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Hello friends! How was your weekend?

We got some unpacking done, had wine and pizza night, and got some long runs in. All in all, a perfect mix of balance if you ask me. We made some delicious pizza, like this arugula, prosciutto, pineapple, and the caramelized onion, pear and gorgonzola. Droooool.

I’m way overdue with sharing some delicious recipes with you. I decided to put this one together this weekend since it’s very quick and easy, and is great for the hot summer weather. And I realized that I haven’t yet shared a green smoothie recipe on the blog, so that needed to change.

This green smoothie combo is my new go to. And rather than my standard peanut butter addition, this one involves coconut butter. CAKE BATTER coconut butter.

And for those of you who fear the green smoothie, I promise you can’t even taste the spinach – it’s just providing wonderful things that your bodies thrive on, so take my word for it.

This smoothie bowl is full of:

• Protein
• Healthy Fat
• Hidden greens
• Prebiotics and Probiotics

Did you know that bananas are a great source of prebiotics? Prebiotics are helpful for feeding the probiotics (good guys) in our gut, so not only do bananas offer great flavor, but they have many nutritional properties. Another reason to devour this smoothie bowl.

The special ingredient for the cake batter flavor in this smoothie bowl is Nikki’s Cake Batter Coconut Butter. I can’t speak enough about this stuff, I’m slightly obsessed. It has a little different texture than peanut butter; it’s thicker and more like coconut oil in it’s semi-solid state. I actually think it’s better for smoothies since it’s not as liquid-y as peanut butter.

My thoughts on Smoothies vs. Smoothie Bowls

I find smoothies so refreshing in general – they are cold, fruity, sweet, thick, thin, however you like them. However, one thing I’ve come to learn about myself is that liquids don’t fill me up as much as solids.

Chewing needs to be involved and I prefer a crunch that actually provides me with mental and physical satisfaction while enjoying a meal or snack, which is why I’m so keen on this strawberry and banana smoothie bowl.

I think another part of it is that I mentally link smoothies with “on the go,” meaning I’m rushed. Liquid smoothies are perfect for quick meals/snacks when I’m in a rush or have to eat in my car, but otherwise, I want to take time and enjoy my meal. With a spoon. Out of a bowl.

I prefer my smoothie bowls with a myriad of toppings. The easy way to avoid tiring from smoothie combinations is through the toppings. Each smoothie bowl is like a blank canvas ready to be customized! EXCITING, RIGHT?!

I’ve pretty much come to terms with my favorite toppings. My usuals are:

• cocao nibs
• hemp seeds
• frozen bluebs
• half of a banana
• maple granola

I promise you that together, these offer great flavor, crunch, antioxidants and magic ingredients to power you through the day. My dream team right there.

The good thing is that you can totally customize your own toppings for this smoothie bowl.

This smoothie bowl is all I crave after my my marathon training long runs.  And there is no preparation needed. You don’t need to let anything thaw, cut anything up, and measurements can be eye-balled and estimated. Add more or less of things depending on your preference!

It can even be vegan if you leave out the greek yogurt, and gluten-free depending on what toppings you use!

By the way, we just got a Ninja and HELLLLLO. It puts my old blender to shame. It’s fast, powerful and super easy to clean. I only wish I had purchased one sooner but better late than never?

Let’s get to this recipe!

Servings 1 smoothie

Vanilla Cake Batter Green Smoothie Bowl

Sarah Schlichter, MPH, RDN

A refreshing, nutritious smoothie that tastes like dessert! Perfect for a snack, meal, or even sweeter treat.

4.91 from 11 ratings

Print Pin

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 minute min

Total Time 6 minutes mins

Ingredients  

1x2x3x

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup almond milk
• 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt, or cottage cheese
• 1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
• 2 tbsp Coconut Butter I used cake batter flavor
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup ice, optional

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions 

1. Mix all ingredients in your blender and blend. Top with toppings of choice.

Notes

Optional toppings: blueberries, granola, hemp seeds, cocao nibs, banana

Equipment

Vega Protein & Greens Vanilla (18 Servings, 18.6 Ounce) - Plant Based Protein Powder, Keto-Friendly, Gluten Free, Non Dairy, Vegan, Non Soy, Non GMO - (Packaging may vary)

Nikki's Coconut Butter Vanilla Cake Batter (12 Oz) - Peanut Butter Alternative - Gluten-Free, Paleo-Friendly, Non-GMO, Guilt-Free Superfood

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 663kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 50gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 21gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 610mgFiber: 15gSugar: 29g

Did you make this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Adding ice is completely optional, but I like it add some to thicken up the smoothie a little bit and keep it ICE COLD.

*I used Bob’s Red Mill Vanilla Nutritional Booster protein powder. I think the taste is amazing and goes really well with the cake batter coconut butter. Plus, it has chia seeds, chicory root fiber (another prebiotic) and probiotics too, so it’s a nutrient powerhouse.