Make this easy protein smoothie that tastes like a Wendy's Frosty in only five minutes! Originally published January 2017. Last updated January 2023.
A good workout can be it's own reward but if you need a little extra motivation, I highly recommend adding this beginner protein smoothie to your routine. I'll walk you through how to make it and share my pro tips for a lightning-fast process. Let's get into the details.
If you enjoy this recipe, you'll also love my immune-boosting orange smoothie as well as this green smoothie for glowing skin!


What You'll Need for this Recipe
Raw Dark Cocoa Powder provides true chocolatey flavor without excess sugar. There is some caffeine, though, so if you are sensitive to that or want to make this a Daniel Fast compliant smoothie, I recommend trying carob powder + a bit of maple syrup instead.
Almond Butter helps create smooth texture and provides the boost of protein in this smoothie. You can use the nut butter of your choice, crunchy or smooth!
Banana adds natural sweetness, energy in the form of carbohydrates, and fiber. I'm not big on bananas so I can assure you that the flavor isn't overpowering.
Almond Milk is the necessary liquid base but it adds mild nutty flavor and additional protein. You can swap in whatever milk you like.
Ice adds texture and chill but you can make it frosty with my next tip.
How to make a smoothie thick without ice? Use frozen produce. For this one, freeze the banana ahead of time and you can skip the ice!


Tips & Tools
Grab a blender as well as a cutting board and knife to bring everything together. This is a quick and easy smoothie and you could even break up the banana by hand, if needed. You'll also need a spoon for the cocoa powder. Lastly, I'm big on making small moments feel a bit more special so I love to sip my homemade smoothies through a glass straw. Sprinkle sliced almonds over top for extra flair!
Can I meal prep this smoothie? Yes. You can make it ahead of time and refrigerate for up to two days. Just keep in mind that some separation may occur--stir it up! Alternatively, you can use my frozen smoothie pack method to prep further in advance.

How to add more protein? I call this chocolatey nut butter smoothie a basic protein shake for beginners because it uses minimally processed ingredients and whole food protein sources. It's good for post-workout recovery but you can step things up by adding your favorite protein powder.
If you like this basic protein smoothie without protein powder and want to try a meal replacement shake, my dark chocolate salted protein smoothie is a natural next step with 26 grams protein and ample fiber!


Is this smoothie PCOS friendly?
This healthy copycat Wendy's frosty has a balance of protein, healthy fat, and fiber. This makes it a great option for people with PCOS who are looking to support healthy hormones and balanced blood sugar. Check the recipe card for full nutrition facts and my collection of PCOS meals.


Favorite High Protein Dishes
Peanut Butter & Jelly Smoothie Bowl
I hope you take this healthy shake for a swirl soon. And sharing is caring so be sure this pin this five-ingredient smoothie for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!

Skinny Frosty Recipe
📖 Recipe

Chocolate Post-Workout Protein Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- 2 tablespoons raw dark cocoa powder or regular cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons almond butter or nut butter of your choice
- 1 cup milk
- ice
- sliced almonds (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Slice or break banana into chunks.
- Add banana pieces to blender with cocoa powder, nut butter, milk, and ice to your desired consistency and temperature.
- Pulse all ingredients until smooth, liquified, and uniform. Pour into a glass and garnish with almonds, if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition







Everyday Made Fresh says
This was my go to breakfast for years! Lol. You can never go wrong with peanut butter (my nut butter choice) and chocolate!
Allison Rebecca says
Oh now this looks delicious! I am trying to work out more so I could use something like this. yum!
Sarah Koves (@kovescence) says
Yummy. If we have another snow day, I'm making that for breakfast.
Divya @ Eat. Teach. Blog. says
Love adding bananas to my smoothies. It adds a creamy texture you can't get from anything else!
Clarissa says
I love easy smoothies! This one sounds delicious!
-Clarissa @ The View From Here
forevermommoments says
Yum! Pinned and totally trying this after my next workout 🙂
Bunny Eats Design says
Nice pics! I sometimes make a smoothie with banana and peanut butter, I wonder if it tastes similar to your? Great photos by the way.
This post would make a great addition to Our Growing Edge. This month’s theme is HEALTHY STARTS including breakfast ideas or new healthy food habits for the start of 2017.
More info including how to submit your link here: http://bunnyeatsdesign.com/our-growing-edge/
MeganPaleo says
Holy moly, this looks absolutely delicious. Also, your photos are amazing! Thanks for sharing 🙂
twoboysonepup says
Yum! I love almond butter and enjoy adding it to basically anything!
Sara Giboney @ Sweet Success says
This looks delicious! I love a smoothie with just a few healthy ingredients ; )
21flavorsofsplendor says
Yum! You had me at tastes like a Frosty. I just came from working out and wish I had this instead of my protein shake.
Bernadette F says
This looks delicious! I'm just now getting back into exercising after just being a bum through the holidays - I'll have to try this!! Thanks!
Jessica Wagner says
This is my go-to smoothie!!!! It tastes soooo good! My work out routine also consists strictly of yoga and smoothies!
Mommyhoodandmentalhealth says
Yum! I love PB and banana in smoothies. This looks so good!
Belle says
That looks good and so easy to make! I have to try this out!
Belle | One Awesome Momma