Chocolate Cherry Protein Shake (Printer-Friendly)
Rich chocolate and tart cherry blend into a creamy, protein-packed shake perfect for post-workout recovery or a quick breakfast.
# 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, and any optional sweetener or vanilla extract to a blender.
02 - Blend on high until the mixture is smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides if needed.
03 - Add ice cubes if a thicker texture is desired, and blend again until fully incorporated.
04 - Pour into a tall glass and serve right away for the best flavor and consistency.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It tastes like a milkshake from a diner but packs enough protein to actually fuel your morning.
- Frozen cherries do double duty here, adding both bold flavor and a creamy texture without needing yogurt or ice cream.
02 -
- Pitted cherries sound obvious but I once bit into a shard of pit that survived the blender and it was genuinely alarming so double check those cherries.
- Protein powders vary wildly in sweetness and texture so you may need to tweak the liquid amount depending on your brand.
03 -
- The single biggest improvement you can make is freezing your cherries and banana ahead of time because it eliminates the need for ice entirely and keeps the flavor concentrated.
- Add a tiny pinch of salt to the blender. It sounds wrong but salt makes chocolate taste dramatically more like itself.