Chocolate Walnut Date Shake

This Chocolate Walnut Date Shake recipe is a decadent treat that’s made with good-for-you ingredients. Featuring nutty walnuts, rich cacao plant protein, and sweet medjool dates. It’s the perfect chocolate protein shake recipe that can be enjoyed as an indulgent dessert or as a post workout treat.

Some would say this a smoothie, since it’s made in a blender and contains fruit, but it’s truly not. In my tastebud opinion, this Chocolate Walnut Date Shake recipe literally tastes like a chocolate milkshake.

This chocolate creation is super rich, creamy, perfectly nutty, & way healthier, since it’s made with nutritious ingredients. Needless to say, this chocolate goodness has it all! 

While this chocolate date shake recipe was created for one, feel free to double batch it to save for a loved one if you’re feeling generous. Alternatively, save the other half for another great day. Either way, I know you’ll be obsessed, just as I am.

Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Walnut Date Shake 

• Nutrient Packed: Thanks to the addition of walnuts, this chocolate protein shake recipe has an abundant amount of benefits for optimal health. 
• Perfect Protein Shake: Whether you’re making it post workout or breakfast, this chocolate date shake will have you fully satisfied, as it is packed with over 25 grams of plant protein.
• Tastes Like A Dessert: The combination in this date shake tastes like a chocolate milkshake, but it’s made with wholesome ingredients.
• Fully Customizable: I have listed options further down in the post to add even more wholesome ingredients to elevate your chocolate protein shake.

Walnuts Health Benefits

Walnuts are not only the star of this chocolate date shake recipe, but they’re also an exceptionally nutritious nut. In fact, the nut itself looks like the human brain! Due to the high levels of omega-3s, research has proven that consuming walnuts regularly improves brain function. To say the least, this superfood of a nut is chalk full of benefits. Here are just a few of the health benefits of consuming walnuts:

• Promoted Brain Health & Memory
• Improved Skin Elasticity & Appearance
• Decreased Inflammation
• Boost in Energy & Mood
• Disease Prevention

Ingredients

• Organic Unsweetened Almond Milk: Any non-dairy milk works in this recipe, but I love almond milk! Just be sure to use trusted brands – I like MALK Organics or Three Trees.
• Organic Walnuts: It wouldn’t be a walnut shake without a handful of walnuts! Unsalted please! Walnuts blend right in with the other ingredients for flavor & added creaminess. 
• Organic Cacao Plant Protein: Adding a scoop of chocolate protein powder makes this walnut shake chocolatey, while keeping full and satisfied longer. I love Four Sigmatic’s Creamy Cacao Plant Protein for this recipe. 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 Chia Seeds: Organic chia seeds add some omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, etc. + it helps thicken this chocolate shake.
• Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals and beautifully enhances the flavor of this chocolate date shake.
• Organic Medjool Date: It wouldn’t be a date shake without them! Adding a couple of dates to this date shake adds the perfect amount of sweetness. I recommend buying pitted dates, that way you don’t have to remove the pits yourself. Oh, & my favorite brand of dates are Joolie’s!
• Ice Cubes: Just a few to ensure that your date shake is cold. 

How To Make

• Blend the Liquids & Powders. First, add the non-dairy milk, walnuts, plant protein, seeds, and sea salt, to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
• Blend the Medjool Dates. Add the soft medjool dates to the blender and blend until smooth.
• Blend the Frozen Ingredients. Next, add the ice cubes and 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 shakes.
• Serve. Pour into a chilled glass and enjoy immediately.

Optional Chocolate Walnut Date Shake Add-Ins

Feel free to truly make this shake your own! Here are a few suggestions to amp-up this walnut shake recipe:

• Organic Hemp Seeds: Add in a tablespoon of organic hemp seeds for a boost of healthy fats, protein, omegas & minerals.
• Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Incorporate a tablespoon of organic ground flax seeds for a boost of fiber & minerals.
• Organic Coconut Yogurt: Add some creaminess to this shake with a scoop of coconut yogurt. You may have to reduce the non-dairy milk to ¾ cup in this shake when adding yogurt.
• Organic Cacao Nibs: Wanting a little crunch to your shake? Add anywhere between 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of organic cacao nibs. Simply add organic cacao nibs at the last minute to your shake, then blend once more. 
• Organic Greens: You can get your greens in too in this chocolate shake. 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 Shake

Interested in how to make the absolute perfect chocolate date shake? As someone who makes shakes daily, here are my TOP tips:

1. Soak Medjool Date: If your dates aren’t soft, you will need to soak your pitted dates in very warm water for 5 minutes. This will help them soften up, so that they can blend nicely.
2. Adjust Liquid Amount: If you find that your shake 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.
3. 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 shakes. By blending the liquid & powders first, it ensures that your powders blend completely.
4. Shake Blending Tip: Start your blender on low to medium speed. If you blend the shake 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.
5. Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold shake, in this case, a chocolate date milkshake. Put your serving glass in the fridge or freezer while you’re making your shake to ensure a chilled shake with every sip!

Protein Shake FAQ’s

Is it healthy to have a shake?

Duh! I wouldn’t post something that was unhealthy. Having a shake 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 protein shakes 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 chocolate protein shake, I love using Four Sigmatic’s Cacao Plant Protein. It’s ​​made with real organic ingredients with no grains, gums, or fillers. 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, no worries! You can add 4 teaspoons of organic cacao powder. To increase the protein content, you can add a tablespoon or two of organic hemp hearts, without changing the taste too much.

Can I make this shake recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make the shake 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 Recipes You’ll Love

• Chocolate Walnut Smoothie
• Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie 
• Snickers Protein Smoothie
• Creamy Cacao Superfood Protein 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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