I first started making this chocolate smoothie when I was pregnant and learned that dates may help to improve your labor & delivery experience. But, I’ve continued to drink this smoothie ever since because it’s delicious and nutrient-dense. It makes a healthy breakfast or delicious mid-day snack! Dates are not only a source of plant-based iron and potassium, but they also are high in fiber. Research suggests that consuming dates may help to improve memory and they also may lower the risk for certain cancers. Plus, they are a great way to add natural sweetness to a smoothie, without relying on frozen bananas.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe calls for Medjool dates, which are often bigger than other varieties. Look for dates that are squishy and moist-looking for the best results. Drier dates will be harder to blend. If you have dry dates that are difficult to split apart with your fingers, try soaking them in a bowl of very hot water for 10 minutes to help soften them up. After you drain away the soaking water, they are ready to use in this recipe. Hemp hearts (which are hulled hemp seeds) add protein and the ground flax seed helps to thicken this date smoothie. If you would like to add protein powder, or would rather use peanut butter instead of almond butter, feel free! This smoothie recipe is easy to customize.
How to Make a Date Smoothie
1. Blend. Add the almond milk, pitted dates, cocoa powder, flax seeds, hemp hearts, and almond butter to a high-speed blender. Blend until the dates are totally pulverized. The mixture should look like a thick, smooth chocolate pudding when it’s done blending. Taste the mixture to make sure it’s as sweet as you’d like it to be, but keep in mind the flavor will be diluted with the next step. (It gets better with ice!) 2. Add ice. For a slushy texture, add 1 cup of ice cubes and blend again. Depending on the consistency you are going for, you might need to add a little more ice. The more ice you add, the more diluted the chocolate flavor will be. 3. Enjoy! Serve this chocolate date smoothie right away for the best flavor and texture. Looking for more smoothie recipes? Try my Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie, Strawberry Mango Smoothie, or Chocolate Avocado Smoothie for more ideas. If you try this chocolate date smoothie recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it.
