Hazelnut Coffee Smoothie
Fellow coffee fanatics, this is for you! This Hazelnut Coffee Smoothie satisfies many cravings; in addition to coffee urges, of course, it will satisfy a sweet tooth, a caffeine fix, even chocolate cravings… you have the option of using either coffee/mocha or chocolate protein powder in this, whichever you prefer or is available to you! And this smoothie gets extra points for efficiency; you get your morning coffee and protein shake all in one!
You’re also getting a double dose of protein with the flavored protein powder on top of the whole hazelnuts that are used. Per smoothie, you’re getting 10g of protein from just the hazelnuts, then around another 10-20g of protein from the protein powder, depending on the kind you’re using! See my notes in the ingredient list below for tips on buying protein powders.
Since this recipe uses whole, raw hazelnuts, you may want to soak your hazelnuts overnight to soften them. However, if you have a high-speed blender you don’t need to soak them at all. Typically a high-speed blender is considered anything over 1,000 watts; all Vitamixes are high-speed, as well as many Ninjas, NutriBullets, and several other brands have high-speed varieties, too. If you know your blender well enough, you will know if it can handle things like raw nuts, even ice and frozen fruit, etc. If you aren’t sure if your blender is high-speed, you may want to soak your hazelnuts in very warm water for at least a few minutes, to be on the safe side. Otherwise, your smoothie may just have a slightly different texture.
I’m admittedly way behind the times when it comes to coffee… I still have a regular coffee pot rather than a single-serve Keurig or Nespresso machine! So every morning, I make an entire pot of coffee (most days I get through all of it!), but sometimes I have some coffee leftover. If I do, I’ll keep it in the refrigerator overnight and then use it in a coffee smoothie the next morning! That way I can get my caffeine fix without making a whole other pot on top of what was left from the day before.
Despite my unpretentious coffee tastes and habits, my whole family and I actually have a deep love for coffee. We’re all coffee fans, so much so that when I was very young (like literally a toddler) my parents founded and opened a coffee shop. And these days, whenever my parents, my sister and I are visiting each other’s homes, a cup of coffee is usually offered before water, no matter the time of day or night.
A couple of years ago when I was visiting my sister in Ohio, the most bizarre thing happened. She was making me a cup of coffee and happened to show me her coffee mug collection; she had dozens of coffee mugs that she had been collecting for years. She had favorite mugs from different places, with different designs, artwork and all sizes. The incredible thing was that I had a coffee mug collection, too, also with dozens of mugs I had been collecting for years! Whenever I go on a trip anywhere, or go to a museum, a landmark, etc. that has a gift shop or souvenir store with coffee mugs, I purchase one to add to my collection. And my sister had been collecting them as well, and somehow the conversation had never come up before then!
Bananas: The banana base is what gives this smoothie its creamy consistency. The banana taste is not as pronounced as it is in many other smoothie recipes; the additions of coffee and chocolate flavors transform the taste very well while still keeping the velvety consistency!
Brewed Coffee: You can of course use any coffee you choose; I am surprisingly not picky when it comes to coffee types and brands, however, I do love using hazelnut-flavored coffee in this to bring out the flavor even more. Sometimes if I’m craving one of these smoothies but don’t want to overdo it on caffeine that day, I’ll even use decaf coffee.
Whole Hazelnuts: I use raw, unsalted hazelnuts. You can use roasted hazelnuts, as they may be easier to find, but I buy mine online, usually on Amazon.
Protein Powder: There are many, many varieties of vegan protein powders available. I recommend either a chocolate protein powder or coffee-flavored for this, of course. When shopping for vegan protein powders, make sure it doesn’t have whey in it, which is a milk protein. Protein powders that are completely vegan are widely available now in any grocery store, but buying online is always a very convenient option, as well.
Cocoa Powder: Adding cocoa powder not only adds depth of flavor, but boosts the nutritional profile of these smoothies. Cocoa powder contains antioxidants and has many health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, improving cholesterol levels and reducing inflammation.
Cinnamon: I add cinnamon to anything I can, all the time. It’s loaded with antioxidants and is super good for you in many ways; it’s beneficial to your brain health, heart health, and even helps prevent cancer.
Shredded Coconut: You may choose to toast your shredded coconut and sprinkle it on your smoothies before serving; this is optional of course and only recommended if you like the taste of coconut! See the recipe below for additional garnish suggestions.
Ingredients
2 frozen bananas
1 C brewed coffee
½ C whole hazelnuts
2 scoops mocha or chocolate protein powder
1 T cocoa powder
1 tsp cinnamon
Shredded coconut for optional garnish
Instructions
1. If including the coconut garnish, take a couple tablespoons of shredded coconut and add it to a small pan on the stove. Turn the heat on low and heat the coconut, keeping a close eye on it and stirring often until it’s evenly browned. Once it’s toasted to your desired amount, remove the shredded coconut from the heat and set aside while you make your smoothie.
2. Combine the bananas, brewed coffee, hazelnuts, protein powder, cocoa powder and cinnamon in a blender and blend at high speed until smooth.
3. Pour into glasses and sprinkle on toasted coconut, or add your choice of garnish. Other garnish options include vegan whipped cream, chocolate syrup, chocolate shavings or sliced fresh fruit.
Stefanie is the founder of Life, Veganized, and a passionate vegan and animal advocate. She creates vegan recipes for all palates and resides in Los Angeles with her adorable puggle, Zeus.
