This chocolate avocado smoothie is amazingly healthy, quick and simple, and outrageously creamy. And you won’t even taste the avocado, it’s all chocolate and banana! Naturally gluten-free with paleo and vegan options.
I love avocado smoothies, and this smoothie is at the top of my list. Avocados make any smoothie super rich, thick and creamy. Chocolate and avocado together make an indulgent treat.
But no worries because this luscious smoothie is actually good for you!
Ingredients:
- Avocado
- Cocoa powder
- Banana
- Greek yogurt or coconut yogurt for paleo and vegan options
- Milk or non-dairy milk
- Vanilla
- Maple syrup or honey (for non-vegan)
By the way, if you need this smoothie to be gluten-free, check out Is Cocoa Powder Gluten-free? for more info on brands that are tested as and labeled gluten-free! You can also read specifically about Hershey’s here → Is Hershey’s Gluten-free?
How to make:
It’s super easy!
- Just blend the ingredients until it’s creamy.
- Add a little milk if you want it thinner. Add sweetener, if desired.
- Serve!
Tips:
- As you blend, scrape down the sides of the blender to make sure all the ingredients are blended well.
- Like your smoothies extra cold? Use frozen bananas. It takes a little prep, but it’s worth it on those hot mornings. You can also freeze cubed avocado, so if you have some that are ripe that you’re not using, just cut them into cubes and freeze them.
- To make a smoothie bowl, top it with sliced fresh fruit and granola!
- You can store this smoothie overnight in the fridge for a quick breakfast on the run. But don’t forget about it because it will only last for a day.
- If you want to make a couple of batches, you can put the smoothie into freezer-safe glass jars with airtight lids and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just put one in the fridge to thaw overnight to thaw, stir and enjoy.
What milk alternatives can I use?
You can use any non-dairy milk you’d like. My favorites are cashew milk and then almond milk.
Soy milk and oat milk also work (for non-paleo). There might be slight differences in taste, so feel free to experiment and let me know which one you liked best.
How to freeze bananas and avocados:
For this smoothie, I just put the banana and ripe avocado in the fridge overnight. It makes this smoothie cold and refreshing, but if you like smoothies extra cold and don’t want to add ice (which would make it icy and watered down), then you can freeze the banana and avocado ahead of time.
How to freeze bananas:
Bananas are a staple for many, but no matter how much you eat them, there’s always a couple that start to turn bad. But that’s no problem because it means the banana will be extra sweet for this smoothie.
To freeze bananas, just peel and slice into little bites. Place the sliced banana pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Don’t overcrowd them or they’ll stick together in a clump.
Put them in the freezer for about two hours. Once the bananas are frozen, transfer them into a resealable plastic bag and use them when needed. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
How to freeze avocados:
Avocados, too, tend to go from ripe to overripe within a day or two. When there’s a sale on avocados, I buy what I can to have them for smoothies later.
To freeze avocados, just peel and dice into cubes. On a lined baking sheet, place the cubes on the sheet without overcrowding. Once they are frozen, transfer to a resealable plastic bag and store in the freezer for 4 to 6 months.
If you’re looking for more information on avocados like how to choose them, cut them and store them, then check out my Ultimate Guide to Avocados. It has everything you need to know about avocados including all the healthy benefits.
Are you sure this smoothie isn’t actually pudding?
No, not exactly. It verges on being a pudding because of its chocolaty creaminess and thickness. If you want to make a pudding instead just leave out the milk. That’s what I did for this Healthy Mint Chocolate Pudding and the result is amazing!
If a non-avocado pudding is more your thing, try this super-rich Vegan Chocolate Pudding. It’s easy and sweetened with either coconut sugar or maple, and it’s also paleo.
Other smoothie recipes:
It’s hot out there, and one way to beat the heat is to start your day with a cool and refreshing treat.
- This Vietnamese Avocado Smoothie is simple, sweet and creamy. You can make it the traditional way with sweetened condensed milk or for a healthier version that’s both paleo and vegan, you can use maple syrup and coconut milk.
- This Blueberry Avocado Smoothie is an extra tasty and simply gorgeous treat. Easy to make paleo and vegan.
- This Cherry Ginger Lime Smoothie is bright and full of cherry flavor with spicy ginger and zesty lime juice.
- This citrusy Banana Orange Smoothie is healthy and smooth. With paleo, vegan and whole30 options.
- This Raspberry Banana Avocado Smoothie is perfectly fruity and creamy.
- If you like coconut, you’re going to love this Raspberry Coconut Smoothie. It’s rich and naturally sweetened. With a dairy-free and vegan option.
- If you want a tropical smoothie, this Strawberry Mango Banana Smoothie is easy breezy and full of amazing flavor.
Which one is your favorite?
If you try this chocolate avocado smoothie or any recipes you find here, I want to hear about it! Just tag your photos 📸#texanerin on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter so I can easily find them. You can also find all my recipes on Pinterest, just hit the follow button. Enjoy!
Photos and text updated 7/2021. The recipe is still the same. Here’s an old photo for reference.
Chocolate Avocado Smoothie (paleo, vegan, dairy-free options)
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 2 small smoothies
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup (60 grams) plain Greek yogurt or coconut yogurt for paleo/vegan (see below for more info)
- 1/4-1/2 cup (60-120ml) cashew milk or whatever milk you'd like
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder (I like Dutch-process or Hershey's Special Dark)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 avocado (85 grams)
- 1 medium cold banana (about 120 grams without the peel)
- 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup, honey (for non-vegan) or another liquid sweetener, optional1
Directions
- Put everything, everything for the sweetener, and starting with 1/4 cup of milk, into the blender (or food processor) in the order listed.
- Blend until it's very creamy. Add more milk, if needed, until it's the desired thickness. Taste and add sweetener, if desired. I use 3 tablespoons of maple syrup.
- Serve immediately or keep covered in the refrigerator for up to one day.
Notes
- You could also add more banana instead of sweetener, but that will decrease the chocolate taste and make it more banana-y.
- Coconut yogurt will yield a thick smoothie like you see in the photos but you could also use coconut milk for a thinner version. If using yogurt, make sure that it's compliant with your diet (so - no added junk for paleo).
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195 comments on “Chocolate Avocado Smoothie (super rich, creamy, thick!)” — Add one!
1 comment is awaiting moderation!
I just discovered the magic of frozen avocado slices so I could make this every single day if I chose to! And I just might – can’t go wrong with chocolate. YUM!
I think you should give it try for sure! :D
Erin;
Hi,this is the first time I visited your website and I found your cholate avocado banana smoothie recipe,I copied your recipe and I just made it in my magic bullet blender.My mom and my brother’s new wife had a taste of your smoothie and they love my smoothie.i am now drinking your smoothie and it tastes really good and I love and enjoy drinking it.
I put chocolate agave in the smoothie along with the rest of the ingredients.
Kim
Hi Kim! I’m happy to hear that the smoothie was enjoyed. :) And good to know that it works well in a Magic Bullet! Thanks a bunch for your comment. I hope you’ll find some other recipes to try out!
I loved this! I’m just beginning to try avocado smoothie recipes and saw this one and just had to try. So glad I did it was delish! I added 1 tbsp maple syrup to add just a touch of sweet and it was perfect! Thanks so much for this wonderful heart healthy recipe!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy that you liked the smoothie. A little extra maple is never a bad thing. ;) Thanks for your comment!
Loved this! I added a spoonful of honey to sweeten mine up!
Yay! So happy you liked it. Thanks for your comment. :)
How to freeze avocado
Take out the flesh and put it in a small bag or container. :)
Whoa!! Now this was a huge hit with my very fussy, autistic son! Wonderful way to cram in some awesome nutrients without them realizing! We used frozen bananas and 2 tablespoons of honey, cultured coconut and fortified almond milk to make it GF & DF. This is going to be a staple for or “treat” menu!
That’s awesome! I’m so happy that you found something your son can enjoy and that fits his diet. :) Thanks a bunch for your comment and for sharing your adaptations!
LOVE THIS! I ended up adding 1 teaspoon maple sugar, just to make it a bit sweeter, and just because I was curious I looked at all the nutritional information (even though I’m very much like you Erin, in not counting calories but focusing on making healthier choices.) But for everyone who’s curious:
346 cal, 46 carbs, 19 fat, 8 protein, 57 sodium, and 23 sugar (which, the banana accounts for 14g sugar, but that’s obviously better than straight up refined sugar. :))
I’m surprised how filling it is! Had it after I went to the gym yesterday (so I’m definitely gonna try to protein powder version as well!) and I was full the whole night. Such a great recipe. Thank you!!
Thanks for sharing the nutritional info! I love the idea of adding maple sugar. I’ve been wanting to get some of that for a while! I’m happy that you enjoyed it and found it so filling. Thanks for your comment. :)
De-lish! I used whole fat coconut milk and a tad of chocolate almond milk with a bit of honey to sweeten it a bit. My avocado was not very ripe and I used a very old frozen banana. Absolutely delicious, even the kids wanted one.
Yay! I’m so happy that you and your kids enjoyed it. And awesome that you found a use for that very old frozen banana. :D Thanks a bunch for your feedback!
Add in a scoop of protein powder! You won’t regret it! It mixes so well with this smoothie and gives you an extra boost!
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing. :)
This was SO GOOD. I dreamt about it all morning, heh. I did feel hungry pretty soon after that, though, will try to put more greek yogurt next time.
Haha. So happy you liked it! And great idea to add more Greek yogurt. Thanks for your feedback! :)
This was delicious! It would solve any chocolate craving. I threw some chia seeds in as well to give it a bit of protein boost. Thanks for the recipe!
Adding chia seeds is a great idea! Thanks for the tip and for the feedback. :)
We don’t like bananas so I put in 2 big dates. Very tasty! xoxo C
That’s great that it came out without the bananas! Very good to know. Thanks for the feedback. :)
It was really great, thanks for the recipe! I think it works with any kind of cacao powder, just have to make sure it’s healthy enough! :)
I’m sure it would, too! I just like the dark chocolaty-ness that the Dutch-process adds. :) Thanks so much for your feedback!
Unsweetened cocoa …right.?
Yup! As far as I know, sweetened cocoa powder is only intended for making hot chocolate. Hope you’ll enjoy the smoothie!
These recipes will be such a blessing when I have surgery on my esophagus next month. I will have to be on a liquid diet for a week and a soft food diet for another. It was that week of having a liquid diet that was a cause of concern. The dietician recommended lots of jello, pudding and ice cream, etc. I felt like I had a sugar-high just reading the list of allowed foods. The only healthy options offered chicken broth, yogurt and lots of milk….sigh.
Yes, I will need to tweak things just bit with some of these recipes. I will strain the orange juice for the Orange Banana Smoothie and substitute a wee bit of orange extract for the orange zest. The raspberries will also need to be strained for the Raspberry Smoothie. But those are easy adjustments. The Chocolate Avocado Smoothie is good to go as it is. And it is SO delicious!
Upon researching nutritional info, it was delightful to find that the avocado will bring some much needed protein and fiber into what was a nutritional abyss.
Thanks so much for being some food-joy (and nutrition!) to my life at a time when it could have been kind of hard. :)
That diet sounds like it’d be fun for a day and then even I would get sick of all the sugar. :( I’m so happy that you’ve found these recipes so that you can have something with a little nutrition for that first week! I like your ideas on making the smoothies liquid diet okay. :) Thank you so much for your very kind comment and I wish you a successful surgery and a super quick recovery!
Love this smoothie!! It’s become a very frequent afternoon treat for me. :)
I’m so happy that you like it! Thanks for the feedback. :)
I always eat avocados in sweet things. It’s really common to eat them that way in my home country. In fact it’s a little bit weird to eat them in savoury things for us. There are a lot of restaurants in my country selling “jus alpokat” which means avocado juice. No banana and milk are included. Just avocado, sugar, water, and ice. Usually we add liquid coconut/palm sugar or chocolate sauce on top of it. It’s really yummy. Sometimes we chunk the avocados, add the liquid coconut sugar, then just eat them that way. Sometimes we mix them in our tradisional sweet dessert. So this is not a new thing for us actually :). I’m happy that you also like it.
That juice sounds good! And I didn’t even know that liquid coconut sugar was a thing. Thanks for the tip! The only way I’ll eat avocados is in sweets. I don’t like the flavor so sugar and cocoa powder help cover up the taste. ;) Thanks so much for your comment!
Hi,
What is the importance of using DUTCH Cocoa? Can i use regular Hershey’s or is it not the same??
Thanks!
Dutch-process isn’t necessary here but it’s the only cocoa powder I have access to so it’s just what I always list. Regular Hershey’s will work here. It won’t be as dark or chocolate-y but it’ll work. ;) There’s some more info on Dutch-process cocoa powder here if you’re interested! While it’s not important for this recipe, it does amazing things for baked goodies.
You can use Sunfood(r) Cacao powder as well:
You can purchase from Amazon or The Vitamin Shoppe
Thanks a bunch for the tip. :)
Hey! I was going to make this and then freeze it into Popsicle molds. Do you have experience with freezing avacados? Do they stay somewhat soft (similar to bananas? My goal is to make it like a fudgesicle!
Yup! Try my chocolate avocado popsicles. It’s basically this smoothie in popsicle form. :) Avocados freeze well and they’re similar to bananas when frozen! Hope you’ll enjoy the popsicles. :)
Kind of in love with this idea! I think I would mash the avocado and freeze it into ice cubes to make it super cold. Thank you for the recipe!
Love that idea! Avocado freezes great so I’m sure that’d come out really well. Hope you’ll enjoy the smoothie! :)
Hi, what are the nutritional facts for this smoothie partially? But even all of them? Thank you.
Hi there! I intentionally don’t include the nutritional info (I focus on making healthier choices rather than low calorie / fat / etc.) but you can copy and paste the recipe here for that info, if you like. :)