Protein Banana Date Espresso Smoothie

My Banana Date Espresso Protein Smoothie has quickly become one of my favorite ways to get my coffee and breakfast all in one. It’s creamy, naturally sweet from banana and dates, and has that caramel coffee flavor that makes it taste way more indulgent than your typical protein smoothie.

I make it with Naked Nutrition Caramel Protein Coffee, which adds both protein and caffeine without needing a separate scoop of protein powder. It has 20 grams of protein and 95 mg of caffeine per serving and is made with grass-fed whey and Colombian coffee. I also love that it has no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors.

The banana makes the smoothie thick and creamy, while the dates add a caramel-like sweetness that goes so well with the coffee. It’s such an easy option for busy mornings, after a workout, or anytime you want an afternoon pick-me-up that’s a little more filling than another cup of coffee.

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Ingredients

Why You’ll Love This Banana Date Protein Smoothie

This has become one of those smoothies I can make over and over without getting tired of it. It takes just a few minutes to throw together, has a good balance of coffee and sweetness, and actually keeps me satisfied.

• High in protein
• Naturally sweetened with banana and dates
• Coffee + breakfast in one
• Creamy without needing a bunch of ingredients
• No artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors in the protein coffee
• Easy to make in about 5 minutes
• Perfect for breakfast, post-workout, or an afternoon pick-me-up

How To Make It

A Few Tips for the Best Smoothie

Use a frozen banana. This makes such a difference in the texture. A frozen banana gives you that thick, creamy consistency without needing to add a ton of ice.

Use Medjool dates. They’re softer and have that naturally caramel-like flavor that pairs so well with the coffee.

Soak firm dates first. If your dates are a little dry or your blender has trouble breaking them down, soak them in warm water for about 10 minutes and drain them before blending.

Why I Use Naked Nutrition Caramel Protein Coffee

For this recipe, I’m using Naked Nutrition Caramel Protein Coffee because it gives me the coffee flavor and protein in one ingredient.

One serving contains 20 grams of protein and 95 mg of caffeine, which is approximately the caffeine in a cup of coffee. It’s made with grass-fed whey from small dairy farms and Colombian coffee and contains no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors. It’s also gluten-free, soy-free, and GMO-free.

The caramel flavor is especially good in this smoothie because dates already have that natural caramel-like sweetness. Add the banana and espresso, and everything just works together.

This post is in partnership with Naked Nutrition. As always, all opinions are my own.

Can I Make This Without Espresso?

Yes! The Caramel Protein Coffee already contains caffeine and coffee, so the additional espresso isn’t necessary for the recipe to work.

I personally love the stronger coffee flavor the espresso adds, but you can leave it out if you prefer. You may want to slightly reduce the amount of ice or add a splash more milk to adjust the consistency.

Can I Make It Dairy-Free?

The milk in the smoothie can easily be swapped for almond, oat, coconut, or another dairy-free milk.

However, Naked Nutrition Caramel Protein Coffee itself contains whey protein from milk, so the finished smoothie is not dairy-free even when made with plant-based milk.

Can I Make It Ahead of Time?

I think this one is best made fresh. Smoothies tend to separate and lose that thick, creamy texture as they sit.

If you want to save time in the morning, you can prep the banana and pitted dates together in a freezer-safe container. Then all you have to do is add them to the blender with the remaining ingredients.

Can I Make It Sweeter?

Absolutely. I think the banana and Medjool dates give it plenty of sweetness, but everyone’s preference is different. You can add another date if you’d like it sweeter.

I’d start with the recipe as written, blend, taste, and adjust from there.

What Can I Use Instead of Dates?

The dates contribute both sweetness and that caramel-like flavor, so they’re one of my favorite parts of this recipe. If you don’t have them, you could use a little maple syrup or honey instead, although the flavor and texture will be slightly different.

Dietary Information

Gluten-Free: Yes, when using certified gluten-free ingredients.

Soy-Free: Yes, when using a soy-free milk.

Refined Sugar-Free: The smoothie is made without refined sugar.

High-Protein: Yes.

Vegetarian: Yes.

Dairy-Free: No. Naked Nutrition Caramel Protein Coffee contains whey derived from milk.

Vegan: No.

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