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
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YOU WILL NEED: High Powered Blender, Ice Cube Trays
Chocolate Orange Smoothie
Prep
Total
Yield 2 medium adult sized servings
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups frozen organic orange juice "ice" cubes {See Notes}, preferably from fresh oranges
- 3/4 cup frozen organic milk or coconut milk "ice" cubes {See Notes}
- 1/3 cup organic milk or coconut milk
- 3 tablespoons raw cacao powder
- 2 scoops hydrolyzed collagen
- 1-2 tablespoons raw honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
- 1/2 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 3/4 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.
Cuisine American
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.
MORE RECIPES YOU MIGHT ENJOY
Real Food Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
Chocolate Dipped Mandarin Oranges
Strawberry Mango Citrus Smoothie with Kombucha
Hydrolyzed Collagen, Desiccated Liver, Coconut Oil, Liver Detox Support, Ancient Minerals + more!
This is one of my favorite flavor combinations! Sounds amazing!
Mine too 🙂 Thanks Marjorie!
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…
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.
This combination looks amazing; and I love the 10% off deal! Thank you and lovely!
Thanks Megan! It’s so delicious 🙂
This sounds like so much fun! I think I will make it for my big girls while they are home for the school break!
Thanks Renee! It’s so delicious 🙂 I hope they enjoy it as much as we do.
I love chocolate and orange together. Another beautiful recipe. Pinned and shared.
Thank you Linda! 🙂 I appreciate the pin and share xo
It’s like chocolate dipped oranges! Yum!
Yes 🙂 so yummy.
Mmmm. And so pretty!
Thanks Jess!
I think the photographs look beautiful! I don’t eat chocolate myself but, know that this combination is a popular one.
Thank you Sandrine 🙂 Chocolate isn’t for everyone, but I love it.
OK-this is just amazing! Huge chocolate and orange lover here! Sharing!
Thank you so much! I LOVE the combo too 🙂
This looks great!
This sounds to die for! Smoothies are the best! Thanks for sharing on Savoring Saturdays 🙂
Chocolate and orange is one of my favorite combos too!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Mine too Kari! 🙂 So yummy.
I;ve never thought of putting orange and chocolate together in a smoothie but it looks really good! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
It’s so delicious Ashleigh! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Such a great flavor combo <3 Totally my kind of smoothie!
Thanks! Chocolate + orange is so yummy 🙂
chocolate and orange is an amazing combo!! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
I love it too Amanda 🙂
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!
Chocolate makes everything better 🙂 I hope you get to try some collagen, it’s awesome stuff.
i love your use of coconut and orange together. And hello, can’t go wrong with chocolate! 🙂
I love chocolate too 😉 Can’t go wrong.
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!
I hope you get to try some Mary 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Oh my Emily, look at all the goodies in this wonderful looking, wholesome treat! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks so much Raine! xo This is one of my favorites 🙂