Ingredients
- Frozen Bananas: 2 medium, ripe bananas, peeled, sliced, and frozen solid. (Using frozen bananas is key for a thick, creamy, ice-cream-like texture without diluting the flavor with ice). Ripe bananas offer the most natural sweetness.
- Peanut Butter: 2 generous tablespoons (creamy or crunchy, natural recommended for less added sugar/oil). Feel free to substitute with almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter (for nut-free), or tahini for different flavor profiles.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: 1.5 tablespoons. Use good quality cocoa (or cacao powder) for the best rich, deep chocolate flavor. Adjust amount to your desired level of chocolatiness.
- Milk: 1 cup (approx. 240ml). Your choice! Dairy milk (whole, 2%, skim), almond milk (unsweetened vanilla or plain), soy milk, oat milk (extra creamy!), or even coconut milk beverage all work wonderfully. Adjust the amount slightly to reach your desired consistency. Start with slightly less and add more if needed.
- Sweetener (Optional, to taste): 1-2 teaspoons Maple Syrup, Honey, Agave Nectar, or 1-2 pitted Medjool Dates. The ripeness of your bananas will determine how much, if any, extra sweetness you need. Taste before adding!
- Pure Vanilla Extract (Optional but Recommended): 1/2 teaspoon. Vanilla enhances the chocolate and peanut butter flavors beautifully.
- Ice Cubes (Optional): 3-5 ice cubes. Only needed if your bananas aren’t fully frozen or if you prefer an extra-frosty, thicker smoothie. Adding too much ice can dull the flavors.
- Pinch of Salt (Optional but Recommended): A tiny pinch (less than 1/8 tsp) can actually enhance the sweetness and round out the flavors, especially the chocolate and peanut butter.
Instructions
- Prepare the Bananas: Ensure your bananas are properly frozen. Peel ripe bananas, slice them into 1-inch chunks, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and freeze until solid (at least 2-3 hours, or preferably overnight). Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container for easy storage. This pre-freezing step is crucial for optimal creaminess.
- Load the Blender: Add the ingredients to your blender jar. A common recommendation for many blenders is to add liquids first to help the blades move freely. Pour in your chosen milk (start with slightly less than 1 cup if unsure about desired thickness).
- Add Solids: Add the frozen banana chunks, peanut butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, optional sweetener (if using), optional vanilla extract, and optional pinch of salt. If using ice, add it last.
- Blend: Secure the lid tightly on the blender. Start blending on a low speed, gradually increasing to high speed. Blend continuously for about 45-90 seconds, or until the mixture is completely smooth, creamy, and uniform in color. You shouldn’t see any streaks of peanut butter or chunks of banana.
- Check Consistency: If the smoothie is too thick and the blender is struggling, add a splash more milk (1-2 tablespoons at a time) and blend again briefly. If the smoothie is too thin for your liking (and you didn’t use fully frozen bananas), add a few more frozen banana chunks or a couple of ice cubes and blend again until smooth.
- Taste and Adjust: Carefully taste the smoothie. If it’s not sweet enough, add a little more of your chosen sweetener and blend briefly. If you want a stronger chocolate or peanut butter flavor, you can add a touch more cocoa powder or peanut butter, but be mindful this will thicken the smoothie further (add a splash of milk if needed).
- Serve Immediately: Pour the Funky Monkey smoothie into chilled glasses for the best experience. Enjoy right away while it’s thick, frosty, and perfectly blended!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: One Normal Portion
- Calories: 450-550