Start by preparing your ingredients. Hull the fresh strawberries and peel the frozen banana for easy blending.
In a high-powered blender, combine the hulled strawberries, frozen banana, and almond milk.
Next, add the unsweetened cocoa powder, honey (or maple syrup), and vanilla extract to the blender. If you’ve chosen to include chia seeds, add those now as well.
Blend the mixture on high speed until it reaches a smooth and creamy consistency. If you find the smoothie too thick, simply add a splash more of almond milk until desired consistency is reached.
Take a moment to taste your smoothie. If you prefer a sweeter flavor, feel free to add a little more honey or maple syrup at this stage and blend again to incorporate.
If you enjoy an extra cold smoothie, toss in a few ice cubes and blend until the ice is well integrated into the mixture.
Pour the smoothie into two glasses, and for an attractive touch, garnish each serving with fresh strawberry slices placed on top.
For a decadent finish, drizzle a small amount of melted dark chocolate over each glass or lightly sprinkle some extra cocoa powder for that irresistible chocolatey flair.
Notes
This smoothie pairs beautifully with a side of vanilla yogurt or granola for added texture and flavor. Enjoy your deliciously refreshing treat!