Recipe: Peanut Butter Cup Protein Shake

If a Reese’s cup is your favorite sweet treat, you’re going to love this peanut butter cup protein shake. Made with just 5 ingredients, this frosty peanut butter smoothie makes a delicious pre or post-workout snack.

Is there any better flavor combination than the chocolate and peanut butter combo? If your answer is no – then you’re going to love this peanut butter cup protein shake! This shake is made with just 5-simple ingredients and is perfect for busy mornings or any time of day. 

To get the chocolate flavor in this shake, I use my favorite chocolate protein powder, but any brand will work! Enjoy this high protein smoothie post-workout or for a healthier dessert that tastes like a healthy peanut butter cup milkshake.

Peanut Butter Cup Protein Shake Ingredients

Use these simple ingredients to make your satisfying peanut butter cup protein shake.

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• Non-Fat Greek Yogurt: we prefer using greek yogurt since it is a little higher in protein than regular yogurt. Use either plain or an unsweetened vanilla yogurt for this peanut butter cup protein smoothie recipe. 
• Peanut Butter: we like natural peanut butter since it has fewer extra ingredients, but any creamy peanut butter will work. You can use other nut butter in this shake – both almond butter and cashew butter can be used instead.
• Chocolate Protein Powder: there are plenty of great chocolate protein powder options out there! Most protein powders provide at least 20 g protein per serving. If you need help finding a protein powder, these are our picks for the 17 best weight loss protein powders for women. If you don’t want to use protein powder or only have vanilla protein, add 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa powder instead to add chocolate flavor.
• Milk: we typically reach for unsweetened vanilla almond milk for smoothies, but any kind of milk will work (both non-dairy milk options like soy milk or regular milk).   
• Ice: we like to add a handful of ice to thicken this delicious protein shake and give it a frosty texture.

Variations and Substitutions

Use peanut butter powder: you can swap out the peanut butter for peanut butter powder to reduce the total fat in this smoothie. For comparison, 2 tablespoons of regular peanut butter is 190 calories, 16 g fat, and 7 grams of protein. While powdered peanut butter has just 60 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, and 6 grams of protein. We recommend 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter powder in this chocolate peanut butter smoothie.

Add banana: for a little bit of extra sweetness and creamy texture, you can add 1 frozen banana instead of the ice in this protein shake.

Make it vegan: in addition to non-dairy milk, swap the yogurt for a plant-based option. Instead of a whey based protein powder, use a plant-based protein powder to make a vegan version of this smoothie.

Add veggies: sneak in an extra serving of veggies by adding a handful of spinach or ½ cup frozen cauliflower rice to your peanut butter cup protein shake. 

Add fiber: boost the filling fiber content of this shake by adding 1-2 tablespoons of chia seeds, ground flax seeds, or hemp seeds. Not only are they high in fiber, but they are also a good source of healthy fats and protein.

How to Make A Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Shake

This delicious breakfast or post-workout snack is easy to make. Simply follow the instructions below!

Prep: Use a measuring cup to add all of your smoothie ingredients (greek yogurt, peanut butter, protein powder, milk, ice) to a high powered blender. 

Blend: Start on low speed and gradually increase speed as the ingredients start to mix. Puree until smooth. 

Enjoy: Pour this delicious chocolate peanut butter protein shake into a tall glass and enjoy! To make it extra special, garnish with a bit of melty peanut butter and chocolate chips – the perfect breakfast!

Recommended Tools for This Recipe

• High-speed blender
• Mason jar
• Silicone spatula
• Reusable glass straws

Tips for Making Better Smoothies

• Start slow. We find that our blender works best when you start on low speed until the ingredients start to move in the pitcher, then gradually increase the speed. 
• Adjust liquid as needed. If you like really thick smoothies (or smoothie bowls), use less liquid or more ice. For thinner smoothies that can be sipped through a straw, use more liquid. It’s always best to start with a smaller amount of liquid and add as needed.
• Taste and adjust. After blending up your smoothie, taste it and feel free to adjust as needed. If you like a sweeter smoothie, add a date or some honey or maple syrup. Maybe add more cinnamon or nut butter – it’s up to you!

Is Peanut Butter Good for Protein Shakes?

Peanut butter is a great addition to a protein shake! Just 2 tablespoons of peanut butter has 8 grams of protein and is a source of heart healthy fats and many essential nutrients like vitamin E, magnesium, and folate.

How many calories are in a chocolate peanut butter protein shake?

Depending on what you use to make your protein shakes, the calories can really add up since peanut butter is rich in calories. However, we created a lighter chocolate peanut butter protein shake that is only 200 calories per serving.