Peanut Butter Protein Shake
on Sep 15, 2020, Updated Mar 26, 2026
This post may contain affiliate links.
This peanut butter protein shake is satisfyingly sweet and salty, just like a peanut butter cup! It combines just a few simple ingredients like protein powder, peanut butter and frozen banana for a thick and frosty texture and is perfect for dessert, a quick breakfast or post-workout snack.
Top Review
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!
Why You’ll Love this Peanut Butter Protein Shake
- High in protein to support fullness and recovery
- Quick to prepare in minutes
- Dairy-free and vegan-friendly
- Easy to adjust for higher-calorie needs
- Works well for breakfast, a snack or post-workout
- Creamy and satisfying texture
- Tastes like a peanut butter cup!
- Frozen banana makes it extra thick and creamy.
- It’s easy to customize with different swaps and extras.
For more protein shakes, this Vegan Carrot Cake Smoothie, Orange Mango Smoothie and Kale Spinach Smoothie are yummy and nutritious too.
🔍 Recipe at a Glance
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: None
Servings: 1
Nutrition: 456 calories | 33g protein | 9g fibre
Diet: Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free.
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients You’ll Need
Below is a quick overview of what you’ll need to make the recipe and any substitutions you can make. Use the recipe card with the full list of ingredients and measurements at the bottom of the post when you’re ready to make the recipe.
- Frozen Banana: Don’t skip the frozen banana, it’s the key to a silky smooth, thick and frosty protein shakes! Extra frozen banana can be used in this Chocolate Banana Protein Smoothie or Peanut Butter Pumpkin Smoothie.
- 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)! If you have extra after making this, you can browse all nutritional yeast recipes here for ideas.
- 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. Feel free to add more peanut butter if you like! Peanut butter powder can also be used for a lower-calorie option.
- Milk: Any milk works here! Use soy milk, almond milk or oat milk to keep it vegan. Water is also fine in a pinch. You can use dairy milk if that’s suitable for you. Oat milk is the creamiest while almond milk or water are lighter.
- Protein Powder: Use any vanilla or chocolate protein powder. I prefer making this smoothie with vanilla protein but chocolate would make it like a chocolate peanut butter cup! If you want to double down on peanut butter, you could do a peanut butter flavor protein powder!
- Turmeric: Totally optional but adds a little boost of colour.
Nutritional Yeast in a Smoothie?
This smoothie has nutritional yeast which was inspired by my homemade peanut butter cup recipe. The nutrition yeast adds a salty, nutty flavour that makes it taste like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. It’s technically optionally but I recommend giving it a try!
Variations and Extras
- 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.
- Dates: Add extra sweetness and carbohydrates. Use 2-4 dates depending on their size.
- 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 a peanut butter chocolate chip smoothie.
- Cauliflower or Zucchini: Add up to 1 cup steamed and frozen chopped cauliflower or zucchini for additional volume and nutrition. For more ideas on adding veggies to smoothies, check out the best vegetables to add to smoothies.
- Yogurt: Add up to 3/4 cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt for extra protein, creaminess, probiotics and volume.
- Kale or Spinach: For a boost in nutrition, add a handful of leafy greens.
How to Adjust the Calories
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. You can also add up to 1/2 cup oats, 3-4 dates or 2 tbsp chia seeds or ground flax.
When to Drink this Protein Shake?
This shake works well:
- After workouts to support recovery.
- As a quick breakfast on busy mornings.
- As a mid-afternoon snack to manage hunger between meals.
- When appetite is low but nutrition is needed.
- Take it to-go for busy days and travel to stay fuelled.
Recipe Troubleshooting
- Shake too thick: Blend in a bit more milk.
- Shake too thin: Blend in a few ice cubes or extra frozen banana.
- Not sweet enough: Add extra frozen banana, 2-3 dates or 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey.
- Not filling enough: Add 1/2 cup oats or yogurt.
FAQs
Sure! There are two ways to prep this smoothie in advance:
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.
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:
Swap for 1/4 cup chickpeas or white beans.
Omit and add 1-2 tbsp cocoa powder and an extra half a banana.
Omit and add 3-4 pitted dates for sweetness.
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:
Use steamed and frozen cauliflower or zucchini and an additional sweetener such as dates or stevia. Use frozen peach slices (this is my favourite no banana option).
Freeze dairy-free vanilla yogurt in an ice cube tray and use 4-5 of them to replace the banana.
Yes. You can freeze this shake in a freezer-safe container. Thaw in the fridge and blend again to improve the texture.
Yes. You can substitute 2-4 tbsp peanut butter powder like PB2 for peanut butter.
If you make this recipe, please consider leaving a comment and a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comment section below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe, and I love to hear from you. Thanks for trying my recipes! – Deryn
More Recipes to Try!
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 🙂