Our Tropical Smoothie Chia Banana Boost Copycat is a recreation of the popular smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Cafe. This smoothie is a refreshing morning pick-me-up, blending the rich flavors of roasted bananas, creamy peanut butter, and a mix of superfoods.
What sets this Tropical Smoothie copycat apart is the intentional selection of ingredients and how we use them. We emphasize soaking almonds and dates to enhance their nutritional value and sprouting oats to improve digestibility.
If you love this recipe as a healthy breakfast option, try also our super easy overnight oats recipe or our First Watch Chia Pudding copycat recipe! For another banana milkshake flavor, try our copycat Smoothie King Banana Boat.
Before you start blending, take a moment to set some healthy intentions. For more, check out our free guide to intentions and affirmations.
Jump to:
Ingredients
Peanut butter: Organic is best to avoid hydrogenated oils and other additives.
Raw Organic Almonds: Raw almonds are best. Be sure to soak them overnight for at least 8 hours.
Ceylon Cinnamon: Known as the best cinnamon, Ceylon adds a subtle, warm flavor to the smoothie and helps balance blood sugar levels.
Sprouted Rolled Oats: Choose sprouted for convenience, or sprout them yourself to enhance the nutritional profile.
Medjool Dates: These are the softest dates, perfect for blending into a smooth, rich texture in the smoothie. Packed with antioxidants.
See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
Switching Up Sweeteners: For a lower sugar option, replace dates with monk fruit sweeteners. If you prefer natural sweeteners, maple syrup is a great alternative, adding a rich, earthy sweetness to your chia banana boost smoothie.
Nut-Free Versions: For those avoiding nuts, pumpkin seeds are a fantastic substitute for almonds. Sunflower seed butter can also replace peanut butter, offering a similar creamy texture with a different taste.
Adding Fruits: Incorporate tropical fruits like pineapple or mango to give your smoothie a pina colada twist. Fresh fruits of your choice can be added for extra flavor and nutritional benefits.
How to Make a Tropical Smoothie Chia Banana Boost
Step 1:
- Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Lay the banana, still in its peel, on a tray.
- Roast it for 15 minutes until it becomes soft and the peel turns caramel-like. Let it cool before peeling.
Step 2:
- Let the almonds sit in water overnight, then drain.
- Briefly soak the dates for about 5-10 minutes.
Step 3:
- Put the roasted banana, the almonds, dates, sprouted oats, cinnamon, coconut, peanut butter, and coconut milk into your blender.
- Mix all ingredients until they are thoroughly combined and smooth.
Step 4:
- Toss some ice into the mix and give it another blend. Sample it and adjust the flavors if needed.
- Let the smoothie chill in the refrigerator for about 10-20 minutes to allow the chia seeds to properly hydrate.
- Feel free to sprinkle some cinnamon or coconut shavings on top as a garnish.
Hint: If you're not using your soaked almonds immediately, remember to drain and replace their water every 12 hours. This keeps them fresh and ready for use.
Expert Tips
For the best results, use a high-speed blender. This ensures a smooth, creamy texture without any lumps.
Periodically scrape down the sides of the blender to prevent nut butter from sticking and to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
Recipe FAQ's
The Chia Banana Boost from Tropical Smoothie typically contains roasted bananas, chia seeds, almonds, dates, oats, cinnamon, shredded coconut, peanut butter, and a liquid base, often a milk alternative.
Yes, the chia banana boost smoothie is healthy, especially when you make it at home! It's packed with nutrients from ingredients like chia seeds, which offer fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, and roasted bananas, which are rich in potassium.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe tends to use a juice concentrate or milk beverage as the liquid base in many of its smoothies. This adds sweetness and a fruity flavor to the smoothies. We recommend using freshly squeezed juice without additives commonly found in juice concentrates!
More Protein Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Love our version of Tropical Smoothie Chia Banana Boost? Give it a 🌟 review and let us know how it went in the comments 👇 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the latest healthy recipes in your inbox! Do you love Tropical Smoothie Cafe? Try our Peanut Paradise Copycat Recipe!
Recipe
Tropical Smoothie Chia Banana Boost Copycat
Equipment
- Oven
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 1 banana ripe, organic
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds organic
- ¼ cup raw almonds soaked overnight
- 2 Medjool dates pitted and soaked for 5-10 minutes
- ¼ cup oats sprouted
- ½ teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon shredded coconut
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter organic
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the banana (with peel) on a baking sheet. Roast for 15 minutes until it becomes soft and slightly caramelized. The banana skin will look black. Let it cool, then peel.
- After soaking the almonds for at least 8 hours, drain and rinse. Soak the dates for 5-10 minutes and drain.
- In a blender, combine the roasted banana, soaked almonds, soaked dates, sprouted oats, cinnamon, shredded coconut, organic peanut butter, and coconut milk. Blend until smooth.
- Add ice to the blender and blend again. Taste and adjust the flavors if necessary.
- Allow the smoothie to rest in the fridge for 10-20 minutes for the chia seeds to fully hydrate, then pour into a glass.
- Optional: Garnish with extra shredded coconut.
nancy says
i love a good chai but this one takes the cake. So delicious and healthy to start the day
Nora says
This smoothie is loaded with healthy deliciousness! Makes it perfect to start the day with! Thank you!
Natalie Perry says
You are welcome! Enjoy!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
This made a great breakfast on my way out the door! Delicious and nutritious - and really satisfied!
Natalie Perry says
Great to hear!
Andréa says
I love a good smoothie in the morning as my breakfast, and what does sound better than a Tropical smoothie (especially in winter). It just brings some sun in the cold days. Love the combination of ingredients!
Natalie Perry says
Happy you like it!
Lauren Gardiner says
Delicious!
Natalie Perry says
🙂
DK says
This smoothie is so good and filling! The best part about it is the roasted banana. I would have never thought to do that but it added such a great flavor!
Natalie Perry says
It really does add a richness to the flavor