Banana Carob Smoothie (Ice Cream)

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In the process of developing this recipe, I had the arduous task of taste-testing this smoothie no less than seven times.  It was rough.

Aaand then I had to type nearly the entire post with one finger.  (Although that may have had something to do with the fact that I couldn’t bring myself to put my spoon down.)

Seriously, this Sugar-Free Banana-Carob Smoothie (which is really more like ice cream) is soooo rich, creamy, sweet, and luscious!! Maybe the best thing I’ve eaten all year.

What is carob?

Carob is the sweet, edible pulp that comes from the pods of a tropical tree.  The pulp is dried and roasted and ground into a powder to produce carob powder (also known as carob flour), which can be used in lots of delicious recipes, like this Banana Carob Smoothie, as well as in cookies, cake, milk, and anywhere you’d use cocoa.

Carob is caffeine-free and theobromine-free, and is a great source of antioxidants, fiber, B vitamins, and calcium.

Because chocolate is linked to migraines and other health risks, carob makes a great, healthy alternative. (Check out my post on chocolate if you’d like to know more.)

What does carob taste like?

First, even though it looks like cocoa, carob does NOT taste like chocolate.  It has its own unique flavor.

Carob is slightly sweet compared to cocoa and has a slightly nutty, caramel-ish taste with a hint of date flavor. That’s the best I can describe it, but really carob tastes like, well, carob.

Where can I buy carob?

Here’s where I buy my carob. I recommend buying roasted carob instead of raw since it’s easier to digest and most people feel it tastes better.

About this Scrumptious Carob Smoothie (Ice Cream)

This smoothie is sugar free, but still lusciously sweet.  And it only takes 5 minutes to whip up (if you have a heavy-duty blender).  The Teeccino is optional, but it really adds to the rich flavor.

More Carob Deliciousness

I have more carob recipes : ) Check them out here.

Banana Carob Smoothie (Ice Cream)

Most smoothies are best eaten fresh, but this one (which is really more like ice cream) can be frozen and eaten another day.

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Prep Time 5 mins

Total Time 5 mins

Course Sweet Treats

YIELD 1 serving

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Ingredients

• 1/4 cup raw almonds
• 1/3 cup vanilla almond milk, vanilla soy milk, or full-fat canned coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons roasted carob powder
• 1 teaspoon Teeccino Vanilla Nut Naturally Caffeine-Free Herbal Coffee Granules - optional
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 medium frozen bananas - cut into 1” to 2” chunks, divided

Instructions

• Place almonds, milk, carob powder, Teeccino (optional), salt, vanilla, and approximately 1 1/2 frozen bananas in blender. (A heavy-duty blender works best for this recipe; other blenders may not get the mixture smooth enough.) Blend until bananas are mostly blended.
• Add remaining banana and blend until fairly smooth. Mixture will be thick; I find it blends best by alternating between cycle 1 and cycle 9 on my blender. Do not overblend or mixture will lose its frostiness. Serve immediately.

Notes

1. Don’t skip the step of freezing bananas – this step is essential for a rich, creamy, sweet smoothie. And definitely don’t add ice cubes – it doesn’t work.

2. For a sweeter smoothie, add 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup.

Yield: 1 to 2 servings

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