Raise your hand if you have ever had a Samoa Girl Scout cookie. If you have, you probably know what all the hype is about. Gooey Caramel, Chocolate, and toasted coconut perfection. Sadly, Samoas are not one of the Girls Scout’s vegan cookie offerings. No worries, Y’all! I think I have just the thing for you! This smoothie is far healthier than a cookie, but taste just as good in my opinion. It has it all!! Chocolate, coconut, and caramel all blended up creamy smooth and so delicious. What it doesn't have is refined sugar, and 100% less guilt than a cookie! Also you can have this for breakfast and not spend your day drowning in regret! WIN WIN WIN! Oh, and the caramel sauce is raw and you will probably find 100 different ways to use it, too! So don’t worry the leftovers, you will thank me later when you are dipping an apple into it ,and again not feeling one ounce of remorse! So blend yourself up a Vegan Samoa Smoothie and walk right past that cookie table those adorable girls have set up in front of your local grocery store, never looking back (OR run back and grab a box of the some of their vegan cookies because after all they are adorable, and its super hard to say no!)
Ingredients:
2 frozen bananas
1/4 cup dark chocolate cocoa powder
1 and 1/2 cups coconut or almond milk
2 cups ice ( you can use less if you don’t like a super thick smoothie)
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
A handful of spinach (I keep a bag in the freezer for shakes and smoothies)
Easy Vegan No Cook Caramel:
1/2 cup dried dates
1/4 cup canned coconut cream
1/3 cup maple syrup
pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Peel and freeze 2 bananas. If you do no have a high speed blender like a Vitamix or Ninja, then I suggest slicing the bananas before freezing. A regular blender may have trouble breaking down a whole frozen banana. We normally just toss our bananas that are on the verge of going bad into the freezer so we do not waste them, and so we have them on hand for smoothies and nice cream.
Add the ingredients for the caramel to a food processor or blender. You may have trouble getting it to process in your blender because it is a small volume of ingredients. If you do not have a food processor I suggest doubling the ingredients so you have enough volume that your blender will break it down. Lets be real, I’m sure you can find plenty of ways to use up the extra!! Store caramel in the fridge 1-2 weeks
Toss frozen bananas and remaining shake ingredients into you blender. I have mentioned in other smoothie recipes that I keep bags of mixed greens or spinach in my freezer just for smoothies. It helps make the smoothie nice and cold, and my greens don’t go bad before I can use them! Blend on high until everything is nice and smooth.
To serve, pour smoothies into glasses, top with more shredded coconut (I like to toast mine if I have time) and drizzle with caramel sauce!
makes 2 large smoothies
