Vegan Banana Caramel Smoothie Recipe from OhMyVeggies.com (2024)

Published: · by Nicole · Updated: · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Smoothie photos by Emily Caruso

It took me a long time to warm up to protein powders. The first few I tried were terrible — they tasted off at best, and bitter at worst. I figured that protein powders were for people who were into weight training and not people who like their food to taste good. (Guess which of those categories I fall into?) But then a year later, I gave them another try and realized that there were plant-based protein powders that actually tasted good. Imagine that!

Thus began Operation Stealthily Healthy Smoothie — because I knew that smoothies would be the best way for me to work a large amount of protein into my diet in a small package (or glass). Back in the carefree days of yore, I used to throw lots of greens and fruits and seeds and whatnot into my smoothies, but those pesky food aversions meant that the very thought of spinach in a smoothie made my stomach turn and fruity smoothies didn't appeal to me either. So my objective was to create smoothies that tasted like milkshakes.

Vegan Banana Caramel Smoothie Recipe from OhMyVeggies.com (1)

One of my favorites was a frozen banana blended with almond milk, a scoop of Chocolate Vega One, a tablespoon each of chia and hemp seeds, then swirled with a ribbon of peanut butter. And then there's this Banana Caramel Smoothie, my other favorite — dates, almond butter and French Vanilla Vega One combine to give this smoothie a caramel flavor. Yes, really! If you like bananas, use one that's nice and ripe; otherwise, a less ripe banana will lend creaminess to the smoothie without adding a pronounced banana flavor (a trick I picked up from Kare). And the awesome thing about Vega One is that it's not just a protein powder, it's an all-in-one nutritional shake with 6 servings of greens in each scoop — so I'm still getting my greens in these smoothies without feeling like I'm sipping a salad through a straw.

Recipe

Vegan Banana Caramel Smoothie Recipe from OhMyVeggies.com (2)

Banana Caramel Smoothie

This smoothie is a complete meal in a glass -- and it tastes like a caramel shake!

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Course: Breakfast, Drinks

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Keyword: Banana Caramel Smoothie, smoothie recipe

Servings: 1 large smoothie

Calories: 1639kcal

Author: Oh My Veggies

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups almond coconut or cashew milk (use less for a thicker smoothie)
  • 3 Medjool dates pitted
  • 1 large banana frozen
  • 1 scoop French Vanilla Vega One
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter
  • Cacao nibs for garnish optional

Instructions

  • Combine milk, dates, banana, Vega One and almond butter in a blender and blend until smooth.

Nutrition

Calories: 1639kcalCarbohydrates: 130gProtein: 52gFat: 115gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 28gMonounsaturated Fat: 72gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 15mgPotassium: 2556mgFiber: 36gSugar: 71gVitamin A: 185IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 676mgIron: 10mg

Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Liz says

    Thank you for posting! I will try it out as I have been looking for a way to get more veggies and protein into my kids' (and my) diet. Hopefully the "disguised as a chocolate milkshake" thing will work.

    Reply

  2. Caitlin says

    this smoothie looks delicious!

    Reply

  3. Alexis @ Hummusapien says

    Dates in smoothies = dream come true. This is great for all those January detoxes 🙂

    Reply

  4. Leslie says

    I bet this is tasty! I'm trying to get on a smoothie kick. Yum! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  5. Tara | Treble in the Kitchen says

    This sounds delicious! I love Vega and I love smoothies 🙂 Gotta try this recipe when a sweet tooth craving hits 🙂

    Reply

  6. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says

    I have a fresh pack of dates - I want to try this!!!

    Reply

  7. Stephanie says

    Oh my, this looks heavenly! Love the new Vega too! Going to have to make this this weekend.

    Reply

  8. Amber says

    Another great brand that I've used for years is Garden Greens. The chocolate and vanilla protein shakes are both awesome. They also have an amazing smoothie powder called AcaiSplash that is loaded with antioxidants and tastes amazing with a banana or avocado and a little vanilla protein powder. Yummers! Thanks so much for sharing your recipes.

    Reply

    • Kiersten Frase says

      I've never heard of that one before!

      Reply

  9. Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness says

    YUM! I'm a big fan of smoothies, especially ones with nut butter! I also add vegan protein powder in for an extra protein boost. Not sure if you do this at all, but I throw 1/2 scoop of protein powder into my pancake batters and mix it in with my cereal sometimes. It definitely helps me get that extra protein that i can easily forget about (give me all of the complex carbs!).

    Reply

    • Kiersten Frase says

      I've been meaning to make a big batch of protein pancakes for a few weeks now! I was thinking I'd make them on the weekend and then freeze them for breakfast during the week. 🙂

      Reply

  10. Joanne says

    70 GRAMS!!! Oy. That is a lot. I feel like you'd have to be eating a block of tofu at every meal! Or lots of Greek yogurt. Or both.

    Good to know that Vega is a tasty source of protein. I'll have to keep an eye out for it, because this smoothie is awesome.

    Reply

    • Kiersten Frase says

      I know, right? I used to pat myself on the back for getting 50 in. And it's especially hard when you don't have an appetite, so smoothies are essential right now!

      Reply

  11. Robyn Petrik says

    Banana Caramel sounds so good! I love Vega One, but so far I've only really had their natural flavour. I need to branch out and try some of the others!

    Reply

  12. likeatcake says

    Smoothies are my favourite for breakfast. Plus I love dates. It sounds it is one of the best smoothie recipe ever!

    Reply

Something to say? Leave a comment.

Vegan Banana Caramel Smoothie Recipe from OhMyVeggies.com (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken a vegan smoothie? ›

A handful of raw oats add thickness to your smoothie while kicking the fiber and protein up a notch. A tablespoon of chia seeds is a natural thickener and provides healthy fats and protein. Chia seeds absorb liquid from the smoothie and expand into a thicker texture.

What happens when you put bananas in a smoothie? ›

And bananas offer some impressive benefits of their own. “When you add the banana into your smoothie, you get potassium, phosphorus. Maybe not so many flavanols,” said Wintana Kiros, a clinical dietitian in the Washington, DC, area. “But if you have other foods at lunch or dinner, you're eating them throughout the day.

What can I put in a smoothie instead of banana? ›

But when I started experimenting, I discovered a handful of easy banana substitutes that lend a similar thick and creamy consistency to your smoothies. To make a smoothie without a banana, you can substitute oatmeal, avocado, chia seeds, frozen fruit, yoghurt or tofu.

Can I substitute avocado for banana in smoothie? ›

Start by adding half an avocado to your smoothie — you can always add more to get the consistency you prefer. Unlike bananas, avocados aren't sweet, so you may need to add dates or sweetener. Super Tip: If you notice your avocado is getting too ripe, cut it up and freeze it.

What makes a smoothie creamy? ›

  1. 10 Tips for Making Thick and Creamy Smoothies.
  2. Use Frozen Ingredients. ...
  3. Use "Pulpy" Fruits. ...
  4. Use Less Liquid. ...
  5. Add Natural Thickeners Like Chia, Oats or Nuts. ...
  6. Mix in Greek Yogurt. ...
  7. Blend Powders or Greens First. ...
  8. Freeze Some Liquid.

What powder makes smoothies thicker? ›

3. Protein Powder. Protein powder can help thicken smoothies as it absorbs some of the liquid. Make sure you add frozen ingredients like banana and ice to avoid gumminess.

What not to put in a smoothie? ›

Smoothie Ingredients to Choose Less Often
  1. Sugar-sweetened fruit juice or concentrate.
  2. Flavored yogurt.
  3. Flavored kefir.
  4. Whipped cream.
  5. Ice cream.
  6. Sorbet.
  7. Sherbet.
  8. Chocolate syrup.
Sep 15, 2023

What fruits should not be mixed in smoothies? ›

For those who want to consume smoothies with bananas, or other high PPO activity fruits and vegetables such as beet greens, the suggestion is to not combine them with flavanol-rich fruits such as berries, grapes and cocoa.

What will happen if I drink banana smoothie everyday? ›

Helps In Weight Gain

If you wish to gain weight then adding banana smoothie in your daily diet is a good idea as it can help you attain your noteworthy weight gain goals. It contains essential nutrients and many calories, which will help you in a complete transformation.

What's the difference between a banana shake and a banana smoothie? ›

Milkshake, as the name suggests, has a dairy base, it commonly uses ice creams, fruits and flavoured syrups. It has a creamy, frothy and thick texture as compared to the smoothie. It happens due to the milk and ice cream used in its preparation.

What can I put in a smoothie instead of juice? ›

If you're looking to cut calories and sugar from your diet, water is the perfect choice for liquid for smoothies. Not only is it calorie-free and sugar-free, but it's also money-free! Water is the ideal choice if you're trying to lose weight, as drinking water helps you burn calories and stay hydrated.

What is the best way to eat avocado if you don't like it? ›

Add manageable slices to sandwiches, salads, and other fresh foods. Halve an avocado, chuck the freakishly huge pit, and cut the soft fruit inside into thin strips. Use these strips to top a mixed salad, or tuck them away inside a light wrap or sandwich full of items you actually like.

What does avocado and banana smoothie do to your body? ›

While bananas are high in sugar, the sugar is natural and is a great source of energy. In this recipe, the banana is paired with avocado, a healthy fat source. This combination helps keep blood sugar steady. Both bananas and avocados provide a wealth of nutrients and have been linked to disease reduction.

Do you peel avocados for smoothies? ›

Peel the avocado

Peel the fruit by cutting it in quarters and removing the skin, just like a banana. Also keep in mind that slightly unripe avocados will be harder to peel.

What to put in a smoothie to make it thicker? ›

Using frozen ingredients is the key to creating a thick, satisfying smoothie. Other options for thickening include using fibrous fruits and veggies, adding chia seeds, spooning in yogurt, using avocados, or scooping in protein powder.

How do you thicken a vegan milkshake? ›

For extra thick and creamy vegan milkshakes, use no more than ¼ to ⅓ cup non-dairy milk per 8 cubes. If the milkshake becomes too thin, add more frozen milkshake cubes or a few slices of frozen banana to make it thicker.

How to make a smoothie more liquidy? ›

- Use water instead of ice when possible. Ice adds thickness while water doesn't! - Add more liquid ingredients such as coconut water or almond milk; this will help thin out your smoothie without affecting the flavor too much. - Don't forget about fruits like berries that are known for being on the thinner side!

How do you thicken vegan broth? ›

Mix mix 1 tablespoon of arrowroot starch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until smooth then stir into the soup. May need to double or triple that depending on how much soup you have. Simmer gently to thicken. The advantage of arrowroot starch over cornstarch is that it does not break down as quickly when heated.

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