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This creamy, satisfying peanut butter and jelly protein shake is like a really good PB&J sandwich and a glass of your favorite milk all in one.
Why we love this recipe
Many years ago, we had a lovely friend named Ben. He was well into his eighties when I met him, and after a lifetime of impressive career, family, and volunteer achievements, he still laughed with the generous glee of a little kid. One thing Ben just couldn’t get his head around, though, was the idea of eating peanut butter and jelly for breakfast.
Peanut butter and jelly? For BREAKFAST? He was incredulous when we mentioned it. Back then we were talking about an actual sandwich, but I still always think of him when I make this smoothie. It:
- “Sticks to your ribs” like a PB&J, keeping you satisfied without unnecessary heaviness
- Has a great balance of classic flavors
- Accommodates your favorite kind of milk, whether plant-based or dairy
- Works beautifully as-is, but also gracefully accepts a variety of substitutions
I first published this recipe here and on Serious Eats back in 2014. I’ve since updated the post for clarity, but the recipe remains the same.
What you’ll need
Here’s a glance at the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe.
- You can use any type of milk that you like to make this recipe. Here I’ve used my homemade cashew milk to keep it creamy, healthful, and vegan. Oat milk is another great choice. And you can definitely use dairy milk if you prefer.
- Frozen raspberries provide beautiful flavor and color. Strawberries work well, too.
- Peanut butter contributes both flavor and creaminess to this smoothie. But if you prefer the flavor and protein boost without the bulk of the fat and calories, it’s okay to use a peanut butter powder like PB2 in this recipe.
- An optional frozen banana contributes another layer of sweetness and creaminess to this protein shake. Whenever you have bananas that get too ripe, peel them and pop them into a zip-top freezer bag. They keep well in the freezer for at least a year and slice easily even when frozen.
- A tiny bit of leftover cooked oatmeal creates unbelievable creaminess and, in a totally pleasant way, functions as the “bread” element of the PB&J. Here’s how to make amazing rolled oats and steel-cut oats. If you don’t have cooked oatmeal, you can leave it out or use one tablespoon raw rolled oats.
- Good-quality raspberry jam brings it all together. It’s a small amount, so I don’t worry about the added sugar. You can use an all-fruit preserve if you choose.
Smoothie resources
- Want to level up your smoothie game? Here’s my epic post with everything you need to know get started and to take your smoothies to the next level.
- Prefer to have a little help? I recommend SmoothieBox. Read my review or buy now with discount code UMAMIGIRL for $35 off your first box.
- And here are my recommended products: Vitamix 5200, cacao nibs, ground flax seed, chia seed, and maca powder.
A note on nutrition
I’ve noticed over the years that people searching for smoothie recipes tend to have strong feelings about nutrition, and sometimes to assume that their personal preferences are more universal than they are.
The smoothies on Umami Girl are delicious, generally pretty good for ya, and always presented with nutritional data. They’re also very flexible — so if your nutritional needs are different, feel free to tweak the recipes. Some easy changes include:
- Swapping in different liquids
- Adding your favorite protein powder
- Removing higher-sugar ingredients like dates or jam
How to make it
Here’s an overview of what you’ll do to make a great peanut butter and jelly protein shake. You can see the steps in action in the video that accompanies this post, and get all the details in the recipe card below.
- Keep the raspberries and banana frozen until you’re ready to make your shake.
- Add all the ingredients to the jar of your blender.
- Blend until perfectly smooth.
- Pour into a glass and serve right away.
Expert tips and FAQs
A high-speed blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec makes so many kitchen tasks easier and better, but you absolutely don’t need one to make a basic smoothie like this one. If you’re using a regular blender, just be sure to slice the bananas before blending.
Smoothies are at their best shortly after blending. But if you need to make this peanut butter and jelly protein shake in advance, you’ve got a couple of options. Store it in a regular cup in the freezer for up to an hour or in an insulated, lidded cup in the fridge overnight.
More favorite protein shake recipes
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Peanut Butter and Jelly Protein Shake
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk of your choice
- 1 cup (140 grams) frozen raspberries
- 1 small frozen banana, about 100 grams, sliced (optional)
- 2 tablespoons (40 grams) cooked oatmeal
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon (20 grams) raspberry jam
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in blender.
- Blend until perfectly smooth.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- You can use any type of milk that you like to make this recipe. Here I've used my homemade cashew milk to keep it creamy, healthful, and vegan. Soy milk and oat milk are also great choices for smoothies. And you can definitely use dairy milk if you prefer.
- Frozen raspberries provide beautiful flavor and color. Strawberries work well, too.
- Peanut butter contributes both flavor and creaminess to this smoothie. But if you prefer the flavor and protein boost without the bulk of the fat and calories, it's okay to use a peanut butter powder like PB2 in this recipe.
- An optional frozen banana contributes another layer of sweetness and creaminess to this protein shake. Whenever you have bananas that get too ripe, peel them and pop them into a zip-top freezer bag. They keep well in the freezer for at least a year and slice easily even when frozen.
- A tiny bit of leftover cooked oatmeal creates unbelievable creaminess and, in a totally pleasant way, functions as the "bread" element of the PB&J. Here's how to make amazing rolled oats and steel-cut oats. If you don't have cooked oatmeal, you can leave it out or use one tablespoon raw rolled oats.
- Good-quality raspberry jam brings it all together. It's a small amount, so I don't worry about the added sugar. You can use an all-fruit preserve if you choose.
- Smoothies are at their best shortly after blending. But if you need to make this peanut butter and jelly protein shake in advance, you've got a couple of options. Store it in a regular cup in the freezer for up to an hour or in an insulated, lidded cup in the fridge overnight.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hungry for more?
Subscribe to Umami Girl’s email updates, and follow along on Instagram.
Where’s the protein coming from????
Milk (especially if you use soy milk, which is what the nutritional info is calculated with), peanut butter, and oats. If you want more protein and are into powders, feel free to add any kind that you use. I’m not.