Iced Coffee Protein Shake, a.k.a. Cold Brew Smoothie
Sweet, caffeinated, and deliciously frosty, this Iced Coffee Protein Shake doesn’t just taste good — it’ll also keep you fueled up until lunch! Perfect for breakfast on the go or as a post-workout snack, this Cold Brew Smoothie is my favorite way to start the day.
Put all your ingredients except the protein powder in your blender. Blend until smooth. If your smoothie is a little thin, add 4-5 ice cubes and blend again until smooth.
Add your scoop of protein powder and pulse 4 or 5 times until mixed well.
Cold Brew Coffee - Feel free to brew a cup of regular coffee and chill it in the fridge overnight or using a hyperchiller first. Alternatively, feel free to use cool water and your favorite instant coffee or instant espresso instead.
Coconut Milk - You’re welcome to swap in your favorite unsweetened plant-based milk or dairy milk instead, but the consistency might not be as creamy-dreamy depending on what substitution you make.
Cinnamon - Feel free to omit this, or play with other warming spices like pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, or nutmeg.
Frozen Banana - We use the banana for both texture and as the only sweetener for this recipe. If you’re not a fan of bananas, you can try swapping in avocado, mashed sweet potato, pumpkin purée, soft silken tofu, or oatmeal instead. If you make the swap, you might want to add a squeeze of maple syrup or agave nectar to replace the sweetness.
Chia Seeds - In a pinch, adding an equal amount of flax seeds (a.k.a. linseeds) or ground flax meal will add a similar protein and fiber boost.
Vanilla Protein Powder - Consider swapping in other flavors of protein powder (e.g. chocolate, peanut butter, or coffee) to adjust the flavor of your protein coffee shake.
Extra Rich - Make it a coffee banana peanut butter smoothie by adding 1-2 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter (or the nut or seed butter of your choice).
No Coconut - Feel free to swap in the unsweetened plant-based milk or dairy milk of your choice.
No Banana - If you’re fresh out of frozen bananas (or if you simply don’t like them), feel free to replace them with the frozen fruit or veggie purée of your choice. Soft silken tofu, cottage cheese, or oatmeal are all possible options as well. Note that you might need to add a tablespoon or two of liquid sweetener like maple syrup if you make the swap since bananas are the primary sweetener in this recipe.