Classic Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

2021-10-05

An ultra-thick and creamy smoothie, this classic peanut butter banana smoothie tastes just like a milkshake, but packed full of nutrition! Made with just 4 simple ingredients that you almost definitely have on hand!

I declare this the summer of smoothies! And no, not your average breakfast smoothie but the summer of afternoon pick-me-up smoothies! I’ve never been a non-breakfast smoothie eater before but now that we live in an area with full-blown summer (that sees temps above 80 degrees!) I’m down for anything that will cool me off. This classic peanut butter banana smoothie is no exception.

I generally only started my days with smoothies because they were fast, convenient and packed full of nutrition. Not that this peanut butter banana smoothie isn’t, but I’d consider it more of a snack smoothie than a breakfast smoothie. Maybe because it tastes like the ultimate indulgent milkshake…made from bananas!

I’ll be honest, this recipe is for 1 person but I almost never make it for one. C and I have been enjoying them almost everyday in the afternoon so I generally double the recipe. I’m going to suggest you do the same, because trust me – your partner/kids/neighbor…really anyone….is going to want some.

What You Need

Bananas (fresh or frozen)
Peanut Butter
Almond milk (or other non-dairy or dairy milk)
Ice
Optional: chia seeds or ground flax

You will also need a high-speed blender. I personally use a Vitamix and love it!

banana peanut butter smoothie ingredients in blender

How to Thicken Your Smoothie

For a nice extra thick smoothie there’s a few things you can do:

Use Frozen Bananas: Frozen bananas give your peanut butter banana smoothie more of a milkshake consistency

Use Ice: This is baseline what you should use to thicken your smoothie, but especially if your fruit is not frozen!

Reduce your Liquid: If drinking this smoothie with a straw, stick to the 1/2 cup of liquid recommended. However if you prefer to turn this into a smoothie bowl, reduce liquid to a 1/4 cup. It may take a little extra to get the smoothie going in the blender but it will turn out nice and thick and you can eat it with a spoon!

Add ground flax or chia seeds: both flax and chia are super absorbent so they help thicken up a smoothie. Plus they’re also a great source of omega fatty acids.

Make it Green! And a Few Other Swaps…

To give this peanut butter banana smoothie a veggie boost add 1-2 cups of spinach to your blender. I promise you won’t be able to taste it!
Allergic to peanuts? Feel free to sub any other nut or seed butter
For a caffeine boost, try freezing leftover coffee or cold-brew in an ice cube tray and use those in place of regular ice cubes
Get an extra dose of protein by adding a scoop of protein powder
Add extra fruit! Love berries? Mango? Sky’s the limit! Just add in another cup of fresh or frozen fruit and a couple extra tablespoons of liquid.
Make them popsicles! Add to ice pop molds and freeze for a summer smoothie ice pop!