Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large ripe banana, frozen (or fresh with ice)
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter (natural or conventional)
- ⅓ cup rolled oats (old-fashioned oats)
- 1 cup milk of choice (dairy, almond, oat, or soy milk)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional, for extra sweetness)
- 3-4 ice cubes (only if using fresh banana)
- Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed or chia seeds (optional, for extra nutrition)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: If using a fresh banana, peel and slice it. If you’ve frozen banana chunks ahead of time (highly recommended!), grab them from the freezer. Measure out your peanut butter, oats, and milk.
- Layer Your Blender: Add ingredients to your blender in this order for best blending results: milk first (this prevents the blade from seizing), then oats, followed by peanut butter, banana chunks, vanilla extract, and any optional add-ins like honey, cinnamon, or flaxseed. Add ice cubes last if using.
- Blend on Low, Then High: Start blending on low speed for about 10-15 seconds to break down the oats and larger pieces. Then increase to high speed and blend for 45-60 seconds until completely smooth and creamy. You should see no oat chunks or peanut butter streaks remaining.
- Check Consistency: Stop the blender and check the thickness. If it’s too thick to blend properly, add 2-3 tablespoons more milk and blend again. If it’s too thin, add a few more ice cubes or another tablespoon of oats.
- Taste and Adjust: Give it a quick taste test. If you want it sweeter, add honey or maple syrup and blend for another 10 seconds. If you want it colder, add more ice.
- Serve Immediately: Pour into a tall glass or travel tumbler. The smoothie is best enjoyed fresh when it’s at peak creaminess. You can garnish with a banana slice, sprinkle of oats, or drizzle of peanut butter on top for that Instagram-worthy presentation.
Notes
- For Best Results: Use frozen banana chunks for the thickest, creamiest texture without watering down your smoothie with excess ice.
- Oat Texture: If you have a less powerful blender and notice oat bits, either soak the oats in milk for 5 minutes before blending or pulse them into a flour first, then add remaining ingredients.
- Protein Boost: Add a scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein powder for post-workout nutrition (increase milk by ¼ cup if using protein powder).
- Make It Chocolate: Add 1-2 tablespoons cocoa powder or cacao powder for a chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie variation.
- Thickness Control: The longer your smoothie sits, the thicker it gets as the oats continue to absorb liquid. Add a splash of milk if it becomes too thick.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Smoothie
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large smoothie
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 190mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 10mg