This healthy cookie dough smoothie is paleo, vegan, packed with protein and even contains hidden veggies. It's an easy smoothie recipe that's not only healthy, but actually tastes good!
My newest obsession...this cookie dough smoothie.
I've been eating one nearly every morning the past few weeks. (No joke.)
It feels totally indulgent - like I'm eating ice cream. But really, this cookie dough smoothie bowl is high in protein, low sugar, low carb and made with veggies like cauliflower and sweet potato.
Yep, nothing better!
Why You'll Love This Cookie Dough Smoothie
- paleo and vegan - made with real, whole food ingredients
- gluten free and grain free
- dairy free - made without yogurt and without milk
- packed with protein - cookie dough smoothie made with protein powder
- low in sugar
- tastes like cookie dough
- has a THICK texture (but can be thinned if you prefer)
- contains hidden veggies - you'd never know!
Really, with a list like this I don't see how you couldn't be mildly obsessed. This cookie dough protein smoothie recipe is the bomb! (Do people still say that?! Haha...)
Ingredients
Here's what you need to make this cookie dough smoothie bowl:
- cauliflower
- white sweet potato
- banana
- vanilla protein powder
- almond butter
- vanilla extract
- plant based milk
- dark chocolate chips
Cauliflower
Have you tried cauliflower in a smoothie? If not, this may seem like an incredibly odd ingredient. But trust me - it works!
Cauliflower makes the smoothie thick and creamy, while adding nutrients and not changing the flavor. Well, so long as you don't use too much 😉
For this smoothie, you must steam and freeze the cauliflower prior to use. Using fresh cauliflower will not work. I steam a big batch of cauliflower in a steamer pot, cool it, then freeze it for smoothies.
White Sweet Potato
Any white-fleshed sweet potato will work in this smoothie. They are sweeter than orange sweet potatoes and are perfect for making this smoothie super thick and flavorful.
Just like the cauliflower, the sweet potato must be steamed and frozen prior to use. After steaming, you may remove the skins, but I did not.
Banana
This recipe uses half a ripe, banana. Fresh or frozen bananas will work.
Vanilla Protein Powder
I recommend using Nuzest Vanilla Pea Protein. This is my favorite brand of pea protein; well sourced, gut friendly, smooth and tastes great. I use it in everything from protein bars to cookies to muffins.
Depending on the protein powder you use, you may want to add a tablespoon or two of sweetener. I didn't use any in this particular recipe, but if you want a sweeter taste or use an unsweetened protein powder, you will probably want to add something. I recommend honey, maple syrup, pitted dates or monk fruit.
Almond Butter
Almond butter, or any nut butter, is recommended for added taste and texture. I like the flavor almond butter brings, but a few other great paleo swaps would be: sunflower seed butter or cashew butter.
Plant Based Milk
I used coconut milk (the liquid portion from a can of full fat coconut milk), but any plant based milk will work. You may add more or less milk to get the right smoothie consistency. Personally, I like extra thick smoothies since that makes them more ice cream-like. But, you may add more liquid for a runnier smoothie.
Dark Chocolate Chips
A cookie dough smoothie wouldn't be a cookie dough smoothie without a few chocolate chips, right? I used Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips, which are allergy friendly and vegan but not 100% paleo. My favorite paleo chocolate are from Pascha and Hu.
How to Make a Cookie Dough Smoothie
To make this smoothie, you'll need a food processor or a high powered blender (with a sharp blade) like a Vitamix. I used my food processor.
First, slightly defrost the cauliflower and sweet potato by warming in the microwave for 15 seconds.
Next, combine cauliflower, sweet potato and banana in your food processor. Blend for a few seconds, stop to scrape the sides, then blend a few seconds more.
Then, place the remaining ingredients (except chocolate chips) in your food processor and blend until smooth. You will need to stop every so often to scrape down the sides of the food processor. Give it time and be patient 😉
If the smoothie is too thick, feel free to add more liquid.
Lastly, add in the chocolate chips and pulse the mixture a few times. Then place the smoothie in a bowl and eat!
How to Store Leftover Smoothie
This smoothie will serve 1-2 people. If you have any leftovers, then store them in the freezer and slightly defrost before eating.
Another option is to make this smoothie into popsicles. Place any leftovers in a popsicle mold and enjoy later!
FAQ
If you want to sweeten this smoothie, feel free to blend in pitted dates, maple syrup, honey or monk fruit sweetener. You could even add in more banana.
Yes! This recipe makes a thick cookie dough smoothie - kinda like ice cream. However, you can add more liquid to make the smoothie more of a drink if that's what you prefer.
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes
Enjoy!
PrintCookie Dough Smoothie (Paleo, Vegan)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: serves 1-2 1x
Description
This Paleo and Vegan Cookie Dough Smoothie tastes like ice cream, but is healthy, nourishing, high in protein and contains hidden veggies. It's perfect for any meal of the day!
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup frozen cauliflower florets (125g)*
- ½ heaping cup frozen cubed sweet potato (80g)*
- ½ ripe banana (75g)
- 2 scoops vanilla protein powder**
- 1 heaping Tbsp almond butter (sunflower seed butter for nut free)
- plant based milk (add 1 Tbsp at a time, as needed)
- handful chocolate chips
Instructions
- Slightly defrost frozen cauliflower and sweet potato by warming in the microwave for 15 seconds.
- In a food processor or high powered blender, blend cauliflower, sweet potato and banana for a few seconds. Stop to scrape the sides, then blend a few seconds more.
- Add in remaining ingredients (except chocolate chips) and blend until smooth, stopping to scrape the sides every so often. Add more liquid as needed.
- Add chocolate chips to the smoothie and pulse a few times until combined.
- Scoop smoothie into a bowl and eat!
Notes
*Prior to making smoothie, steam the cauliflower and sweet potato in a steamer pot. Freeze overnight or at least 4 hours. When ready to use, slightly defrost the frozen cauliflower and sweet potato.
**If your protein powder is unsweetened, you will probably want to add some sweetener. 1-2 tablespoons of honey, maple syrup, monk fruit or even a couple dates are great Paleo options.
The protein powder I used is from Nuzest. It is a pea protein with great flavor and texture. Use my discount code: BAKEITPALEO for 15% off any Nuzest purchase.
Liv
These photos are absolutely beautiful, Katie! I was craving a cookie dough type snack today so when you posted this on Instagram, I just had to make! I used the Nuzest Rich Chocolate instead of the vanilla protein for a brownie-type smoothie bowl and it was just delicious! It's truly insane how the cauliflower-sweet potato-frozen banana combo can yield such a creamy bowl of heaven 😍and the addition of the almond butter is just the finishing touch for that maximum creaminess factor! thanks so much for this recipe, I'll be making one of your mug cakes next! 🙂 Have an amazing weekend, Liv
Katie
Liv! You just made my day! I'm so glad you enjoyed this smoothie - I'm sure the chocolate tastes just as great as the vanilla. Thank you SO much for your review. Hope your weekend is amazing as well 🙂
Stefanie
This looks really good! I find it hard to find white sweet potatoes though, any suggestions for that?
Katie
You could use any type of sweet potato - it will just change the color of the smoothie 🙂
....
How much is 1-2 servings yield?
Beth
Yum! This turned out really good!
Katie
So glad to hear that! It's my favorite smoothie recipe.
Cristelle
SOOOOO SOOO good!!!! Thank you for the recipe:)))
Katie
Yay! So glad you love it too 🙂
Marina
Could this be made with frozen riced cauliflower and frozen sweet potato cubes already prepared from the grocery store?
Katie
Yes, that should work.
Kristin
I was skeptical using cauliflower and sweet potato in a smoothie, but IT IS SO GOOD! I don’t know what kind of sorcery this woman uses to make frozen veggies taste like real cookie dough, but it works! It’s my new favorite smoothie, and it has great macros! I used frozen banana, 46 g whey protein, orange sweet potato, and a touch of vanilla.
Katie
This review totally made my day! Thank you so much! I'm thrilled that you love the recipe.