Chocolate Cherry Smoothie - If you love black forest cake, you'll love this healthy smoothie made with fresh cherries, cocoa powder, milk and maple syrup.
Celebrate cherry season with this Black Forest Mug Cake or Black Forest Overnight Oats.
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This post was originally published on 06/15/2021 and modified on 02/21/2022 to add more details. However the recipe, photos and images remain the same.
Healthy Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
Black forest shake recipe combines the flavors of this classic cake into a delicious yet healthy drink made without banana and with just 4 main ingredients. It is easy, creamy, most importantly HEALTHY!
If you are familiar around here, then you might be aware of our love affair with black forest cake. So, we try to come up with a creative twist every cherry season - like this Mug Cake and Overnight Oats.
WHAT IS BLACK FOREST CAKE?
It consists of several layers of chocolate sponge cake sandwiched with whipped cream and sweet cherry filling. This dessert has been one a favorite cake worldwide for a reason. The combination of is to die for!
WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE?
- Uses fresh Cherries - It is great way to the sweet Bing variety available in abundance in summer.
- Made with all healthy ingredients.
- Tastes like the real cake.
- Can be made ahead - The drink can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.
WHAT TYPE OF CHERRY TO USE?
We recommend fresh Bing variety and not other varieties like Rainier, Lambert, Chelan, Lapins or Tulare to give the authentic taste of the cake.
CAN I USE FROZEN BING CHERRIES?
Sure can! However, you might want to increase the sweetener slightly.
HOW IS THIS HEALTHY?
- Cherries are rich in vitamin C, potassium, antioxidants and anti inflammatory compounds. They are also high in polyphenol antioxidants and melatonin, improving sleep quality.
- Cocoa Powder is rich in polyphenols which may help in reducing inflammation and improve cholesterol levels. It's also high in flavanols, which lower blood pressure. (Check out more benefits at Healthline.com)
- Milk adds protein and calcium.
Can I use other sweeteners instead?
We tried this shake with other sweeteners like honey, sugar, dates and brown sugar. Maple syrup was a clear winner in achieving the authentic taste of a black forest cake. Hence, we recommend using only maple syrup.
Remove pits and cut cherries in half before measuring
Since the fruits will be blended, we simply chop them in half and removed the pits with a finger tip. If you interested on learning other ways to pit, then we recommend this easy read from Allrecipes.
Ingredients needed
- Bing Cherries - We recommend fresh dark Bing variety and not other varieties like Rainier for a classic taste (use frozen ones when not in season).
- Milk - Whole or 2% is recommended.
- Cocoa powder - Dutch processed
- Maple syrup - The secret to tasting like the real dessert.
- Flavorings - Vanilla extract and salt
PRO TIPS FOR SUCCESS
- Blend until smooth.
- Best blenders to use - A high speed blender like Vitamix or NutriBullet is great for shakes.
- Use only BING variety.
How to make?
Remove pits from cherries and then measure ½ cup. Blend pitted fruit, milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt together. Pour into glasses and enjoy!
How to store?
Refrigerate leftovers in a mason jars or glass bottles for up to 3 days ---> Great for meal prep.
How to serve?
Serve this drink for a light breakfast, snack or healthy after school treat.
Love guilt free chocolate treats? More inspirations - Date balls with Cocoa powder, Avocado Chocolate Truffles, Chocolate Almond Butter Overnight Oats, Raw Almond Butter Bars, Chocolate Hummus, Dairy Free cake in a Mug or Double Chocolate Avocado Muffins.
Frequently asked questions
One serving contains 222 calories, 2 grams fiber and 6 grams of protein.
More Smoothie recipes
- Chocolate Date Smoothie <--- Hugely popular recipe
- Oatmeal Smoothie
- Spinach Smoothie for Kids
- Orange Smoothie
- Strawberry Lassi Recipe
- Strawberry Peanut Butter Smoothie
- Chocolate Smoothie
- Healthy Pina Colada Smoothie
Healthy Chocolate Cherry Smoothie (Black Forest)
Black Forest Smoothie - If you love black forest cake, you'll love this chocolate cherry smoothie. Made with fresh cherries this shake is a healthy dessert smoothie!
Ingredients
- ½ cup pitted Bing cherries
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 and ½ tablespoons cocoa powder
- few drops vanilla extract
- ½ scant pinch salt
Blender
Instructions
1. Cut cherries in half, remove the pits, and then measure ½ cup for the recipe (do not measure whole cherries).
2. Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth and serve.
Notes
Blend until smooth.
Other sweeteners: We tried this chocolate cherry smoothie recipe with other sweeteners like honey, sugar, dates and brown sugar. Maple syrup was a clear winner in achieving the authentic taste of a black forest cake. Hence, we recommend using only maple syrup.
Cherries – We recommend fresh Bing cherries and not other varieties like Rainier cherries, Lambert, Chelan, Lapins or Tulare.
Remove pits and cut cherries in half before measuring. Since the cherries will be blended, we simply chopped cherries in half and removed the pits with a finger tip.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 222Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 68mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 2gSugar: 33gProtein: 6g
I am not a certified dietician or nutritionist. The information is a product of online calculator such as Nutrifox.com, although Kitchen at Hoskins attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates and not be construed as a guarantee. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the nutritional information in any recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their fact algorithms. Under no circumstances will Kitchen at Hoskins be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the nutritional information. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for all decisions pertaining to your health and ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate.
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