I mean, I already know what you’re thinking. “Is this chick really going to try and get me to put zucchini in a smoothie? OH WAIT… and cauliflower too?! She must be crazy!”
But here’s the truth: I promise you won’t even be able to taste the zucchini OR the cauliflower. In fact, frozen cauliflower helps to keep the smoothie thick and creamy and zucchini adds fiber, vitamins and plenty of potassium. The chocolate and nut butter (you can do whatever nut butter you’d like) help to mask any veggies! Trust me this chocolate zucchini smoothie tastes like a creamy coconut chocolate milkshake.
I call this dairy free chocolate zucchini smoothie my Almond Joy zucchini smoothie because it seriously tastes like the real deal candy bar but with super nourishing ingredients.
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Coconut chocolate zucchini smoothie ingredients
This chocolate zucchini smoothie is made without any banana and sweetened just with dates! Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Medjool dates: feel free to buy your medjool dates pitted or simply take the pit out yourself. Be sure to soften the dates before using them — see below for instructions on how to do so.
- Coconut milk: I recommend using light coconut milk to help thin the smoothie and give it a creamy, coconut flavor.
- Cauliflower: we’re adding a full cup of frozen cauliflower to this chocolate zucchini smoothie, which will keep it cold and thick without using ice (which can become watery).
- Zucchini: more veggies! You won’t even be able to taste the zucchini but it adds a wonderful boost of nutrients.
- Nut butter: I like using almond butter or peanut butter, but feel free to use any nut or seed butter you’d like. Tahini would also be amazing for a nut free version.
- Cacao powder: we’re getting that decadent chocolate flavor from antioxidant-rich cacao powder. Feel free to sub unsweetened cocoa powder if you’d like.
- Vanilla extract & pinch of salt: for a little boost of flavor. Learn how to make your own vanilla extract here!
- To garnish: feel free to add fun toppings to this zucchini smoothie with toasted coconut flakes (or regular), toasted sliced almonds, mini chocolate chips or a drizzle of almond butter or chocolate almond butter.
Optional zucchini smoothie add-ins
You can really get creative with this chocolate zucchini smoothie recipe. Here are some delicious add-ins I like to try:
- Flaxseed meal: this is one of my favorite ingredients to add to smoothies for a little boost of fiber and minerals. It’s especially great for nursing mamas as flaxseed can help increase milk supply. Usually a tablespoon is plenty! Here’s a brand I love.
- Protein powder or collagen peptides: a great way to add some protein. I recommend a plain, vanilla or chocolate flavored protein powder in this recipe. Here is a great plant-based option.
- Organic spinach: if you’re looking to get even more greens in your smoothie, try adding a few cups of spinach. You won’t be able to taste the spinach at all!
Tips for making this coconut chocolate zucchini smoothie recipe
Here are a few of my favorite tips for making this paleo chocolate zucchini smoothie creamy and delicious:
- Using frozen cauliflower as it helps keep the smoothie cold and thick. Sometimes ice doesn’t blend as well, so it’s best to skip unless absolutely necessary.
- Don’t be afraid to add more coconut milk if your smoothie is too thick or won’t fully blend. High powered blenders tend to blend frozen ingredients much better, so if you have a regular or personal size blender, you may need to add more milk.
- Start the blender on low speed, then gradually increase the speed to high to help blend all ingredients. End with the blender on low speed.
How do you soften dates for smoothies?
You’ll simply soak your pitted dates in 1 cup of warm water for at least 5 minutes. This will help them soften up and make sure that you can easily blend them.
Meal prep this healthy chocolate zucchini smoothie
Yes, you can make this easy coconut chocolate zucchini smoothie ahead of time to enjoy later! I have three amazing methods for prepping and storing smoothies right in your freezer. You’ll learn the ice cube tray method, the mason jar method and the freezer pack method. Get all of my tips and tricks here!
More zucchini recipes you’ll love
- Peanut Butter Zucchini Bread Baked Oatmeal
- Good Morning Healthy Maple Blueberry Zucchini Muffins
- Healthy Marbled Chocolate Zucchini Banana Bread
- Buffalo Mac and Cheese Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- The Best Zucchini Brownies You’ll Ever Eat
Get all of my zucchini recipes here, and my smoothie recipes here!
I hope you love this easy, healthy chocolate zucchini smoothie recipe! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. I greatly appreciate it – xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Coconut Chocolate Zucchini Smoothie (with sneaky veggies)
Ingredients
- For the smoothie:
- 2 pitted large Medjool dates
- 1 cup light coconut milk, plus more to thin if necessary
- 1 cup frozen cauliflower
- ¾ cup sliced zucchini (about ½ a medium zucchini, sliced)
- 1 tablespoon almond butter or peanut butter (any nut or seed butter will work)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cacao powder (or sub unsweetened cocoa powder -- do 1 tablespoon if you want less intense flavor)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- To garnish:
- Toasted coconut flakes or regular coconut flakes
- Mini chocolate chips or a drizzle of almond butter or chocolate almond butter
Instructions
- First soak your pitted dates in 1 cup of very warm water for at least 5 minutes. This will help them soften up and perfect for blending. While the dates are soaking you can get all your other ingredients out, measured and ready.
- Next add all ingredients to a high powered blender: pitted dates, coconut milk, cauliflower, zucchini, nut butter, cacao, vanilla extract and salt. Feel free to add any optional add-ins to your smoothie if you’d like. Blend until smooth, adding more coconut milk to thin, if necessary. Pour into a glass and enjoy! Top with almond butter, granola and coconut flakes, if desired. Serves 1. Feel free to double the recipe to serve 2.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on August 6th, 2020, and republished on April 13th, 2023.
Sorry, I don’t want to be a downer, but this was a disappointment to us. It was watery tasting…very little flavor and a little gritty.. I added more peanut butter, more cocoa, and some honey and it was still nothing I would want to make again. I ended up adding a frozen banana to it and it was edible then, but not great. I think the zucchini and the frozen cauliflower have a lot of water in them, thus made the smoothie taste watery.
I usually like your recipes, just not this one.
Ahh sorry to hear that! Thank you for the feedback.
Thick and creamy! Kept me feeling satisfied for hours and proud of what I’d eaten—I mean three cups of veggies (I added spinach) for breakfast?! Yes, please!
Love that!! Perfect breakfast 🙂
This was okay but I would not do it again. Makes a ig smoothie, but lacks depth to the flavour, i.e. something was missing.
Sorry to hear you didn’t love this one! Was it not sweet enough to your liking?
Just made this and it will be another go-to chocolate smoothie for me. I have IBD, so subbed frozen, diced butternut squash for the cauliflower. Didn’t have light coconut milk, so used a clean almond milk instead (Malk—just almonds water, sea salt). Used frozen zucchini spirals. Used peanut butter. Garnished with unsweetened coconut flakes. It was so. Good!! Girl, you come up with the most delicious smoothies while keeping it healthy. Brava! I used to be afraid to make swaps in recipes, but following you has educated me on when to go for it—thank you!!
Perfect!! So glad those swaps worked out well!
Wow, is this chocolatey! I normally don’t find that coconut milk enhances chocolate beverages but you have changed my mind with this one I used steamed frozen cauliflower that I had on hand not reading through the previous comments and it still tasted amazing!! I’m glad I had all the ingredients on hand and decided to take a chance and make it, definitely adding this to my beverage rotation and can’t wait to add mint extract to it next time. I think I’ll try the Coconut Milk Hot Chocolate recipe as well-soon.
Amazing! Mint extract will be delicious in here, too 🙂
Hello, this may be a silly question but is the cauliflower raw or cooked?! Really excited to try the recipe!
Thanks
Hi Suzi – Not silly at all. It is raw frozen cauliflower. Hope you enjoy this one!
This is one shocking recipe! It looks so bad on the page (sorry!!), but it is so lush, so creamy, so decadent, so chocolatey! Wow wow wow, I’m very impressed. And considering all the nutritional goodness, this is a definite keeper for me. I absolutely despise cauliflower and am always happy to integrate it in a painless way. What could be better than pure chocolate bliss? Which it was.
Another plus: this is very, very satisfying, I am done for hours! Thank you so much for sharing this.
Ahh this is seriously the best, Lilly. I am so glad you gave this recipe a try and are loving it 😍
This was surprisingly quite good!!! Definitely making it again.
I am so glad 🙂
This is delicious and you CANNOT taste the veggies. My two year old scarfed it down!
Ah yay!! I am so glad this recipe is a hit – If it’s a win for the kiddos it’s a win for me!!
Thanks for figuring out a thick shake with no bananas! I found the raw zucchini gave it a very slightly sandy texture (I cleaned it! That’s just in the nature of raw zucchini), but I didn’t particularly taste it or the cauliflower. In general, I found the flavor kind of light. Not a lot of chocolate flavor, not a lot of nut butter flavor, bulked out with 2 very mild veggies. Despite being visibly thick, it had a watery quality to me. I think next time I’ll swap out the coconut milk for slightly less water + 1 – 1.5 Tbs more nut butter and see if that gives it a richer flavor and mouthfeel.Still! I like this idea for a veggie-based chocolaty shake and will play around with upping the cocoa and nut butter to see if I can find a worthwhile flavor.
Thank you for sharing, glad you enjoyed this recipe. Appreciate your feedback!
I only had FF coconut milk, so was thicker, but legit tastes like chocolate pudding. May make for snacks during the week like this. Sooo good!
Omg YUMMMM that sounds incredible! I’m so glad you loved it!
You can’t even taste the veggies!! So so so good! I’ll be making this again 🙂
YAY I’m so happy you loved it, Lina!
We always have an abundance of zucchini in the summer from our garden (looking forward to zucchini week this summer again!). Would it be possible to sub out the frozen cauliflower for extra zucchini instead? Thanks!
Hi, Diane! I haven’t tried it but I think that should be fine 🙂 Enjoy!
We LOOOOOOve this smoothie!!! It’s thick and creamy. We always add the protein powder. Sometimes we add a shot of espresso in the mornings. Lastly we also leave the nut butter out sometimes and add cinnamon or mint leaves! Thanks Monique for a great recipe!!!
Omg those additions all sound AMAZING! Thanks for sharing! I’m so happy you love it 🙂
10/10 smoothie combo! My daughter and I both loved it. Made as written! Definitely will make again and next time I’ll make enough to have leftovers to freeze into popsicle molds!
Nice! I’m so happy you both loved this one 🙂 Popsicles are such a great idea!!
Great recipe! Made me like zucchini in smoothies.
So glad to hear that!!
Everyone needs to go run and make this ASAP! It was like drinking a decadent coconut chocolate shake! I used full fat coconut milk as that’s what I had on hand, which made it extra thick and creamy. I just thinned it out with some almond milk and it was perfect. My 20 month old and I DEVOURED it for breakfast this morning, and we even saved some leftovers for dad!! I love the zucchini and cauliflower for an extra boost of veggies without comprising on taste. Another smoothie to add to our rotation for sure!
Woohooo! I’m so happy you loved this one, Kayla! Thank you so much for leaving a review 🙂
Are we talking raw zucchini?
Yep, raw!
It totally works! I was skeptical, but you don’t even taste the raw zucchini or frozen cauliflower at all!
I modified this recipe a bit based on what I had on hand. I used a third of a banana to sweeten instead of the dates and a cup of almond milk with a half cup of coconut milk due to the calories. I also added Primal Kitchen’s coconut chocolate collagen powder and omitted the cocoa powder. So surprisingly creamy and luxurious – it tasted like dessert but still packs a punch with vitamins and fiber!
Those are all great subs! And that collage powder is the PERFECT flavor for this, wow!
Another winning smoothie recipe! Love that it packs in the veggies and tastes like dessert!
Tastes rich and delicious like chocolate cake batter but super healthy! You could never tell that there are 2 cups of veggies in this smoothie.
Right?! Sneaky veggies for the win!!
We looooved ❤️this smoothie at our house. The chocolate you crave with the added benefit of nutrition with zucchini and cauliflower!! This easy smoothie is one to make again and again!!!!!
Woohoo! Thanks for the review!
I absolutely 💯LOVED LOVED this Recipe! If you blind fold and taste test you simply can not tell your not eating a Calorie Packed Almond Joy Almond Joy Candy Bar! Enjoy the Sneaky Veggies!
Haha YAY so happy you loved it!!
Can I add banana to the smoothie for more flavor?
Sure!
Crazy good! You do not taste the vegetables at all. Just creamy, chocolatey goodness!
Absolutely! Love those sneaky veggies 🙂
Good recipe and great use of veggies!! I didn’t find it sweet enough to my liking, so I added a bit of maple syrup and Vanilla Unsweetened Almond Milk as well (and a handful of ice cubes). Delicious, thanks for yet another great recipe! Best of luck Monique on Baby #2 Boy!!
Perfect! Glad that worked out well. And thanks so much!
I just made this smoothie and I loved it. I added in spinach and flaxseed. One of the best smoothies I’ve ever tried !
Love it! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Can you freeze zucchini for ready made packs?
Absolutely! I have a full tutorial here 🙂
I enjoyed this smoothie post workout. Some days my only motivation to workout is knowing I get to have a delicious smoothie afterwards. This smoothie felt like a treat very good and rich! With a ton of veggies, I also added spinach, collagen and flax to mine. Thank you!
Amazing! So delicious post-workout 🙂
wow what an amazing smoothie!!! You would never know there is so much veg in it!!! I doubled the recipe and it served three people as it is really filling!
hi
I assume the cauliflower is raw, is this correct?
Yes!
My blender is not strong enough to blend dates do you think I could sub something else like maple syrup or honey, and if so how much would you guess? a tbsp?
A banana would be great!
Loved this! Followed exactly plus added flaxseeds. Definitely a bit thicker but enjoyed with a spoon. Cannot taste zucchini or cauliflower!
Perfect! This one’s great as a yummy smoothie bowl with toppings, too 🙂
This might be a stupid question but do you use cooked or raw cauliflower?
Not stupid at all! I use raw frozen cauliflower but you can also blanch it a bit before freezing if you’d like 🙂
Hi! I can’t find dates anywhere. What can I use instead? Thank you so much! Can’t wait to try this.
A banana would be great!
Can i use greek yogurt instead of cauliflower to thicken the smoothie?
Sure! You might want to try frozen greek yogurt cubes 🙂
I modified the recipe to respect my portions for a meal because this smoothie has twice the fats and carbs I need. As is, I would have to halve the recipe and add a scoop of protein. Even without the coconut milk it tasted delicious! It was so good I shared the recipe with people that get coaching with me. Adding cauliflower and zucchini is genious!!!
Perfect! I’m glad that worked out well! 🙂
Can i use frozen shredded zucchini?
Yes, absolutely!
Wow! 10 outta 10 smoothie right here. Follow it exactly and it blends perfectly with an awesome consistency. The flavor was almost like a brownie batter, so can’t go wrong there at all.
Absolutely! Almost like dessert 🙂
HI! I made your recipe, but changed a few ingredients due to the high carb count. I did not use the dates but used Monk Fruit extract instead. I used unsweetened almond milk in place of the coconut milk. Is the coconut milk you used out of a can rather than a carton? You mentioned using the lite, Is it sweetened or unsweetened?
I did add in spinach and collagen powder as well.
I loved getting in almost 3 cups of veggies to start my day!
Hi! I like to use light coconut milk from the can to make this smoothie nice and creamy. I use a lite, unsweetened coconut milk from the can. Glad you enjoyed with a few swaps!
Can I sub almond milk?
Yes that should be fine!
Is the coconut milk canned or like milk in a carton? Or does it matter?
Use canned for a creamier version! 🙂
Just a quick question about the recipe… for the light coconut milk, is that the kind you buy in the can or the coconut milk that’s in the refrigerator section? I would love to try this smoothie, but definitely want to make sure I have the right ingredients. 🙂 Thanks so much!
Use canned for a creamier version! 🙂
Can i use frozen shredded zucchini?