Dark Chocolate Cherry Chia Protein Shake

Oh chocolate, you pair well with sooo many things. But today, it’s cherries.  In addition to all the deliciousness, cherries are also a fantastic source of antioxidants and anti inflammatory nutrients–perfect for a post workout recovery shake.

I got hooked on cherry recovery shakes when I discovered frozen bags of cherries at my local market. I prefer thicker shakes for recovery…pretty much as close to ice cream as I can get.

Am I letting my sweet tooth show? 😉

Pre frozen cherry discovery, I experimented with frozen bananas and found them perfect for thickening up my chocolate protein powder and almond milk shakes. The addition of frozen cherries takes the taste to the next level, and a sprinkling of chia seeds adds an extra nutritional punch.

This is my go to recovery shake, and my motivation, when I’m pushing hard through the end of my workout.

1/4 cup frozen cherries

1 small frozen banana cut into bite size pieces

1 cup almond milk

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1 scoop chocolate protein powder of choice

Combine all ingredients and blend until desired consistency

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Personally, I use an immersion blender and blend my shakes directly in my cup (not the glass shown in the picture). It will seem like not enough liquid, but with a little TLC the ingredients will combine and the consistency will be frosty enough to eat with a spoon if you choose.

Be sure to make enough…my 3 year old is notorious for swiping mine!

This post is linked up with Annmarie at The Fit Foodie Mama for Foodie Friday!

What’s your go to recovery shake?