia 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, you can increase the richness by using a total of 4 teaspoons of organic cacao powder. To amp up the protein content, you can add a tablespoon or two of organic hemp seeds without changing the taste too much.

Can I make this smoothie recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make this Chocolate Macadamia Smoothie recipe as is or double it for later. To achieve the best results, check out this How to Prepare Smoothies in Advance post.

Chocolate Macadamia Smoothie Recipe in a glass with a straw in it sitting on a white marble counter with macadamia nuts in the background.

More Chocolate Protein Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love

If you make this Chocolate Macadamia 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.