This simple peanut butter banana smoothie bowl is perfect for days when you want something sweet, yet healthy. It's protein packed and plays well with lots of classic smoothie toppings.
Whip this peanut butter banana smoothie bowl pre (or post) surf, hike, or trip to the beach. Making smoothies at home is a great way to save cash too!
Looking for something a little different? Check out my thick berry smoothie bowl or green spirulina shake.
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Ingredients
Smoothie
- Peanut butter
- Frozen bananas
- Ice
- Coconut milk (or plant based milk of choice)
- Avocado (optional but recommended)
- Vanilla extract (optional)
- Vanilla or chocolate protein powder (optional)
- Coconut yogurt (optional)
Toppings (optional)
- Sliced bananas
- Cacao nibs
- Coconut flakes
- Peanuts
- Peanut butter
- Strawberries
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
First, you'll need some frozen bananas. Peel some ripe bananas, break in half, and place into a container. Freeze for at least 12 hours. Bananas are good for 2-3 months, but start to decline in quality after that.
Put all smoothie ingredients into blender. Top with coconut milk until it almost covers the other ingredients. Blend on low speed until everything is roughly combined. If the smoothie is moving well in the blender, increase speed. Continue increasing speed slowly until smoothie has desired consistency.
Time to add toppings! To drizzle peanut butter, warm in a microwave (using a microwave safe dish) in increments of 5-10 seconds. Then, drizzle onto smoothie bowl with a spoon. Add other toppings and enjoy!
Hint: start blender speed on low and work your way up. Watch for movement in the blender. If everything is moving well and there are no large chunks, you can move on to the next level. If the blender sounds like it's "taking off," stop & stir. Then start again from the lowest speed, watching for good movement before increasing speed again.
Substitutions & Variations
This recipe is naturally vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, and plant-based.
If you have a peanut allergy, you can replace the peanut butter with another nut butter of choice.
To make an extra thick smoothie, add extra peanut butter and half a ripe avocado. The color of your smoothie may change slightly, but the avocado will make it extra creamy.
Not a fan of bananas? Check out this thick berry smoothie bowl, or sign up to be part of The Hangry Crew and receive a copy of my free smoothie guide!
Keeping it simple? This basic strawberry mango smoothie is a regular in my kitchen.
Equipment
The key piece of equipment to making a great smoothie is a fabulous blender. I outlined my top picks here. Only want to make smoothies? Keep reading...
If you have the dough, I highly recommend investing in a durable commercial grade blender like a Vitamix.
If you're on a budget, used a Nutribullet for about 5 years, but it isn't nearly as durable. I bought a new one each year, and it doesn't have the speed options that a nicer blender might.
If you're somewhere in between a top of the line Vitamix and a Nutribullet, Vitamix makes a nice in between option that works just as well as the fancier version.
Other things to consider when purchasing a blender:
- Does it come with an "agitator" (that little stick that stirs while the blender is on)
- Does it come with smaller size vessels? I always make a little extra smoothie because my blender is huge, but sometimes you only need a single serving...
- Does it have multiple speed options? As you can see, blender speed is key to making a great smoothie.
Storage
Smoothie hack: store extra smoothie in an insulated mug with a lid in the fridge. They stay cold for 12-24 hours. Or take it on the road with you with a reusable straw.
I do not recommend freezing smoothie or storing in an uninsulated vessel.
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely! Bananas are packed with nutrients and are an excellent alternative to processed sweets in moderation (e.g. 1 per day). Use "natural" peanut butter with minimal additives - look for "peanuts" and "salt." The protein in the peanut butter, the good fats in an avocado and nutrients in the bananas make this smoothie a complete breakfast.
If you're counting calories, keep toppings to a minimum.
Instead of making a peanut butter and banana smoothie, replace the banana with mixed berries for a peanut butter and "jelly" smoothie instead. Check out the recipe here!
Top tip
Use those blender speeds! Start low, and work your way up. As long as the smoothie is moving well, you can increase the speed.
Peanut butter banana smoothie bowl
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 2 bowls 1x
- Category: Smoothies
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This simple peanut butter banana smoothie bowl is perfect for days when you want something sweet, yet healthy. It's protein packed and plays well with lots of classic smoothie toppings.
Ingredients
Smoothie
- 2-3 Tbsp peanut butter
- 2 frozen bananas (4 halves)
- 1-2 cups of ice
- 2-3 cups coconut milk (or plant based milk of choice)
- ½ avocado (optional but recommended)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- 1-2 Tbsp vanilla or chocolate protein powder (optional)
- 2-4 Tbsp Coconut yogurt (optional)
Toppings (optional)
- Sliced bananas
- Cacao nibs
- Coconut flakes
- Peanuts
- Peanut butter
- Strawberries
Instructions
1. Freeze bananas: peel and half ripe bananas and freeze in a container for at least 12 hours.
2. Blend smoothie: add all solid ingredients to the blender, then top with coconut milk until it almost covers the other ingredients. Blend until smooth, starting on low and increasing speed as the smoothie comes together.
3. Add toppings & enjoy!
Keywords: peanut butter banana smoothie bowl, smoothie bowl, peanut butter banana smoothie, peanut butter smoothie,
Food safety
- Use caution when handling blender as blades are sharp
The Hangry Chickpea
Love this smoothie bowl - so simple, and great for a quick breakfast on the go
★★★★★