Peanut Butter Coffee Protein Shake

A peanut butter coffee protein shake made with 4 ingredients; coffee, vanilla protein powder, peanut butter, and medjool dates. A great way to start the day for coffee lovers!

Quick and easy high protein smoothies that are delicious are a necessity. Especially when life is in a busy season.

This peanut butter coffee smoothie combines my two favorite ingredients; coffee and peanut butter. But the goodness doesn't stop there... combining coffee and protein means that I get to leave the house with one less travel mug, and that in itself is a win.

Comment below and let me know I'm not the only one that somehow always has at least 4 different beverages going at all times?!

This coffee protein shake recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and made without banana or refined sugars. It contains roughly 29 grams of protein, depending on the protein powder you use, making it one of my favorite recipes to start the day with.

It's ultra creamy and can be customized to suit your nutritional needs or cravings.

Hungry? Pair the shake with these plant-based breakfast ideas;

• Vegan GF Avocado Toast
• Savory Quinoa Breakfast Bowl (Vegan)
• Baked Sweet Potato Toast
• Baked Tofu Scramble with Veggies and Crispy Potatoes

Alternatively, add a few superfoods, like chia seeds or cacao powder to the peanut butter coffee protein shake! Jump to the add-in section of the blog post for some ideas to get you started.

Jump to:

• Peanut butter coffee protein shake ingredients
• How to make a peanut butter coffee smoothie without banana
• Substitutions
• Peanut butter coffee smoothie add-ins
• Storage
• 📋 Recipe
• 💬 Feedback

Peanut butter coffee protein shake ingredients

• Iced coffee: strongly brewed coffee, cold brew or chilled espresso all work great. Be sure to use cold coffee as warm coffee will require more ice and make the smoothie watery.
• Vanilla protein powder: I used Orgain organic vanilla plant-based protein powder
• Natural peanut butter: adds healthy fats as well as additional creaminess and sweetness.
• Medjool dates: provide a sweet caramel-like flavor to the smoothie
• Ice provides texture and as it blends it ensures the smoothie is cold

How to make a peanut butter coffee smoothie without banana

1. First, brew and chill coffee. Alternatively use cold brew or chilled espresso.
2. Next, add coffee, vanilla protein powder, dates, and a handful of ice to the blender.
3. Blend until smooth.
4. Finally, pour into your favorite mason jar or smoothie cup and enjoy!

Substitutions

This coffee protein shake can be made in many different ways to suit your personal preferences. Here are some substitutions and variations to make this breakfast smoothie your own:

Coffee: strongly brewed iced coffee or cold brew coffee works best to get the full coffee flavor in the smoothie. For an extra kick of caffeine use chilled espresso; add 1-2 shots and ¼ cup of plant milk. Sensitive to caffeine? Swap with a decaf option or a caffeine-free dandy blend.

My favorite store-bought cold brew brands:

• Wandering Bear
• Chameleon Coffee

Peanut butter: substitute with almond butter, cashew butter, or pecan butter. For a nut free option, use granola butter (vanilla is my favorite).

Dates: dates provide a caramel-like flavor that pairs perfectly with peanut butter. Substitue with maple syrup or other liquid sweetener of choice. If you're protein powder is naturally sweet, omit and/or add a splash of vanilla extract instead.

Protein powder: I prefer vanilla protein powder in this smoothie but feel free to swap with chocolate protein powder if desired. Alternatively, use vegan collagen powder or cacao powder for a peanut butter mocha protein shake.

My favorite vanilla protein powders that are vegan and gluten-free:

• Orgain Simple Vanilla protein powder
• SunWarrior Vanilla Warrior Blend
• KOS Organic Vanilla protein powder

Top tip: depending on the protein powder you use, you may need to add additional coffee or a splash of plant-based milk (soy milk, oat milk, or almond milk) as texture and thickness of each protein powder varies. Adjust as needed and enjoy!

Ice: I used standard ice, but for a rich coffee flavor, use coffee ice cubes (pour brewed coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze). Alternatively, the same can also be done with plant-milk for an extra creamy protein shake/smoothie.

Peanut butter coffee smoothie add-ins

• Banana (I recommend using only ½ of a frozen banana, as a full banana overpowers the other smoothie flavors. Additionally, be sure to only freeze extra ripe bananas as unripe bananas are less sweet and naturally overpower other flavors).
• Frozen cauliflower
• Hemp seeds
• Chia seeds
• Cacao powder
• Maca powder
• Flaxseeds
• Cacao nibs or chocolate chips
• Vegan yogurt (I recommend vanilla or a plain yogurt)
• Soy or flax milk for additional protein

For a fun peanut butter lovers twist, add a peanut butter rim to the smoothie!

1. First add peanut butter to a small plate.
2. Next, crush peanuts (or cacao nibs) and add to another small plate.
3. Then, dip the rim of the glass into the peanut butter (twisting gently to fully coat) and then directly into the crushed peanuts.
4. Place in the fridge to chill while you make the smoothie.
5. Lastly, remove from fridge and pour the smoothie into the rimmed glass and enjoy!

Storage

Protein shakes taste best if enjoyed immediately after making. However, they can be stored in the fridge for a few hours without too much flavor change. Shake well before drinking.

An easy low-waste, make-ahead option is to make coffee ice cubes with any leftover coffee from your morning pot. Pour room temperature coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze overnight. Once frozen, add 4 or more to the smoothie. Omit regular ice and follow the recipe as written. Adjust as needed based on personal preference for how strong you want the coffee flavor to be.

📋 Recipe

If you made this peanut butter coffee smoothie, I would love to know your thoughts! Let me know how it went in the comments below and be sure to leave a star rating too!

Also, tag @notablyvegan on Instagram or Twitter in your creations, I love connecting with you on social media, too!