Dessert for breakfast is happening over here once again.
Isn’t that just great?
Based on the chocolatey, decadent picture you’d think that this shake contains a boatload of sugar along with a hefty dose of fat.
But hallelujah the only sugar in that thing comes from super ripe frozen banana!
(Well, I guess there’s a titch of sugar in the dark chocolate drizzle… shhh.)
And you do get some added creaminess from unsweetened coconut milk “yogurt” soo yeah this shake just happens to be vegan.
Did I mention there’s a handful of fresh baby spinach hidden in their too?
Okay maybeee I should have left that little detail out this early in the game, but you can’t taste it and we all want a delicious yet well-balanced start to the morning right?
Yes indeed.
I’ve been on a mint chocolate kick for a while now and finally mustered up the courage to swoop up a bottle of peppermint flavor (like vanilla extract, kinda).
It’s all natural and superrrr duper strong, so when I say a scant 1/8 teaspoon (2ish drops) do not attempt to add more!
Even if you love mint with all your heart.
The first time around I added 1/4 teaspoon (small amount, sure) and my minty to the max shake literally cleared out my sinuses.
No need to brush my teeth after that!
So we’re looking for a pleasantly minty shake here with just a hit of chocolate.
In addition to frozen banana, creamy coconut milk “yogurt,” fresh spinach, and refreshing peppermint flavor, I also threw in cacao powder, pure vanilla extract, unsweetened original almond milk, plus a pinch of salt.
Drizzle on some melted dark chocolate for an extra treat. (It hardens just like magic shell, woah!)
And don’t forget a sprinkling of cacao nibs for a nice crunch.
P.S. Feel free to leave out the spinach if the idea alone makes you cringe and possibly even shed a tear. I promise you won’t know it’s there, but I fully understand the concept of baby steps.
P.P.S. Make sure to buy unsweetened (not vanilla) coconut milk “yogurt”–it’s dairy free–as well as unsweetened almond milk. We like to control our sugar intake over here.
P.P.P.S. If you do want your shake a tad sweeter (make sure your naners are speckled by the way) add a drizzle of pure maple syrup to your blender.
P.P.P.S. Pick up an all natural peppermint flavor. Not extract, which is apparently a lot weaker. We don’t want a disappointing shake situation. Also, if your taste buds are super sensitive, start with just one drop of peppermint and work your way up. 2 drops should be just fine for most.
P.P.P.P.S Now obviously this isn’t going to taste like one of those overly sweet neon green concoctions. So. Don’t throw a hissy fit after you take your first sip of this healthier, yet still tasty version.