Stay warm this winter with this creamy hot chocolate breakfast smoothie! Made with wholesome ingredients and loaded with fiber and plant based protein, this vegan smoothie makes a healthy and comforting breakfast or snack.
I came across an article the other day that made my chocolate-loving heart feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
It basically said that eating chocolate for breakfast is awesome isn’t a horrible idea, stating that it can actually help prevent junk food binges later in the day since you’re satisfying your sweet tooth straightaway instead of spending the whole day thinking about it and letting the cravings build up to the point where you want to eat all the sweets in sight.
Makes sense, right?
I know this isn’t necessarily the case for everyone, but I personally have to start my day on a sweet note or I’ll be in the kitchen looking for dessert about 15 minutes after finishing breakfast. And it doesn’t matter how much fibre, protein, or healthy fat I eat — the sweet tooth will still demand satisfaction.
Needless to say, I’m a big fan of sneaking chocolate into breakfast… and definitely no stranger to it. Whether it’s in the form of chocolate oats, chocolate smoothies, or chocolate muffins, a little bit of cocoa in the morning can go a long way towards keeping the cravings at bay. Especially when it’s done right.
And this, my friendly faces, is morning chocolate done very right.
It’s no secret that I’m a complete sucker for thick chocolate smoothies, and that I’ll happily enjoy them all year long… even if it means having to sip them while bundled up by the fireplace in the dead of winter.
But because I know not everyone is as crazy as I am, I came up with a comforting chocolate smoothie that’s perfect for the cooler weather that we’re heading into. I call it — the hot chocolate breakfast smoothie. And yes, it does indeed involve both a blender and a stove… but I promise you that the extra step is so very worth it. Not only does it mean you get to enjoy a warm and cozy smoothie, but the heat helps thicken up the oats and make the finished product super creamy…
I’ve been enjoying this for breakfast every day for almost a week now because I wanted to test out different ingredient ratios and preparation methods to see which one worked the best, and the recipe below is definitely my favourite out of the bunch. It doesn’t involve any extended soaking for the oats (unnecessary), or pouring hot liquids into blenders (potentially dangerous), and yields one of the creamiest and chocolatiest smoothies I’ve ever had the pleasure of drinking.
It legit tastes like a cup of creamy hot chocolate, but it’s made with wholesome ingredients that you’d normally enjoy for breakfast, like oats (I promise you can’t taste/feel them), nut butter, maple syrup, and almond milk… with some cocoa powder tossed in for good measure. You know… to keep those mid-day cravings at bay 😉
- 1 1/4 cup (300 ml) unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 Tbsp (16 g) nut butter OR dairy-free chocolate chips*
- 1 Tbsp (15 ml) maple syrup**
- 1/2 cup (40 g) rolled oats
- 2 Tbsp (10 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- The night before, add all ingredients (except chocolate chips, if using) to the bowl of your blender and give it a stir to ensure that everything is well combined. Cover and place in fridge for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight. This step isn't absolutely necessary, but allowing the oats to soak for a few hours will make them easier to blend and give you a smoother, creamier smoothie.***
- When ready to eat, blend on high until oats are fully broken down and a smooth and creamy consistency is reached.
- Transfer the smoothie to a small saucepan set over medium heat (adding chocolate chips, if using) and bring to a simmer or boil, depending on how hot you want it. If the smoothie is too thick, add an extra splash of almond milk until desired consistency is reached.
- When your smoothie reaches your preferred temperature, transfer it to a heat-safe glass, garnish with toppings of choice, and enjoy!
** You can sub this with whichever liquid sweetener you have on hand.
*** if you have no time to let your oats soak, you can simply skip to step 2 and 3, but then transfer your warm smoothie back to your blender and blend until it becomes creamy.
Click here for nutrition facts.
Looking for more healthy chocolate-for-breakfast recipes? Try one of these!
Chocolate Overnight Oatmeal Smoothie
Double Chocolate Greek Yogurt Muffins
Do you prefer sweet or savoury breakfasts?
How about afternoon snacks? Do you crave sweet or savoury things?
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Health coach, recipe developer, food photographer, makeup junkie, oatmeal addict, and general lover of life.
I am so glad you are a sucker for chocolate because we reap the benefits! this would pair well with my oht chocolate brownies. Yes? mmmm, GIMME!
Omigosh that would be the ultimate breakfast. Or lunch. Or dinner 😉
I’ve had hot chocolate on the brain too! Even with the 70 degree weather we’re having…I’m ready for winter just for the hot chocolate although this smoothie is a nice compromise
Always sweet and carby! Breakfast can’t be savory 😛 An I will never understand why anyone would think chocolate isn’t an option for breakfast! It’s a #1 must!
This really does look heavenly, as of late my breakfasts have been all over the place both sweet ( with a lot of fruit) and savory ( breakfast burritos with homemade salsa). I think I might have to give this a go!
XO,
Kat
If I did savoury for breakfast, I’d most definitely go the Mexican route. You’ve just given me the biggest craving for tacos…
GENIUS!! Oh my goodness I am alllll over this thing. What a great idea Amanda!
I love how absolutely rich in chocolatey goodness this is…not to mention it has some bulk to hold over my never satisfied belly 😉
I have to start my day on a sweet note too! This is usually in the form of oatmeal with cocoa powder, milk, peanut butter, and banana. Sometimes though, I opt for toast and jelly or peanut butter! If only it was not so chilly in San Diego, I would be whipping this up right now.
I never would have thought to heat up a smoothie – that’s so clever! 90% of the time I’m all about the sweet things…but I do love a good sweet/savoury mix.
Looks like it’s it’s a great batter recipe too! I can see myself making a pancake.
This is the most genius breakfast smoothie idea I’ve heard of! I need to remember to create it soon. I’m in love with hot chocolate, but it can sometimes be hard to ‘get right’ since I can’t have regular milk with it!
I run into that problem a lot as well… especially if I’m making one with cocoa powder instead of some hot chocolate mix. It never ends up blending right and I end up with this sludge at the bottom.
You had me at chocolate. This looks so awesome!
You know what is weird…I am randomly craving a savory breakfast this morning…Otherwise I am always about sweet and then savory meals the rest of the day! Happy Sunday friend!
Now this looks and sounds amazing. A warm smoothie!! You are a genius!! I know what I’m having for a snack later today.
You’re having… raspberries and Cheez Its 😛
I just made this but instead of heating it on the stove I added ice and blended it. Still felt like a healthy treat! I used honey instead of syrup. Yum
Ummm chocolate for breakfast is how I live my life! I love it when articles validate what I thought was a bad habit haha.
Also this is genius and I wasn’t sure how it was a warm smoothie but after reading the recipe..I’m in love.
“I love it when articles validate what I thought was a bad habit” < -- exactly this
I am sooo excited to try this! I’m the same way with my chocolate … the rest of my day is so much better if I get it first thing in the morning. I’ve been satisfying my craving with a chocolate peanut butter Clif bar for my breakfasts, but I’m ready to try something new. Thanks for sharing!
I am totally with you on the sweet breakfast idea and I love my chocolate. This looks delicious!
Looks so creamy and yummy!
I’m wondering if I could make this the night before. Then in the morning microwave it and add the chips. This would be a great take to work breakfast at 5:30 a.m.
You definitely can, Therese! I actually have a similar recipe that involves soaking overnight instead of heating in the morning if you’d like to take a look — http://www.runningwithspoons.com/2015/08/05/chocolate-overnight-oatmeal-smoothie/
Hey Amanda, this was really good! (no surprise there 😉 ) But I have a texture question…after I heated it on the stove, it got super thick, kinda like cooked oatmeal thats been blended. Is that supposed to happen, or did I keep it on the stove too long? I was expecting more of a smooth hot chocolate texture. Thanks!
Hi Nicole! Mine was a little on the thicker side as well, but that’s actually how I like my smoothies. If you prefer something smoother, you could always add more almond milk (or water) until it reaches a consistency that you like
I actually heat this in a pot BEFORE I put it in the blender – put the chocolate in last thing. I eat it with a spoon – warm chocolate pudding for breakfast?? Yes, please! Add ins have included greens (spinach or chard) or other leftover veggies from dinner, flax seed or nut meal….
Thanks so much for sharing your times, Laurie! I bet others will find it helpful
This was legit delicious!
I’m glad you liked it, Autumn! Definitely a current favourite of mine 😀
I used old fashioned oats and (with my mother’s help) used a stick blender to combine all ingredients. It was super thick when we heated it so we thinned it down with more milk and water. When my mom and dad tried it, they absolutely loved it because of the texture of the oats and it’s non-sticky-sweetness. Me… Well… I love super sweet things (I will probably have diabetes by the time I’m 20) and I’m not a big fan of serious texture. Mom said we could try it with masa (or cornmeal), more maple syrup, and some coffee and see what I think. It definitely had a lot of chocolate! However, I need something sweeter and less textured. Take 2, coming up!
If you want it less thick, Anne, you could try reducing the oats to 1/4 cup instead of a full 1/2 cup. And adding more maple syrup, or even a couple of dates, would definitely help make it sweeter.
I’m okay with the thickness, but the texture of the oats is what was getting me. Will reducing the amount of oats decrease the bumpy and chewy texture a little? Can I use honey as well or does it make the taste different?
How many small dates would replace the maple syrup?
I would go with around 2-3 small dates, Molly. It all depends on how sweet you like it!
is there anything you can sub out for the oats? i have a problem with both gluten & oats…and this sounds so amazing but…
Coconut flour would work, Marci! I would probably start with something like 3 Tbsp. and adjust from there based on how thick you like your smoothies.
thank you so much. i am definitely going to try it now…as far as i am concerned chocolate is it’s own food group
I add a banana to this and it is quite yummy and very satisfying.
This sounds so yummy, Amanda! Like everyone else, I’ve been trying to eat healthier, so I love the idea of soaking oats overnight to get a thick, creamy smoothie. Thanks for the good idea!
Megan
http://www.excelathome.net
Ah chocolate for breakfast! A woman after my own heart. Except I would probably go for the muffins rather than the smoothie.
OMG I’m such a chocolate sucker!!! I used to bake all the time and I’m actually dying to use my recipe book again. I will definitely try these recipes in the short future. Chocolate for the win! 😀
I made this today and really enjoyed it! I have a couple thoughts and questions.
First – definitely don’t let it sit too long. The oats thickened over the time it took me to finish it. I let it get hot enough to drink with a straw and I thought it was good, but I might suggest thinning it even a little more than you like if you’re not going to down it right away.
Second – I thought this would be great as a Mexican hot chocolate (with cinnamon and little cayenne) – was not disappointed.
Last – I wonder if anyone has tried this as a coffee drink? I was really tempted to pour my mug in so I wouldn’t have to carry 2 cups, but I was unsure of the results.
Thanks for the recipe!
Does any one have experience with microwaving this? It sounds like it would be something great to have on my graveyard shifts at work.
Yes, I am actually drinking a mug of this smoothie that I heated in the microwave right now. The only thing you have to be really careful about is not microwaving it for too long. The first time I tried microwaving this recipe I did it for two minutes because that is the length of time I heat regular hot chocolate for and it exploded. this time I only did one minute and it worked much better.
I think anyone using a Vitamix high speed blender might be able to heat this smoothie without the stove, right in the Vitamix by running it on high for 4_5 mins or to desired temp. I do soup this way all the time. I’m all for saving a step , and some dishes whenever I can. I’m going to try it and let you know .
That’d be awesome if it worked! I’d definitely love to know if you try it, Lori.
I made it this morning, and it was delicious. However, mine was more like hot chocolate breakfast pudding than a smoothie. To make a smoothie it needed more liquid. However, on a cold Midwestern morning, hot chocolate breakfast pudding was yummy and comforting. Thanks for the great recipe.
What is the nutritional info for this recipe?
Sorry Nancy! I don’t calculate the nutritional info for my recipes, but you can use an online calculator like this one to figure it out — http://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator
Could this be made with regular milk? If so would I need to adjust the recipe any? Thanks!
It will definitely work with regular milk, Amy! No adjustments necessary.
Hi this hot chocolate sounds good, I wonder if I can make it into a cold smoothie? Have you tried it / would it taste the same? I also really like that it could be vegan if you skip the milk chocolate chips.
You could definitely do it as a cold smoothie, Mayra! I actually have a similar one up on the blog if you wanted to check it out — http://www.runningwithspoons.com/2015/08/05/chocolate-overnight-oatmeal-smoothie/
It’s cool that you have awesome reciepes, but maybe not be so greedy with the cash from your blog. You have SO MANY ADS on your page that I can’t even scroll it. I won’t be visiting your page again, this is incredibly annoying! Cut down on the ads and maybe people will actually be able to scroll your posts! I’m sure they’re awesome, but not worth the hassle. Sorry!
Oh no! I swear you’re trying to torture me as this looks fantastic and just what you need after a hard days work.
I can’t wait to try this amazing smoothie loaded with the goodness of cocoa. Perfect for any time of the day, especially in fall and winter months. I have some unsweetened chocolate almond milk and I think that’s gonna work for this recipe.
That would definitely be an awesome addition, Dev! The more chocolate, the better 😀
Can i use something besides almond milk? I’m not a big fan of it but I’m also slightly lactose intolerant.