Love Chocolate Shakes? Give This Smoothie A Try

This look yummy. For those people who do not want to use Agave, just add a pitted whole date for sweetness. Can't believe all that sugar in the milkshake.

Sue

With half a ripe banana, some may find that they can do without the extra agave/honey, or reduce the amount.

Particularly if you are looking for a really "dark" chocolate flavour.

istara

Snack Girl, I love your recipes! Do you have any smoothie recipes that DON"T have bananas in them? I can't help it, I loathe them. Thanks!!

Stephanie G

I actually like Hershey's Dark Chocolate Cocoa Powder. Your shake looks delish! Love chocolate and banana together!

Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers

This sounds yummy! I can't wait to try it! I'm thinking I could even sneak some kale or spinach in there for my kids since the darker color will hide it well. Thanks for sharing!

Michelle

www.simplywellwithmichelle.com

Michelle @ Simply Well with Michelle

Brilliant

These are the tips I like

Henriette van de Weijer

Try Fat.free Greek ypgurt, Truvia (stevia), and a little fat free milk (almost frozen) with the cocoa powder in the blender...with any other flavor (like hazelnut, vanilla or nutmeg) for a "no banana" smoothie

Ann

I'm definitely trying this! Looks so good!

Deb

My friend and I were just discussing putting coco powder in smoothies yesterday. It's a great way to fix a chocolate craving. Love this kind off smoothie though I generally don't add sugar or whole milk, but if replacing a shake it makes for a better treat

Erin

I make a shake like this. Only difference I don't use any sweetner and add a peanut butter to it.

NIOSHA

I'm so glad to see Hershey's putting that on the label. It's either new or I hadn't noticed it before. I usually love dark chocolate, but I actually preferred the regular Hershey's cocoa when I tried the special dark cocoa powder. I felt like I "should" buy the darker one for the health benefits. Fortunately I did a quick search online and found this same info on Hershey's website. It's nice they're making this information more accessible. I'd hate to have people (like myself) buying the Special Dark thinking it was healthier when they might really prefer the regular kind (that actually is healthier).

Jodie

Such a great idea for a chocolate and ice cream fix. not going to add sugar or stevia.... Don't need the added sweetness.

Gigi

This sounds so good!!Love the idea if adding peanut butter too!

Is it OK to use a low-fat milk instead of whole?

Melissa

When Hershey brings its operations back to the US, I'll be more impressed... To keep my smoothie dairy free, I just use the banana, cocoa or carob, a little agave (with carob, no extra sweetener is needed!), and I usually add some protein powder (hemp), and add water. Absolutely delicious.

Barb C

Have to agree with Barb C. I cannot in good faith use Hershey products. Not only have they moved their operations out of the US, they also buy from suppliers who use child slave labor. And this is a company which brags about the Milton Hershey School! Little conflict there!

Corky Fisher

I use skim milk and splenda, but am trying to switch to natural sweeteners with mixed results. 6 ww points sounds like a lot for this though? I was assuming my little concoction was 2 at best since it's basically a banana and ice. I also use peanut butter sometimes for more or a real milkshake feel. Agreed it is one of the best cravings busters out there! I know you already mentioned Trader Joe's dark chocolate triangles somewhere? (I get the ones w/ caramel.) Smarties also keep me on track--a roll for 30 calories! Also Snack Girl--these cookies are an amazing deal calorically speaking for people who love short bread. Our dollar store has them periodically--otherwise 3-4 at the regular store. http://www.earthsbest.com/products/product/2392320200 10 cookies for 100 calories/ 1 carb exchange/ 6 gr sugar and they have vitamins etc. as they are for toddlers!

SAG

I got this recipe from one of your readers about a year ago - it has become a standard breakfast drink for me, but I also have one if I want to fill-up before going out to dinner. Original recipe: lend together 1 sliced frozen banana, (about) 1 cup cold coffee, 2 TBS cocoa powder. I use 1 TBS Sharfen Burger cocoa and throw in 1/3 cup fat free Greek yogurt for a bit of protein.

Robin

Holy chocolate cow-- you have made my day!

Leah

Ann, careful on the Stevia products. There's a warning on WebMD that people on blood pressure meds should not consume Stevia products. I would always post a disclaimer stating that if I were you...it's good information to have.

leah

Ladies, be aware that fat-free dairy is not as healthy as you think.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/05/…

http://butterbeliever.com/fat-free-dairy-skim-milk-secrets/

Sally

I have to admit that I've struggled with the same obsession. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Also, try replacing whole milk for unsweetened almond milk and add some kale and almond butter... It's yummy!!

Danielle Roberts

Great smoothie, but have you tried this with Almond Milk...even fewer cals ;)

Wendi Morrison

Thanks for the update on Stevia Leah - I had no idea that it messed with blood pressure meds - I'll definitely stay away from it now....

Julie

I always peel and then freeze ripe bananas - i halve them and wrap them. They are great frozen in a smoothie or shake, and you susally don't taste the banana flavor.

amy

I use almond milk in all my smoothies, vanilla

almond milk,(from Aldee's) is 90 calories a cup and is sweet enough that you don't need to add sweetner. Love this site. Thanks everyone for all the great ideas

karen

Wow I'm shocked that Hershey put this on their label. I wonder though, if there was some little bit of legislation that made so they had to do it? Anyway I'm a certified chocoholic so I have to give this a try. I like Sue's idea of using the date. That will definitely add a layer of complexity.

Brian @ New Me and You

I just opened this email and decided to try it right away. I had my 6 year old read the ingredients off of the computer :-) We doubled it and shared it between my hubby, myself and both girls. It was fabulous. We used unsweetened Almond milk as we only use almond or coconut milk (I will try it with Coconut milk next time). It was wonderful but next time I will omit the sweetener (honey) as we are REALLY big on the bitter sweetness experience of dark chocolate. This was awesome! Thank you Lisa :-)

Tywana

Im not sure how healthy this one is... But my husband made an awesome smoothie last night! Chocolate pudding, frozen banana, all natural peanut butter, ice cubes and splash of 2% milk- in the blender. SO good!

Sarah

Barb C-Yes I agree too. Not only is Hershey, [nestle, dagoba, sharffen-berger, cadbury, etc] not fair-traded they changed the ''chocolate'' formula to greatly reduce cocoa butter, the very essence of chocolate, and replace it with god knows what lowly vegetable oil, such that even the FDA ruled it can't be labeled as chocolate but names like ''candy'' or ''chocolatey'' have to be used. And whole foods has refused, with other health mkts, to selI it. I research my chocolate, which isn't easy, because conventional chocolate is everywhere and enticing; whenever it comes up I tell family and friends ''don't eat that, its crap, its cruel, and it ain't what it used to be!'' Sorry for the rant I just get so emotional about the junk out there! [try Green and Black brand, last I looked it was fair-traded and delicious.

BARB L

Sally just getting a chance to read your websites that you recommended. Very interesting. Thanks.

Sue K

Thanks Leah, for posting this about Stevia products....my daughter is now using Splelnda, and says as soon as she finishes what she has, she will be buying Stevia.....I too thought it was better than Stevia...., do you have a link for this too ?

If so can you send it to me at kylady717@hotmail.com ?

I am forwarding these links that you posted and to my sisters who still eat margarine.... Thanks Leah

Mona G.

I just tried this today and it was delicious! Thank you!

Abby

A few thoughts.....I tend to do Simply Filling or eating healthily as you do with a focus on real foods. That said, I still don't get the total for that for 6 points, assuming WW is counting the banana, which should have 0 but if this is a recipe....the sweetener is 1P for 1 T usually, cocoa is 0 and the milk is according to which one you use. All in all, I make similar smoothies using a mix of greek yogurt and either soy or 1% milk. The banana often makes it nice and sweet so no sweetener needed. I use all different frozen fruits. I am totally off all fake sweeteners and find I need things much less sweet now. The date idea someone posted is great! After buying some r early good ones at the Farmer's Market, the seller told me to put them in the freezer, they last longer and do not harden. Works great. So, love your smoothie idea, just would use other milk and count it as Simply Filling or plainly eating well!

Sharon Schraer

I'm in love with the Dark Choc cocoa powder! I freeze my bananas so I don't have to add the ice, I find that kind of dilutes it too much. Sometimes to be extra decadent, I add a small spoonful of peanut butter or Nutella, add a little less milk and eat it like ice cream!

Trazey

Unsweetened original almond milk is a great substitute for regular whole milk or if you go with sweetened, you can skip additional sweeteners. The coffee addition is a spectacular idea!!

Cheryl T

I love adding cocoa powder to my smoothies! I don't like bananas either, but I occasionally use a partial froze one, as it makes a good base. But I always use either almond or cashew milk and agave. I figured if it's a fruit you wouldn't mind eating covered in chocolate, cocoa powder will add a nice touch to just about any fruit combo. I just did a strawberry pineapple smoothie with a little cocoa. Yum!

Traci

Can't have chocolate, and dislike bananas in any smoothie...no matter what else I put in it , it still taste like banana......I suppose you could leave banana and choc. out tho....that is what I usually do anyways.....even a half banana is too much.....:) am looking for an ORANGE smoothie.....would anyone have one ? No bananas please, thank you :)

Mona