Mocha Madness (Tropical Smoothie Recipe)

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This mocha madness tropical smoothie recipe is bursting with chocolate and coffee! Not to mention it’s deliciously creamy and made with healthy, simple ingredients. If you’ve ever tried this smoothie at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to make your own version at home.

Smoothie topped with coffee beans and cocoa powder

If you’re looking for a caffeine-boost, this healthy smoothie is the perfect solution. It’s a great start to a busy morning or a mid afternoon pick-me-up.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is one of my go-to places to eat – it’s super convenient and delicious! Their hummus veggie wrap paired with a smoothie never gets old. But, it does get a bit damaging to my wallet. So, if you have ever wanted to make their smoothies at home – you can!

All it requires are a few ingredients and minutes to make. And best part? It’s healthier and cheaper than buying a smoothie.

The below version of this healthy coffee smoothie is not only made dairy-free, but also with vegan-friendly ingredients. So, it’s also ready to be enjoyed by just about everyone!

P.S. This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about my affiliate policy here.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

Simple Ingredients – This mocha madness smoothie is made with just 6 ingredients you most likely already have on hand. But, of course you can add additional ingredients (see ideas below).

Easy to Make – With just a few ingredients, this smoothie takes minutes to make. Simply add all the ingredients to a blender and you’re set. Within minutes you’ll have a coffee shake that tastes like you got it from the store!

Delicious Flavor – The best kinds of recipes are those that make you feel good, while tasting good. This tropical smoothie copycat is just as delicious, but made with healthier ingredients.

WHAT’S IN TROPICAL SMOOTHIE’S MOCHA MADNESS?

Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s Mocha Madness smoothie is made with 5 ingredients:

Chocolate
Coffee
Cappuccino
Non-Fat Yogurt
Turbinado Sugar.

The nutritional information is listed on their website and is as follows: 540 calories, 124 carbs, 11 grams of fiber, 103 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of protein.

As you can see that is a LOT of added sugar! While the smoothie is great for a fun sweet treat, if you are looking for a healthy option you’re better off making this smoothie at home.

P.S. You can also always order their smoothies with no sugar or with just half the amount of sugar if you’re watching your sugar intake.

Keep reading to see the ingredients that we will be using to recreate a healthier, but equally delicious version of this smoothie.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED (WITH SUBSTITUTIONS)

To make this creamy coffee smoothie you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for smoothie laid out on a table

Non-Dairy Milk – Any dairy-free milk is fine to use in this recipe. Almond milk, oat milk, and soy milk are all good options. You can also use canned coconut milk if you’d like to make it extra creamy (and add in some healthy fats).

Coffee – One of the main ingredients, coffee is key to getting that caffeine-boost! You can use freshly brewed coffee, espresso, or cold brew. You can even use instant coffee in a pinch.

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – To achieve a rich chocolate flavor, we’re using cocoa powder. You can also use cacao powder, which is just the raw form of cocoa. Either works!

Maple Syrup – A bit of maple syrup provides a nice sweetness to this smoothie. Don’t have maple syrup? You can use another liquid sweetener like agave. Or, you can use a bit of granulated cane sugar or brown sugar.

Vanilla Extract – A splash of vanilla helps bring out the coffee and chocolate flavor in this smoothie.

Vanilla Yogurt – To make this smoothie nice and creamy we’re using dairy-free vanilla greek yogurt. I recommend using vanilla yogurt to give the smoothie a nice sweetness. If using plain yogurt, I recommend increasing the amount of sweetener added to the recipe.

HOW TO MAKE THIS SMOOTHIE

Making this delicious smoothie is super easy! For full ingredients and instructions make sure to read the recipe card below.

Step 1: To begin, add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. I recommend adding the milk first, followed by the rest of the ingredients to avoid anything getting stuck.

Ice, cocoa powder, and milk in a blender

P.S. For a thicker texture, reduce the amount of liquid.

Step 2: Next, blend until you get a smooth, creamy texture. Taste and adjust as necessary.

Step 3: Pour into a mason jar and add any fun toppings! My favorite toppings are a bit of coconut whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and a pinch of cinnamon.

TIPS & TRICKS

Add Ice for a Colder Smoothie – Because this smoothie doesn’t have any frozen ingredients, you can add ice to make it extra cold. However, it will slightly water down the smoothie. To avoid this, you can freeze coffee in an ice cube mold the night before and add those to your smoothie!

For a cold, thick, and creamy smoothie, you can even freeze yogurt in an ice cube tray! Freeze for at least 4 hours, then add to your smoothie. Make sure to add the yogurt cubes in addition to the half cup of non-frozen yogurt. It’s a great way to get that perfect thick smoothie texture.

Adjust Ingredients before Enjoying – Before pouring your smoothie into a glass, taste and adjust the ingredients as needed. If you want a stronger coffee flavor or a sweeter flavor, simply add more of the respective ingredient.

Use Cold Ingredients – If using freshly brewed coffee, let it cool slightly before adding it to the blender. This will help your smoothie stay nice and cold. If adding ice, you can skip this step.

Smoothie being poured into a clear glass cup

ADDITIONAL ADD-INS

While you can make this smoothie with only the above ingredients, you can also add in plenty more! Here are some of my favorite ingredients to include:

Seeds such as hemp seeds, flax seeds, and/or chia seeds
For extra protein, add in plain, vanilla or chocolate protein powder.
Add in nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter, etc) for a tasty and healthy fat.
Another healthy fat, add in 1/2 a ripe avocado for a creamy texture.
Add in a frozen banana for a sweeter and thicker texture.
For a zesty kick, add in fresh ginger.
Add a pinch of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice for an extra flavor boost.
Want to turn this smoothie into a coffee shake?. You can add a scoop of non-dairy ice cream.

STORAGE & REHEATING

Smoothies are best enjoyed fresh and since they only take a few minutes to prep are easy to make.

However, you can make this mocha madness tropical smoothie recipe ahead of time. Simply, place it in a mason jar and keep it in the fridge for 1-2 days. When ready to enjoy, give it a shake to mix everything back up and enjoy!

Top down shot of smoothie with coffee beans on top

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What’s the best blender for smoothies?

Looking for a blender? I have and love the Vitamix, but you don’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars for a good high-powered blender. If you don’t want to invest in a Vitamix, Ninja also makes a great and affordable blender!

Can I add protein powder to this smoothie?

Absolutely! You can add a scoop of plant based protein powder to this smoothie for an extra boost of protein. If you’re looking for good quality vegan protein powders, I highly recommend Nuzest and Sprout Living.

Does the mocha madness smoothie have caffeine?

Yes, because of the addition of coffee, this smoothie does have caffeine. However, you can use decaf coffee for a caffeine-free version.

What kind of coffee is best to use?

What coffee to use depends on your preferences! For a stronger coffee flavor, use espresso. If you don’t want to add ice, cold brew is your best option. For a medium coffee flavor, use a freshly brewed mild roast. And, of course if you don’t want caffeine, decaf coffee is best.

You can also use instant coffee. No need to mix it beforehand. Just add a serving to the blender along with the rest of the ingredients.

FAVORITE SMOOTHIE TOOLS

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