The perfect healthy chocolate beverage to share with that special someone. A fresh and creamy blend of cocoa, strawberries, almonds, bananas, and flaxseed.
It’s the official month of L-O-V-E! Show that special person how much they mean to you by starting the day off with a little romance. I’m talking about this healthy chocolate-dipped strawberry smoothie.
Yep, a sip of sweet indulgence with nutritious benefits. Say “you make me weak in the knees” by whipping up a quick fruit cocoa smoothie for an antioxidant and energizing boost! Oh, yea, there’s some chocolate strawberry dipping action too, you’re not going to want to miss out.
How to Make a Healthy Smoothie
I make a smoothie every morning in my blender, usually a matcha green tea or strawberry banana mix. So I thought, why not make something with a little Valentine’s Day inspiration? I always have cocoa powder, almonds, and frozen strawberries as my pantry staples, score! Here is how I made this smoothie healthy.
Add Fiber
Whole strawberries contain 3 grams total fiber per cup, this smoothie recipe contains 6 grams total! One whole banana contains about 3 grams, with a high amount of soluble fiber. The ground flaxseeds provide omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and lignans for heart health and cognitive benefits, two essential things you need when you’re in love, wink, wink.
Add Superfoods
Unsweetened cocoa powder adds a rich chocolatey flavor without all of the added sugar. If you are looking for an even healthier superfood alternative, give cacao powder a try. It has a mild chocolate flavor but a little more fiber, iron, protein, and antioxidant.
Add Protein
To make this smoothie more satiating, protein from almonds and greek yogurt add a little boost. Almonds contain a whopping 20 grams of protein per cup. This recipe contains 5 grams.
Okay now for the cherry on top! You don’t have to serve this luscious chocolate covered strawberry smoothie with literally with one, but why not? As a woman who can’t resist any type of chocolate, I guarantee you that adding this sweet touch will bring instant joy.
This chocolate strawberry smoothie recipe only takes a few minutes to prepare but will make those happy moments last forever. That’s my goal at least! Do you have any special valentine’s food that you make each year? I’d love to hear about your favorite recipe.
What is the benefit of using frozen fruit in smoothies?
Adding frozen fruit like strawberries or bananas to your smoothies has a couple of tasty benefits. Pureeing the fruit gives a more smooth, thick and less icy texture compared to adding ice. As the smoothie melts, the flavor doesn’t get as diluted. The smoothie melts more slowly, so you can enjoy each sip a little longer. If you don’t have frozen fruit on hand, my rule of thumb is to use about 1 cup of ice to every 8 ounces of liquid for a cold and thickened smoothie.
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Smoothie
Ingredients
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips, 60% cacao chips
- 4 whole strawberries, for dipping
- 2 cups strawberries, frozen
- 1 medium banana, sliced
- ¼ cup almonds, whole
- 5 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder, or Viva Labs cacao powder
- 1 tablespoon flaxseed, ground
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, or dairy free milk
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, or honey
- ½ cup vanilla greek yogurt, optional
Instructions
- Add chocolate chips to a small microwave-safe bowl.
- Heat in 30-second increments, stirring in between until chocolate is completely melted.
- Dip strawberries in chocolate and allow them to dry on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan.
- Add all ingredients into a blender.
- Blend for about 30 to 60 seconds until the mixture is smooth.
- Add more or less sweetener as needed.
- Add more almond milk as needed to thin smoothie consistency.
- Top with some Greek yogurt, a sprinkle of cocoa powder and strawberries.
Equipment
Notes
- Recipe Yield: 3 cups
- If you don't have frozen strawberries add fresh strawberries plus 1 cup ice cubes. Add more ice as needed.
- If you like a stronger cocoa flavor at 2 tablespoons cocoa powder.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Jennifer J says
would almond butter work instead of almonds?
Jessica Gavin says
Hi Jennifer- Yes, almond butter will work. I would start with 2 tablespoons.
Dorothy says
I cannot stand bananas, but this smoothie sounds otherwise great. Is it okay to omit the banana? Or can you suggest a replacement?
Jessica Gavin says
Hi Dorothy! Yes, you can absolutely omit the bananas. It does add some sweetness and creaminess so you may want to add a little bit more strawberries, perhaps walnuts for creaminess or add yogurt into the smoothie, and maybe some additional sweetener to taste.