Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie (Tastes Like Ice Cream!) Plus Video
When I hear the words “mint” and “chocolate” together, my first thought is not necessarily mint chocolate chip smoothie. In fact, the first thing that comes to mind is creamy, green ice cream dotted with chocolate.
It’s always been my favorite flavor. Bright mint with dabs of rich chocolate–what could be more refreshing on a summer day at the beach? Or even just when the guy with the ice cream cart does his evening cycle by?
These days, as a grown woman with the metabolism of a sloth and a mindful eye on processed ingredients, I’m not one to run out to the street when I hear the carousel music getting closer. However, I deeply believe in the power of smoothies as dessert, so why not have mint chocolate chip in the rotation?
My take on this smoothie is actually pretty darn healthy, yet still tastes like a childhood dream. Which brings me to the ingredients and health benefits of mint chocolate chip smoothie, which are actually pretty impressive.
Ingredients for Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie
The obvious ingredients for a mint chocolate chip smoothie are mint and chocolate chips. Hold on, not so fast. What kind of mint are we talking–fresh from the garden? Edible oil extract? And what about the chocolate chips? Does this mean we don’t need cocoa powder? Cacao powder? Are the chips even chocolate? Or are we going to use some kind of new age alternative like carob or cacao nibs?
Slow down. There are a lot of ways to make this smoothie, and I’ve tried and tested them all!
As far as mint goes, fresh leaves deliver a slightly grassier taste (not a bad thing), while peppermint extract reminds you more of ice cream. I definitely prefer peppermint oil extract (the edible kind from the baking aisle, NOT to be confused with essential oil). But say you’re making this with your kids and you want to make it extra fun with mint from the yard, go for it! It won’t hurt.
If we’re talking cacao nibs vs. chocolate chips, just use what you have. Either way, it works! Chocolate chips will just make your smoothie a touch sweeter, while cacao is more of a rich, bitter bite (that I love, don’t get me wrong).
You absolutely do not need (or want) to use cocoa powder, which turns the smoothie from green to brown. Color aside, cocoa powder is also quite bitter, so would require you to add more sweetener, too. Just skip it–the chocolate chips are more than enough!
To sneak in some extra vitamins and minerals, spinach is the perfect addition to a mint chocolate chip smoothie. It adds greenness without tampering with the flavor. What more could you ask for?
A method of making any smoothie super thick and creamy is to use a frozen banana. You could always use fresh banana and ice if you don’t have any frozen bananas, but the smoothie simply will not be as creamy.
I buy SO MANY bananas, and I do prefer eating them green. The minute I notice a countertop of bananas getting brown spots, I grab a silicone bag, peel and break the bananas into small pieces and toss them in the freezer. This is a great habit for anyone who loves smoothies!
Another way to up the creaminess ante here is to use yogurt in addition to your milk of choice. For many smoothies, yogurt and water is plenty creamy enough, but for the mint ice cream nostalgia you’ll want to use both yogurt and milk.
This smoothie is easy to make vegan / nondairy by using almond, cashew, coconut or any other kind of nut milk, plus using any vegan yogurt.
I use homemade cashew milk for this one (Hello, Almond Cow), but whatever milk you typically use is fine. And I use plain and unsweetened Cocojune yogurt.
So let’s sum it up. You’ll need:
- Peppermint extract
- Chocolate chips or cacao nibs
- Spinach
- Frozen banana
- Yogurt of choice
- Milk of choice
Health Benefits of Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie
Mint: Only a couple spoons of mint and you’ve hit almost 10% of your daily iron needs. That’s pretty cool for such a little leaf. Not to mention manganese, folate and vitamin A. Mint is super easy to grow in a pot by a window or on a step, so it’s an awesome way to get some nutrients in your life that are extremely fresh (just-picked!).
Chocolate: We’ve all heard chocolate is good for you, but it really depends on what kind of chocolate you eat. Processed milk chocolate candy bars full of refined sugar and syrups are a different story entirely from bittersweet dark chocolate, especially in the higher percentages of cocoa. Dark chocolate in its pure form delivers iron, magnesium, copper, manganese and even fiber.
Spinach: What makes this smoothie green is certainly a little mint, but most of the color actually comes from fresh spinach. Don’t worry, it does NOT taste like a grassy, vegetable smoothie. Fresh spinach is actually quite bland in contrast to other flavors, and makes a perfect backdrop for many smoothies. You get all the health benefits without much taste. Yay for vitamins like A and K, plus iron and folate!
Bananas: This yummy fruit is known for its potassium content, but they’re also quite high in copper, magnesium and even vitamin C (if you’re beginning to suspect this smoothie is rich in vitamin C, you’re right!). The greener they are, the more resistant starch they carry, which is a fiber-rich prebiotic to feed the good guys in your gut.
Yogurt: Made from fermented milk of any kind, yogurt boasts tons of calcium and probiotics. It’s a healthy base to many dishes, or an easy, nutrient-rich snack. Whether made from dairy, coconut or cashews, yogurt is one of the few foods that houses live active cultures.
Cashew Milk: High in healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, eating these nuts are a great way to stay full and while supporting your heart and lowering triglycerides. Cashews are also rich in minerals like magnesium and manganese.
How To Make Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie
Let’s not get too crazy about the order we put in the ingredients! I usually do add the liquid ingredients first, then top it off with everything else. But hey, get creative if you want. I have tried adding the peppermint oil last (kind of by accident) on top of the spinach (as you can see in my ASMR recipe video), and it really didn’t make a difference.
The only thing you need to leave out until the end are the chocolate chips. Once everything else is blended and creamy, then you add the chocolate chips and give your blender a quicker pulse. This way you will still be able to sort of see and taste them.
Ie. it’s more mint-chocolate-chip-ice-cream-like!
Now here is a video that isn't your typical tutorial because I am obsessed with ASMR. It's something I've loved for many years and I've discovered along the way that it is NOT everyone's cup of tea. Seems like a love it or hate it kind of thing, so please turn down the volume if you do not want to hear up close whispering:
Need a Vegan Entree?
Try Cook & Crumbs' latest: a creamy vegan mushroom sauce (also featuring the power of deliciously indulgent cashew milk). You can eat it on meat or fish, but my favorite way is with chickpea spaghetti.
Wondering Why You're Seeing Vegan Recipes?
I love the ideas behind plant-based, whole food eating, and I also love (sustainable) meat. For a heartier recipe, try this roasted lamb and potatoes. It will have everyone at your next event (or weekday dinner) salivating.
This deliciously creamy mint chocolate chip smoothie tastes like ice cream but is packed with healthy ingredients like spinach, bananas and yogurt.
- 4 ice 4-5 cubes
- 1/2 cup cashew, coconut or almond milk (or milk of choice)
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 frozen banana
- 2 drops 2-3 peppermint extract (peppermint extract is *extremely* strong, using too much can make a smoothie undrinkable)
- 2 tbs chocolate chips
- Add liquid ingredients to blender first, then add banana and spinach. Blend until creamy and a rich green color.
- Once the smoothie is fully blended, add the chocolate chips and blend about 20-30 seconds, or until there are no large chocolate chip chunks at the bottom of your blender.
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