How To Make a Delicious Salted Caramel Mocha Protein Smoothie Recipe

There's something so special about this Salted Caramel Mocha Protein Smoothie that you'll forget it is a better-for-you recipe!

Ingredients

• Coffee (for brewing)
• Caramel Coffee Creamer
• Chocolate Protein Powder
• Cashews
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• Banana

Equipment

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• Small Cutting Board and Paring Knife
• Blender
• Liquid and Dry Measuring Cups
• Straw (optional)

I use the Hamilton Beach Blender which works great for making smoothies.  It has a variety of settings, including crushing ice and blending smoothies.  We use this model daily and it has been holding up amazing.

For a list of some of my other favorite items to use when cooking, and why I chose them, please visit my Kitchen Resource page.

What Can I Add to My Smoothie for Protein?

Cashews may sound like an odd ingredient for a smoothie, but they're a really healthful ingredient to add.  Cashews can help lower blood pressure, and are good for your heart, bones, and even helps with digestion.  Plus, they give a little added boost of protein. Here are some other ingredients you can add to boost the protein to your smoothie:

• Oats
• Spinach
• Almond Butter
• Kale
• Quiona
• Chia Seeds

Of course, everyone knows bananas are good for you, right? Besides potassium, bananas have fiber, as well as several antioxidants.  Even the cocoa powder has healthy benefits like calcium and potassium.

Salted Caramel Mocha Protein Smoothie

This recipe for my Salted Caramel Mocha Protein Smoothie is better than any you'll get at a drive-thru window!  Here's how to make it:

1. Combine the brewed coffee with the creamer, protein powder, cashews, cocoa powder and salt. Pulse to combine.
2. Add the frozen banana and ice and puree until smooth and creamy.
3. Pour into a glass and add optional toppings if desired.

Protein Smoothie Variations:

• Omit the cocoa powder and use vanilla protein powder instead of chocolate.  Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract for a delicious vanilla cake protein smoothie. We like this sweet cream shake mix especially.
• No protein powder on hand? No problem, add a combination of pumpkin seeds and oats or almond butter and chia seeds instead.
• Swap out the banana for any of these yummy high protein fruits: guavas, avocados, kiwi, blackberries, oranges, cantaloupe, raspberries or peaches.

Mornings are a blur around my house. I'm in a constant state of reminding someone to do something, constantly.  You'd think my kids didn't know what getting around for the day entailed.  Between packing lunches, pleading for them to finish their breakfast and brush their teeth, and trying to finding matching shoes, I never get to sit for breakfast.

Smoothies are where it's at for me. It's simple enough to toss stuff in the blender in between double checking homework folders.  Plus, it's easy enough to take in the car through the drop off line at school! But for me, I've got to have a smoothie with some substance, so it sticks with me, so lately I'm all about the protein smoothie.