Chocolate Green Super Smoothie is my favorite, go-to smoothie recipe for its rich chocolate flavor and power packed super foods! Vegan + GF
How’s the Halloween candy bowl? Is it empty…. almost empty? Seems this time of year we are inundated with sweet treats tempting us to have just a bite… or two. The grocery store isles are packed…
No, overflowing with packaged candy. One can become mesmerized at all the choices. And it’s not just at the candy isle. It’s there you when you enter the building, like an ocean of sugar and it’s up to you to find your way out!
Enter green smoothies. In this case, a chocolate green smoothie to soothe your sweet tooth and your conscience. I know, there are so many green smoothie recipes out there, each one with their own twist or list of ingredients.
But what I really appreciate about the myriad of green smoothie options is being able to try them and experience the variety of flavors all mixed up and smoothed out together. Isn’t it fun!? There are so many possibilities!
This green smoothie recipe is one of my favorites; a go-to recipe I never grow tired of.
I’ve been using hemp hearts on salads, sprinkled in yogurt, in energy bites and regularly in green smoothies since before I started blogging. But in green smoothies, they create an ultra creamy experience!
Hemp hearts are packed full of good for you stuff like dietary fiber, protein, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium and essential fatty acids. They are a pantry staple in our home and one that I make sure I always have on hand.
Another component of this smoothie that I love is of course the chocolate. I use raw cacao powder. As you know, cacao is a powerhouse of nutrition and makes any green smoothie taste like dessert! Like hemp hearts, raw cacao is packed with good for your nutrients. It is full of fiber, antioxidants, magnesium and iron. It also contains ‘good mood’ phytochemicals to help kick start your day on a positive note. Y’all like chocolate, right?
Swiss chard, the leafy green in this recipe, has a long growing season so it’s widely and consistently available. Our local farms have been going it since early spring, much to my excitement, because it’s one of my favorite greens to use in green smoothies. It has a mild and pleasant flavor, and is a powerful source of nutrient dense vitamins and minerals. It is high in vitamin K, A and C, and is a good source of fiber and protein.
Did you hear me people? Protein! It helps regulate blood sugar, support bone health and is anti-inflammatory. For more about the super power of Swiss chard, check out World’s Healthiest Foods.
So, after all the candy of last weekend, it’s time to take a break and have something… well, still delicious, rich and sweet, but on a whole different level! I hope you’ll give this a try!
Chocolate Green Super Smoothie
Ingredients
- 4 Leaves Medium of Swiss Chard stems on, cut in a few large pieces (about 6 oz)
- 2 Dates pitted
- 2 oz Apples small or 1 large, cored (about 11 )
- 1/2 oz Cucumber chopped into large chunks (about 8 )
- 1 Banana frozen
- 1 C Almond Milk or water
- 1/2 C Water
- 2 Tbs Natural Peanut Butter or Almond Butter
- 3 Tbs Raw Cacao Powder
- 2 Tbs Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds
- 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
- 2 Big Handfuls of Ice
Instructions
- Wash and prep all veggies.
- Add veggies, fruit, cacao, seeds, milk, water, cinnamon and ice to a Vitamix.
- Start blending on low and slowly increase the speed. Use tamper as needed. Blend until all ingredients are smooth.
- Enjoy right away!
Notes
Camille says
November 19, 2014 at 8:52 amGorgeous! Rainbow chard is so pretty! Plus this sounds so yummy. How could it not be? It has CHOCOLATE! :)
Traci says
November 19, 2014 at 11:58 amI know, right? Chocolate is amazing! I hope you enjoy the recipe Camille!
Michela @ From Italy With Food says
November 13, 2014 at 3:01 amI must admit that I never tried a smoothie, but this one looks spectacular! The combination of all these ingredients sounds really interesting! :)
Traci says
November 13, 2014 at 11:28 amHi Michela! I find it completely entertaining to put a bunch of greens in with a variety of ingredients to see how it tastes. It’s so much easier to get my daily greens in this way. And drinking chocolate for breakfast? Yesssss! Thanks for stopping by!
[email protected] The Gastronomic Bong says
November 13, 2014 at 2:35 amHi Traci, this smootie looks awesome.. I have never tried Swiss chard before but i think i need to now.. Can’t wait to try this..
Traci says
November 13, 2014 at 11:33 amThank you, Arpita! Chard is a lovely green and so colorful! Can you just imagine all the nutrition packed in one leaf? I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Mira says
November 12, 2014 at 4:25 pmI meant cacao, which is considered chocolate !
Traci says
November 13, 2014 at 11:34 amNo doubt, Mira, chocolate for breakfast suites me just fine! I hope you enjoy the recipe! :)
Mira says
November 12, 2014 at 4:24 pmI’m always in for green smoothies! But the fact that this one has chocolate in it, make is perfect for me! So healthy, too.Can’t wait to try it!
Evi @ greenevi says
November 12, 2014 at 12:31 pmTraci, this looks very delicious again!
I love such filling smoothies, I could also never get tired of these ones :)
Traci says
November 12, 2014 at 1:11 pmHi Evi! Thanks so much! I never get tired of them either… and you know each time you drink one your body is getting just exactly what it needs! They are such an energy booster!
kate // vegukate says
November 9, 2014 at 4:17 pmOh I love this! Hemp hearts + cacao create such a rich taste, and I love the idea of sneaking greens in here too for nutrient powers. Looks delicious!
Traci says
November 12, 2014 at 1:10 pmThanks, Kate! One can never have too many greens, right?!
Julia | Orchard Street Kitchen says
November 8, 2014 at 8:26 amI am always looking for new smoothie ideas, and this one is now at the top of my list of ones to try! I have been meaning to try raw cacao for ages, so this will be the perfect opportunity. I love how this is so healthy (great idea to detox after Halloween…we’ll all need this after Thanksgiving and Christmas, too!) – but it’s still so yummy with the cacao and almond butter. Yum! Thanks for sharing, Traci.
Traci says
November 8, 2014 at 3:12 pmHey Julia! I hope you enjoy the recipe. The cacao is really nice. I think it makes crave green smoothies even more! :D
Laura says
November 7, 2014 at 7:51 amYum! I love chocolate green smoothies. I made one yesterday post-run with very similar ingredients, but I’m excited to try this one with the addition of cucumber and apple. Thanks for sharing:)
Traci says
November 7, 2014 at 10:39 amHi Laura, you’re welcome! A lovely way to end a workout. A nourishing treat, indeed!
Isadora says
November 6, 2014 at 6:06 pmTraci! I just discovered hemp hearts a few months ago and I’m loving them so much! They are especially great in smoothies! I ate wayyyyy too much candy for Halloween and thankfully our candy bowl is finally empty! Although someone at work brought a huge bag of halloween candy in for everyone to eat, I think they are trying to temp me! I could really use a chocolate green smoothie right now! I’ve never used raw cocoa powder before, but I’ve been eyeing it and think I need to pick some up now! I’m also slightly embarrassed to say that I don’t think I’ve ever used rainbow chard in a recipe before but it is so beautiful and I need to get my hands on some asap!
Traci says
November 7, 2014 at 10:51 amAll that candy is so tempting…. Isn’t it great fun trying new ingredients and their flavors and textures? I didn’t ‘discover’ raw cacao until this past year and I might say, it’s a little addicting in smoothies. Just this morning I broke from tradition and made myself a pumpkin green smoothie… without the cacao and I loved it, very much, but I am looking forward to some chocolate tomorrow morning! Chard is so delicious.. it cooks down like spinach and kale. It is delicious in salads, soups, pasta… you name it! Have a beautiful weekend, Izzy!
Emilie @ The Clever Carrot says
November 6, 2014 at 5:52 pmOh! That swiss chard! What a gorgeous shot. I love myself a good smoothie especially if there’s chocolate involved. Your recipe looks deliciously refreshing. I’m a huge fan of raw cocoa too. I would certainly trade in my candy bowl for this smoothie! Plus, my kids would like it too ;)
Traci says
November 7, 2014 at 10:53 amThank you, Emily! LoL – trading in you candy bowl! I bet your kiddos would like this… chocolate and peanut butter? I hope yall enjoy the recipe!
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen says
November 6, 2014 at 11:03 amI love smoothies – especially ones packed with healthy ingredients like these. Never had hemp hearts before – can you get them in the supermarket or Whole Foods? Looking forward to trying this, Traci – I need all the help I can get in the morning :). Love the swiss chard shot – very pretty.
Traci says
November 6, 2014 at 12:13 pmHey Geraldine! Thank you! I’ve seen hemp hearts at Whole Foods, co-ops and of course Amazon. It seems they are growing in popularity. I used to have difficulty finding them, but now it seems I see them everywhere. LOL help in the morning! Yeah, the chocolate in this smoothie really gets me going. It is one of my favorite things! A great way to start my day! I hope you enjoy the recipe, Geraldine!
Cheryl says
November 6, 2014 at 9:42 amYesss!! This chica needs a major detox and this smoothie is right up my alley! It’s definitely a step up from my typical four-ingredient greenie, which is great and all but gets a bit boring and I would assume is something like running 5 miles everyday.. a great workout at first but eventually you plateau, you know? Love the gorgeous chard and hemp hearts! Excellent idea Traci!
Traci says
November 6, 2014 at 12:09 pmThank you, Cheryl! Some mornings call for a four ingredient smoothie, for sure. This one comes together pretty quick, although I often forget to freeze my bananas. OMG 5 miles? Are you doing that?!!?
Lynne says
November 6, 2014 at 9:04 amI like smoothies; I really do. But, it seems like they all have banana. I know it’s for a thickener and because the durned things are really good for you. However, I think they are just gross! Soooo, can you taste the banana in this, or is it disguised. Is there a good substitute? I love, love, love by the way the flashing blender shot. However you did it, it is tres cool!
Traci says
November 6, 2014 at 12:07 pmLOL! Ok, Lynne. A creamy factor is a must in this, so ditch the banana and add about 1/4 – 1/2 of an avocado. Then, to bump up the sweetness, add another apple, say a honey crisp… something sweet, if you like! The flashing blender thingy… that’s my techy attempt at a GIF image. :D