Vegan Mocha Cold Brew Smoothie
A thick, creamy, chocolatey smoothie powered by cold brew coffee, frozen banana, and almond butter. Dairy-free, naturally sweetened with dates and ready in five minutes.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- —
- Wait
- 5 min
- Total
- 10 min
- Makes
- 2 smoothies (about 12 oz / 350 ml each)
Steps
Before you start
- Freeze the bananas at least 4 hours ahead (peel and slice them first) so the smoothie is thick and frosty.
- Use unsweetened cold brew that is fully chilled; if you only have concentrate, dilute it 1:1 with water first.
- Soak the dates in hot water for 5 minutes if they are firm, so they blend completely smooth.
- Each serving has roughly 100 mg caffeine, so scale down the cold brew if you are sensitive.
Prep the dates
- Place the 2 pitted Medjool dates in a small bowl and cover with hot tap water.
- Let them soak for 5 minutes, then drain well.
- If your dates are already soft and sticky, skip the soak and just drain nothing.
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Ready when: Dates feel squishy when pressed
Tip: Make sure no pit fragments remain; they can damage a blade or ruin the texture.
Add liquids first
- Pour 1 cup (240 ml) cold brew and ½ cup (120 ml) oat milk into the blender jar.
- Adding liquid first helps the blades catch the frozen fruit.
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Tip: Shake the oat milk carton well before measuring.
Add the flavorings
- Add the drained dates, 2 tablespoons almond butter, 2 tablespoons cacao powder, ½ teaspoon vanilla, and the pinch of salt on top of the liquid.
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Tip: Level the cacao in the spoon so the smoothie isn't bitter.
Add frozen banana
- Add the frozen banana coins, plus the ice cubes if you want a thicker, colder, more milkshake-like smoothie.
- Secure the lid firmly.
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Tip: Skip the ice if your bananas are very hard; they provide plenty of chill.
Blend until smooth
- Start on low speed for 15 seconds, then increase to high and blend for 45–60 seconds.
- Stop once and scrape down the sides with a spatula if any banana or cacao clings to the jar.
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Ready when: Completely smooth, thick, pourable, with no visible banana chunks or cacao streaks
Tip: If the blades spin without pulling in the fruit, add 2 tablespoons more oat milk and pulse.
Taste and adjust
- Taste the smoothie.
- Add another splash of oat milk if it is too thick, or a few more frozen banana slices if it is too thin.
- Blend 10 seconds more to combine.
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Ready when: Thick like a soft-serve milkshake that slowly falls off a spoon
Tip: If it tastes flat, a tiny extra pinch of salt brings out the chocolate.
Serve
- Divide between two tall glasses, about 12 oz (350 ml) each.
- Sprinkle with cacao nibs if using, and serve immediately with a wide straw.
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Tip: Serve right away; it thickens and separates as it sits.
Good to know
Tips
- Freeze cold brew in an ice cube tray and use 1 cup of cubes instead of ice for a stronger coffee flavor without watering it down.
- Slice bananas before freezing; whole frozen bananas are hard on blenders and blend unevenly.
- For extra protein, add 1 scoop (about 25 g) of vegan chocolate or vanilla protein powder and 2 tablespoons more oat milk.
- Stir almond butter thoroughly before measuring, since the oil on top can make the portion inconsistent.
Make ahead
"Slice and freeze the bananas up to 3 months ahead. You can also pre-portion all ingredients except the liquids into freezer bags so you only need to add cold brew and oat milk and blend."
Storage & reheating
"Best enjoyed immediately. Refrigerate in a sealed jar for up to 24 hours; stir or shake well before drinking since it will separate. Freeze in an airtight container or ice cube trays for up to 1 month; thaw in the fridge for a few hours or re-blend the cubes with a splash of oat milk. Not suited to room temperature storage beyond 15 minutes."
Substitutions
- unsweetened oat milk → Unsweetened soy or almond milk. Soy gives similar creaminess; almond makes it slightly thinner.
- smooth almond butter → Peanut butter or sunflower seed butter. Sunflower butter keeps it nut-free; flavor will be slightly earthier.
- unsweetened cacao powder → Unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder. Use the same amount; the flavor will be a little mellower and smoother.
- Medjool dates → 1 tablespoon maple syrup per date. Use 2 tablespoons (30 ml) total for similar sweetness.