Chocolate Banana Bliss: The Protein Shake That Tastes Like the Milkshake It's Replacing
Chocolate Banana Bliss: The Protein Shake That Tastes Like the Milkshake It's Replacing
Chocolate and banana is the one flavour pairing that needs no persuading — it's the reason banana splits and chocolate-dipped bananas exist. This version turns it into a 31g-protein shake with real almond butter for body, at just four ingredients and five minutes.
Chocolate Banana Bliss — a rich, dessert-style protein shake built on a classic pairing.
Some pairings don't need an angle. Chocolate and banana is one of them — it's the flavour behind banana splits, chocolate-dipped bananas, and pretty much every "healthy milkshake" recipe that's ever gone viral. This one keeps it simple: a banana, a spoon of almond butter, almond milk, and a full scoop of ISO Bang Chocolate Cinnamon.
The cinnamon in the protein is doing real work here, not just sitting in the name — it's the same warm note that makes Mexican hot chocolate taste rounder than plain cocoa, and it plays straight into the banana rather than against it. Blended together, this comes out thick enough to eat with a spoon if you let it sit for a minute.
At roughly 31g of protein for 343 calories, it works as a genuine breakfast rather than just a snack — and it tastes closer to dessert than to a supplement.
Banana brings natural sweetness and the starchy body that makes a shake feel substantial rather than thin. Almond butter adds fat, which is what turns "smoothie" into "milkshake" texture-wise, plus a few extra grams of protein on its own. The cinnamon in the isolate ties the whole thing together instead of tasting like an add-on.
Why you'll love this chocolate banana shake
- A pairing that needs no convincing. Chocolate and banana works, and everyone already knows it.
- 31g of protein. 25g from the scoop, with almond butter and banana adding the rest.
- Genuinely thick. Almond butter gives this real milkshake-style body, not a thin fruit-juice texture.
- Four ingredients, five minutes. No prep the night before, nothing hard to find.
- Tastes like dessert. This is the shake to make when you want something that feels like a treat.
- Clean label. Made with ISO Bang — no fillers, no proprietary blends, banned-substance tested.
Getting the banana and almond butter right
Riper banana, sweeter shake — no sweetener needed
As a banana ripens, its starch converts to sugar, which is why a heavily spotted banana tastes noticeably sweeter than a just-yellow one. Use a ripe, spotted banana here and you likely won't need to add anything else to sweeten it. A firmer, less ripe banana works too, just with a milder sweetness — the chocolate protein covers most of the difference either way.
What almond butter is actually doing
Almond butter is where most of this shake's fat and a meaningful chunk of its protein come from — about 9g of fat and 3–4g of protein in a single tablespoon. It's also the ingredient responsible for the thick, milkshake-like texture. Check the label for one made from just almonds and maybe salt; several brands add sugar or palm oil, which works against the point of the recipe.
Peel and slice a banana before freezing it, then use it frozen here instead of fresh. You'll get a colder, noticeably thicker shake without any ice, and it solves the problem of a ripe banana going to waste before you get to it.
Ingredients
Four ingredients — the shortest list on the blog.
- Trident Nutra ISO Bang — Chocolate Cinnamon1 scoop (30g)
- Banana, ripe1 medium
- Unsweetened almond milk1 cup
- Almond butter, unsweetened1 tbsp
Which ISO Bang flavour should you use?
Chocolate Cinnamon is exactly right here — no substitution needed. Chocolate and banana is a proven, well-loved combination, and the cinnamon adds warmth that suits the almond butter as much as it suits the fruit.
How to make a chocolate banana protein shake
- Add the almond milk first. Liquid before powder, so nothing packs down under the blades.
- Add the banana, almond butter and protein. Break the banana into two or three pieces so it blends evenly.
- Blend for 40–45 seconds, until completely smooth with no streaks of almond butter left visible.
- Pour and finish. A few banana slices on top and a pinch of cinnamon if you want it to look as good as it tastes.
Use a frozen banana and cut the almond milk to half a cup. You'll get something thick enough to eat with a spoon — top it with more banana, a few cacao nibs, and a drizzle of extra almond butter.
Nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 343 kcal |
| Protein | 31 g |
| Carbohydrates | 32 g |
| Fat | 12 g |
| Sugar | 15 g |
The protein runs above the 25g on the scoop because the almond butter and almond milk each add a few grams of their own. Nearly all the sugar here is naturally occurring in the banana.
Pro tips & tasty variations
- Use half a banana. The simplest way to bring the sugar and calories down while keeping the flavour intact.
- Swap to peanut butter. Chocolate, banana and peanut butter is an equally classic combination, and peanut butter is usually cheaper than almond butter.
- Add a pinch of salt. It sharpens the chocolate flavour and makes the banana taste sweeter by contrast.
- Swap to dairy milk. Adds around 8g more protein and a creamier finish.
- Stack your creatine. Trident Nutra Creatine is unflavoured and dissolves straight in — an easy daily add.
- Add a shot of coffee. Turns this into a mocha-banana shake — cold brew works particularly well.
How to store your chocolate banana shake
Best fresh — blended banana browns within a couple of hours, the same way a cut banana does. If you need to make it ahead, keep it sealed and cold, drink within 24 hours, and expect it to thicken; loosen it with a splash of almond milk and shake well before drinking.
Frequently asked questions
How much protein is in this shake?
Around 31g per serving. 25g comes from one scoop of ISO Bang Chocolate Cinnamon hydrolyzed whey protein isolate, with the almond butter and almond milk contributing the rest.
Should I use a ripe or firm banana?
Ripe, ideally with some brown spotting. As a banana ripens, its starch converts to sugar, so a riper banana tastes noticeably sweeter and usually means you won't need to add any sweetener at all.
Can I use frozen banana?
Yes, and it's genuinely better — peel and slice the banana before freezing. You'll get a thicker, colder shake without ice, and it stops a ripe banana going to waste.
Does the almond butter brand matter?
Somewhat. Check the label for one made from just almonds, and maybe salt — several brands add sugar or palm oil, which works against the point of a low-sugar shake.
Is this shake low sugar?
Moderately, at around 15g, almost entirely from the banana itself with nothing added. Using half a banana instead of a whole one is the simplest way to bring that down further.
Is this shake suitable for vegetarians and vegans?
It's vegetarian. It isn't vegan, because ISO Bang is a whey protein isolate and whey comes from milk. Isolate is very low in lactose compared with whey concentrate, which is why many people who find regular protein heavy get on better with it.
When is the best time to drink it?
It works well as a breakfast or a post-workout shake, and at 343 calories with real fat and fibre from the banana and almond butter, it's substantial enough to hold you over until your next meal.
Fuel it with clean protein
No fillers. No proprietary blends. Just 25g of hydrolyzed whey protein isolate per scoop at 103 calories — banned-substance tested, so your shake is as clean as it is delicious.
Shop ISO Bang Chocolate Cinnamon