Peanut Butter Protein Shake
on Sep 15, 2020, Updated Aug 30, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links.
This creamy vegan peanut butter protein shake is perfectly sweet and salty, just like a peanut butter cup! Enjoy post-workout or for a quick snack or treat anytime of day.
About the Recipe
This protein smoothie is vegan and can be made peanut-free or nut-free if needed by using almond butter or sunflower seed butter in place of peanut butter.
Frozen banana makes it extra thick and creamy and it’s easy to customize with different swaps and add-ins to adjust to your preference or nutritional needs.
Ingredients
- Frozen Banana: Don’t skip the frozen banana, it’s the key to a silky smooth shakes!
- Nutritional Yeast: Nutritional yeast is the secret ingredient in this shake, it adds the perfect salty, nutty flavour plus extra protein and B12 (if it’s fortified)!
- Peanut Butter – use your favourite natural peanut butter, for a peanut-free smoothie, swap it for almond butter or for a nut-free smoothie, swap it for sunflower seed butter.
- Milk: Any milk works here! Use your favourite nut, seed, soy or oat milk to keep it vegan. Water is also fine in a pinch.
- Protein Powder: Use any vanilla or chocolate protein powder. I prefer making this smoothie with vanilla protein.
- Turmeric: Totally optional but adds a little boost of colour and mild spiced flavour
This list is not complete. Please see the recipe card at the end of the post for the complete ingredient list with measurements and detailed instructions.
Additions
- Ground Flax or Chia Seeds: Add up to 1 tbsp for thickening, fibre and healthy fats.
- Hemp Seeds: Add up to 2 tbsp for healthy fats and extra protein.
- Cocoa Powder: Add up to 2 tbsp for a chocolate peanut butter shake.
- Cacao Nibs or Chocolate Chips: Blend in up to 2 tbsp or sprinkle on top for chocolate chip smoothie.
- Cauliflower or Zucchini: Add up to 1 cup steamed and frozen chopped cauliflower or zucchini for additional volume and nutrition (see here for best vegetables to add to smoothies).
- Coconut Yogurt: Add up to 3/4 cup plain or vanilla for extra creaminess, probiotics and volume.
- Kale or Spinach: For a boost in nutrition, add a handful of fresh or frozen greens.
FAQs
Sure! There are two ways to prep this smoothie in advance.
1. Add sliced banana, peanut butter, protein powder and nutritional yeast to a bag or container and freeze. When you’re ready to make the smoothie, dump into a blender, add milk and blend.
2. Make in advance and store overnight in the fridge. It won’t be as thick as drinking it fresh but it will still be delicious!
Sure! I really love the flavour and creaminess protein powder adds but here are some ways to replace it if needed:
1. Swap for 1/4 cup chickpeas or white beans.
2. Omit and add 1-2 tbsp cocoa powder and an extra half a banana.
3. Omit and add 3-4 pitted dates for sweetness.
4. Omit and add 2 tbsp chia seeds to help thicken.
If you make it without protein powder and it’s not sweet enough for your, sweeten to taste with dates (or date paste), a touch of maple syrup or a sugar-free sweetener such as stevia or monk fruit.
You can! This shake is definitely best with frozen banana but if you have an allergy or dislike it, here’s how you can make the shake without banana:
1. Use steamed and frozen cauliflower or zucchini and an additional sweetener such as dates or stevia.
2. Use frozen peach slices (this is my favourite no banana option).
3. Freeze dairy-free vanilla yogurt in an ice cube tray and use 4-5 of them to replace the banana.
Recipe Notes
- To reduce the calories and fat in this smoothie, use peanut butter powder (up to 4 tbsp) instead of peanut butter.
- To increase calories for a weight gain shake, add an additional 1-2 tbsp of peanut butter, half a frozen banana and additional milk as needed to reach your desired consistency.
- For a thick ice cream-like smoothie bowl, reduce almond milk to 1/2 cup and blend slowly, using a tamper as needed until smooth and creamy.
More Protein Shakes
- Beet Orange Smoothie
- Vegan Carrot Cake Smoothie
- Sweet Potato Smoothie
- Chocolate Banana Smoothie
- Mixed Berry Smoothie
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to comment section below to leave your star rating and review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Peanut Butter Protein Shake
Ingredients
- 1 cup plant-based milk of choice, 250 mL
- 1 serving vegan vanilla protein powder, 30 g
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast, 14 g
- 2 tbsp natural peanut butter, 30 g
- 1 large frozen banana, 160 g, or 1.5 small to medium banana
- 1/4-1/2 tsp ground turmeric, optional
Instructions
- Add the milk to a high-speed blender.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and slowly start blending. Increase speed, blending until completely smooth and creamy.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy.
Notes
- To reduce the calories and fat in this smoothie, use peanut butter powder (up to 4 tbsp) instead of peanut butter.
- To increase calories for weight gain, add an additional 1-2 tbsp of peanut butter, half a frozen banana and additional milk as needed to reach your desired consistency.
- For a thick ice cream-like smoothie bowl, use just 1/2 cup of almond milk. Blend on low, using a tamper as needed until you have a thick, creamy consistency. Scoop into a bowl, add toppings and enjoy!
- Review post above for various substitutions, add-ins and options for making it without protein powder or banana.
- The turmeric adds colour and a very mild spiced flavour. It’s totally optional but was included in the original recipe. Some people love it but it’s not for everyone! If you want to try it, start with 1/4 tsp and increase if desired.
Nutrition
Originally published March 4, 2014.
Surprisingly delicious! I would have never thought of adding nutritional yeast to a smoothie, but it’s genius. Thank you for a delicious smoothie recipe! Xoxo.
Haha, it does sound strange at first but really is so yummy!
Amazingly delicious! Eating it with a spoon as I’m typing. It’s so good. Would have never thought of adding nutritional yeast to a sweet smoothie. But it makes total sense. I’m all for sweet and salty combos!
It’s a bit strange but makes sense in the end, haha! Glad you enjoyed it.
Yum! Love it. Followed the recipe exactly and it turned out super smooth and delicious! Will make again.
Amazing! Thanks, Jeff. So glad you enjoyed.
I was wondering what to do with a bag of nutritional yeast before it expired and came across this recipe. Pretty good! Protein powder is not necessary in this smoothie, though. People consume way too much protein these days. The peanut butter and nut or cow’s milk is sufficient, unless you’re a body builder or professional athlete. I omitted the protein powder, added a tbsp of cocoa powder and 1/4 cup rolled oats. I also added a date for extra sweetness. Turmeric has a distinct taste that is NOT hidden by the other ingredients so if you don’t like the flavor of turmeric, you’ll want to leave it out. The nutritional yeast plus a pinch of sea salt will still make it taste like a peanut butter cup.
I was skeptical about the nutritional yeast and the turmeric but wow, it just brings the smoothie together. If you’re on the fence, i completely recommend you give it a go. You will NOT regret it.
This recipe looks incredible. You had me a peanut butter, but I absolutely love the addition of turmeric. Vega Sport Performance is a great option, too. Sounds both delicious and wonderfully healthy. Thank you for the creative smoothie recipe idea! <3
It’s a really good one! Let me know if you try it!
Hello Deryn,
I just made this smoothie with 3/4 cup almond milk, and it is amazing! The nutritional yeast takes a chocolate peanut butter smoothie to a whole new level. Thank you, because I will be frequenting this recipe.
Right? It’s so good!! Glad you enjoyed it.
I was really hesitant to try nutritional yeast in sweet smoothie, but this recipe is awesome! I love that it added some savoriness to an otherwise sweet shake, not to mention the additional nutrients. This is one of my new favorite smoothies. Thanks so much for this recipe Deryn! It’s perfect!
Thank you, Donna! I thought it was weird at first too but I love the nutty, salty flavour it adds! Thanks again 🙂
Hi Deryn,
I’m not a vegan/vegetarian but I have been trying to decrease my meat intake to include more plant-based sources in my diet. I didn’t know about the benefits of nutritional yeast and am so thankful to you for including that information in your blog. Will be trying this recipe soon.
I make basically the same smoothie! I hadn’t thought to add nutritional yeast though. (Next time!) Fantastic. I’m tickled to have found your site. All the best!
Thanks for the comment – I’m glad you found my site too!! Enjoy your smoothie 🙂