Healthy Chocolate Orange Smoothie

Published: Dec 28, 2015 · Modified: Feb 8, 2021 by Emily Criswell · I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article · 36 Comments

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Chocolate orange smoothies are so good!

I love, LOVE, love chocolate. I really do, and I have no guilt around it. Life's too short and I don't believe that there should be any guilt around food.

That being said, I do like to be aware and mindful of what I'm putting into my body. This time of year it's a bit more common for sugar intake to be high. With all of the holiday festivities, sweet treats are bound to happen more often.

My family hasn't had sweets with loads of sugar this month, but we've each had a handful of gingerbread cookies, chocolate peanut butter truffles, thumbprint cookies and some chocolate dipped mandarin oranges. They were all homemade, so I got to control what went into them ... but still, they're treats.

This is where one my favorite smoothies comes into play ...

I'm craving chocolate, but not wanting something heavy or too sweet. My solution for this is almost always smoothies. Smoothies are so refreshing, especially with citrus flavors like orange. One of the best chocolate flavor combos ever is CHOCOLATE + ORANGE.

I love that I can control the ingredients in smoothies. If I want to make it on the healthier side, I know I can easily do that. I prefer to make smoothies with at least one nutrient-dense ingredient, a healthy fat + fill it up with protein.

This smoothie is made with frozen fresh orange juice {vitamin C} and whole milk or coconut milk {great healthy fats}. I like to freeze most of the liquid first to help thicken the smoothie, it really helps make a lovely texture.

I also add in raw cacao powder {antioxidant + high in magnesium and iron} for the chocolate flavor. For extra vitamins and minerals, I add Celtic sea salt {trace minerals} and whole food non-synthetic vitamin C powder. Plus a small amount of raw honey for a sweetener.

Last but not least, I add my favorite superfood ingredient ... collagen! I love adding it to smoothies for an extra protein boost. Collagen is known for helping support digestion and gut health, helps support bone and joint health, helps build and restore muscle, helps support metabolism + so much more.

I only recommend using a quality grass-fed collagen. Knowing the source and where the collagen comes from is very important. My favorite brand is Perfect Supplements Hydrolyzed Collagen. I am so impressed with the quality of their collagen + they have wonderful customer service.

BONUS: Perfect Supplements has a 10% off your entire order coupon code just for Recipes to Nourish readers! Just follow the link here and enter NOURISH10 at checkout.

So there you have it, all of the components that make up this absolutely delicious smoothie. Now is the best time of year for this smoothie since oranges are in season. So grab some oranges next time you're at the farmers market or grocery store ... or better yet, pick them from an orange tree if you have one.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Orange Smoothie

Healthy Chocolate Orange Smoothie

Yield: 2 medium adult sized servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

This smoothie is made with frozen fresh orange juice {vitamin C} and whole milk or coconut milk {great healthy fats}.

Ingredients

1 ¼ cups frozen organic orange juice "ice" cubes {See Notes}, preferably from fresh oranges
¾ cup frozen organic milk or coconut milk "ice" cubes {See Notes}
⅓ cup organic milk or coconut milk
3 tablespoons raw cacao powder
2 scoops grass-fed collagen (<-- recommend)
1-2 tablespoons raw honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ - ½ teaspoon Celtic sea salt (<-- salt)
½ teaspoon whole food vitamin C powder - optional

Instructions

Add frozen orange juice and milk "ice cubes", milk or coconut milk, cacao powder, collagen, raw honey, vanilla extract, sea salt and optional whole food vitamin C to a high powered blender.
Blend until smoothie is thick and fully combined. Note - I use the ice cream setting on my blender. If you're not using a high powered blender, you will most likely need to add more liquid in order for the smoothie to blend. More liquid will end up producing a thinner smoothie consistency.
Taste smoothie - if desired, add more honey.
Pour smoothie into glasses. Serve as is or top with raw cacao nibs or chopped fair trade organic chocolate and garnish with fresh orange slices. Drink up!

Notes

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND freezing the orange juice and ¾ cup milk or coconut milk first. This really helps improve the thickness of this smoothie. The texture kind of falls between a thin smoothie texture and a milkshake texture. I just fill up my silicone ice cubes mold with orange juice and milk/coconut milk the night before I want to make the smoothie. If you choose not to do this, just add the orange juice and milk/coconut milk as is to the blender. The smoothie will still taste great, but it will be very thin without the frozen cubes.

Yield: Makes about two medium size servings for 2 adults or 3 small servings for children.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 757Total Fat: 52gSaturated Fat: 44gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 646mgCarbohydrates: 63gFiber: 4gSugar: 36gProtein: 19g

This nutritional information was auto-generated based on serving size, number of servings, and typical information for the ingredients listed. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

Are you on Pinterest? I pin lots of yummy real food recipes + more there. I have a board just for Beverages and Gluten Free Treats too. Come follow along.

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About Emily Criswell

Emily Criswell is a chocolate- and sweet treat-loving, holistic-minded, work-at-home, single mom of 4. She's a 4-time cookbook author - The Art of Great Cooking with Your Instant Pot (ranked as an Amazon top 10 new release in gluten free recipes), The Big Book of Instant Pot Recipes (which has sold over 23,900 copies so far), Amazing Mexican Favorites with Your Instant Pot (ranked as an Amazon #1 New Release Best Seller), Low-Carb Cooking with Your Instant Pot , food photographer, homeschooler and the founder of Recipes to Nourish, a gluten-free blog focusing on real food and natural living. She works to empower her readers by showing them that there is a healthier way to eat and live. Her passion is to make healthy, natural living as uncomplicated and enjoyable as possible. Find Emily’s latest recipes and natural living tips at Recipes to Nourish. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X Twitter and YouTube plus grab her free eBook Holistic Tips to Keep Your Family Healthy. Read more >> About Emily.

Comments

Marjorie

December 28, 2015 at 7:51 am

This is one of my favorite flavor combinations! Sounds amazing!

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  December 28, 2015 at 9:54 am
  
  Mine too 🙂 Thanks Marjorie!
  
  Reply
Raia

December 28, 2015 at 8:13 am

Yeah, you pretty much can't go wrong with the words chocolate and smoothie together. 😉 Really wishing I weren't intolerant to oranges right about now...

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  December 28, 2015 at 9:54 am
  
  I agree with you on the chocolate smoothie Raia, I know how much you love smoothies too. I'm so sorry to hear that oranges are a sensitivity for you. Citrus can be a hard one for many.
  
  Reply
Megan Stevens

December 28, 2015 at 9:18 am

This combination looks amazing; and I love the 10% off deal! Thank you and lovely!

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  December 28, 2015 at 9:53 am
  
  Thanks Megan! It's so delicious 🙂
  
  Reply
Renee Kohley

December 28, 2015 at 10:02 am

This sounds like so much fun! I think I will make it for my big girls while they are home for the school break!

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  December 28, 2015 at 11:29 am
  
  Thanks Renee! It's so delicious 🙂 I hope they enjoy it as much as we do.
  
  Reply
linda spiker

December 29, 2015 at 8:24 am

I love chocolate and orange together. Another beautiful recipe. Pinned and shared.

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  December 29, 2015 at 12:07 pm
  
  Thank you Linda! 🙂 I appreciate the pin and share xo
  
  Reply
karen

December 29, 2015 at 9:00 am

It's like chocolate dipped oranges! Yum!

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  December 29, 2015 at 12:06 pm
  
  Yes 🙂 so yummy.
  
  Reply
Jessica

December 29, 2015 at 9:05 am

Mmmm. And so pretty!

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  December 29, 2015 at 12:06 pm
  
  Thanks Jess!
  
  Reply
Sandrine Love

December 29, 2015 at 10:10 am

I think the photographs look beautiful! I don't eat chocolate myself but, know that this combination is a popular one.

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  December 29, 2015 at 12:06 pm
  
  Thank you Sandrine 🙂 Chocolate isn't for everyone, but I love it.
  
  Reply
Jill York

December 30, 2015 at 10:42 am

OK-this is just amazing! Huge chocolate and orange lover here! Sharing!

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  December 30, 2015 at 11:47 am
  
  Thank you so much! I LOVE the combo too 🙂
  
  Reply
Bethany

January 09, 2016 at 6:24 pm

This looks great!

Reply
Easy Peasy Life Matters

January 09, 2016 at 9:33 pm

This sounds to die for! Smoothies are the best! Thanks for sharing on Savoring Saturdays 🙂

Reply
Kari

January 22, 2016 at 8:23 am

Chocolate and orange is one of my favorite combos too!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  January 22, 2016 at 10:58 am
  
  Mine too Kari! 🙂 So yummy.
  
  Reply
Ashleigh

January 22, 2016 at 9:43 am

I;ve never thought of putting orange and chocolate together in a smoothie but it looks really good! Thank you for sharing this recipe!

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  January 22, 2016 at 10:58 am
  
  It's so delicious Ashleigh! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
  
  Reply
Chrisy @ Homemade Hooplah

January 22, 2016 at 2:06 pm

Such a great flavor combo <3 Totally my kind of smoothie!

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  January 22, 2016 at 3:00 pm
  
  Thanks! Chocolate + orange is so yummy 🙂
  
  Reply
amanda

January 22, 2016 at 10:09 pm

chocolate and orange is an amazing combo!! Thanks for sharing this recipe.

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  January 23, 2016 at 2:23 pm
  
  I love it too Amanda 🙂
  
  Reply
Marlynn @ UrbanBlissLife

January 22, 2016 at 11:43 pm

I have the same love of chocolate! Especially good high quality chocolate. Yum! I have never thought to add collagen to my smoothies but what a great idea!

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  January 23, 2016 at 2:23 pm
  
  Chocolate makes everything better 🙂 I hope you get to try some collagen, it's awesome stuff.
  
  Reply
Becky @ Project Domestication

January 23, 2016 at 8:13 am

i love your use of coconut and orange together. And hello, can't go wrong with chocolate! 🙂

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  January 23, 2016 at 12:39 pm
  
  I love chocolate too 😉 Can't go wrong.
  
  Reply
Mary

January 23, 2016 at 10:07 am

Ohh I LOVE the chocolate orange combo! This sounds delicious. I get stuck in a smoothie rut, making the same combo all the time. Will definitely put this one on my list!

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  January 23, 2016 at 12:39 pm
  
  I hope you get to try some Mary 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
  
  Reply
Raine Saunders

August 19, 2016 at 9:23 am

Oh my Emily, look at all the goodies in this wonderful looking, wholesome treat! Thank you so much for sharing!

Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  
  August 19, 2016 at 12:43 pm
  
  Thanks so much Raine! xo This is one of my favorites 🙂
  
  Reply