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Home Recipe Index Beverages Smoothies

Chocolate Covered Cherry Smoothie

5 /5
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 10/10/23Updated: 7/20/24

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This Chocolate Covered Cherry Smoothie tastes like a chocolate shake (seriously!) but is chock full of antioxidants and protein thanks to spinach, dark cherries, almond butter, cocoa powder, and more. It’s dairy-free, gluten-free, and we teach you how to make it into a freezer smoothie pack for later.

Chocolate covered cherry smoothie in mason jar with straw. this …


 
Table of Contents
  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Make It a Freezer Smoothie Pack
  • More Smoothie Recipes
  • FAQs
  • More Chocolate Breakfast Recipes
  • Chocolate Covered Cherry Smoothie

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Flavor – This fruit smoothie tastes like a chocolate shake.
  • Reader-favorite – Besides being Rachel’s favorite, many of our readers keep coming back to this one again and again. Serve with some Cinnamon Toast made in the Oven for a divine meal!
  • It can be prepped as a smoothie pack – Scale it up and freeze the smoothie packs.
  • More fruits and veggies – Like our other recipes that sneak in vegetables and fruits, smoothies are an easy and tasty way to eat more produce at breakfast.

We love packing in as much tasty nutrition to every bite we can, like our Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins and Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal, too.

Ingredients

Chocolate covered cherry smoothie in a mason jar with all the ingredients labeled.

Ingredient Notes:

  • Almond milk – I use plain, unsweetened. You can substitute your favorite milk of choice.
  • Frozen dark sweet cherries – NOT tart red cherries.
  • Almond butter – Peanut butter does NOT work as a great substitution for almond butter. It’s got too much salt and throws the taste off.
  • Optional: Protein powder – I’d suggest adding in some unsweetened protein powder to balance out the natural sugars in this smoothie. I personally like Vital Proteins.

Make It a Freezer Smoothie Pack

What are freezer smoothie packs?

A freezer smoothie pack is a pre-prepared mixture of ingredients for making smoothies that is portioned, packed, and stored in the freezer until you’re ready to blend it into a smoothie.

To Prep the Smoothie Pack:

Layer ingredients in small freezer bags (or reusable silicone bags) in this order:

  • 1/2 banana
  • 1 cup frozen dark sweet cherries
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter
  • 1 cup baby spinach (preferably organic)
  • 1 tablespoon 100% cocoa powder or cacao powder
  • Optional: 1-2 scoops protein powder

Seal tightly, squeezing out the air, and freeze for up to 3 months.

To Make the Smoothie:

Pour the liquid in your blender, dump in the frozen smoothie pack, and blend.

Chocolate covered cherry smoothie ingredients layered in a freezer-safe bag to make a smoothie pack for the freezer.

More Smoothie Recipes

We worked hard to develop 7 delicious smoothie recipes and teach you how to prep them as freezer smoothie packs. Here are the other flavors available:

  • Strawberry Pina Colada Smoothie
  • 4-Ingredient Tropical Green Smoothie
  • Blueberry Muffin Smoothie
  • Orangesicle Smoothie
  • Green Machine Smoothie
  • Very Berry Smoothie

FAQs

Can I use something other than dark, sweet cherries?

It’s important to note that you really can’t substitute dark, sweet cherries. I tested this with the tart red version, as well as strawberries, and it just wasn’t the same. Neither of those fruits was as sweet.

You may have to hunt a bit to find which store carries them. They can also be pricey so try to buy in bulk when on sale if possible!

Can I freeze a leftover smoothie?

Yes! If you don’t drink all of your smoothie, pour it into an ice cube tray (or something to help portion it out) and freeze. Then pop out the small portions of smoothie to toss in your blender the next time you make a smoothie.

Can I add protein powder to this smoothie?

Sure! Feel free to add in a sugar-free, unflavored protein powder or collagen powder. I like Vital Protein Collagen Peptides. You may need to add a little more liquid if you include this ingredient.

How do I freeze bananas?

We have written a post with all our tips for freezing bananas. The main takeaway is to freeze the banana slices on a baking sheet for a few hours and THEN transfer to a freezer-safe container.

Smoothie

7 Must Have Smoothie Recipes

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More Chocolate Breakfast Recipes

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Chocolate Banana Muffins

A spoonful of chocolate mug cake being lifted from the mug.

Chocolate Protein Mug Cake

Baked chocolate oatmeal in a white bowl with raspberries and milk.

Brownie Baked Oatmeal

Chocolate zucchini waffles stacked on a plate and topped with banana slices, peanut butter, and mini chocolate chips.

Chocolate Zucchini Waffles

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Chocolate covered cherry smoothie in mason jar with straw.
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 14 reviews

Chocolate Covered Cherry Smoothie

This Chocolate Covered Cherry Smoothie tastes like dessert but is chock full of antioxidants and protein thanks to spinach, dark cherries, almond butter, cocoa powder, and more. Easy, single serving smoothie that can be made into a smoothie pack, too.

Yield: One 16-ounce smoothie 1x
Prep: 5 minutesCook: 0 minutesTotal: 5 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 1 – 1 1/2 cups unsweetened plain almond milk (or milk of your choice)
  • 1/2 banana, sliced (preferably frozen for best smoothie texture)
  • 1 cup frozen sweet dark cherries (NOT red tart cherries)
  • 1 cup baby spinach (preferably organic)
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter
  • 1 tablespoon 100% cocoa powder or cacao powder
  • Optional: 1-2 scoops unsweetened protein powder (I like Vital Proteins brand)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make It Now:

1. Start by adding 1 cup almond milk to a high-powered blender. Then, add all the other ingredients.

2. Blend until smooth. You may need to stop and stir/shake the blender or add up to 1/2 cup more of almond milk, as needed, to make sure it gets smooth.

3. Taste and add a dollop of honey, if preferred.

Make Freezer Smoothie Packs for Later:

1. Layer ingredients in small freezer bags in this order:

  • 1/2 banana
  • 1 cup frozen dark sweet cherries
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter
  • 1 cup baby spinach (preferably organic)
  • 1 tablespoon 100% cocoa powder or cacao powde
  • Optional: 1-2 scoops protein powder

2. Seal tightly, squeezing out the air, and freeze for up to 3 months.

3. To Blend: Pour 1 cup almond milk into a high-powered blender first. Break up the ingredients in the bag by hitting it on the counter or crunching it with your hands. Dump the ingredients from the bag in and follow blending instructions above.


Notes/Tips

  • It’s important to note that you really can’t substitute dark, sweet cherries. I tested this with the tart red version, as well as strawberries, and it just wasn’t the same. Neither of those fruits was as sweet.
  • Check out all 7 smoothie packs and download a recipe cheat sheet and shopping list.
  • If you’d like to add in more protein, feel free to add in a sugar-free, unflavored protein powder or collagen powder. I like Vital Protein Collagen Peptides. You may need to add a little more liquid.
© Author: Rachel Tiemeyer
Cuisine: American Method: Blender

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Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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  1. Anna says

    Posted on 2/12/24 at 9:35 pm

    This is my new favorite smoothie! I love the flavor combo.

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 2/13/24 at 9:20 am

      It’s seriously so good! It’s my favorite as well. Thanks for leaving a review Anna!

      Reply
  2. Beth says

    Posted on 2/5/24 at 5:39 pm

    I have been making this smoothie weekly. It is delicious! I also add half of a small raw beet and you can’t even taste it!

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 2/5/24 at 6:49 pm

      Ooh… love to hear about added sneaky vegetables that can’t be tasted! Thanks for leaving a review Beth.

      Reply
  3. Liz M says

    Posted on 11/8/23 at 2:20 pm

    Really yummy. I skipped the honey and added vanilla protein powder. Nice for a sweet, chocolate-y yet healthy treat

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 11/9/23 at 9:42 am

      Hi Liz. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review and let others know of your changes. This is one of the favorites around Thriving Home for sure!

      Reply
  4. Carla FletcherCarla Fletcher says

    Posted on 6/20/22 at 3:03 pm

    Like Rachel, this is my favorite smoothie. It’s like dessert!

    Reply
  5. Abbie says

    Posted on 6/16/22 at 7:35 pm

    We made extras and turned a set into Popsicles like you suggested in the kids video such a good choice!

    Reply
  6. Amber says

    Posted on 6/8/22 at 11:36 am

    This smoothie is MAGICAL! Oh my goodness!

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 6/8/22 at 1:46 pm

      I’m glad you feel that way, too! I literally had it for breakfast for 2 years straight. (I’ve recently moved on to a version of the Blueberry Muffin Smoothie on our site.)

      Reply
  7. Gerald Fowler says

    Posted on 6/2/22 at 8:51 am

    Love these recipes

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 6/2/22 at 10:51 am

      Wonderful to hear that. Thanks for the feedback!

      Reply
  8. Diana says

    Posted on 5/12/22 at 6:10 am

    Hi..I love your idea of smoothie freezer packs/recipes..I am allergic to bananas and use avocado as a replacement but not sure if they will freeze well..have you tried majool dates as sweetener..know they would not work in freezer pack..TY

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 5/12/22 at 8:03 am

      Hi Diana. Avocados actually freeze great for smoothies! We’ve tested it and written an article here: https://thrivinghomeblog.com/can-you-freeze-avocados/

      I haven’t tested using dates but I think they would be fine in a smoothie pack.

      Reply
  9. Amy says

    Posted on 4/16/21 at 12:30 am

    If one has a Vitamix, could they just add almonds instead of the almond butter? And what do you think of adding dates instead of honey to up the fiber?

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 4/16/21 at 9:03 am

      Yes! I do that frequently. I just buy a big bag of raw almonds and have them in the freezer. I also toss in a few walnuts each day, too. I don’t use any honey in this recipe, but if you want it sweeter you could try dates. But the cherries and banana add a lot of sugar already. It’s plenty sweet for me! I hope you enjoy it.

      Reply
  10. MIRANDA says

    Posted on 2/12/21 at 9:20 am

    Do you think I could substitute avocado for banana?

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 2/12/21 at 12:08 pm

      I think the texture would work just fine, however it will be less sweet. Try it and you can always add in a little honey at the end if you want it sweeter.

      Reply
  11. Nathalie says

    Posted on 11/22/20 at 6:16 pm

    OMG! I absolutely love this smoothie 😍 I didn’t think something so delicious is good for me. This tastes just like ice cream and I’m going to try to get my kids to drink this too! Thank you for this recipeπŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 11/22/20 at 9:26 pm

      I’m so happy you like it, Nathalie. It’s hands-down my favorite, too. I drink it about 5-6 days a week for breakfast…going on about 2 years now. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  12. Samantha says

    Posted on 8/23/20 at 5:36 pm

    This was AMAZING. It really does taste like a milkshake, I drank it in like five minutes. Do you think other fruits such as strawberries or blueberries could be used in place of the cherries? I’m just thinking of variety for future smoothies!

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 8/24/20 at 10:05 am

      Yeah! Glad you liked it! I’ve tried other fruit in it’s place and it’s honestly just not as good. The cherries have a higher sugar content than the others. But, you could try it and always add a little honey to sweeten it more if needed.

      Reply
  13. B says

    Posted on 8/11/20 at 7:49 pm

    What do you think about using kale in this smoothie?

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 8/19/20 at 9:21 am

      It’s definitely not a one-to-one replacement for spinach. Kale has a stronger flavor for sure that can’t be masked as easily. If you use kale, I would suggest using less. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  14. Cindy says

    Posted on 7/21/20 at 7:03 pm

    😍😍😍 this is very yummy I love spinach in my smoothies. I have never tried cocoa powder but yum thanks for a good smoothie.

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 7/22/20 at 2:52 pm

      I’m glad you enjoyed it, Cindy! Thanks for the review.

      Reply
  15. Alicia says

    Posted on 3/16/20 at 8:08 am

    Love this! I usually am disappointed with smoothie recipes, having to add much more liquid later on and then having it end up flavorless. This turned out perfect following the recipe exactly. AND it’s delicious enough to drink every day. Thanks ladies!

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 3/17/20 at 4:58 pm

      Yeah! So glad you loved it. It’s been my daily smoothie recipe for a whole year…no joke. I sometimes add whole raw nuts in place of the almond butter for a little variety and I usually pack in even more spinach, too (you don’t even notice).

      Reply
  16. Kay says

    Posted on 2/11/20 at 6:58 pm

    Does this really have 60 grams of sugar???

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 2/11/20 at 7:19 pm

      Definitely not! Only about 22 grams. I just checked our nutrition app and found the mistake and corrected it. Thank you for asking!

      Reply
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