Italian Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie

A creamy vegan cacao and hazelnut smoothie with banana and chia - rich, nutty, and inspired by the flavors of Piedmont Italy

A systems based approach to wellness and beauty

Vegetarian recipe - Can Be Made Vegan. No meat, poultry, fish or sea life, and no eggs. The base recipe may include dairy. Swap to plant-based yogurt for a fully vegan version.

About This Recipe

Northern Italy's Piedmont region is inseparable from hazelnuts and chocolate. The area around the city of Alba and the Langhe hills produces some of the world's most prized hazelnuts - the Tonda Gentile variety - and it was there that the tradition of blending hazelnuts with chocolate took hold in the 19th century. Gianduja, a smooth chocolate-hazelnut paste originally developed when chocolate was scarce and hazelnuts were abundant, became one of Italy's most celebrated flavor contributions to the world. It is the same tradition that eventually gave rise to the globally familiar chocolate-hazelnut spreads found on breakfast tables across Europe. This Hanuvier Italian chocolate hazelnut smoothie is inspired by that Piedmont flavor language - not a recreation of gianduja, but a plant-forward modern drink that honors the pairing of cacao and hazelnut in a new context.

The key to this healthy chocolate smoothie is the relationship between two ingredients: unsweetened cacao powder, which delivers deep, genuine chocolate flavor without added sugar, and hazelnut butter, which provides a rich, nutty creaminess that rounds out the cacao's intensity. Frozen banana adds natural sweetness and the thick, silky body that makes this smoothie feel satisfying rather than thin. Chia seeds add fiber and a slightly fuller texture. A small pinch of sea salt - often overlooked - is the detail that ties everything together, rounding out the chocolate and hazelnut without making the smoothie taste salty. The result is a cacao smoothie recipe that genuinely tastes like a dessert, while fitting comfortably into a thoughtful wellness routine.

This recipe is written as Vegetarian - Can Be Made Vegan: the base version uses plant-based yogurt (fully vegan) but plain Greek yogurt works equally well for a vegetarian version. For an added soft vanilla note and extra plant-based protein, add one serving of Hanuvier's Plant Protein & Collagen Booster before blending.

At a Glance

Ingredients

Smoothie Base

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, oat milk, or hazelnut milk, chilled
• 1/2 frozen banana, sliced before freezing
• 1/2 cup unsweetened plant-based yogurt for a vegan version, or plain Greek yogurt for a vegetarian version
• 1 tbsp unsweetened hazelnut butter
• 1 tbsp unsweetened cacao powder or cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp fine sea salt
• 1 tsp maple syrup or date syrup (optional - taste first before adding)
• 1/4 cup ice cubes

Optional Hanuvier Vanilla Variation

• 1 serving Hanuvier Vegan Protein Powder, Vanilla flavour
• 2-4 tbsp additional almond milk, oat milk, or hazelnut milk (add only if needed to keep the smoothie pourable)

Optional Garnish

• 1 tsp finely chopped toasted hazelnuts
• 1 tiny dusting of cacao powder
• 1 thin banana slice
• 1 small shaving of dark chocolate (optional)

Instructions

1. If using a standard blender rather than a high-speed model, remove the frozen banana from the freezer 2-3 minutes before blending and let it sit at room temperature. This reduces strain on the motor and helps the blades move more easily through the frozen fruit.
2. Pour 1 cup chilled almond milk, oat milk, or hazelnut milk into the blender first. Adding the liquid before the other ingredients helps the blender start smoothly and prevents the cacao powder, chia seeds, or hazelnut butter from sticking under the blade.
3. Add 1/2 cup plant-based yogurt (or Greek yogurt for the vegetarian version) and 1 tbsp hazelnut butter to the blender.
4. Add 1 tbsp unsweetened cacao powder or cocoa powder, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/8 tsp fine sea salt. The salt is a small amount - it will not make the smoothie taste salty. Its role is to round out and deepen the chocolate and hazelnut flavors.
5. Add 1/2 frozen banana and 1/4 cup ice cubes. Add 1 tsp maple syrup or date syrup only if you want added sweetness - taste the finished smoothie first, because a ripe banana and the Hanuvier Vanilla (if using) may already provide enough.
6. If using Hanuvier Vegan Protein Powder, add 1 serving now. Keep 2-4 tbsp extra milk nearby - protein powder can thicken the smoothie and you may need a little extra liquid during or after blending.
7. Blend on low speed for 10 seconds to break up the frozen banana and engage the chia seeds, then increase to high speed and blend for 35-50 seconds until completely smooth and creamy. Stop and scrape down the sides once if needed.
8. Check the consistency. If the smoothie is too thick to pour comfortably, add 1 tbsp milk at a time - up to 4 tbsp total - and blend briefly after each addition.
9. Taste before serving. Adjust carefully if needed: add 1 tsp maple syrup for more sweetness; add 1 tbsp milk if still too thick; add 1/2 tsp cacao powder for a deeper chocolate note; add a very small extra amount of hazelnut butter (no more than 1/2 tsp) if you want stronger nuttiness.
10. Pour into one large glass or two small glasses. Garnish with chopped toasted hazelnuts, a small dusting of cacao powder, and a thin banana slice. Serve immediately while cold and creamy.

Nutritional Information

Approximate values per large smoothie (full recipe as 1 serving), made with almond milk and plant-based yogurt, without Hanuvier Vegan Protein Powder. Values will vary depending on plant milk type, yogurt brand, hazelnut butter brand, banana ripeness and size, and whether optional sweetener or protein powder is added.

• Calories: approximately 350-450 kcal
• Protein: approximately 9-13 g (higher if Hanuvier Vegan Protein Powder is added)
• Carbohydrates: approximately 38-48 g
• Fat: approximately 14-18 g
• Fiber: approximately 9-12 g
• Key Nutrients Present: Protein, fiber, magnesium, potassium, iron, vitamin E, healthy fats (from hazelnut butter and chia seeds).

Nutrition values are approximate and may vary depending on ingredient brands, preparation method, and serving size.

Wellness Connection

This vegan chocolate smoothie is built on the idea that a drink can feel genuinely indulgent and still contribute meaningfully to a wellness routine. Hazelnut butter contributes healthy fats, vitamin E, magnesium, and a rich nutty flavor that satisfies without relying on refined sugar. Unsweetened cacao powder provides deep chocolate flavor alongside fiber, magnesium, and iron. Chia seeds add dietary fiber and help create a fuller, more satisfying texture. Banana provides natural sweetness, potassium, and the creaminess that makes this high protein chocolate smoothie feel like a treat. The optional Hanuvier Vegan Protein Powder increases plant-based protein content meaningfully while adding a soft vanilla note that complements the cacao and hazelnut.

At Hanuvier, a systems-based approach to wellness means looking at what a drink contributes as a whole rather than reducing it to a single ingredient or nutrient. This Italian chocolate hazelnut smoothie is designed for exactly that: something you actually want to drink every day, which is the real foundation of any sustainable wellness habit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between cacao vs cocoa powder?

Cacao powder and cocoa powder both come from the cacao bean, but they are processed differently. Cacao powder is made from cold-pressed raw cacao beans - the pressing removes the fat (cacao butter) while preserving more of the bean's natural compounds. Cocoa powder is made from cacao beans that have been roasted at higher temperatures before processing, which gives it a slightly milder, more familiar chocolate flavor and a darker color. For this smoothie, both work well. Cacao powder gives a more intense, slightly more bitter chocolate flavor; cocoa powder gives a softer, more rounded taste. Use whichever you have - the amount in the recipe is the same either way.

What is hazelnut butter and how is it different from almond butter?

Hazelnut butter is a smooth paste made by grinding roasted hazelnuts until they release their natural oils and form a spreadable consistency. The flavor is distinctly richer, nuttier, and more deeply roasted than almond butter, with the characteristic warmth that makes the chocolate-hazelnut pairing so appealing. Almond butter is milder and slightly more neutral. In this Italian chocolate hazelnut smoothie, hazelnut butter is the ingredient that gives the drink its Piedmont-inspired character. Almond butter can be substituted if hazelnut butter is unavailable, but the flavor will be less distinctly Italian.

What is gianduja and how does this recipe relate to it?

Gianduja is a smooth chocolate-hazelnut confection that originated in Piedmont, Italy in the 19th century. It was originally developed as a way to stretch scarce chocolate by blending it with the abundant local hazelnuts. The result - a creamy, intensely nutty chocolate paste - became one of Italy's most celebrated contributions to confectionery. This Hanuvier smoothie is inspired by the same flavor pairing - cacao and hazelnut - but is a plant-forward modern drink rather than a confection. It takes the spirit of gianduja vegan and applies it to an everyday wellness recipe.

Can I make this smoothie without a blender?

A blender gives the best result because it fully emulsifies the hazelnut butter, breaks down the frozen banana, and creates a smooth, creamy texture throughout. An immersion blender (hand blender) works reasonably well as an alternative - thaw the banana partially first and blend in a tall cup or jug. Without any blender, the hazelnut butter will not incorporate evenly.

Can I use cocoa powder from a hot chocolate mix?

No - use unsweetened cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder only. Sweetened hot chocolate mixes contain added sugar, milk solids, and other additives that will make this smoothie too sweet and change the flavor balance significantly. The label of the cacao or cocoa powder you use should list only one ingredient: cacao or cocoa.

What is Hanuvier's systems-based approach to wellness and beauty?

The body functions as an interconnected system, with nutrients participating in multiple biological processes and often working alongside one another. Hanuvier uses this systems perspective to develop thoughtfully formulated products that support wellness, beauty, or both through a holistic approach rather than a single-ingredient focus.

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