Close-up of finished smoothie with peanut butter drizzle and fresh ingredients around it.

A peanut butter banana smoothie is a classic combo that you must have in your smoothie-making repertoireโ€”especially if you have kids in the house! Kids love the sweet and nutty flavor of a peanut butter banana smoothie. Itโ€™s a must-have in every parentโ€™s kitchen toolbox!

The great thing about this smoothie for kids and grown-ups alike is that it is packed with so much protein, healthy fats, and other nutrients that you donโ€™t need to worry about tossing in extra protein powder to make a nourishing, satisfying smoothie! Letโ€™s get blending.

Overhead of smoothie on a cutting board with peanut butter, honey, and banana slices.

What do I need for your peanut butter banana smoothie recipe?

In all likelihood, you already have everything you need in your kitchen! Youโ€™ll need:

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  • Frozen bananas. Not only is banana one of the predominant flavors in this smoothie, but it also adds sweetness, and serves to thicken and chill the smoothie.
  • Milk. Choose whatever milk youโ€™d usually buy anyways, as long as it is unsweetened. Cowโ€™s milk, almond milk, soy milk…any will work!
  • Natural peanut butter. Obviously, you canโ€™t have a peanut butter banana smoothie without the peanut butter! If you want to mix things up, you can use almond butter or another nut butter instead, too.
  • Plain Greek yogurt. I love using yogurt to boost the protein and sticking power of my smoothies. Plus, it gives the smoothie an even more creamy texture!
  • Honey or maple syrup. Depending on how ripe your banana is, you might be able to skip the sweetener.

Protip: On frozen bananas

Keep forgetting to freeze a banana the night before you want a smoothie? On your next grocery trip, grab some extra bananas. Peel, break into pieces, and freeze flat on a baking sheet. Youโ€™ll be set for your next few rounds of smoothies.

Overhead of the five ingredients needed to make a peanut butter banana smoothie.

Donโ€™t I need ice?

Not if you are using a frozen banana! It will chill your smoothie on its own (with the added bonus of not diluting your smoothie flavor), so you can skip the ice.

Protip: When to use ice

If you are using fresh fruit instead, youโ€™ll want to add a handful or two of ice to the blender.

Peanut butter banana smoothie with a peanut butter drizzle on top and banana slices alongside.

How do I make a peanut butter banana smoothie?

For the best results, youโ€™ll want to add the ingredients to the blender in this order:

  1. Add the milk first.
  2. Then the peanut butter and yogurt.
  3. Top with the frozen banana.

Blend away, slowly increasing the speed until your blender is working at full power. Taste for sweetness, and add honey or syrup to taste. Enjoy!

How do I make this smoothie vegan?

Replace the yogurt with plant-based yogurt (almond-milk yogurt is a favorite in our house!). Use soy milk, nut milk, or other non-dairy milkย  (almond is my favorite with the chocolate and peanut butter flavors!). And make sure to sweeten with maple syrup instead of honey. Hello, dairy-free smoothie!

Top down view of peanut butter drizzle on top of banana smoothie with honey, banana slices, and peanut butter alongside.

Whatโ€™s the best blender for making smoothies?

If youโ€™re blender shopping, here are the three blenders we recommend at each price range for smoothies:

  • AFFORDABLE: Cuisinart Hand Blenderโ€”This immersion blender is packed full of power, and will easily make a smoothie for you!
  • MEDIUM: Ninja Professional Blenderโ€”This was the blender we used in the Wholefully test kitchen for years, and itโ€™s a great starter-level, but still high-powered, blender.
  • PRICEY: Vitamix Professional Blenderโ€”A Vitamix is the top of the line when it comes to blenders, and itโ€™s what we use everyday in the Wholefully test kitchen. Itโ€™s a lifetime appliance that is a dream to use!
Close-up of smoothie with glass straw on cutting board with fresh ingredients.

Is there a way to pack more nutrition into this banana and peanut butter smoothie?

This recipe makes a simple peanut butter banana smoothie, but you can add whatever seeds or powders that youโ€™d like! For this one, I might add:

  • Cinnamon. Add a little sweet spice with a touch of cinnamon (be careful not to overdo it, or the cinnamon is all youโ€™ll taste!)
  • Ground flax seeds. Bump up the omega-3s of your smoothie. Flax has a slightly nutty flavor, so it goes great with the peanut butter.
  • Baby spinach or kale. Dark leafy greens are packed with so many nutrientsโ€”get a little dose of vegetables in your smoothie by adding a handful of spinach!

Once you have a set of mix-ins that you like, you can freeze them as booster packs for future smoothies!

Close-up of finished smoothie with peanut butter drizzle and fresh ingredients around it.

Best Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie Recipe

Yield: 1 smoothie
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

This peanut butter banana smoothie is the perfect breakfast or snack. Itโ€™s loaded with potassium, protein, and healthy fats.

Ingredients

  • 2 frozen bananas
  • 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
  • 1 cup unsweetened milk (nut, soy, animal)
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • Honey or maple syrup, to taste

Instructions

    1. Blend all ingredients together until smooth.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 718Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 292mgCarbohydrates: 108gFiber: 9gSugar: 64gProtein: 31g

At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.

Where can I find more smoothie recipes?

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2 Comments

  1. Hi Cassie! Oh my goodness. You are amazing for sharing this and your tips are so helpful too!

    Like you, I am a big fan of treats that are simple to make but pack a big health punch. The combination of ingredients in this smoothie just sound perfect. I’ll admit, peanut butter is one of my weaknesses. It’s just so darn good!! Although I’m not a fan of peanut butter sandwiches with bananas on it, this somehow sounds deliciously different. I love the idea of using frozen bananas instead of needing ice. That’s perfect!

    I also like the idea of using pure maple syrup instead of honey. What a great idea! The yogurt adds some good probiotics to the mix making it all the more delicious and nutritious. You’ve got a winner here!

    Thanks again for sharing. I look forward to trying this in our home. One of these days I’d love to get that Vitamix blender. So many people use it every single day. Blessings to you & your home! โ™ฅ I hope y’all are well!