Chunky Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Shake

This is one of those, seems-too-easy to put on the blog kind of “recipes.” Especially because I’ve never considered myself an expert on protein shakes. But it’s because they’ve never been YUMMY ENOUGH FOR ME. Always team chew-my-calories over drinking them. Always. UNTIL THIS Chunky Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Shake!

About This Recipe

Dessert has always been essential to me. It just is. Maybe I should kick the addiction– maybe I shouldn’t eat so late. Maybe if I did Whole 30 I’d lose the need for sweets and feel invincible. But honestly, I’m not sure I want to! My sweet treat on the couch at night, after the kids are in bed– with Ross hanging out (or snoring) next to me… it’s too important to me.

When I first started counting macros, a protein shake was my LAST RESORT dessert. When I’d spent all of my carbs and fat on a dinner out maybe. I would try and get excited about it but it didn’t fool me. Mostly I tasted protein and ice… it was watery and hollow in flavor. So I get it if you’re skeptical. Once I found my formula, I have NOT GOTTEN off of this thing. I keep waiting to get hooked on something new. But you guys it’s been like three years. And I’m not always tracking! Certainly not always “cutting” (eating in a deficit). But THIS. This is what I want every night until forever.

I wish the details didn’t matter. But they do. Le me tell you; all protein shakes are NOT created equal.

I have fallen in love with this shake.  Done the same, every time. I even decided I had to weigh my ice because it was always so hit and miss for me before! I’d see other people enjoying theirs, but then I’d make one and it’d be too watery… or too frothy… or taste like nothing. Or worse, like protein powder.  And I’m sipping or spooning, hoping it’s gonna get better as I go. And then annoyed I’ve spent the macros and I’m just all cold and didn’t get to eat anything.

But not this one! I’m obsessed. And I have eaten it essentially every single night for an absurd number of nights. I’m not gonna count.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Cashew milk: Unsweetened cashew milk is my preference here but any kind of milk works! You can use dairy or non-dairy milk.
• Creamer: For added creaminess! I love the Califia Farms Almond Milk Creamer but any kind works. The creamer isn’t essential, but I love it for the richness. Easily sub for more milk if you don’t have creamer.
• Protein powder: Use your favorite protein powder (mine is Active Stacks). I’ve linked some of my favorite options below.
• Cocoa powder: Essential for getting that chocolately flavor! I always use dark or jet black cocoa.
• Flake salt: Trust me on this!
• Stevia: If you like things sweeter, add ¼ teaspoon (or to taste) of stevia. If using, I prefer the liquid stevia so it mixes the best. I personally don’t use this anymore but totally an option if you like things sweet!
• Coconut extract: Another optional ingredient but it really does give this shake the best flavor. Almond is also amazing, but a little goes far, don’t over do it. Of course, you can always use regular vanilla if that’s what you have on hand.
• Xanthan gum: A game changer for the texture!! Just be careful to not get heavy handed or it can get a little weird. You can also omit if your stomach doesn’t handle it well.
• Toppings: Feel free to get creative here! My go-to’s powdered peanut butter, almond milk whipped cream, roasted cocoa nibs, corn chex cereal, toasted almonds, diced banana, rice crispies, and more flake salt!

Dietary Adaptations 

Dairy-free: Use dairy-free milk, creamer and protein powder.

How To Make

1. Add all of the shake ingredients to the jar of your Ninja. (I like to keep all of my bits and pieces in a special shake drawer right near the blender to simplify the process! I even keep the ¼ tsp measuring spoon in there to use on the salt, stevia, and xanthan.)
2. Run a full blend cycle. I let it go all the way through, then sometimes add another 10–20 seconds depending on the ice, protein powders, and, honestly, the day. The key is watching it come together: the color gets lighter, the texture smooths out, and the shake visibly grows taller in the jar. If it’s icy, blend longer next time. If it’s too whipped or frothy, shorten the blend.
3. Pour it into a big insulated tumbler and top with your favorite toppings. But I’m just gonna tell you, 20 grams of powdered peanut butter stirred in just BARELY so it’s nice and cit a little chunky— is ALMOST mandatory.  It’s magic.
4. The macros below are for the shake alone, to make it easier for you to track what you want and what fits for you. But of course I like mine topped like crazy so there’s texture in every bite. It’s the best thing ever and I never want to break up with it. I like to add the toppings in the order listed. And sometimes crumble 10 grams of G2G bar as well! (More is better ha!) I don’t mix in, or layer. But I eat by dunking my long spoon right down the middle almost trying to avoid the toppings. You’ll inevitably get plenty stuck to each bite and then there’s still so much good stuff left at the bottom! It’s an art. Haha.

Helpful Tips

1. Xanthan gum makes it thick and creamy! But keep reading even if it’s not for you. The weird name makes it intimidating, but it’s just a plant-based thickener. Xanthan gum is magical in helping it blend up thick and creamy…. more like a dessert, less like a supplement- ew. I linked the exact bag I bought from Amazon. I just leave my ¼ tsp in the bag for easy shake-making! Some people feel bloated or gassy from too much xanthan, so don’t go overboard.

AND, if xanthan doesn’t sit well in your belly, or the name just scares you too much, or you just hate buying stuff you don’t know you’ll use, it’s fine. I’m editing this because in efforts to fix some tummy trouble, I’ve recently stopped using the xanthan and have actually been shocked at how good is still is with frozen banana. Not like using frozen banana is some genius new concept. But I swear I’d tried in the past and it didn’t compare. BUT, at least with my Ninja, a simple 40-50 g frozen-solid banana GETS IT DONE. I don’t even miss it. Still AMAZING. Adds a handful of carbs but less than 10. It’s cool.

2. A Good Protein Powder: My current FAVORITE, is the chocolate by Active Stacks. (Use Lillie for 10% off). It’s a beef protein powder, rather than your typical whey. This means it’s dairy free, and easier on digestion for lots of us. Ingredient list is short and simple and sweetened naturally. It tastes like good chocolate milk. I LOVE it.

But I also love going halvesies with another favorite to mix it up.  My very favorites to throw in are the Clean Simple Eats S’more and Peanut Butter Cup  (use Lillie for 10% off) or any of the Clean Simple Eats Flavors!

3. Right Amount of Ice: It might vary for you, but just finding your sweet spot so it’s not always a crapshoot is key. Mine has been between 185-195 grams of ice.

4. Blender: I wish the blender didn’t matter, but it does. If your shake is watery, unfortunately that’s usually a blender situation and I hate to say it, but you might need a new one! Avoid the big classic ninja blender. It yields the iciest shakes. For me, the Ninja Twisti changed everything. It’s compact, easy to leave on the counter, and blends this shake evenly without overworking it.

And the clean up is such a breeze compared to my big blender!  It blends it so fast and so smooth. I worried it was too fast at first but now that I’ve gotten it down, it’s PERFECT every time. (Warning, the large, regular sized Ninja blender does NOT work for this shake. It’ll be icy and sloshy. Nobody wants that.)

5. Powdered Peanut Butter: The powdered peanut butter I use is PB2. The key is to BARELY STIR IT IN AFTER!!!!!! DON’T BLEND IT IN! It gets lost. Not as special. This is huge. massive. monumental. a must. Of course real peanut butter would be delicious, or cookies, or peanut butter cups…or Ben & Jerry’s– BUT– if you have room for all of that, you probably don’t need to be eating a protein shake in the first place so let’s assume you want to keep it light.

20 grams of powdered peanut butter will only cost you 88 calories of mostly protein and carbs… and will add JUST enough texture and reward to keep you loving it through every bite so you’re not depressed when you hit the bottom of your giant, metal tumbler.

6. Giant Metal Tumbler: YES: a giant metal tumbler with a long spoon!! GAME CHANGER. I’m obsessed with the whole situation.  Feel free to eat yours out of a bowl and call it “pro-yo” or “protein ice cream”. It was a big dilemma for me… what to call it… but I felt like “shake” was the honest way to go since I’m eating it out of a giant metal cup that reminds me of being a kid… like when you’d order a shake and they brought you your cup AND the leftovers that didn’t fit, in the big metal cup? THE BESSSSSSST THINGGGGGGG EVERRRRRRRR. And now I have it every night. Childhood dreams come true.

7. Toppings: And if there’s room OF COURSE TOPPINGS are everything.  Almond milk Reddi Whip, and granola used to be all I needed. But now I’m hooked on a good spread haha. The whipped cream, cocoa nibs, corn chex and/or toasted almonds, and always a final pinch of flake salt! I also LOVE 15 grams of a G2G Bar at room temp, crumbled up on it when I’m really going for it. For a dairy-free option, Healthy On the Go Bars have some delicious options.

For More Delicious Recipes

• Macro-friendly Vanilla Protein Smoothie Bowl
• High Protein Berry Smoothie Bowl
• Healthy Chocolate Mint Protein “Ice Cream” Sundae
• Macro Friendly Warm Oatmeal Ice Cream Sundae

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