Chocolate Banana Treat
Chocolate Banana Treat is a simple, creamy smoothie made with banana, unsweetened cocoa powder, pasteurized milk, and ice. It has the flavor of a chocolate milkshake and comes together in minutes. Honey is optional and only appropriate for someone 12 months or older. This drink works best as an occasional dessert-style snack.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Chocolate Banana Treat pairs ripe banana with unsweetened cocoa powder for a familiar chocolate-milkshake flavor without added chocolate syrup. Pasteurized milk keeps the smoothie smooth and easy to sip. Honey is optional and only for someone 12 months or older — a very ripe banana usually makes it sweet enough on its own. It comes together in minutes and works best as an occasional dessert-style treat.
Kid Safety Note
This recipe is written for children age 1 year and older. Never give honey to a child younger than 12 months. Removing honey does not automatically make the complete smoothie suitable for an infant. Use pasteurized milk or a fortified unsweetened milk alternative appropriate for the child's age, feeding readiness, dietary needs, and allergies. Adult supervision is required whenever children help prepare the recipe, and children should remain away from blender blades. Nutrition is calculated using pasteurized plain whole cow's milk; another dairy or plant-based milk changes the calories, protein, fat, carbs, sugars, sodium, calcium, and allergen profile. Check product labels for milk, soy, almond, coconut, peanut, and other relevant allergens.
Serving Ideas
Serve Chocolate Banana Treat immediately in a small, age-appropriate cup. A banana slice or very light dusting of cocoa powder makes a suitable garnish for an older child when appropriate. This smoothie works best as an occasional dessert-style snack. If doubling the recipe, check the blender's maximum-fill line and blend in two batches when needed. Keep children away from blender blades and supervise any measuring or pouring.
Chocolate Banana Treat
Description
Chocolate Banana Treat is a simple, creamy smoothie made with banana, unsweetened cocoa powder, pasteurized milk, and ice. It has the flavor of a chocolate milkshake and comes together in minutes. Honey is optional and only appropriate for someone 12 months or older. This drink works best as an occasional dessert-style snack.
Ingredients
- 1 medium banana
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup pasteurized plain whole cow's milk or fortified unsweetened milk alternative appropriate for the child
- 1 teaspoon honey, optional, for children 12 months and older only
- 1/2 cup ice
Instructions
- 1Gather the banana, cocoa powder, milk, honey, and ice before you start. This keeps blending fast and simple.
- 2Peel the banana and break it into a few pieces so it blends more easily.
- 3Pour the milk into the blender first so the blades have enough liquid to pull the banana and cocoa down smoothly.
- 4Add the banana pieces and unsweetened cocoa powder. Add the honey only when serving someone 12 months or older — never add honey when serving a child younger than 12 months — and only if the banana does not provide enough sweetness.
- 5Add the ice last so it crushes evenly as the smoothie blends.
- 6Secure the lid and blend on low for about 10 seconds to break up the banana and ice.
- 7Increase to high and blend for 30 to 60 seconds, or until the smoothie looks smooth, creamy, and chocolatey with no banana chunks left.
- 8Stop the blender and taste a small spoonful. Add milk 1 tablespoon at a time if the smoothie is too thick. When serving someone 12 months or older, add a small amount of honey only if the cocoa still tastes too bitter.
- 9Pour into a chilled glass and enjoy right away while it is cold and creamy.
Tips and Tricks
- 1
Use a very ripe banana with brown spots for the sweetest flavor and smoothest texture.
- 2
Freeze the banana slices ahead of time for a thicker, milkshake-style smoothie.
- 3
Add the milk before the cocoa powder so the cocoa blends in instead of sticking to the bottom of the blender.
- 4
Start with the listed honey amount, then taste after blending before adding more.
- 5
For a simple finish, use a banana slice or light cocoa dusting. Check all garnish and milk labels for allergens before serving.
Nutrition
Approximate nutrition per small serving (1/2 of the recipe), calculated with pasteurized plain whole cow's milk. Using a different dairy or plant-based milk changes the calories, protein, fat, carbs, sugars, sodium, calcium, and allergen profile.
Calories: 145kcal, Protein: 5g, Carbs: 24g, Fat: 4g, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 16g, Sodium: 55mg.
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary based on ingredient brands, product sizes, preparation methods, and substitutions. It is not intended as medical or dietary advice.