Green Cake Batter Smoothie

I've never liked to mix greens and milk in my smoothies.  I tried it once or twice and something about it grossed me out.  I don't know what possessed me, then, to try the recipe for an Apple Jack Smoothie from Happy Herbivore that used spinach and non-dairy milk but I did.  Surprisingly it tasted quite good.  It did not, however, taste as much like Apple Jacks as I had hoped it would . . . but I think that was because of the vanilla protein powder, oats, and extra cinnamon and bananas I added.  (I have a hard time following directions.)  

Instead of Apple Jacks it tasted like something better . . . cake batter!  Creamy, drinkable cake batter.  YUM!  What a pleasant surprise!  Brian actually thought it tasted like banana bread batter.  Either way, how can you go wrong?  As a bonus, it's green so if you've made a resolution to make healthier choices, this is a fantastic way to start your day.  (I omitted the apple but you could leave it in for an extra serving of fruit without altering the taste of the smoothie.)

Green Cake Batter Smoothie
(printable recipe)

Ingredients:

3 tbsp. old-fashioned oats
2 tbsp. vanilla protein powder (I use Lifetime Life's Basics unsweetened vanilla)
4 small pitted dates or 2 large Medjool dates, pits removed
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk 

1 bag baby spinach

3 frozen bananas 
8 ice cubes 

Directions:  

1. Combine oats, protein powder, dates, cinnamon, and almond milk in a blender and let sit for 15 minutes or overnight.

2. Add the spinach and blend well.

3. Add the bananas and ice and blend again until creamy and smooth.

Makes 2 large servings (Although I drink the whole thing myself so it keeps me full for quite a while!  You could also easily cut the recipe in half.)


What's your favorite green smoothie?


Some of my other favorite smoothies (green and otherwise):

Tropical Spinach

Banana Chamomile

Oatmeal Cookie

Pumpkin Pie

Carrot Cake