Banana Almond Butter Smoothie

When I crave something sweet, I always reach out for my blender, frozen fruits, and nut butter. It’s honestly the best combo to naturally fix a sweet craving and feel satisfied and full at the same time. Almond butter is naturally high in protein, even higher than other nut butter like cashew butter or peanut butter, so it’s ideal to make protein-rich snacks, like my No-Bake Almond Butter Cookies, Banana Almond Butter Muffins, or Almond Butter Banana Bread. Plus, it contains a bunch of crucial omega-3 fatty acids. So adding almond butter to shakes and smoothies is a must-try, not only for taste and flavor but for health as well.

Ingredients and Substitutions

All you need to make this delicious smoothie are:

Soy Milk – Use any non-dairy milk you love, including coconut, oat, or almond milk. But keep in mind that soy milk increases the protein of the smoothie and keeps you full for longer. Also, soy is a complete protein as it contains all the essential amino acids you need for a plant-based lifestyle, so it’s a great way to turn this simple smoothie into a nutrient drink. Almond Butter – Fresh, drippy, and unsalted. Frozen Banana Pieces – You can use fresh bananas, but using frozen ones reduces the ice cubes needed to keep the smoothie frosty. Maple Syrup – You can also use other liquid sweeteners like brown rice syrup, coconut nectar, or agave syrup. Vanilla Extract – For more flavor. Chia Seeds – This is optional, but this adds nutrients like fiber and proteins and thickens the smoothie. Cinnamon – Optional, but it goes very well with almond butter. The drink tastes a bit like a cinnamon roll with both ingredients. Ice Cubes – For a frothier texture.

How To Make A Banana Almond Butter Smoothie

It always sounds easy to make a smoothie, but the hardest part is to make it balanced, not too thick, not too sweet – just right!

Serving

Pour the smoothie into a large glass and serve with toppings with a boost of flavor and crunch. I like to serve this smoothie with the following:

Dark Chocolate Chips Drizzle Almond Butter Sliced Almonds Pinch of Sea Salt Homemade Granola – try my peanut butter granola for a delicious extra nutty flavor.

Flavor Variations

You can create a range of flavors starting with this recipe as a base. Try some of the flavors below:

Chocolate Banana Almond Butter Smoothie – Stir in one tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder or chocolate protein powder. Serve with melted chocolate and a few chocolate chips. Strawberry Banana Almond Butter Smoothie – Add 1/2 cup of frozen strawberry slices. Protein Almond Butter Shake – Add one scoop of protein powder to the recipe and increase the milk by 1/2 cup. Or, replace the non-dairy milk with half dairy-free Greek yogurt like soy yogurt and a splash of water. Spinach Almond Butter Smoothie – Add a handful of baby spinach leaves to the blender. Oatmeal Almond Butter Smoothie – Add three tablespoons of old-fashioned rolled oats.

Allergy Swaps

Also, I listed some ingredient substitutions to make this smoothie suitable for any food allergies.

Gluten-Free – Make sure your almond butter doesn’t contains wheat – it shouldn’t 99% are made from just almonds! Soy-Free – Swap soy milk for any dairy-free milk you love, like almond milk or oat milk. Frozen Banana – I always freeze ripe bananas into pieces in zip-lock bags. I love to have frozen bananas in the freezer to make smoothies, but if you don’t have some on hand, it’s ok to use fresh bananas, but you will need at least 1/2 cup of ice cubes to thicken the smoothie. No Added Sugar – Skip the sweetener. The smoothie contains bananas that add a natural sweetness. Nut-Free – You can use this recipe with seed butter instead of almond butter. Great choices are sunflower seed butter or tahini to make a tahini smoothie.

Below are my answers to your common questions about this almond butter banana smoothie recipe.