Creamy Chocolate Tahini Smoothie
Chocolate tahini smoothie is thick, creamy and the perfect easy breakfast, snack or post workout meal. This tahini date smoothie is like dessert for breakfast and is so rich and chocolatey. Made without bananas, this filling tahini smoothie is ready in just 5 minutes and is high in protein and even has a serving of veggies.
Why you will love this recipe
- Thick and filling – this chocolate tahini smoothie is so filling, It has fiber (cauliflower rice and chia seeds), protein and healthy fats (tahini).
- Easy to make – just measure out the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. Super simple and perfect for busy mornings or a quick and easy lunch.
- Great post workout meal – because this is packed with protein, it’s great as a post workout snack.
- Full serving of vegetables – this chocolate frosty like smoothie has a full cup of vegetables, making it the most delicious way to eat your veggies!
Ingredients
- Tahini – tahini is thick and creamy and has a slight nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with the caramel of the dates and chocolate flavors. If you don’t have tahini, you can use almond butter, peanut butter or sunbutter.
- Cacao powder – cacao powder adds the chocolate flavor to the smoothie. The cacao powder is less bitter than cocoa powder and perfect in smoothies.
- Medjool dates – medjool dates naturally sweeten the tahini smoothie and add a caramel flavor to the smoothie. Be sure to remove the pits from the dates before adding them to the smoothie. You can also use maple syrup, honey or frozen banana in place of the dates.
- Frozen cauliflower rice – frozen cauliflower rice helps to make this smoothie thick and creamy and the cauliflower disappears in the background of the smoothie (you don’t even taste it). Using frozen cauliflower rice is an easy way to get in more veggies in your routine.
- Protein powder – vanilla or chocolate protein powder would be great for this recipe. I recommend using vegan protein powder for this recipe as it really helps to make this smoothie super thick and creamy. If you don’t have protein powder, you can use 1/4 cup of rolled oats plus 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup, honey or 1-2 medjool dates for sweetness.
- Chia seeds – chia seeds are a great source of fiber and help to make the smoothie super filling. Chia seeds absorb liquid and help to thicken the smoothie.
- Dairy free milk – to keep this recipe vegan and dairy free friendly, I recommend using any kind of dairy free milk you have on hand. You can use almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, coconut milk (in the carton or in the can), flax milk, etc. If you are not dairy free, feel free to use regular milk here.
How to make chocolate tahini smoothie
- Start by measuring out the ingredients into a blender.
- Blend on high until smooth.
Top tips
- Frozen cauliflower rice is what helps make this smoothie super thick and creamy. The dates, cacao powder and protein powder help to sweeten the smoothie and cover the cauliflower flavor. If you do not tolerate cauliflower, you can use 1/2 a frozen banana and 1/4 – 1/2 cup of oatmeal or 1/2 an avocado in place of the cauliflower.
- Be sure to remove the pits from the medjool dates before blending them.
- This recipe uses chocolate protein powder to help sweeten the smoothie. If you are not going to use protein powder or are using an unsweetened protein powder, be sure to add 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup, honey or add 1-2 more pitted medjool dates for sweetness.
- Medjool dates add a caramel flavor to the smoothie and are a great way to naturally sweeten the smoothie. If you don’t have dates on hand, you can use maple syrup or honey but the flavor will be slightly different.
Other additions
- Cinnamon
- Fruit: Banana, strawberries, dark sweet cherries, raspberries would all be great
- Cacao nibs – pulse these in after the smoothie is creamy, they give a fun texture
- Coconut flakes or coconut butter
- Maca powder – maca powder is sometimes called a superfood. It’s an adaptogen that is thought to helps the body better cope with stress and help to boost your energy levels, so it’s great to add to your morning smoothies. Maca has a slightly caramel flavor but is not sweet. It’s also a good source of iron, iodine (which is great for thyroid function) and is a good source of potassium and calcium.
- Coffee – add a shot or two of espresso or cold brew coffee to give this smoothie a jolt of caffeine and a fun mocha flavor.
- More protein: Hemp hearts, greek style yogurt, collagen peptides, peanut powder or almond butter powder (check out all the ways to add more protein to your smoothies).
Topping ideas
This tahini chocolate smoothie is thick and creamy and would be great as a smoothie bowl. Some great topping ideas include:
- Mini chocolate chips
- Cacao nibs
- Coconut flakes
- Freeze dried strawberries, banana or raspberries
- Fresh fruit – strawberries, cherries, banana, raspberries
- Drizzle of tahini or other nut butters
Common questions
What if you don’t have dates?
If you don’t have dates, you can also sweeten this smoothie with frozen banana, maple syrup or honey.
What if you don’t want to use cauliflower?
Instead of cauliflower rice, you can use 1/2 a frozen banana and 1/4 – 1/2 cup of oatmeal or 1/2 an avocado in place of the cauliflower.
Can you use frozen cauliflower florets instead of cauliflower rice?
Yes! If you don’t have cauliflower rice on hand, you can substitute it for frozen cauliflower. I would not recommend using fresh cauliflower though, as it has a more pronounced cauliflower flavor (the frozen cauliflower is blanched before freezing and it really helps to remove the fresh cauliflower taste).
Is this chocolate date tahini smoothie healthy
Although this smoothie tastes just like a frosty, it’s a healthy option for anytime you are wanting to satisfy that sweet tooth. This tahini smoothie has vegetables, fiber, protein, and healthy fats and is sweetened with dates, which are a great source of potassium.
Can you prep this tahini chocolate smoothie in advance?
Yes! You can easily prep this chocolate tahini smoothie up to 24 hours in advance. Simply store in the fridge in an airtight cup or container.
If you want to prep this even further in advance, you can make smoothie packs by filling up freezer safe bags with all the ingredients except for the milk and storing them in the freezer for up to 3 months in advance. When you are ready to enjoy the smoothie, simply dump the ingredients into the blender and add the milk. Blend and enjoy.
Storing leftovers
- Fridge: you can store leftover chocolate tahini smoothies in the fridge for up to 24 hours. You may decide to blend them with some ice to get them nice and chilly before serving.
- Freezer: If you find that you have leftover smoothie that you know you won’t enjoy in the next 24 hours, you can freeze the smoothie for later (up to 1 month).
The best option for this is to freeze it into ice cubes or use a Soupercube to freeze the smoothie in ½ or 1 cup portions for later. When you are ready to enjoy, you can simply add the cubes to the blender with some additional milk or water and blend on high until smooth. You can also add the cubes into new smoothies for more flavor.
Substitutions
- Tahini – if you don’t have tahini, you can use sunbutter, peanut butter, almond butter or cashew butter.
- Cacao powder – the cacao powder helps to add the chocolate flavor. You can also use cocoa powder or simply omit it for a sugar cookie flavored shake (use vanilla protein powder).
- Medjool dates – the dates help to naturally sweeten the smoothie. You can also use about 2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey or use 1 medium frozen banana to sweeten the smoothie.
- Frozen cauliflower rice – you can also use frozen cauliflower florets in place of cauliflower rice if that is easier for you. If you don’t want to use cauliflower, you can substitute it with 1/2 a frozen banana and 1/4 – 1/2 cup of oatmeal or 1/2 an avocado in place of the cauliflower.
- Protein powder – the protein powder helps to thicken the smoothie and also sweeten it. If you are not going to add protein powder, I would recommend adding about ¼ cup of oats (to help thicken) and 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup, honey or 1-2 additional dates (for sweetness).
- Chia seeds – chia seeds help to thicken the smoothie and also help to make it more filling. You can also use ground flax seeds or chia protein (ground chia seeds). If you don’t have these items on hand, simply omit them.
- Dairy free milk – use whatever milk you have on hand that you can tolerate. If you don’t have milk, you can substitute it with water.
If you love high protein smoothie recipes, you should try
- Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie
- Blueberry Smoothie
- Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie
- Chocolate Banana Oat Smoothie
Chocolate Tahini Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 2 tbsp cacao powder
- 2 dates medjool dates - or 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup frozen cauliflower - or ice
- 1 serving vegan chocolate protein powder
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 cup dairy free milk
- 1/2 cup ice
Instructions
- Start by measuring out the ingredients into a blender.
- Blend on high until smooth.
Notes
- Frozen cauliflower rice is what helps make this smoothie super thick and creamy. The dates, cacao powder and protein powder help to sweeten the smoothie and cover the cauliflower flavor. If you do not tolerate cauliflower, you can use 1/2 a frozen banana and 1/4 – 1/2 cup of oatmeal or 1/2 an avocado in place of the cauliflower.
- Be sure to remove the pits from the medjool dates before blending them.
- This recipe uses chocolate protein powder to help sweeten the smoothie. If you are not going to use protein powder or are using an unsweetened protein powder, be sure to add 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup, honey or add 1-2 more pitted medjool dates for sweetness.
- Medjool dates add a caramel flavor to the smoothie and are a great way to naturally sweeten the smoothie. If you don’t have dates on hand, you can use maple syrup or honey but the flavor will be slightly different.