Every so often, life blesses us with a union of two things that will forever—as Jack Johnson would say—be better when they’re together. Case in point: Chips and guac. Sunshine and SPF. Jeremy Allen White and an stained white T-shirt.
And while some of these may have been relatively recent life lessons—The Bear’s only two seasons old, after all—there’s one classic must-have mashup many have have been well-aware of since infancy: bananas and peanut butter.
In an effort to honor the creamy, cozy, nutrient-rich perfection that is banana + peanut butter, we’re sharing a recipe for an anti-inflammatory coffee peanut butter banana breakfast smoothie. Let’s just say it hits the mark on every level: Flavor, nutrients, and a zap of energy. Done and done.
Why we’re so obsessed with this coffee peanut butter breakfast smoothie
As much as we may want a big pile of warm waffles with fresh-squeezed juice and jammy eggs (et al.) for breakfast every morning, the reality is: most of us don’t have time for all of that. Big sigh. Before you start huffing and puffing about another busy workday fueled by a mediocre breakfast, we’ve got the greatest solution for achieving optimal weekend vibes any day of the week without spending tons of time in the kitchen. Hint: Throw it all in a blender, and done.
In a recent Instagram post by georginaburgess_, vegan foodie and recipe developer Gina Burgess shows us how to make the most delicious anti-inflammatory coffee peanut butter banana breakfast smoothie. And believe us when we say your life will never be the same after trying it. To make this tasty recipe, all you need are seven budget-friendly ingredients: bananas, peanut butter, oats, espresso, coconut yogurt, vanilla extract, and the milk of your choice (she uses oat milk). Then, all you have to do is toss all of the ingredients together in a blender and blend away. Doesn’t get much easier than that, am I right?
The result is an ultra-rich, luscious smoothie that tastes like a combination of affogato (Italian-style coffee-based dessert) and a warm brownie. Then, of course, there’s the peanut butter that helps tie all of the ingredients together with its decadent, nutty flavor.
Coffee peanut butter banana smoothie recipe
Yields 1 serving
Ingredients
1-2 frozen bananas (or slice ripe banana, then freeze)
2 Tsp peanut butter
2 Tbsp oats
2 shots of espresso
1 Tbsp thick coconut yogurt
1/4 – 1/2 cup milk of choice (use more or less milk depending on your desired consistency)
1 Tsp vanilla extract
1. Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy.
Health benefits of this protein smoothie recipe
Aside from giving you a much-needed dopamine boost fueled by the sheer joy you’ll experience when slurping up this drink, this breakfast smoothie recipe is packed with loads of benefits. For starters, registered dietitians constantly stress the importance of starting the day off right with a healthy, hearty breakfast—to be exact, one with a minimum of 30 grams of protein. Thankfully, this smoothie recipe has multiple sources of protein. Peanut butter has nearly four grams of protein per tablespoon, oats have about 10 grams of protein per cup, while oat milk can have about three grams of protein per cup, depending on the brand.
What’s more, bananas (this smoothie has got two of ‘em) can have anti-inflammatory properties, especially post-workout. “Within an exercise context, banana metabolites that increase in the blood following ingestion have a similar effect to aspirin or ibuprofen,” David C. Nieman, a doctor of public health, says.
And last but certainly not least, let’s talk about the coffee. Most of us use it to kickstart our energy levels, yes—but did you know that behind its caffeine (and otherworldly aroma), coffee also contains certain essential nutrients as well as antioxidants? It’s gastroenterologist approved, too: “Coffee can definitely be a gut-healthy beverage. Believe it or not, it contains soluble fiber in addition to antioxidants,” Will Bulsiewicz, MD, a gastroenterologist and New York Times bestselling author, previously shared with Well+Good.
So yeah, we’ll be making this gut-friendly coffee peanut butter banana breakfast smoothie until further notice.
An RD shares the benefits of drinking coffee. Spoiler: There are lots of them:
