Banana Blueberry & Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie - 5 Simple Ingredients!
This nourishing, refreshing, and protein-packed banana, blueberry, & peanut butter smoothie is the perfect snack, breakfast, or post-workout drink to cool down with! Made with just 5 wholesome ingredients, this smoothie is naturally-sweetened, nutritious, and tastes super peanut butter-y - it’s the ultimate delicious purple smoothie!
I recently discovered peanut powder (which - if you’re late to the game like I was - is essentially just a protein powder made from dehydrated peanuts) and it’s not an overstatement to say that I’ve become obsessed with adding it into smoothies. Around the same time as my discovery, I also stumbled onto this IG reel, which I couldn’t stop replaying because it’s absolutely hilarious, but then actually inspired me to create my own “Perfect Purple Smoothie” with the peanut powder I was already adding into everything. I’m aware I’m not exactly reinventing the wheel by combining bananas and berries, but I’ve played around with different ingredients and ratios before landing on this simple, satisfying smoothie, which I find myself craving a lot. So here’s my delicious, nutritious, protein-packed take on the Perfect Purple Smoothie that will leave you nourished and satisfied!
Why You’ll Love This Smoothie
Delicious and refreshing! The pairing of bananas, blueberries, and peanut butter is a classic combo I find myself craving in every format (smoothies, toasts, oatmeal, etc.) for good reason - it’s incredibly tasty! This smoothie is creamy yet refreshing, and also tastes quite peanut butter-y (despite not having any peanut butter) while still maintaining a perfect balance with the blueberries and bananas.
Nourishing. Since it’s made with 5 wholesome plant foods - bananas, blueberries, non-dairy milk, ground flax, and peanut powder - this smoothie is loaded with fiber, potassium, antioxidants, heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and vitamins (just to name a few nutrients)! I always feel 💯 after drinking it.
Protein-packed. Not only is the smoothie loaded with nutrients, it’s also quite high in protein! Since it’s made with peanut powder (more on this in the Ingredient Overview below), it contains more protein than typical smoothies made with peanut butter (as they usually only use 1-2 tablespoons), but without all the extra fat. Not only does the peanut powder add 14 grams of protein into each smoothie, helping to keep you full and satisfied longer, the high protein content also makes this a great post-workout drink!
Naturally sweetened. The smoothie relies on naturally sweet bananas and blueberries for its sweetness - there’s no need for added sweeteners when you’ve got fruit! I find that it’s perfectly sweetened to my taste as it’s delicious and sweet but without the sugar crash.
Ingredient Overview
Frozen banana chunks and frozen blueberries. Frozen bananas and blueberries are the base of the smoothie, adding creaminess and sweetness while also cooling it down. Bananas are responsible for most of the sweetness and ultra creamy texture, while blueberries add loads of antioxidants and a bit more sweetness. Both fruits are super tasty and tremendously nourishing whole foods (packed with fiber, vitamins, and nutrients), but research also suggests that bananas may result in a quicker exercise recovery, in case you needed an extra reason to love them. 😉 Plus you can’t ever go wrong with the banana/blueberry/peanut butter flavor combo - it’s so delicious!
Non-dairy milk. To blend everything up! I love oat milk here because “I’m super skinny and blessed” (kidding!) but actually because it’s quite creamy and the oat flavor pairs well with peanut butter/blueberries, but feel free to use your favorite non-dairy milk instead.
Ground flax. Because flax seeds are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, nutrients, and are associated with loads of health benefits, I try to make sure I incorporate them into my diet every single day, and adding some ground flax into my smoothie is a very easy way to do that! A half tablespoon serving won’t alter the taste of the smoothie, so it’s a great way to sneak that super nutritious flax in. If you don’t have any flax, or you’ve already fulfilled your flax quota for the day, feel free to substitute hemp seeds.
Peanut powder. Peanut powder is essentially just ground up peanuts that were first dehydrated to remove most of the most of the oil from them. The resulting peanut powder is essentially just a protein powder, packing 14 grams into each smoothie. The real magic is that peanut powder also gives the smoothie its delicious peanut butter-y flavor! There are lots of peanut powder brands out there (most of which I admittedly haven’t tried), but I love the Trader Joe’s brand because it’s organic, relatively cheap, and doesn’t contain any additives (just a hint of salt) - win-win-win!
Toppings (optional). Toppings are a great way to add some extra flavors and nutrients to smoothies! I love topping this one with cacao nibs for some crunch and rich chocolate flavor, hemp seeds for an extra nutrient boost, or even a few dried blueberries if I’m craving some extra sweetness. Crunchy granola is always another favorite, and a drizzle of peanut butter never hurts either.
Banana Blueberry & Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie
Vegan, Naturally Sweetened
Makes 2
Ingredients
Smoothie:
1 cup frozen banana chunks
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup + 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk (I like oat milk)
½ cup peanut powder (I like the Trader Joe’s organic peanut powder)
1 tablespoon ground flax*
Topping suggestions (optional):
Hemp seeds
Cacao nibs
Dried blueberries
Granola
Drizzle of peanut butter
Directions
Add all the smoothie ingredients to a blender and blend on medium speed for a few seconds, then blend on high until smooth and creamy, using a tamper as needed to help the ingredients blend.
Pour into two glasses and top with cacao nibs, hemp seeds, dried blueberries, granola, peanut butter, and/or other toppings, if desired.
Notes:
*You can substitute the ground flax with hemp seeds.
Hope this smoothie helps fuel you up and cool you down! Don’t forget to leave a comment below and tag me on Instagram (@teostinykitchen) when you make it. Oh, and post-workout smoothie selfies are especially encouraged! 💪