Thick and creamy with a subtly sweet vanilla flavour, this cake batter smoothie tastes like a slice of vanilla cake without the added sugars or oils.
Sorry for basically disappearing from the blog world this weekend! But sometimes a girl just needs a little time off, ya know? Especially when she’s in the mountains with a shifty internet connection. But I’m back now! Safe, sound, and sore. Not only did I manage to squeeze in a snowboarding trip this weekend, but the weather was gorgeous enough to allow me and Mom to do a fair bit of hiking while we up in the Rockies as well. Rough translation: even wiggling my toes hurts. But it was an amazing weekend and I’m seriously considering relocating from Edmonton to Banff. But I digress…
I’ll share some highlights from the trip in a few days, though, because I wanted to spend today talking about one of the things I missed most while I was gone. Can you guess what it was? Not my bed (I was too exhausted by the end of the day to care where I slept); not my kitchen (our room had one!); and not my stable internet connection (it was nice to unplug for a little while).
I missed my blender. Or, more specifically, what that blender allowed me to do…
While I refuse to fully admit to it just yet, I might have a problem — it depends on whether you see needing to get a smoothie fix on a daily basis as a problem or not. Personally, I’m inclined to err towards not, but I’ll let you decide on how sound my opinion is given my current… relationship… to the subject in question. Don’t judge me — there are worse problems to have.
I’ve told you guys before that I have a serious obsession with my thick and creamy chocolate smoothie, but when it came time to toss in the ingredients to make it, I just wasn’t feeling the chocolate. I know, I know — blasphemy — but there are just some cases where vanilla wins out over chocolate (ice cream, for example), and this was one of those cases.
Instead, what I ended up with was this beauty right here…
A vanilla cake batter smoothie… topped with whipped cream because what’s a cake without the frosting? Actually, this would probably be a bad time to admit that I prefer cake over frosting… and that sometimes I’ll actually scrape off the frosting and go for more cake instead. I know, I know — more blasphemy… Try not to judge me too harshly.
In any case, this cake batter smoothie may just become my newest obsession. It’s thick and creamy, just the way I like it, with a subtly sweet vanilla-y flavour that reminds me of vanilla cake. There’s no way I’ll every say goodbye to chocolate, but you know what they say… variety is the spice of life.
I’d love to know if you make this (or any!) recipe! Tag @runwithspoons on Instagram and Twitter, and be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy and delicious recipes straight to your inbox!
PrintVanilla Cake Batter Smoothie
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
Ingredients
- 1 banana, frozen*
- 1 Tbsp. coconut flour**
- 1 Tbsp. softened coconut butter***
- 1/2 cup vanilla almond milk (regular milk is fine too)
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- whipped topping (optional)
- sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except for whipped topping and sprinkles (if using) into any standard blender and blend until smooth. You may have to spend a little extra time blending to ensure that the coconut butter becomes evenly distributed and you don’t end up with small solid chunks in your smoothie.
- Transfer smoothie into a glass and top with whipped cream and sprinkles!
Notes
* I like to freeze my bananas when they’re just starting to sport a few brown spots — I find they add the best texture and flavour that way. Also, peel and cut your bananas before tossing them into a Ziploc bag into the freezer — it saves you the hassle of trying to get the peel off when they’re frozen.
** You can sub in a few tablespoons of oat flour instead.
*** You can sub in another nut butter like cashew or vanilla almond.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
Looking for more smoothie recipes? Try one of these!
Thick and Creamy Chocolate Smoothie
Oatmeal Cookie Dough Smoothie
Apple Pie Protein Smoothie
Polly @ Tasty Food Project
I like how you used a frozen banana for your vanilla cake batter smoothie! I love having dessert in a cup. This sounds amazing!
Bethany @ Accidental Intentions
This could not have come at a better time. I have a banana on its way out, and I know I’m not going to eat it soon, but I also don’t want to throw it away. Freezing it for a future smoothie, however, I can DEFINITELY do, especially for a smoothie that tastes like cake batter. Sign. Me. Up. 🙂
Ashley @MilesonOats
Okay woman, go write a children’s book please. Then become more famous than J.K Rowling, move to NY (take me with you), and reap the benefits of having a seriously enticing authors voice. I am sure you could make smelly socks sounds appealing. Just sayin’ -you can write-
Chocolate cake (preferably warm), with an 1/2 inch of white frosting, on top of a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. BOOM.
I think I need to marry Bobby Flay. Too bad he is taken. I need a man that can cook. And bring me pie in bed when mother nature decides to make my life hell. Now that’s living the dream.
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
If you find one and he has a brother, let me know!!
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape
Well hello yummyness!
Yep, definitely bookmarking this one! mmmmmmm! 🙂
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl
I totally hear you. Anytime that I am without my Ninja when I go back home or on vacation, I totally feel a litte lost. My day just does not seem quite complete without my daily smoothie 🙁 THIS smoothie sounds wonderful. But that is no surprise since I love cake! I think your idea to use vanilla almond butter in this would be amaaaazing.
Pip {Cherries & Chisme}
4.5 months without my blender…so. hard. Less than 2 to go until we are reunited… That’s why I’m going home really, who cares about friends and family when you have a blender!! 😉
Chocolate cake all the way, with plenty of frosting…so…both? And vanilla ice cream cos I like to have a balanced diet and all…
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
😆 Kind of in love your with your definition of balance 😉
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
Finally you’ve come to your senses! Vanilla for the win. ALWAYS! then again I posted a chocolate recipe today LOL
Lauren
I am DEFINITELY a chocolate cake lover and, in most cases, I’ll choose the cake > frosting. I don’t really like the taste of grocery store cake frosting (EW to the taste of those icing flowers) and cream cheese frosting, but I can definitely get down with a good buttercream! I’m a huge fan of any ice cream… As long as it has sprinkles 😀
I’m glad you had a great weekend with your mom! It’s so funny how you’ll do a different activity and days later you realize how many muscles you don’t work on a normal basis haha!
Kristina @ Blog About Running
I really need to make it a rule to only read your blog at night when I’m at home and can make your recipes!! YUM!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
I have a rule like that as well, but mine involves never reading blogs unless I’m very well fed 😆
ariel
holy delicious!
lex
ahhh nothing better than a vanilla milkshake –except one that is guilt-free!
anoushe
you scrape off frosting from your cake? really?? I thought not caring for frosting was just a myth! 🙂 Nevertheless, your recipe has saved you 😉 And it’s totally ok to go for vanilla over chocolate… Can’t wait too try it 🙂
Ms.J
I was forced to live “unconnected” this weekend when the internet died on me for no apparent reason. Other than -maybe- it wanted to get me to take a breather!?
Ohmygosh, I thought I was strange for preferring cake to frosting; hence a muffin being my go-to with coffee.. and Mum baking up 2 cakes always – one frosting-less for me and the brother to eat on!
I can’t believe amongst all the snowiness you would pine away for a smoothie. That said, with recipes like yours; it shouldn’t be entirely surprising.
When it comes to ice cream, I’m…confused. Vanilla if there’s mix-ins or cake involved. Chocolate if we talking all lonesome and lonely 🙂
Cassie
oh my gosh this looks SOOOO good. I was literally just thinking about vanilla smoothies the other day… I never do them but this sounds so good and coconut-y too!! I might make this for dessert tonight since it’s going to be in the 80s (F, of course). Can’t wait, pinning now!
Mayra
I love all your smoothie recupes and I’ll definitely try this one later today!!
I don’t have the frosting, but I guess I won’t mind, I’m not the biggest frosting fan anyway… but I’ll make sure I add a lot of sprinkles 🙂
Oh and I’m with Lucy, I love the straws!!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
I was so tempted to say that sprinkles are NEVER optional, especially because they add the nicest little crunch while you’re drinking. Better than frosting for sure 🙂
cait @pieceofcait
yum yum yum! Love cake batter anything and a smooothieee ?! count me in!
Kim @ FITsique
Loving the idea of coconut flour in a smoothie! Must try!
Nicole @ FruitnFitness
I love your oatmeal cookie smoothie, this one also sounds amazing! The perfect cool summertime dessert. I’m glad you had a good weekend! Enjoying boarding and hiking must be worth a little soreness.
Hilary
Oh I am a vanilla girl without a doubt, I actually despise chocolate cake :/ ! I have been on vacation for the past two days and I have to admit I really am missing the blender too!
Khushboo
You’re kidding me right…putting up pics of this smoothie before anyone has come up with a way to eat/drink through the screen?? I need to go make this now…well actually I need to go freeze a banana and make this TOMORROW! Vanilla ice cream & frostingless cake…let’s commit blasphemy together ;)! As much as I love (and I mean love) chocolate, I prefer vanilla-based desserts…chocolate-based desserts are almost too overwhelming for my tastebuds!
Amy@Long Drive Journey
Your smoothie posts always have me wanting to take a break from my fruity smoothies and try something sweet like this. It’s just sooo easy to throw frozen fruit in a blender and I’m so lazy!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
But there IS a frozen fruit in this one 😛 All you need to do is freeze a banana!
Susie @ SuzLyfe
You can’t make me choose between chocolate and vanilla! You can’t! I WON’T DO IT!
Stacey
This post made me so happy! I’ve always been mocked for my cake over frosting preference. I’d say 95% of the time I scrape off the frosting and just get more cake! And I definitely prefer vanilla ice cream over chocolate…and vanilla/yellow cake over chocolate cake. But don’t get me wrong, I love my chocolate fix. I always thought it was a little strange, but I’m glad you feel the same way! (And this smoothie looks fantastic…I’ve made three of your recipes now, and they’ve all turned out fabulous. I actually make the banana oat greek yogurt pancakes at least once a week!)
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat
Okay, now I’m totally craving a smoothie! This looks amazing!
Lisa C.
Yummy! Can you taste the coconut?
And this reminds- I keep forgetting to buy more vanilla extract!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
A little bit. It’s really subtle though, and more of a sweetness than anything else.
Chelsea @ A Fit LittleOne
This is amazing!! And don’t worry, I completely understand the cake over frosting, and vanilla over chocolate thing, I have my moments too haha :). And right now is that moment, except I can’t decide on either, I kind of just want a little piece of each hahaha.
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles
I am absolutely judging you on the icing thing. Sometimes I do the opposite – scrape off the icing, eat it, and leave the cake. And I much, much prefer chocolate cake – I pass on vanilla cake most of the time. Vanilla ice cream, however, is where it’s at. Just with some chocolate mixins or chocolate sauce 😉
P.S. do you ever find that coconut flour makes a smoothie gritty? That happens to me every time I had coconut flour to a smoothie.
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
But see this is why you and I make the perfect pair! I’ll eat the cake and you can have the frosting And I’ve noticed that with coconut flour before, but a lot of it depends on what you pair it with and in what kind of amounts. Too much coconut flour and not enough other stuff will make it gritty, but I find that with enough liquid and banana, that gets kind of hidden.
Sarah @ Feeeding the Brain and Body
My cravings for smoothies usually come and go in waves. I will totally be trying this out because thick Smoothies are definitely my favorite. Can you actually notice the difference with the tbsp of nut butter? I always fear that it will get disguised with all other ingredients so never put it in. Coconut butter is o expensive…
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
I was always afraid of the same thing, but you definitely notice! It’s a lot creamier, and adds a subtle flavour which pairs perfectly with the coconut flour. You can always try it out once and see how you feel about it. Never hurts!
Kelly @ Kelly Runs For Food
Mmmm looks awesome! I lean towards chocolate too, but sometimes a creamy vanilla is perfect!
Laura @ Raise Your Garden
Ok, So I love the cake batter smoothie concept. And I need a smoothie everyday. Just about.
But those sprinkles on top….they won my heart. Like I’d pay 5 bucks for those (but definitely not 10, I have to draw the line somewhere!!!)
Emma @ Life's A Runner
You are a GENIUS! Coconut flour is my (second, after chocolate) true love and I would have never thought to add it to a smoothie. I was dreaming about a smoothie for breakfast today, soooooo, guess what’s going to happen over here? 🙂
meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles
OK, so this is like my favorite topic – cakes and which I prefer. lol . Here’s my deal – chocolate fudge frosting without a doubt is my favorite and love it with a vanilla cake. However, I can never get enough chocolate when it comes to cake so chocolate caked filled and frosted with fudge frosting makes me smile equally as big. Now, when it comes to ice cream, no chocolate. I like vanilla topped off with all of the chocolately fudge and mix-ins. I don’t know, chocolate ice cream just never did it for me. I must admit that this smoothie shake thing looks rather appealing to me even though I never drink these kinds of things. Sometimes, as much as I love chocolate, one does have a craving for straight up vanilla and this shake would do it.
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
😆 I love you and how passionate you are about your desserts. That is all.
Kim@hungryhealthygirl
Oh my goodness…. I’m going to start calling you the smoothie queen! I have still not tried coconut flour in my smoothie. Gotta do that soon.
Lucie@FitSwissChick
I want the straws!! Loooove them.
And this is definitely my kind of smoothie recipe – you know how much I am in love with coconut flour or anything coconut.
And I think sprinkles are mandatory!!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
They are! Especially since they add a lovely little crunch while you’re drinking. I think I need to dedicate this smoothie for you for your birthday 🙂
Jessie
Helllo I know what I’m having for tomorrows mid morning snack. MmMmm!!! I wish I had whip cream though 🙁 I bet it takes the smoothie to the next level, huh?
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
i am a vanilla girl all the way. looks really good!
Tiff @ Love, Sweat & Beers
Mmmm, cake batter is awesome, especially cake batter ice cream. I bet this is quite tasty too!
Livi
I was just dreaming of a smoothie and this one looks perfect!
Shashi
Girl – you had me at “a slice of vanilla cake”!!!! “without the added sugars or oils” is an added bonus!
This looks heavenly!
As much as I love chocolate, when it comes to cake or ice cream, I tend to gravitate towards vanilla – but would love chocolate/pb chips in either! As for when it comes to cake or frosting – ooh that would be frosting of the sinful nature!
Glad your back lovely lady – sounds like your mama had a wonderful Mothers day weekend hiking!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
I’m the same way! Well, at least with ice cream… Vanilla just makes the perfect base for tonnes of chocolate 😀
Shannon
Oooooooh this sounds heavenly. I am the biggest fan of frosting (not so much cake), and vanilla is definitely my favorite kind there! It’s probably the only time I’d pick vanilla over chocolate haha. And ice cream – I’m usually a vanilla fan with LOADS of chocolate toppings 🙂 (frozen coconut yogurt, that is)