Cherry Chocolate Smoothie

When I lived in the East Bay I used to take Chloe to Cold Stone Creamery every so often.  Chloe would get lemon sorbet with brownie, which I thought was an unusual combination, but she devoured it every time.  I’d have the server create a frozen concoction of cherries, brownie, and cheesecake ice cream for me, which was super delicious and always hit the chocolate craving spot.  I especially liked the chocolate and cherry combo. Recently the craving struck again, but with no Cold Stone here on the coast, I had to come up with something on my own… and fast.  You know how cravings go.  Well, after a rummage around the freezer, I created this smoothie that is healthy and decadent and totally hits the spot.  

I wrote this recipe with fresh bananas in mind because I didn’t have any stored away in the freezer at the time, but I did find a bag of frozen cherries way in the back.  With the addition of a cup of ice, the consistency was perfect.  

To make the cute little chocolate curls for garnish, take a bar of dark chocolate and warm one of the edges with the palm of your hand for about 10 seconds.  It won’t melt, but the heat of your hand will soften the chocolate just enough so when you shave it with a vegetable peeler, it will create these sweet little curls.  The chocolate will just flake off into crumbs if it isn’t warm enough and make a mess on your palm if it’s too warm.  If it does get too warm, just pop it into the fridge for 10 minutes to firm up a bit.  It’s best to shave the chocolate directly over the smoothie, but if you want to make a good amount, shave it over parchment paper.  They are very delicate and will break if you try to pick them up off your cutting board and the heat of your fingers will melt them.

Because this smoothie has just fruit, almond milk, and cocoa, it’s quite healthy and you can down it for breakfast without an ounce of guilt.  

Cherry Chocolate Smoothie

Yield: 1 ½ cups (1 serving)

I do like the occasional smoothie, but it’s always when I’m out of frozen bananas.  Well, this smoothie doesn’t require them.  However, you do need frozen cherries, which I get from Trader Joe’s, and ice.  The cherries and cocoa combo is so satisfying and fixes that sweet indulgent craving so well. 

1 date

½ fresh banana

1 cup pitted frozen cherries

2/3 cup almond milk, or your favorite plant-based milk

1 Tbsp 100% cocoa powder

1 cup ice

1.     Remove the pit from the date and chop into 6-8 chunks.  

2.     Add the date and the rest of the ingredients into a high-speed blender and whiz it up until smooth.