The Best Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Smoothie
A creamy, chocolatey smoothie that tastes like a milkshake-but packed with toddler-friendly nutrition.
Once upon a time, there used to be two smoothie recipes -one a classic chocolate peanut butter blend, and another simpler banana-based version. But one day, in a rush to clean up and save time, we tossed everything into one blender... and the result was magic.
That happy kitchen accident became this Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Smoothie. Creamy, rich, and velvety thanks to a secret ingredient-tofu! It adds an unbelievably silky texture (seriously, it feels like you're drinking a milkshake), and a gentle protein/iron boost that makes this smoothie feel just a little more satisfying, whether you're fueling your toddler's wild energy or your own.
Perfect for breakfast, snack time, or anytime you need a little chocolatey comfort, this smoothie is going to be loved by babies, toddlers, and adults alike. If you're a fan of chocolate and peanut butter, you're in for a treat.
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Why we love this toddler smoothie recipe
For starters, it's delicious. Believe us when we say it could be mistaken for a chocolate milkshake. It's that good.
On top of that, it's packed with nutrition - fibre, protein, healthy fats, calcium, potassium, antioxidants, and more. When we were creating this recipe, nutrient-rich ingredients were top of mind and we sure think it delivers.
Since it includes three food groups, this smoothie could even stand alone as a meal for those wildly busy days! May we suggest for breakfasts "to-go" or lunch on a hot summer afternoon please and thank you?!
One more thing, this smoothie includes three top priority allergens - milk, peanuts, and soy. In case you weren't aware, tofu is made from soy! Why is this important? Because allergens are foods we want to introduce to our babies early and then keep offering them often throughout childhood. Based on the latest research, this "early and often" approach is the best way to reduce the chance of your child developing a food allergy into the future. We call this, repeat exposure!
If your child is allergic to one of these foods, take a look at our swap suggestions below.
If you're not familiar with allergens or the "early and often" idea, no worries! We dive deep into allergens with step by step guidance on how to introduce them and what to look for in terms of signs and symptoms of an allergy in our course Start Solids Confidently.
Okay, one more thing we love about this recipe. There are no fancy ingredients that will send you to three different markets here. You should be able to find everything at your local grocery store. If you're new to tofu, it can typically be found in the produce section.
When can my child drink this smoothie?
The short answer? After nine months of age. While the puréed texture of this Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie is appropriate for babies who are ready to start solids around 6 months of age, we want to be mindful of the ingredients we offer babies who are new eaters.
This is because when a baby is starting solids, maximizing iron intake and absorption is really important and this recipe doesn't do much in the way of offering that specifically. And as significant amounts of high calcium foods (like milk) can interfere with and displace intake of high iron foods, we recommend holding off on offering large amounts of them until high iron foods have been offered and accepted by your baby.
Suggested reading: Smoothies For Babies: all your questions answered!
What if my baby has a peanut allergy?
If your baby has a peanut allergy, we got you! Here are a couple options for substitutions:
- If you know your baby is only allergic to peanuts and not to other tree nuts, you could substitute any other nut butter - almond or cashew would be delicious!
- If you need to avoid all nuts, a seed butter could also work here. Two options are tahini (which is basically sesame seed butter) or sunflower butter. Or, skip it all together!
What if my baby has a dairy allergy?
We have options for you! Knowing that this recipe includes milk as an ingredient, you could offer your baby soy milk, oat milk, expressed breast milk, infant formula or whatever else is working for you!
But for your child's primary milk that they drink on a daily basis, see this suggested reading: Best Milk for Babies.
What if my baby has a soy allergy?
Tofu is made from soybeans, making it unsafe for someone with a soy allergy. You could swap in Greek yogurt instead.
EXTRA TIPS
- Add in 1 tablespoon honey, this might be helpful if your kids are hesitant about the tofu - only appropriate if your child is over 24 months
- Add in 1 date for extra sweetness
- Got some leftovers? Place into a popsicle mold for hot summer weather
- We like to keep our ground flaxseeds in the freezer to extend their shelf life
Make the connection
Here are some fun books that feature ingredients found in this toddler smoothie recipe!
- Just A Banana Book
- Big Brother Peanut Butter
- Everybody Brings Noodles
- Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory
Ready to blend up something everyone in the family will love? This Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Smoothie is a must-try-and once you see those happy, chocolate-smeared smiles, you'll want more recipes just like it.
That's why we created Smoothie and Pop Recipes for Your Happy Healthy Eaters-a limited-time recipe ebook filled with fifteen easy, nourishing, and kid-approved smoothies and frozen pops. From fruity blends to creamy treats (just like this one!), it's packed with ideas to keep snack time simple and satisfying.
Grab your copy while it's still available (we only have it in the shop seasonally!)-and let the delicious, no-fuss fun continue!
The Best Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 banana cut into chunks and frozen
- ¾ cup milk
- ¾ cup 150g ie: half a package soft tofu
- 1 - 2 tablespoon peanut butter depends on how peanut buttery you want it!
- 1 ½ tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon ground flax
- 1 tablespoon honey optional, not recommend for babies < 12 months
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender.
- Start on low, then slowly turn up to high speed. Blend until smooth.
Can confirm it' 10/10 with almond butter and soy milk subbed in for allergens!
We are soooo glad you love it as much as we do!! Seriously, milkshake vibes?!
I was a little leery about putting tofu in a smoothie, but I’m glad I did! My kids loved it!
This has been a great smoothie recipe to add into our rotation. I personalyl don't need the extra sweetness for myself, but happy to add in the honey for my kids.
Yes, who knew tofu would be the magic this smoothie needed!?
Seriously delicious! I love peanut butter and this was so awesome because of the no added sugar!
Yes, and the tofu is such a fun surprise that makes it sooooo creamy.
I was really skeptical about the tofu, but it was awesome. Now, I need to make sure I always have a supply of soft tofu on hand.
Yummy & creamy!
We agree!
My toddler and I love this recipe. I never would have thought of adding tofu to a smoothie, but now I use the tofu/banana combo as a base for fruit smoothies as well, it's so delicious and creamy.
Right? Isn't the tofu such an interesting and yummy surprise? Total game changer for future smoothies too.
Yummy & creamy!
We 100% agree!