Last Updated on June 1, 2024 by Christin Gillespie

This Healthy Chocolate Milkshake recipe is a vegan dream, as it embodies the beloved creamy consistency found in the classic, but without the dairy. Featuring a wholesome of blend of cacao powder, vanilla plant protein, medjool dates, frozen banana, and oat milk. It’s the perfect protein dessert smoothie recipe for when you’re in the mood for something sweet and desire something nutritious at the same time!

Healthy Chocolate Milkshake recipe in a glass, with melted dark chocolate along the sides. Topped with coconut whipped cream, with a straw in it, sitting on a cutting board.

Today, I am presenting to you yet another chocolate smoothie recipe, but this one is different. This recipe is basically a smoothie on steroids. Yes, it is still loaded with healthy ingredients and packed with protein, but this one tastes and looks like a milkshake.

This Healthy Chocolate Milkshake recipe uses frozen banana instead of ice cream, sweetened with medjool dates, packed with vanilla protein powder, and blended with creamy oat milk. Oh and most importantly, it’s topped with homemade coconut whipped cream in a chilled glass with melted dark chocolate along the sides.

I told you! It’s totally a chocolate milkshake. But whether you believe me or not, I guess you’ll just have to try it for yourself and let me know in the comments.

Why You’ll Love This Healthy Chocolate Milkshake Recipe

Perfect Protein Shake: Whether you’re making it as a post workout breakfast or even a healthy dessert, this vegan chocolate milkshake recipe will keep you satisfied, as it’s packed with 30 grams of plant protein.
Super Simple to Make: All is required few simple & nutritious ingredients are needed to blend up this milkshake.
Dessert Worthy: The flavor & texture in this protein dessert smoothie recipe is that found in a classic dairy-filled milkshake, but in a healthy and plant based form.

Cacao Health Benefits & Nutrition

To make this vegan chocolate milkshake recipe, we’ll be adding in some cacao powder. Cacao is full of rich chocolate flavor & is loaded with powerful nutrients. Here are just a few incredible health benefits of cacao powder.

High-Vibrational Energy
High in Magnesium
Relieve Mild Stress & Promote Relaxation
Reduce Inflammation
Full of Antioxidants
Hormonal Balance

Vegan Chocolate Milkshake recipe in a glass, with melted dark chocolate along the sides. Topped with coconut whipped cream, with a straw in it, sitting on a cutting board.

Ingredients

Organic Unsweetened Oat Milk: Any non-dairy milk works in this recipe, but I love oat milk! Just be sure to use trusted brands – I like MALK Organics or Three Trees.
Organic Chia Seeds: Organic chia seeds add some omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, etc. + it helps thicken this recipe.
Organic Vanilla Plant Protein: Adding a scoop of protein powder helps to keep you full and satisfied longer. I love Truvani’s Organic Vanilla Plant Based Protein Powder for this protein dessert smoothie 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’s Organic Vanilla Plant Based Protein Powder you’re missing out, but you can add your favorite vanilla plant protein.
Organic Cacao Powder: It’s the perfect addition to make this protein smoothie chocolatey! To be clear, cacao powder is different from regular dutch cocoa powder. Cacao powder is pure, raw cacao versus processed. Plus, cacao is rich in magnesium.
Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals and beautifully enhances the flavor of this vegan chocolate milkshake.
Organic Medjool Dates: 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!
Organic Frozen Banana: It’s best to use a frozen banana to create that super thick & creamy texture.
Organic Servings: Completely optional, but if you’re wanting an extra special treat, swirl some melted dark chocolate around the glass and dollop on some homemade coconut whipped cream.

How To Make

Blend the Liquids & Powders. Add the milk, seeds, plant protein, cacao powder, and sea salt, to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
Blend the Medjool Dates. Next, add in the pitted medjool dates and blend until smooth. 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 water or coconut milk depending on how thick/thin you like your shakes.
Blend the Frozen Ingredients. Add the frozen. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Chocolate Swirl. In a glass, swirl some melted dark chocolate around the sides.
Serve. Pour into the glass with a dollop of coconut whipped cream, and enjoy immediately.

Optional Milkshake Add-Ins

Feel free to truly make this protein dessert smoothie your own! Here are a few suggestions to amp-up this 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 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 milkshake. 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 vegan chocolate milkshake recipe? As someone who makes shakes daily, here are my TOP tips:

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.
Adjust Liquid Amount: If you find that your shake is too thick to blend, not to worry! Just add a bit more milk or filtered water, 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 shakes. By blending the liquid & powders first, it ensures that your powders blend completely.
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.
Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold milkshake. Put your serving glass in the fridge or freezer while you’re making your shake to ensure a chilled shake with every sip.

Shake FAQ’s

Do I have to use a frozen banana?

The frozen banana in this recipe gives the shake a thick & creamy texture. If using a fresh banana, be to add a handful of ice cubes to achieve a cold, thick shake. 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 shake, I recommend keeping the medjool dates to maintain its sweetness.

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 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 protein dessert 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?

To increase the protein content of this vegan chocolate milkshake, you can add a tablespoon or two of organic hemp hearts, without changing the taste too much.

Can I make this smoothie recipe in advance?

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

Protein dessert smoothie recipe in a glass, with melted dark chocolate along the sides. Topped with coconut whipped cream, with a straw in it, sitting on a cutting board.

More Protein Dessert 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.