Frozen Cocoa Espresso Banana Smoothie: High Protein and Weight Loss Friendly
Frozen Cocoa Espresso Banana Smoothie Bowl
Why I Love This Recipe
This smoothie bowl is everything I want in a snack or light meal: it’s rich and chocolatey, has a hit of espresso for energy, and is creamy enough to feel indulgent—without actually being indulgent in calories.
I also love that it satisfies both my chocolate cravings and my coffee cravings at the same time. The frozen banana gives it a natural sweetness and thickness, while the protein powder makes it filling and balanced enough to hold me over for hours.
Why is This Recipe Good for Weight-Loss?
This recipe comes in at just under 250 calories but packs in about 25 grams of protein. That combination means you’ll feel full, energized, and satisfied without overeating. The high protein also supports muscle retention and repair, which is critical when you’re trying to lose weight.
Instead of being another “diet smoothie” that leaves you hungry an hour later, this one has staying power. You get the enjoyment of chocolate + espresso, but in a form that keeps you on track with your weight loss goals.
Ingredient Spotlight: Frozen Banana
Frozen bananas are the secret to a creamy, ice-cream-like smoothie texture without needing any added sugar or dairy. They’re naturally sweet and bring the perfect thickness to a smoothie bowl.
I recommend slicing your bananas into coins before freezing so your blender can handle them easily. They last in the freezer for months, which makes it simple to always have a base ready for smoothies, protein shakes, or even banana ice cream or “Nice Cream”
I Have Celiac. How Do I Make This Safely Gluten Free?
You're in good hands — I have celiac disease too, so this recipe was made with gluten safety in mind! Here’s how to keep it close to 100% safe:
-
Espresso Powder
Choose a certified gluten-free brand (the main one I can find as of Oct 2025 is Anthony’s Organic). Some coffee and espresso powders can be cross-contaminated during processing, so always double-check labels. -
Cocoa Powder
While pure cocoa should be gluten-free, processing facilities differ, so just like with the espresso powder, go with a product that’s specifically labelled gluten-free (Anthony’s Organic has a dutch-process cocoa powder that’s labelled this way, as of Oct 2025). -
Protein Powder & Chocolate Chips
Vega Sport Protein (Mocha) and Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Chips are both labelled gluten-free as of October 2025. Still, verify packaging each time you shop, because this information can change. -
Avoid Cross-Contamination at Home
If you're not the only one in your house eating gluten-free, be careful with shared blenders, scoops, and utensils. Wash thoroughly or keep separate tools for your gluten-free cooking.
With those steps, this recipe is much more likely to be safe for someone with celiac disease—like me!
How Else Can I Support My Weight Loss Goal?
You can stay in my circle! My name is Megan Gaul. I’m an online wellness coach specializing in weight loss and food freedom. My 100-lb weight loss journey, which began in 2018 here in Staten Island, New York (I’ve been maintaining my healthy weight range since then), was the catalyst I needed to start my coaching career in 2021. I have a number of resources that can help you:
- Grab your free Journey-Day-1 coaching call: Book Now
- Attend live Meal Planning classes every week, taught by yours-truly (join free here)
- Enroll in your 1-1 coaching program to get out of your negative cycle and actually lose weight for good: Learn More
- Follow my Instagram for more recipes and strategies, and all about Messy Life after Losing 100 lbs (find me at @partake_foodie)
Frozen Cocoa Espresso Banana Smoothie Bowl
Frozen bananas, dark chocolate, and espresso? Sign me up. This is a beautiful smoothie that can be adjusted to whatever texture you like (but thick smoothie-bowl consistency is the best. IYKYK). It's got 25 g of protein for just under 250 calories, which can't be beat if your goal is losing weight while feeling full and satisfied (not to mention, retaining or building muscle). Plus, crunchy dark chocolate on top - enough said. Enjoy!
Ingredients
Instructions
- (If you don't have a high speed blender): First, blend the ice cubes by themselves so that you don't have any big chunks of ice in your smoothie.
- In the same blender, add the frozen banana, espresso powder, cocoa powder, and protein powder.
- Blend on high until thick and creamy, scraping down sides as needed. (Add a few splashes of cold water or milk to adjust the consistency to whatever you desire).
- Pour into a bowl. (I mean, you can drink it from a cup like a normal person. But I'm a smoothie-bowl person!)
- Top with the chocolate chips, and enjoy!
Notes
**As of 10/2/2025, the package and/or websites of these brands had gluten-free labelling:
- Anthony's Organic Espresso Powder
- Anthony's Organic Cocoa Powder
- Vega Sport Protein Powder Mocha Flavor
- Enjoy Llife Dark Chocolate Chips
By accessing or using this recipe, you are acknowledging and agreeing that you alone are responsible for ensuring your foods, drinks, and other consumables are safe for you. You are also acknowledging and agreeing that the information provided here is for informational purposes only, does not consistute medical advice, and is no subsitute for consulting your doctor, nutritionist, or dietitian. You are also acknowledging and agreeing that nutritional information and food/drink labels change over time, and this information may be out of date.
This wepbage provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online nutrition data from manufacturer and food retailer websites. By accessing or using this recipe, you are acknowledging and agreeing to the full nutrition information disclaimer for this website, which you can read in its entirety here.
Nutrition Disclaimer
This wepbage provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online nutrition data from manufacturer and food retailer websites. By accessing or using this recipe, you are acknowledging and agreeing to the full nutrition information disclaimer for this website, which you can read in its entirety using the link below.