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    Home » Drinks

    Chocolate Cherry Smoothie

    August 23, 2016 by Chrissy Carroll 27 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This chocolate cherry smoothie is a tasty treat after a tough workout!

    I’ll finally get a chance to go out this Sunday for a semi-long run.  I’ve had a lot of trouble with training the last few weeks, between my son being sick, then I got sick, and overall lack of sleep on top of it.  It was frustrating me so much, but I try to remind myself during weeks like those that it’s only a few weeks in the grand scheme of life – it’s not going to make or break me in terms of overall fitness. 

    So I picked myself back up, got to the gym quite a few times last week and will plan to finally go for a nice long(ish) outdoor run Sunday morning.

    Then I promptly enjoyed this chocolate cherry smoothie as my recovery treat. 🙂

    If you’re getting some long workouts in this summer, take a few minutes to think about your recovery fueling.  Many people are surprised to learn that you don’t necessarily need a recovery meal or snack after every workout.  In fact, if you’re doing shorter workouts (<1-1.5 hours), your everyday diet will be just fine for recovery.  That said, if you won’t be eating for a few hours afterwards, it might make sense to have a small snack afterward – like some greek yogurt with fruit or a quick glass of chocolate milk.

    But if any of ya’ll are doing long runs or rides – and especially if you have two a day workouts or back to back weekend races/events – think about structuring your meals so that you are going to eat or drink something within 30-60 minutes of finishing your workout.  Ideally you want to include a substantial amount of carbs (likely 50-80 grams, depending on your weight) and about 15-25 grams of protein.

    I know sometimes after an intense long run, I’m just not in the mood to eat right afterward.  That’s where I find smoothies, like this chocolate cherry smoothie or a banana peanut butter smoothie, to be really helpful.  It’s easy to get down a lot of nutrition in a quick drink, and that’s super convenient when you’re tired and just want to relax after all that hard work.

    Chocolate cherry smoothie in a mason jar, with a straw next to it

    Chocolate cherry smoothie in a mason jar with a purple straw

    This chocolate cherry smoothie is a fav because it’s so easy to make.  Plus, it’s got chocolate milk and greek yogurt to add protein (along with carbs), a berry blend for healthy carbs that are also vitamin and mineral-rich, and tart cherry juice to (possibly) help with the muscle recovery and quelling pain.

    That “possibly” stems from the fact that most research on tart cherry juice uses large quantities – like several cups a day – which is unrealistic for most people.  But the research on those amounts does show that it may be helpful for reducing inflammation/pain after endurance exercise.  There’s certainly no harm in trying smaller amounts and it may have possible benefits, so I’m all about that.

    With just 4 ingredients and a quick pop in the blender, you’ve got a well-balanced recovery meal that you can sip on post-workout.  I like to buy a pre-mixed “cherry berry blend” from the grocery store to make this, but if you can’t find that you can always buy frozen cherries and whatever frozen berries you can find.

    [Tweet “A chocolate cherry smoothie?! Yes, please! Great for recovery after a long run or ride.”]

    Give it a try today and let me know what you think!

    A pink smoothie in a mason jar, next to a purple strawClose up of a chocolate cherry smoothie in a mason jar

     

    Want a delicious smoothie that you can drink after a tough workout – or maybe even for dessert?! This chocolate cherry smoothie recipe is so tasty and uses just four ingredients. It’s so easy to make!

    Chocolate Cherry Smoothie

    Snacking in Sneakers
    This chocolate cherry smoothie is a tasty treat after a tough workout!  It's got an ideal blend of carbohydrate and protein for runners and triathletes.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Servings 1
    Calories 326 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1/3 cup plain greek yogurt (I used nonfat but you could use full fat too)
    • 1 cup chocolate milk
    • 1/3 cup tart cherry juice
    • 1 1/4 cup frozen cherry berry blend (cherries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries)

    Instructions
     

    • Blend all ingredients & enjoy!

    Notes

    Nutrition analysis (approximate):
    326 calories, 2 g fat, 60 grams carbohydrate, 17 grams protein

    Nutrition

    Calories: 326kcal
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

     

    Share with me:  What’s your favorite thing to eat post-workout?  Do you ever make recovery smoothies?  Do you think you’d love this chocolate cherry smoothie?

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.
    Chrissy Carroll
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    Comments

    1. Carmy

      August 23, 2016 at 1:52 pm

      That looks delicious! I love adding cherries to my smoothies. I just hate pitting them!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        August 25, 2016 at 4:40 pm

        I feel ya on that one! That’s why I like the frozen ones since they’re already pitted for you 🙂

        Reply
    2. Kerri McGrail

      August 23, 2016 at 4:24 pm

      I love frozen cherries + cocoa powder in my post workout smoothies. Ill have to try adding tart cherry juice!!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        August 25, 2016 at 4:40 pm

        Yes, definitely give it a try! It does make it a bit more sour but I like it 🙂

        Reply
    3. Kim

      August 23, 2016 at 5:34 pm

      I bet that tastes as great as it looks too!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        August 25, 2016 at 4:41 pm

        Thanks Kim!

        Reply
    4. GiGi Eats

      August 23, 2016 at 6:17 pm

      The color of this smoothie alone has my taste buds wanting it!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        August 25, 2016 at 4:42 pm

        I know, I love the fun color!

        Reply
    5. Melissa @ Mango About Town

      August 23, 2016 at 6:50 pm

      Mmm cherry berry blend is the best for smoothies. It contains all my favourite fruits!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        August 25, 2016 at 4:43 pm

        Yes! I love it in yogurt parfaits too 🙂

        Reply
    6. Esther

      August 23, 2016 at 11:09 pm

      Ohh yum!
      I used to HATE cherries, but then I discovered a few months ago that I actually like them!

      Where did you find the cherry berry blend?

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        August 25, 2016 at 4:45 pm

        Haha, it’s funny how taste buds change over time, right?! I found the blend at Stop and Shop 🙂

        Reply
    7. Ilka

      August 24, 2016 at 1:35 pm

      This smoothie looks super beautiful – plus chocolate and cherry is such an awesome yummy combo!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        August 25, 2016 at 4:46 pm

        Chocolate and cherry is the best – I have a brownie recipe that uses this combo too and is soooo good.

        Reply
    8. Angela @marathonsandmotivation.com

      August 24, 2016 at 6:48 pm

      This sounds FABULOUS!!! I love chocolate & cherries, can’t wait to try it 🙂

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        August 25, 2016 at 4:46 pm

        Awesome, hope you enjoy Angela!

        Reply
    9. Karen G.

      August 24, 2016 at 7:01 pm

      Yum! I love chocolate and cherries so much! This is a great, and simple recipe, thank for sharing!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        August 25, 2016 at 4:47 pm

        I love me a simple recipe 🙂 Enjoy Karen!

        Reply
    10. Cassandra @ Powered By BLING

      August 24, 2016 at 9:05 pm

      OMG! Where were you when I finished my run today! I had 2 of these 3 ingredients (milk and protein) covered, but had I seen this recipe, I would have pulled out the Blendtec! Making this tomorrow….have tart cherry concentrate in the refrig and frozen cherries and berries! Great recovery drink idea!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        August 25, 2016 at 4:47 pm

        Yay! Hope you love it Cassandra.

        Reply
    11. Emily

      August 24, 2016 at 11:37 pm

      How could you go wrong with chocolate and cherries? I agree with you that I really often don’t feel like eating right after a long run, and a smoothie usually does the trick of replacing those lost calories.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        August 25, 2016 at 4:48 pm

        Totally – sometimes you’re just not in the mood to eat so drinking that nutrition makes it much easier.

        Reply
    12. Emily

      August 25, 2016 at 1:39 am

      This looks SO amazing! I will be trying it!

      Reply
    13. sues

      April 2, 2018 at 2:52 pm

      5 stars
      I’m definitely not a distance runner (2 miles is pretty much my max right now LOL), but I still think this would be a delicious drink to enjoy after s a short run! I’m never usually hungry after working out, but know I need to refuel!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        April 9, 2018 at 9:17 pm

        Even if you don’t do long runs, this can definitely still be a lovely treat! 🙂

        Reply
    14. Joanie

      April 2, 2018 at 3:25 pm

      5 stars
      Chocolate and cherries are one of my favorite food combinations. Why I never thought to combine them in a smoothie, I’ll never know but sure am glad you did. This is not only a great recovery smoothie but ideal for breakfast too.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        April 9, 2018 at 9:18 pm

        Thanks Joanie! Such a classic flavor combo, right?!

        Reply

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    Welcome to Snacking in Sneakers! That's me, Chrissy, and I'm here to share all my favorite fitness, food, & wellness stories & tips. I'm a dietitian, personal trainer, runner, triathlon coach, foodie, not-so-extreme couponer, and all around fun lovin' gal.

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