Almond Butter Banana Smoothie

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This almond butter banana smoothie is my favorite way to start the morning! It’s easy to make, delicious, and perfectly creamy. With only a few ingredients, it’ll be ready to enjoy in no time.

Smoothie topped with hemp seeds in a mason jar with a pink and white straw sticking out

While I have a lot of smoothie recipes on my blog (and I love them all!) this almond butter smoothie is, without a doubt, my favorite. It tastes like a healthy, spiced-vanilla milkshake to me. Plus, it’s so easy to customize. The flavors go well with fruit, coffee, vegetables, and pretty much any flavor of protein powder.

The addition of almond butter and banana also give this drink the perfect smoothie consistency. Slightly thick, but still drinkable with a straw. So, if you’re looking for a new staple smoothie to have in your routine, this is my recommendation.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

Packed with Good-For-You Ingredients – Healthy fats, protein, fiber, carbs, this smoothie has it all. You can throw in some veggies to for an additional nutritional boost!

Delicious – As I mentioned before this smoothie flavor is my favorite. It’s slightly sweet, creamy, rich, and has a spiced-vanilla flavor. It’s a great smoothie to have in the morning or as an afternoon snack.

Easy to Make – To make this vegan smoothie all you have to do is throw the ingredients in the blender and blend. That’s it!

Beige smoothie being poured into a clear mason jar

BENEFITS OF ALMOND BUTTER

This healthy almond butter banana smoothie is packed full of benefits! Below I’ve listed just a few benefits of almond butter that make this smoothie as good-for-you as it is tasty.

Good for Cholesterol – Almond butter is a great source of healthy fats. Specifically, almond butter has monosaturated fats, which help lower bad cholesterol.

Gut-Friendly – Almonds are high in dietary fiber and a good source of prebiotics, this fuels the gut and keeps it’s microbiome happy.

Good for your Brain – Not only is almond butter good for your gut, but it’s also good for your brain! Almonds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids which help reduce inflammation in the brain. And, delay brain decline related to aging!

INGREDIENTS NEEDED (WITH SUBSTITUTIONS)

To make this refreshing banana almond smoothie you will need the following ingredients. Make sure to read this section if you’re looking to make any substitutions.

Smoothie ingredients laid out on a table

Almond Milk – The base of this smoothie is almond milk, however you can use any non-dairy milk of choice. Oat milk, coconut milk, and soy milk are all fine.

Banana – To make smoothies filling, I love using banana. You can use a fresh or frozen banana. If you want a thicker smoothie, I highly recommend using frozen bananas. Besides being delicious, bananas are also a good source of potassium and fiber!

Almond Butter – In addition to bananas, almond butter also makes this smoothie perfectly creamy. And, it’s a great source of healthy fats. Not a fan of almond butter? You can substitute any nut or seed butter of choice, such as peanut butter or cashew butter.

Dates – To add a bit of sweetness, dates are used in this smoothie. They also give the smoothie a hint of caramel – which is delicious! Before adding dates to the smoothie, make sure they are pitted.

Cinnamon – A pinch of cinnamon adds a spicy-sweet punch and provides an antioxidant punch.

Protein Powder – You can also add a boost of protein to this smoothie by including a scoop of your favorite protein powder. Pretty much any protein powder flavor tastes good with this smoothie – plain, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, etc.

Ice (Optional) – If you’re not using frozen banana, add a scoop of ice for a cold and refreshing smoothie.

HOW TO MAKE THIS SMOOTHIE

Making this smoothie is super easy, just add to a blender and that’s it! For full instructions and ingredients make sure to read the recipe card below.

Step One: To a high-speed blender add the almond milk, followed by the rest of the ingredients. Starting with the liquid first helps prevent the other ingredients from getting stuck.

Almond butter, banana, ice, protein powder, cinnamon, dates, and almond milk added to a blender

Step Two: Blend until all the ingredients are processed and you have a smooth consistency. Dates can take a bit longer to blend, so you can tear them up a bit before adding to make the process easier.

Top down shot of smoothie after being blended

Step Three: Pour the smoothie into a glass and enjoy!

VARIATIONS

Chocolate Banana Almond Butter Smoothie – Add 1-2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder for a chocolate flavor. Or, use chocolate protein powder.

Green Packed Smoothie – Add 1 cup of fresh spinach or kale.

Almond Butter Banana Smoothie Bowl – Reduce the almond milk by half, and use frozen banana.

Creamy Berry Banana Smoothie – Add 1/2 cup blueberries and 1/3 cup strawberries for a delicious berry twist!

Coffee Almond Butter Protein Shake – Add 2 shots of espresso for a caffeine-kick.

STORAGE & REHEATING

Smoothies are best enjoyed fresh, however you can store this smoothie in the fridge for 1-2 days. Place in a mason jar and give a shake before enjoying!

Smoothie topped with hemp seeds in a mason jar

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Will almond butter thicken a smoothie?

Almond butter adds a delicious creamy texture to smoothies and will thicken it slightly. However, the best way to thicken smoothies is by adding frozen fruit and using less liquid.

Is banana and almond butter healthy?

Both bananas and almond butter provide a wide variety of benefits. While bananas are packed with potassium and fiber, almond butter is a good source of antioxidants and healthy fats.

What is the best blender for smoothies?

While I have and love my Vitamix blender, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars for a good blender. If you don’t want to invest in a Vitamix, Ninja also makes a fantastic and affordable blender that’s great for thick smoothies!

If you decide to try this recipe out, let me know! I love seeing your recreations tagged on Instagram @nourishedwithnatalie.