Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Christin Gillespie

If you’re a fan of the classic German chocolate cake flavor, then you’ll love this smoothie. This German Chocolate Cake Smoothie recipe is packed with protein, healthy fats, and electrolytes, to keep you nourished. It embodies the flavors of the classic cake, but in a healthy smoothie form. So have your cake & drink it too with this German chocolate cake protein shake!

Okay, who’s ready for a dessert tasting smoothie that is made with good-for-you ingredients? Your hand better be up! 

The inspiration for this smoothie came from my mother, who I adore. Her birthday is approaching and her favorite dessert is German chocolate cake. At this point though I’m not a baker, but I would consider myself a smoothie wizard. So the creation of this German chocolate cake protein shake was invented, for you, mom and the whole web. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re having this decadent smoothie as a dessert or a post workout treat, it’s perfect. Made with raw pecans, frozen banana, caramel like medjool date, shredded coconut, raw coconut butter, hydrating coconut water, and protein-packed cacao protein. When all blended up, it tastes like a liquid version of a slice of German chocolate cake. It’s so good! 

This German Chocolate Cake Smoothie recipe is perfect when you’re craving something sweet, but desire something that is healthy. So you can relax, take a sip, & enjoy this German chocolate cake protein shake.

Why You’ll Love This German Chocolate Cake Smoothie

• Perfect Chocolate Protein Smoothie: Whether you’re making it post workout or breakfast, this German Chocolate Cake Smoothie recipe is packed with over 25 grams of plant protein.
• Loaded with Superfoods: For added nutrition, without compromising the taste!
• Tastes like Cake: The flavor is that of a slice of German chocolate cake in a smoothie form, minus the sugar crash.

Pecan Health Benefits

To make this German Chocolate Cake Smoothie recipe, we’ll be adding in a handful of pecans. Beyond their delicious tastes, pecans are also loaded with nutrition. They’re such a healthy + tasty addition to your lifestyle & gives you every excuse to have this German Chocolate Cake Smoothie. Here are just a few health benefits of consuming pecans.

• Enhance Immune Health: Full of immune-boosting vitamins, pecans have significant amounts of vitamin E, A, & B12, while also containing essential trace elements like magnesium, copper, & zinc. 
• Promote Healthy Gut: Loaded with fiber, pecans help promote elimination of toxins  to support a healthy gut. 
• Reduce Inflammation: Pecans contain high amounts of beta carotene, Omega-3, copper, & vitamin E, to reduce the amount of unhealthy inflammation in the body. 
• Brain Boosting: Nutrients found in pecans, such as thiamine, manganese, & copper, connect to optimal brain function. 
• Supports Bone Density: Pecans are high in phosphorus, as well as calcium. These key nutrients are essential for preventing symptoms of osteoporosis.

Ingredients

• Organic Coconut Water: To get things blended we’ll be using coconut water. It’s honestly the perfect addition to achieve the optimal coconut flavor. Not only is coconut water super delicious, but is also full of electrolytes – which is great post workout. My favorite brand is Harmless Harvest. It’s just one ingredient, organic coconut water. Oh & it’s pink! So cute.
• Organic Pecans: Duh! It wouldn’t be a German Chocolate Cake Smoothie without them. Plus, they add the perfect texture to this smoothie.
• Organic Unsweetened Shredded Coconut: Another essential ingredient to this chocolate protein shake is shredded coconut. OBSESSED! And don’t forget to save some for topping too!
• Organic Raw Coconut Butter: In addition to shredded coconut, we’ll be incorporating raw coconut butter to add some healthy fats that keep you full, energized, & focused. It’s naturally a little sweet, but has no added oils, no added sugars, and no added salt! Just pure coconut — YUM!
• Organic Chia Seeds: Organic chia seeds add omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, etc. + it helps thicken the smoothie.
• Organic Cacao Plant Protein: Adding a scoop of protein powder helps to keep you 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.
• Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals and beautifully enhances the flavor.
• Organic Pitted Medjool Date: Adding a date to this smoothie, 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: We’re adding one banana to sweeten up this chocolate coconut smoothie. It’s best to use a frozen banana to create that super thick & creamy texture.
• Organic Garnishes: I love taking it up a notch and dressing this smoothie with a dark chocolate and shredded coconut rim. YUM!

How To Make

• Blend the Liquids & Powders: First, add the coconut water, nuts, coconut butter, seeds, cacao plant protein, 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 coconut water depending on how thick/thin you like your smoothies
• Dark Chocolate & Coconut Rim. Optionally, melt organic, non-dairy dark chocolate and dip the rim of the glass lightly. Once fully coated with the dark chocolate, dip with shredded coconut.
• Serve. Pour into a chilled 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 chocolate protein shake recipe:

• Organic Hemp Seeds: Add a tablespoon of organic hemp seeds to add a boost of healthy fats, protein, omegas & minerals.
• Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Increase the amount of fiber & minerals to this smoothie, by adding a tablespoon of organic ground flax seeds.
• 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 Coconut Yogurt: Add some creaminess to this smoothie with a scoop of coconut yogurt. You may have to reduce the liquid to ¾ cup in this smoothie when adding yogurt.
• Organic Cold Brew: Need a boost? Use half organic coconut water & half cold brew.
• 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 Smoothie

Interested in how to make the absolute perfect German Chocolate Cake Smoothie recipe? 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. 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.
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, 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.
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 German chocolate cake protein shake! 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 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, electrolytes, & healthy fats, 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 German chocolate cake protein shake, I love using Four Sigmatic’s Cacao Protein Powder. It’s ​​made with real organic ingredients with no grains, gums, or fillers. If you don’t have Four Sigmatic’s Cacao Protein Powder on hand, you can use your favorite chocolate 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 can add a tablespoon of organic ground flax seeds and/or organic hemp seeds, without changing the taste too much.

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

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