Chocolate Vanilla Bean Smoothie

Why wouldn’t you? The Dr. Ben Kim Chocolate Vanilla Bean Smoothie is heaven in a glass (or bowl). It’s essentially a healthy dessert with no fat or added sugar! You can indulge in the Dr. Ben Kim Chocolate Vanilla Bean Smoothie while loading up on vitamins and minerals. It’s not expensive, is easy to make in the Vitamix or Blendtec, and will store in the refrigerator or freezer (if making ice cream). The ice cream version is simply amazing and you will probably never buy store-bought ice cream again. The Dr. Ben Kim Chocolate Vanilla Bean Smoothie and ice cream is healthy for diabetics, lactose intolerant folks and even babies!

About Ben Kim Chocolate Vanilla Bean Smoothie

Have you ever substituted a real vanilla bean for vanilla extract? If not, you must put it on your next grocery list. Dr. Ben Kim Chocolate Vanilla Bean Smoothie made with a real Madagascar vanilla bean. Who knew achieving amazing flavor was so easy? You literally scrape the inside of a long vanilla bean with a knife to extract the meat, then add to the rest of the ingredients in the Dr. Ben Kim Chocolate Vanilla Bean Smoothie! It’s SO delicious (trust us)! You will almost feel guilty eating something so decadent, despite the fact that it’s amazingly healthy. And, made with the Blendtec or Vitamix you can vary your recipe to make ice cream!! The even better part? The Dr. Ben Kim Chocolate Vanilla Bean Smoothie super easy to make in under five minutes.

Chocolate Vanilla Bean Smoothie by Dr. Ben Kim

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RECIPE INGREDIENTS

1. 1 cup chopped very ripe banana (frozen or room temperature)
2. 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
3. 1 teaspoon high quality cacao or cocoa powder
4. 1 premium Madagascar vanilla bean, cut in half

RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Chop the ends off the vanilla bean and slice it lengthwise so you have two long halves.  Place the uncut side of one half on the cutting board, anchor one end with a finger or thumb, and gently but firmly scrape the sharp edge of your knife along the length of the open vanilla bean.  You should have almost a paste.  Set aside.

Step 2: Place one cup of a very ripe (brown or with brown spots) into the Vitamix or Blendtec, along with all other ingredients.  Blend on high until all ingredients become a smooth mixture.

Step 3: Enjoy!

Being such an amazing smoothie, it’s only fitting that the Dr. Ben Kim Chocolate Vanilla Bean Smoothie would also be an amazing ice cream. Follow the recipe above for the smoothie version. To make ice cream, just make sure your banana is frozen and reduce the milk by 1/2 cup, then use the tamper to get it going (add a little more milk if needed).  Serve up in a cute bowl or cone and you’re set for dessert.  Or just eat straight out of the Vitamix or Blendtec pitcher (we won’t judge).  If you like extra texture in your smoothies, sprinkle a small handful of cacao nibs or non-dairy chocolate chips on top.  Add non-dairy whipped cream for a super treat!  Serve this up in a giant glass with a colored or striped straw for added fun.  And be sure to keep a spoon on hand for those chocolate or cacao pieces at the bottom.

• Recipe by: http://drbenkim.com/healthy-chocolate-vanilla-smoothie-recipe
• Recipe Type: Smoothie, Ice Cream

Special Equipment:

Blendtec blender, Vitamix Blender, Knife, Cutting board, Measuring cup, Measuring spoons

Note: To make the smoothie thicker add a few cubes of filtered water ice, to make it thinner add a little more milk.

Ingredient Health Benefits

A banana is an edible fruit, botanically a berry, produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus Musa. Bananas are very high in potassium, and a good source of fiber, manganese, and Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C. Bananas are Naturally fat-, cholesterol- and sodium-free.

Almond Milk is a plant milk produced by soaking almonds and grinding them in water. The almond is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia, mostly we are familiar with almonds as the edible seeds of this tree. Almonds are powerhouses of nutrition, containing monounsaturated fats that lower LDL cholesterol and are protective against cardiovascular disease. Almonds are rich in biotin, and contain large amounts of Vitamin E, Manganese, Copper, Vitamin B2, phosphorus, magnesium, and molybdenum. Your Reading the Smoothie Ingredients Guide Health Benefits and Facts.

Cacao is the dried and fully fermented fatty seed of Theobroma cacao. Cacao is a powerful superfood that has centuries of recorded traditional and medicinal use. It is high in antioxidants, iron and fiber, and contains the unique nutrition theobromine, a mild stimulant that some believe can treat depression. It may cause the brain to produce more of a neurotransmitter called anandamide which some people say is why chocoholism exists.

Vanilla is a flavor derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla. It contains compounds unique to vanilla – vanillic acid and vanillin which have strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Traditional cultures have long used it to stimulate the brain and senses.