Chocolate cherry oat smoothie without banana is a healthy anti-inflammatory shake you can enjoy as a filling dessert-like breakfast or a nourishing post-workout snack. Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and weight-loss-friendly.
No yogurt, no banana, and no refined sugar are needed to make the best frozen cherry fruit smoothie ever! Plus, it tastes like a chocolate milkshake that's packed with tons of nutrients and immune-boosting vitamin C.
If you love cherries, try my Protein Cherry Overnight Oats and Cherry Pineapple Smoothie as well.
This simple cherry cacao smoothie is full of rich dark chocolate flavor coupled with a hint of sweet juicy cherries.
Moreover, this oatmeal smoothie recipe is naturally sweetened with caramelly dates and filled with plant protein from hearty oats and creamy peanut butter.
Perfectly balanced fat-burning drink when you need a quick pick-me-up to supercharge your metabolism and keep your energy levels up.
I feel greatly blessed when I look through the window of my room and see the first cherry blossoms blooming in the park. I am thankful to God for all the beauty He creates and the nourishment He provides for us in the seasons all year round.
Since these red shiny fruits have a short harvesting season in my country, I don't miss the chance to enjoy them as much as I can. Although I love to gobble them up whole, right off the stem, I very much appreciate them blended in a cold and decadent chocolate cherry oatmeal smoothie that is perfect for breakfast, as well.
Looking for more chocolate smoothie recipes? Try these next: Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie, Banana Protein Smoothie, or Chocolate Avocado Peanut Butter Smoothie.
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What goes in a cherry smoothie
You will need only 6 simple, good-for-you ingredients to make this delicious smoothie with frozen cherries:
- Sweet cherries (pitted & frozen) - you can use fresh if you prefer but in this case, you may want to add a few ice cubes to keep your smoothie nicely cold and thick.
- Rolled (old-fashioned) oats - to load your smoothie with fiber and high-quality plant-based protein that will keep you full longer.
- Cacao powder (unsweetened) - contains powerful anti-aging antioxidants that reduce inflammation, protect against chronic diseases, and improves mood and cognitive function.
- Plant milk (I used Homemade Oat Milk) - feel free to use your favorite non-dairy milk or make DIY Cashew Milk or Almond Milk.
- Dates - will act as a nutritious natural sweetener here. Optionally, you can use pure maple syrup or agave nectar.
- Peanut butter - to add creaminess, protein, and heart-healthy fats.
As always, you can find the full recipe with a list of ingredients with measurements in a printable recipe card at the end of this post.
Instructions
Combine. First, place oats in a high-speed blender. Process until finely ground, about 10-15 seconds. Add in pitted frozen cherries, oat milk, cacao powder, peanut butter, and pitted dates.
Blend. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust the sweetness with an additional date or preferred sweetener. Serve immediately topped with crispy granola or chopped dark chocolate.
Hint: If you don't have frozen cherries but only fresh ones, just remove the pits and pop them in the freezer for at least one hour. Now you have frozen cherries ready to be used in your yummy chocolate smoothie.
Substitutions
- Frozen cherries - you can use fresh cherries instead. You may want to add a few ice cubes to make the smoothie cold and thicker. Keep in mind that this will dilute your smoothie so it will become thinner.
- Dates - you can substitute dates with pure maple syrup, agave nectar, or date syrup. You can also use dried fruit like cranberries, raisins, and apricots.
- Peanut butter- replace peanut butter with cashew butter, almond butter, or hazelnut butter (sugarless Nutella).
- Rolled oats - you can use quick oats, as well. Don't use steel-cut oats for this recipe.
- Cacao powder - substitute it with carob powder or cocoa powder.
Variations
- Protein boost - blend in a scoop of vegan-friendly protein powder to turn this smoothie into a convenient meal replacement.
- Sneak in some hidden veggies - you can incorporate a handful of nutrient-dense greens like spinach or kale for added nutrition and energy.
- Extra creamy - use frozen banana, avocado, or dairy-free yogurt.
- Superseed powerhouse - add flaxseeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, or hemp seeds for more nutritional goodness.
Equipment
You will need a high powdered blender or food processor to make this cherry date smoothie.
Storage
It's best to enjoy this smoothie as soon as you make it for maximum nutrition and taste. If you have any leftovers store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Shake before drinking.
Alternatively, you can put it in a freezer-safe container or ice cube tray and keep it in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Top tips
- For that luscious & chilly smoothie consistency use only frozen cherries and cold milk.
- After you blend it up, check the sweetness and adjust it to your preference.
- Don't forget to garnish your smoothie with some crispy granola, dark chocolate, fresh cherries, or your favorite toppings!
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Yes, cherries are a highly beneficial fruit to use in your smoothies. They contain an array of powerful nutrients that can help successfully fight inflammation, improve sleep quality, may aid in exercise recovery, and support your overall health.
Absolutely! With their impressive nutritional content, cherries are a wonderful addition to your smoothies.
Cherries pair well with bananas, apricots, blueberries, raspberries, pineapples, oranges, peaches, or plums.
Unsweetened oat milk, cashew milk, almond milk, or soy milk are excellent base liquid choices for this dairy-free smoothie recipe.
This cherry smoothie without banana and yogurt contains 354 calories, 11 gr protein, 10 mg of vitamin C, and 218 mg of Calcium.
Of course, you can blend fresh or frozen cherries but first, make sure you have removed all the pits from them. Cherry pits contain amygdalin, a chemical that your body transforms into hydrogen cyanide thus making their consumption potentially dangerous. This compound is released if the fruit pit is damaged or chewed. So the best and safe practice is to never put cherry pits in a smoothie.
While high in vital vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber cherries are pretty low in calories, low in fat, and sodium-free. That's why they are a fantastic food to naturally detox, cleanse and revitalize your body.
If you have access only to fresh cherries, don't worry, you can pit them by hand and freeze them for future smoothies or baked goods. You don't need any fancy tools to remove those tiny pits. You can use the tip of the chopstick to effortlessly push the pit out the other side or cut them in half with a knife and remove the seed with your fingers.
Turn this refreshing smoothie into a thick smoothie bowl by using only frozen cherries and reducing the amount of milk you put in the blender.
More No-Banana Smoothie Recipes
- Peanut butter date protein smoothie
- Apple mango smoothie
- Chocolate mango shake
- Blueberry pear smoothie
- Pineapple turmeric ginger smoothie
- Orange apple smoothie
- Banana date peanut butter smoothie
Chocolate Breakfast Recipes
Looking for other healthy chocolate recipes? Try these:
📖 Recipe
Healthy Chocolate Cherry Oat Smoothie (No Banana)
Equipment
- High-powered blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup sweet cherries pitted, frozen
- ¼ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup oat milk or any plant milk
- 1 tablespoon cacao powder raw, unsweetened
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- 1-2 dates pitted
Instructions
- First, place oats in a high-speed blender. Process until finely ground, about 10-15 seconds. Add in pitted frozen cherries, oat milk, cacao powder, peanut butter, and pitted dates.
- Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust the sweetness with an additional date or preferred sweetener. Serve immediately topped with crispy granola or chopped dark chocolate.
Notes
Alternatively, you can put it in a freezer-safe container or ice cube tray and keep it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Substitutions
- Frozen cherries - you can use fresh cherries instead. You may want to add a few ice cubes to make the smoothie cold and thicker. Keep in mind that this will dilute your smoothie so it will become thinner.
- Dates - you can substitute dates with pure maple syrup, agave nectar, or date syrup. You can also use dried fruit like cranberries, raisins, and apricots.
- Peanut butter- replace peanut butter with cashew butter, almond butter, or hazelnut butter (sugarless Nutella).
- Rolled oats - you can use quick oats, as well. Don't use steel-cut oats for this recipe.
- Cacao powder - substitute it with carob powder or cocoa powder.
Nutrition
Did you make this chocolate cherry oat smoothie?
I would greatly appreciate it if you have a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below.
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Rene Long says
This was yummy! I used raisins and I guess they didn’t blend but I will use this recipe again! Ty
Marinela Malcheva says
Thank you so much, Rene! 😊 I’m glad you enjoyed it even with the surprise raisin bits! Appreciate you giving it a try.