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If you love a mug of hot chocolate in the winter, or all year round, you’ll love this Hot Chocolate Smoothie! It’s packed with protein and fiber and can be enjoyed warm or cold!

A hot chocolate smoothie in a glass with a dish of cocoa powder and chia seeds in the background.
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This is the perfect smoothie if you love chocolate and need to add more protein and fiber to your diet. It has enough calories and protein to replace breakfast or lunch, but tastes like a treat. You can even make it with warm milk and enjoy it in a mug to make it taste more like hot chocolate. 

If you like healthy hot chocolate-inspired recipes, you will love my Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars and Healthy Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • An Excellent Meal Replacement: This hot cocoa smoothie is packed with 26 grams of protein and enough calories to replace your breakfast or lunch. It’s a great option for a busy day when you need a meal on the go! 
  • Quick and Easy: Smoothies are one of the easiest healthy snacks you can make. Just add everything to the blender and blend until smooth. 
  • Enjoy It Cold or Warm: It may seem silly to call this a hot chocolate smoothie and serve it cold, so if you’d rather have a hot chocolate smoothie, you can enjoy it warm too!

Ingredients

Ingredients to make a hot chocolate smoothie in bowls on a table.
  • Banana: Naturally sweeten your smoothie with a ripe banana. 
  • Chocolate Protein Powder: Boost the protein in this smoothie with your favorite chocolate protein powder. 
  • Cauliflower Rice: Frozen cauliflower rice adds fiber to the smoothie, which is helpful for weight management
  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: A little bit of cocoa powder or cacao powder gives the smoothie its rich, chocolate taste without any added sweeteners. 
  • Chia Seeds: Chia and flax seeds both contain fiber to help aid in digestion and help you feel fuller for a long period of time. 
  • Unsweetened Cashew Milk: I used cashew milk for this recipe, but you can use any unsweetened plant-based milk that you prefer for smoothies. 

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations & Dietary Modifications

  • Add Veggies: Get some more veggies into your diet by adding spinach or kale to your smoothie! 
  • Try It Warm: If you want this smoothie to resemble hot chocolate even more, warm the milk on the stove for about 5 minutes. Add it to the blender while hot and serve it in a mug instead of a glass!
  • Make It With Peanut Butter: I make my healthy hot cocoa with peanut butter, so adding a scoop of peanut butter to this smoothie is a flavor combination I love. It also adds more protein to the smoothie!

How to Make a Healthy Chocolate Smoothie

This hot chocolate protein smoothie is a quick and easy way to add more nutrients, like fiber, iron, and protein, to your diet. Smoothies blend up in a matter of minutes, taste amazing, and this one can even be enjoyed warm! 

All the ingredients added to the blender.

Step 1: Blend the Ingredients. Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until thick and smooth.

Hot chocolate smoothie after blending and pouring in a glass.

Step 2: Top with Cocoa Powder. Pour the smoothie into a glass and top it with a little cocoa powder, then enjoy!

Expert Tips

  • Don’t Use Fresh Cauliflower: Frozen cauliflower rice is best for this recipe because fresh will alter the taste and consistency of the smoothie. 
  • Choosing the Right Protein: There are so many protein powders out there it may seem daunting to try to choose the right one. There are a few factors to consider when choosing a protein powder. First, is it a dairy-based or plant-based protein? Depending on your diet and preferences, this is something to pay attention to. Second, look for a powder that is high-protein but low-calorie to aid in weight loss. Finally, avoid powders that are full of artificial sweeteners and excessive ingredients. 
  • Adjust the Consistency: The trick to making the perfect smoothie is to adjust the consistency as you blend. You can add more milk if it’s too thick and add more cauliflower rice if it’s too thin. 
A mug of hot chocolate smoothie on a table with a banana.

Serving Suggestions

This healthy chocolate smoothie is packed with enough protein, calories, and fiber to be a healthy meal replacement. However, if you’re looking for a little something more than just a smoothie, it pairs well with a variety of bite-sized snacks and treats. Chocolate pairs well with pretty much any other flavor out there, so the options are endless! 

  • If you’re enjoying a chocolate smoothie for lunch or after a workout, consider pairing it with these nutty collagen protein bites.
  • For a mix of savory and sweet for breakfast, grab your chocolate breakfast smoothie to go along with some egg white bites. You’ll feel full until lunch!
  • I can’t resist a little cookie to go with my smoothies, especially if I enjoy it warm! These chocolate chickpea blondies are one of my favorites!

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this healthy chocolate smoothie in advance?

Absolutely! This is a great smoothie to blend up the day or evening before a busy morning so all you have to do is grab it and go! 

Can I freeze this healthy chocolate smoothie?

Yes! Pour the chocolate breakfast drink into an ice cube tray and thaw a few cubes at a time when you’re ready to enjoy it. Just be sure to thaw it for 24 hours in the refrigerator before enjoying it!

How can I add more protein to this hot chocolate smoothie?

You can increase the amount of protein by adding a bit of collagen peptides to the smoothie before blending it! Just be aware that collagen can contain animal joints or skin, so read your ingredients carefully!

A hot chocolate smoothie with a straw in the cup.

More Healthy Smoothie Recipes

If you tried this Hot Chocolate Smoothie recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below.

A glass of hot chocolate smoothie on a wooden cutting board.
5 from 1 vote
Servings: 1 serving

Hot Chocolate Smoothie

This hot chocolate smoothie with cauliflower rice only takes a few minutes to blend and is packed with chocolatey flavor, protein, and fiber.
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
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Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender. Blend until thick and smooth. Transfer to a glass and enjoy!
  • If you want a wam version, warm the milk in a saucepan over medium heat for 5 minutes or in the microwave then blend and enjoy!

Notes

  • Frozen cauliflower rice is best for this recipe because fresh will alter the taste and consistency of the smoothie. 
  • Choose a high-protein, low-calorie protein powder without artificial sweeteners or excessive additives for weight loss. 
  • Add more milk or cauliflower rice as you blend to adjust the consistency of the smoothie to your preference. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 294kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 42mg, Sodium: 501mg, Potassium: 851mg, Fiber: 15g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 44IU, Vitamin C: 44mg, Calcium: 646mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Megan

Megan is a nutritionist who coaches women 35+ lose weight sustainably. She is the author of the Low Calorie Cookbook, fitness instructor, host of the Dish On Ditching Diets Podcast and creator of Skinny Fitalicious where you get lighter, higher protein recipes. Follow Megan on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube and Instagram for the latest updates.

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