Zucchini, cacao, and almond butter create a chocolate smoothie without the usual banana base. Dates supply sweetness, while cashew milk carries the flavor. Frozen zucchini contributes body, giving the drink a different texture from a straightforward fruit-and-milk blend.
Healthy Smoothie Recipes
Chocolate Zucchini Date Smoothie
Zucchini, cacao, and almond butter create a chocolate smoothie without the usual banana base.
Prep: 5 minutesServings: 1
Base recipe: 1 serving; the full base batch
Vegan
Category image
Measured ingredient amounts adjust with servings. “To taste” amounts and directions stay as written.
Ingredients
- 1 cup zucchini chopped and frozen
- 1 cup unsweetened cashew milk
- 1–2 Medjool dates pitted (adjust to taste)
- 1.5 tablespoon almond butter
- 1.5 tablespoon cacao powder
- 0.5 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
- Pour the measured liquid into the blender. Add the softer prepared ingredients first, keeping the frozen pieces separated so they can move toward the blades instead of forming a solid block above them.
- Add the remaining edible ingredients, including the measured fruit, nuts, seeds, or spices listed for this recipe. Blend until evenly combined. Use the machine instructions to choose a suitable speed, and stop before checking texture or scraping the jug.
- Taste a small spoonful after blending. If the mixture is too thick to pour, add cold water one tablespoon at a time and blend briefly again. Divide the base batch into 1 serving and enjoy promptly.
Notes
Contains tree nuts. Prepared ingredients are required; additional cooking, cooling, freezing, brewing, or soaking time is excluded from the active prep estimate. Serving volume and nutrition totals are not measured.
Adapted from Jen Hansard at Simple Green Smoothies.
Tips and ingredient notes
Wash zucchini before chopping and freezing. Remove very tough skin or oversized seeds. Check dates for stones and begin with one, deciding later whether a second belongs in your preferred version.
Check dates for stones even when sold as pitted. Firm dates take longer to process than soft fruit and may benefit from separate softening beforehand. Record any soaking time and avoid adding unmeasured soaking liquid that would change the smoothie consistency.
Stir separated almond butter before measuring so the spoon contains both oil and nut solids. Smooth butter gives a different finish from crunchy butter. Add it to the liquid portion where possible rather than leaving a thick clump stuck above frozen fruit.
Ingredient health benefits
- Almond butter provides vitamin E, which helps protect cells from oxidative damage.
- Dates add dietary fiber, which supports normal bowel function.
Nutrition references: NIH: Vitamin E; MedlinePlus: Fiber. These are ingredient contributions; nutrition per serving has not been calculated.
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Recipe adapted from Jen Hansard at Simple Green Smoothies. Article text and directions written for Healthy Smoothie Recipes. Supplement omissions and preparation changes mean source nutrition totals do not apply.
