This raspberry banana protein smoothie is packed full of protein and fibre and makes the perfect balanced breakfast or snack to fuel up pre or post-workout! Made without yogurt, but still super creamy and delicious! {Gluten-free, vegan, and paleo-friendly}
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Raspberry Smoothie with Almond Milk
This raspberry protein smoothie recipe is one of our go-to smoothies because it’s so easy to prepare and we generally always have all of the necessary ingredients on hand. Aren’t those the best types of recipes?
It’s thick and creamy texture along with the protein and fibre content also makes it super filling!
You can either drink it from a glass or pour it into a bowl and serve it up as a smoothie bowl topped with fresh raspberries, a sprinkle of chia seeds, coconut or granola. The options are endless!
It’s the perfect way to make use of those raspberries that are in season and overripe bananas you might have kicking around.
As an added bonus, this protein shake with raspberries and banana is made with only five simple ingredients, contains no refined sugar and is ultra refreshing!
For more delicious smoothie recipes, check out this Strawberry Banana Smoothie Without Yogurt too!
Ingredient Notes
- Frozen banana: Adds natural sweetness and creaminess to the smoothie. Use an overripe banana for best results.
- Frozen raspberries: I like to toss any fresh raspberries that we aren’t able to use up from the fridge into a ziploc bag and store it in the freezer to use in smoothies like this one!
- Unsweetened almond milk: Makes this recipe dairy-free and vegan, while adding a subtle nutty flavour and creamy texture.
- Chia seeds: These powerful little seeds not only add a dose of fibre, protein and omega-3s to the smoothie, they also help to thicken it up!
- Protein powder: An easy way to add a dose of protein to the smoothie. If you opt for vanilla flavour, it also helps to sweeten the smoothie so no added sugar is required.
How to Make a Frozen Raspberry Smoothie
Toss all of the ingredients into a high power blender and press start.
Blend until smooth and chunks are no longer present.
Taste. Add a bit of honey or maple syrup to sweeten it up, if you prefer a sweeter smoothie.
What type of protein powder should I use?
You can use any type of protein powder that you prefer, but I suggest going with vanilla flavour to compliment the other ingredients in the smoothie. Some of my favourite protein powders, which also happen to be vegan options are the Sunwarrior Vanilla Protein Powder and Genuine Health Vegan Protein Powder.
Try to find a protein powder that’s low in sugar and has limited processed ingredients.
Should I use fresh or frozen fruit?
For this smoothie in particular, I prefer to use a frozen banana and frozen raspberries to make it a thicker smoothie.
If you find that it’s tough to blend, you can always add some additional almond milk to help ease the blending process and be sure to use a powerful blender.
Can I add ice?
I find that adding a frozen banana and raspberries is all that’s needed to provide a cool, thick and creamy consistency.
I generally don’t add ice since it can make it more like a slushy and has a tendency to water down the mixture. That being said, you can certainly add it in if you prefer to make your smoothies with ice.
Can this raspberry protein shake be made in advance?
Yes, however, I find that it generally tastes best when you drink it fresh.
If you choose to make it ahead of time, I recommend storing it in the blender in the fridge and blending it again prior to serving to reincorporate the ingredients and smooth out the consistency.
You may also wish to add a couple of ice cubes to the mixture and blend it up again to thicken up the texture.
Ingredient substitutions
Don’t have chia seeds? You can leave them out or sub in Hemp hearts. The smoothie consistency will most likely be thinner, but it won’t alter the overall flavour of the smoothie.
Want to make it nut-free or don’t love almond milk? Sub in regular milk or another milk alternative such as rice or soy milk.
Want to make it vegan? Use a vegan protein powder and milk alternative.
Recipe Tips:
- Use an overripe banana to enhance the natural sweetness of the smoothie. I like to toss those spotty bananas sitting on the counter right into the freezer before they go bad.
- Use a powerful blender. This will help break down the frozen fruit to make a thick and creamy smoothie.
- You can use black or white chia seeds, but white will provide a more neutral colour with no black specks floating around.
- If you prefer a sweeter smoothie or use an unflavoured protein powder, you may wish to add a bit of honey, maple syrup or other desired sweetener to the smoothie.
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes
- Banana Smoothie without Yogurt
- Strawberry Banana Smoothie with Yogurt
- Banana Free Smoothie
- Shamrock Protein Smoothie
- Simple Green Smoothie
- Pina Colada Smoothie
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a rating and review!
Raspberry Banana Protein Smoothie {with Almond Milk}
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen raspberries
- 1 frozen ripe banana
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey (optional)
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender and pulse until smooth and creamy. Taste and add maple syrup or honey if desired.
- Pour into a glass or mason jar and top with desired toppings. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted February 2016 but was updated with new photos and recipe tips in July 2020.
Why don’t you show the amounts of the ingredients?
You can find the full recipe including all of the quantities in the recipe card at the bottom of the post :)