Last Updated on December 23, 2023 by Christin Gillespie

Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie is a refreshing and filling protein smoothie recipe. It’s fully loaded with peppermint flavor, packed with protein, stuffed with greens, and has the perfect crunch to it from the cacao nibs. The flavor is that of mint chocolate chip ice cream, but in a healthy smoothie form. Enjoy this holiday smoothie as a post workout treat to start your day.

Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie in a clear glass, sitting on a white marble counter.

If you’re obsessed with the peppermint and chocolate combo, this smoothie is for you! I know I just posted my Mint Chip Energizer Smoothie, but I’ve been on a serious mint smoothie kick lately. I mean Christmas is just around the corner, so I’m using every excuse in the book to incorporate some sort of holiday flair to my protein smoothie recipes.

This one in particular is truly incredible. It’s creamy and minty, with a bit of cacao nib crunch. I’m not joking around when I tell you that it tastes like mint chocolate chip ice cream or in this case a mint chocolate chip milkshake. Not to worry though, because it’s made with nutritious ingredients.

Loaded with peppermint flavor, packed with protein, stuffed with greens, and has the perfect crunch to it from the cacao nibs. If you’re a little hesitant about the green part of the smoothie, don’t be! They blend easily & you can’t taste them. Plus, greens are packed with so many minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. I highly recommend spinach if you’re new to green smoothies, because you can’t even taste it.

Even though this is technically a holiday smoothie recipe, you can enjoy it any day of the year. Either way, I just know you’ll love this mint chip smoothie by the first sip.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Loaded with Greens: For added nutrition, without compromising the taste!
Peppermint + Cacao Nibs: The perfect holiday smoothie combination.
Perfect Protein Smoothie: Whether you’re making it post workout or breakfast, this smoothie will have you fully satisfied.
Tastes like a Dessert: The flavor & texture in this Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie is that of a holiday treat, but in a nutritious smoothie form.

Cacao Nib Health Benefits & Nutrition

Instead of chocolate chips, we’ll be incorporating cacao nibs to achieve that beloved mint chip texture. If you’re unfamiliar with cacao nibs, let me fill you in a bit. Cacao nibs are tiny pieces of crushed cacao beans that have a bitter, yet chocolatey flavor. These rich, yet chocolatey nibs are loaded with nutrients & powerful plant compounds that have been proven to have so many health benefits.

Highly Nutritious: Cacao nibs provide a noble amount of protein, fiber, healthy fats, minerals, & plant compounds.
Improves Mood: Loaded with healthy fats & other compounds, cacao nibs can increase the levels of the serotonin & dopamine in your brain.
Contains Antioxidants: Antioxidants found in cacao nibs can help prevent Alzheimer’s, heart disease, & cancer.
Magnesium-Rich: Magnesium is imperative to over 300 functions in the body & cacao is one of the highest natural sources of magnesium.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Cacao nibs have been shown to reduce chronic inflammation levels.

Ingredients

Organic Unsweetened Oat Milk: Any non-dairy milk works in this recipe, but I love oat milk! Either way, just be sure to use trusted brands – I like MALK Organics or Three Trees.
Organic Peppermint Extract: To achieve that peppermint flavor. You can use either fresh mint or peppermint extract in this mint chip smoothie. Just remember, a little goes a long way!
Organic Raw Cashew Butter: A scoop of organic cashew butter adds extra creaminess and healthy fats to this holiday smoothie!
Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Organic ground flax seeds adds a great little boost of fiber & minerals to this smoothie.
Organic Plant Protein: Adding a scoop of protein powder helps to keep you full and satisfied longer. For this recipe, I love Four Sigmatic’s Unflavored Plant Protein. It’s made with real organic ingredients with no grains, gums or fillers. Oh & it’s super delicious. Nevertheless, if you have yet to try Four Sigmatic’s Unflavored Plant Protein, add your favorite unflavored plant protein.
Organic Spinach: To make the mint chip smoothie green. I recommend using fresh spinach for this smoothie, because you can barely taste it. Plus, it is a great way to add those veggies into a smoothie.
Organic Frozen Banana: It only takes one fruit to sweeten up this protein smoothie. It’s best to use a frozen banana to create that super thick & creamy texture.
Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals and beautifully enhances the flavor of this holiday smoothie.
Organic Cacao Nibs: Probably the most important ingredient in this Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie recipe! Cacao nibs give the smoothie lots of texture, with a little crunch with every sip. LOVE.

How To Make

Blend the Liquids & Powders: First, add the non-dairy milk, peppermint extract, nut butter, seeds, plant protein, sea salt, and spinach, 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
Blend the Cacao Nibs: Add the cacao nibs & blend for 20 seconds on medium.
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 mint chip smoothie recipe:

Organic Chia Seeds: Add a scoop of organic chia seeds for some omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, etc. + it helps thicken this chocolate smoothie.
Organic Hemp Seeds: Organic hemp seeds adds 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 oat milk to ½ cup in this smoothie when adding yogurt.
Organic Medjool Date: If you’re wanting to sweeten your chocolate chip smoothie even more, start by adding one pitted Medjool Date.

Tips for Making the Perfect Smoothie

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

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.
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.
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.
Blend Cacao Nibs Last: The reason for adding the cacao nibs last, is because you don’t want them to get as creamy like the smoothie – you want them to retain their structure, for texture. That makes this smoothie a bit crunchy, which I love!
Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold smoothie, in this case, a mint chip 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 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 adding an organic medjool dates 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?

For this particular protein smoothie, I love using Four Sigmatic’s Unflavored Protein Powder. It’s made with real organic ingredients with no grains, gums, or fillers. If you don’t have Four Sigmatic’s Unflavored Plant Protein on hand, you can use your favorite unflavored 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 unflavored protein powder on hand, no worries! To increase the protein content, you can add a tablespoon of organic chia seeds and/or organic ground hemp seeds, without changing the taste too much.

Can I make this protein smoothie into a mint chocolate chip smoothie bowl?

Absolutely! In this case it would be mint chocolate chip ice cream. YUM! Simply decrease the organic unsweetened oat milk to a ¼ cup. When transforming this smoothie to a smoothie bowl, you’ll definitely need a high-speed blender, along with a plunger to get things blended.

Can I make this protein 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 Protein 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.