Salted Caramel Mocha Protein Shake

This healthy version of a Starbucks favorite combines the rich, decadent flavors of chocolate and coffee with a hint of sweet and salty caramel. Low calorie, low sugar, and high protein, my Salted Caramel Mocha Protein Shake is the perfect on-the-go healthy breakfast to get you moving in the morning, and it’s an ideal snack when you’re looking for a nutritious afternoon pick-me-up!

I’ve mentioned my love for coffee on this blog about one, two, or ten times. Maybe it’s sad to admit, but my morning cup is one of the highlights of my day! It’s the little things…

That’s why I’m so excited to share today’s recipe with you. It’s perfect for busy mornings when you need a quick, healthy breakfast (and your coffee fix) STAT! You might also enjoy a shake for a sweet afternoon snack when you need a boost to get you through until dinner.

How to Make a Salted Caramel Mocha at Home:

When making a cold coffee beverage, it’s always KEY to use a strong coffee so that your final product doesn’t end up tasting watered-down and just…blah. These days you can find bottles of dark roast iced coffee ready to go in just about any grocery store. If you prefer, you can also just brew a cup of your favorite coffee and chill it in the refrigerator overnight. Whatever is easiest!

What’s in a Salted Caramel Mocha?

In addition to the cold coffee, you will also need unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or other milk of your choice), chocolate protein powder, unsweetened cocoa powder, caramel extract, salt and ice. If you want a coffeehouse-style drink, you can garnish your shake with the optional toppings: nut free granola, whipped cream, and caramel sauce!

This IdealLean Chocolate Brownie is my favorite protein powder, which has 0 grams of sugar and only 80 calories per scoop. It adds the perfect thick, creamy texture to the smoothie! I also like this Quest Chocolate Milkshake protein powder.

That said, you can substitute with your own favorite protein powder — or see my notes below for a recipe variation without protein powder.

Once you have your ingredients ready to go, this is just a 2-minute “recipe!”

Start by adding the ice to your blender. You can play with the amount of ice in your shake, based on the thickness that you prefer. I like a THICK smoothie that I can eat with a spoon, so more ice is always my preference!

Then just toss in the rest of your ingredients (coffee, milk, protein powder, cocoa powder, caramel extract, and salt).

Whiz until thick and smooth!

Once your ingredients are all combined, you can garnish your Salted Caramel Mocha with a little bit of whipped topping and salted caramel sauce, if desired. Personally, I wouldn’t skip this step. That caramel sauce is a MUST in my world!

COOK’S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS:

• If you’re preparing this healthy smoothie for kids, you can omit the protein powder and substitute with Greek yogurt. Since the protein powder adds not only thickness, but also flavor to the smoothie, you’ll want to use a sweetened vanilla Greek yogurt or use a plain Greek yogurt and add your own sweetener, to taste. You will also need an additional 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder for that chocolate taste. The taste and texture of the smoothie recipe with yogurt will not be quite the same as the protein powder version, but your family will still love it!
• Keep the healthy smoothie recipe low sugar by using unsweetened vanilla almond milk and a sugar free protein powder.
• I prefer whey protein for flavor and thickness in this smoothie, but if you prefer a plant-based breakfast, you can substitute with a vegan protein powder.
• You can find caramel extract in the baking aisle of most grocery stores (near the vanilla extract) or online here. Don’t skip this ingredient — it MAKES the shake!

Skip the Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino and instead whip up your own healthy version at home! Chocolate, coffee, caramel, and a little boost from some caffeine. Could you ask for a better way to start your day?

You might also enjoy these protein shakes:

• Cake Batter Healthy Smoothie
• Apple Pie Protein Smoothie
• Chunky Monkey Protein Smoothie
• Chocolate Almond Protein Smoothie

This post was originally published in March, 2015. It was updated in January, 2019.

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