This Chocolate Cherry Smoothie recipe is absolutely delicious. Frozen sweet cherries blended with cocoa powder is an absolutely heavenly combination! This recipe is dairy-free, vegan, and paleo, and only takes a few minutes to make.

chocolate cherry smoothie served in two glasses.

This breakfast or snack smoothie tastes like a rich dessert even though it’s actually full of energizing ingredients.

Frozen sweet cherries can be found in the frozen section of most grocery stores, and they are a fantastic ingredient for smoothies. Cherries are also a very nutritious fruit and have lots of health benefits.

Cherries also pair really well with chocolate, and this Chocolate Cherry Smoothie is no exception. You can use either cocoa powder or raw cacao powder to add the rich chocolate flavor. Chocolate is also a really healthy ingredient and is rich in powerful antioxidants.

You can also add a scoop of chocolate protein powder or almond butter for added protein. See my list of the best clean protein powders.

Why You Need This Recipe

  • This delicious Chocolate Cherry Smoothie is a great meal replacement, especially for those of us with a sweet tooth.
  • Add hidden healthy ingredients like frozen cauliflower or baby spinach to add even more nutrition. You can also add foods like chia seeds, cacao nibs, and hemp seeds to increase the fiber of this amazing recipe.
  • Get a protein boost and satisfy your chocolate cravings at the same time.

Key Ingredients

ingredients for a chocolate cherry smoothie

Frozen sweet cherries – Sweet cherries are considered nature’s candy because of how sweet they are. These natural sugars make them a perfect natural sweetener for smoothies. Choose sweet cherries over tart cherries.

Unsweetened cocoa powder – Cocoa powder is what gives this smoothie its rich chocolatey taste. Feel free to add more than what I used if you want your smoothie even richer and more chocolatey.

Frozen cauliflower – This is optional but adds a nutritional punch without compromising on flavor. Cauliflower has a mild taste and is overpowered by the delicious taste of cherries and chocolate. It’s also high in fiber and cancer-fighting antioxidants.

See my other Cauliflower Smoothie recipe with peanut butter!

Coconut beverage – This is the coconut milk from the carton in the refrigerated section and not from the can. The milk adds some healthy fats. Unsweetened almond milk works great too or any non-dairy milk you prefer.

Maple syrup – A small amount of maple syrup sweetens up any smoothie. Feel free to leave out the maple syrup if you are on a low-sugar diet. Or, you can use 1-2 pitted Medjool dates if you want a whole foods based sweetener.

Vanilla extract – Vanilla is an excellent flavor enhancer for chocolate.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Steps

Step One

Place your milk, frozen cherries, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and vanilla in the pitcher of a high speed blender. Add the protein powder and frozen cauliflower, if you are using.

I highly recommend using a high-speed blender like a Vitamix.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

cherries in a blender

Step Two

Blend your ingredients on high for about 30 seconds, or until the smoothie is completely blended and creamy.

cherry smoothie in a blender

Step Three

Once you’ve blended your cherry smoothie, then you can serve it right out of the blender.

I hope you love the cherry flavor of this delicious recipe.

pouring a smoothie into a cup

Recipe Tips & Substitutions

  • You can easily double or triple this recipe depending on how many servings you want.
  • Make your own homemade coconut beverage, or buy it in the carton from the store (not the canned version). Or, use whatever type of plant milk you like. Oat milk would be great!
  • Use a Vitamix to ensure that the smoothie gets very creamy and fully blended.
  • Add 1/2 cup of frozen cauliflower for extra nutrition and fiber (read my post on how to freeze cauliflower for smoothies).
  • You can also substitute two pitted dates for the maple syrup, if you prefer.
  • Add a scoop of protein powder to make this a Chocolate Cherry Protein Smoothie.

Recipe FAQs

I don’t have a Vitamix. Can I make this in a regular blender?

Yes, you can! It may not be as smooth, but it will still be delicious.

What kind of protein powder do you recommend?

I like using collagen protein, but you can also use an unsweetened pea protein for vegan diets. See my list of the best healthy protein powders.

Can I make this into a smoothie bowl?

Yes! For an ice cream-like texture or for smoothie bowls, reduce the liquid to just 1/4 cup and use the tamper to make sure the ingredients get fully combined.

Can I use a food processor to make this smoothie?

Yes, you can. It might not get as thick, but it is possible. See all my tips for making a food processor smoothie.

thick cherry smoothies on a table with fresh cherries

More Dairy-Free Smoothie Recipes You Might Like

Or, check out my entire list of healthy smoothies, all made with no dairy!

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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chocolate cherry smoothies on a table

Chocolate Cherry Smoothie

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

This Chocolate Cherry Smoothie recipe is absolutely delicious. Frozen sweet cherries blended with cocoa powder is an absolutely heavenly combination! This recipe is dairy-free, vegan, and paleo, and only takes a few minutes to make.

  • Total Time: 6 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 cups frozen sweet cherries
  • 1/2 cup coconut beverage or your favorite unsweetened dairy-free milk
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup (or two pitted dates)
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder or 2 teaspoons cacao powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 frozen cauliflower (optional)

Instructions

  1. Place your frozen cherries, milk, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and vanilla in the pitcher of a high speed blender. Add the protein powder and frozen cauliflower, if you are using.
  2. Blend your ingredients on high for about 30 seconds, or until the smoothie is completely blended and creamy.
  3. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 48 hours.

Notes

  1. You can easily double or triple this recipe depending on how many servings you want.
  2. You can substitute two pitted dates for the maple syrup, if you prefer.
  3. Add a scoop of protein powder to make this a meal replacement.
  4. The nutrition data included with this recipe does not include the protein powder or cauliflower, and is only an estimate.
  5. Reduce the amount of milk in this recipe to 1/4 of a cup to make this a smoothie bowl.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 177
  • Sugar: 33.5 g
  • Sodium: 14.4 mg
  • Fat: 1.9 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 41.5 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 2.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.