This Plant-Based Frozen Peanut Butter Banana Hot Chocolate Is the Coziest Protein-Rich Bev

While scrolling the ‘gram, do you ever stumble upon a recipe video that looks so insanely delicious that it stops you in your tracks, your mouth starts to water, and you *need* to taste it that very second? Well, that’s exactly what happened to me when I first saw this peanut butter frozen hot chocolate recipe post from recipe developer @oatsfairy.

Truth be told, I’m not even a huge fan of desserts—or even peanut butter, for that matter—but this recipe has me thinking I’m a convert on both fronts. From the rich, creamy ice-cold texture to the surprisingly balanced nutritional profile, I have a feeling you’ll be a fellow fan.

Why we love this frozen peanut butter hot chocolate recipe

Hot chocolate just might be the ultimate comfort food for cold winter days… but we’re still a few minutes away from peak hot chocolate season. However, frozen hot chocolate should definitely suffice to tide us over until temps really drop. To start, the original recipe calls for the velvety and vegan-friendly Hot Chocolate with Oat Milk from Chamberlain Coffee.

Chamberlain Coffee Hot Chocolate with Oat Milk — $13.50

Bananas not only contribute to the frozen drink’s whipped texture, but also offer a balanced dose of carbs, proteins, fiber, fatty acids, and minerals like electrolyte-balancing, heart-healthy potassium. Moreover, they boast antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities thanks to bioactive compounds including phenols, flavonoids, and tannins. (Simply put, it’s not only an apple a day that has the potential to keep the doctor away.)

Peanut butter, of course, also lends the frozen hot chocolate’s rich, creamy texture—yet we can’t snooze on its nutritional perks, either. A tablespoon of smooth peanut butter offers 3.5 grams of plant protein, just shy of a gram of fiber, and about 8 grams of fat—a dose of which is a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat called oleic acid.

Finally, a tablespoon or two of cacao or cacao powder will allow you to get your daily chocolate fix, all the while upping your intake of minerals such as magnesium, iron, zinc, and potassium. The pinch of salt, meanwhile, will tamper down cacao’s bitterness and amp up the sweetness to make the already delicious blend even more delectable.

Tips and modifications for making frozen peanut butter hot chocolate

• The recipe developer leaves the milk option up to you. However, oat milk is a great choice to keep the recipe plant-based while optimizing the texture. Better yet, it’s fibrous and cardiologist-approved. “Oat milk is an easily digestible, low-saturated fat, low-sugar drink that contains nothing that could be bad for you,” Long Cao, MD, says. Depending on which oat milk brand you choose, expect it to contribute around 1 to 4 grams of plant protein.
• Speaking of protein, @oatsfairy lists chocolate protein powder as an optional ingredient for this recipe. However, if you want to make this frozen hot chocolate stand in as an even more balanced and filling snack or substitute for a smoothie, we think it’s a smart, yummy, and worthy addition. If desired, you can keep the recipe plant-based with one of these tasty options.
• Feel free to sub an alt nut butter of your choice for traditional peanut butter. Either way, you can maximize the health potential of the recipe—without sacrificing flavor or nutritional perks—by opting for a variety with as few sugars, preservatives, and fillers as possible.
• Sprinkle cacao nibs after blending for a highly satisfying crunch, or take inspo from @oatsfairy by treating yourself to a whipped cream topping and an extra drizzle of melted peanut butter.

Frozen peanut butter hot chocolate recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup milk of choice1 to 2 frozen bananas1 tbsp Chamberlain Coffee Hot Chocolate with Oat Milk1 tbsp peanut butter1 to 2 tbsp cacao or cocoa powder1 scoop chocolate protein powder, optionalPinch of salt

1. 1.
   Add all the ingredients into a blender, blending until smooth and creamy.