Chocolate Cherry Protein Shake (Printable)
A rich chocolate and tart cherry blend loaded with protein—ready in just 5 minutes for a quick, nutritious pick-me-up.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Base
01 - 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
02 - 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
03 - 1/2 cup frozen pitted cherries
04 - 1 small banana, fresh or frozen
05 - 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
→ Sweetener & Extras
06 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
07 - 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
→ Ice
08 - 1/2 cup ice cubes (optional, for extra thickness)
# How To Make It:
01 - Add the almond milk, chocolate protein powder, frozen cherries, banana, cocoa powder, honey or maple syrup, and vanilla extract to a blender.
02 - Blend on high speed until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, approximately 30 to 45 seconds.
03 - If a thicker shake is desired, add the ice cubes and blend again until fully incorporated.
04 - Pour into a tall glass and serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It tastes like a milkshake but fuels your body like a proper recovery meal.
- Frozen cherries do double duty here, adding natural sweetness and a velvety frozen texture without needing a mountain of ice.
02 -
- Frozen cherries are nonnegotiable if you want that thick shake texture without watering it down with a pile of ice.
- Always put liquid in the blender first or you will spend twice as long scraping stuck powder off the bottom.
03 -
- Freeze your bananas when they are perfectly ripe with brown spots, not green, for the sweetest and most flavorful results.
- Let the frozen cherries sit out for two minutes before blending if your blender struggles with rock hard fruit.