Smoothie King Banana Boat Copycat
Make Smoothie King’s Banana Boat smoothie at home! It’s easy to make with just five ingredients and ice. It tastes like an ultra-creamy banana shake, but it’s packed with protein.
Why You’ll Love it:
My kids love Smoothie King! Occasionally, I’ll surprise them with a trip through the drive-thru. My daughter’s new favorite is the Banana Boat smoothie. It’s more like a shake in terms of nutrition, which is why we enjoy it every once in a while.
It’s filled with bananas, protein powder, vanilla yogurt, and turbinado. It tastes like a banana milkshake with a hint of vanilla! Since Smoothie King costs primo moolah, we don’t go too often.
My daughter requested I make her one at home, so I created this banana boat smoothie king recipe! It’s sweet, ultra-creamy, and just like the one from Smoothie King.
Key Ingredients:
Frozen banana – Be sure to use a frozen banana! This is what thickens the smoothie and gives it a shake-like consistency. I used a large banana. If yours are on the smaller side, use one and a half bananas.
Yogurt – I used vanilla Greek yogurt. If you prefer a lightly sweetened smoothie, you can use plan yogurt instead.
Vanilla protein powder – Smoothie king uses a whey blend, but a plant-based protein powder works great too! Just use a brand you know you like. All brands vary in flavor and some taste chalky. I don’t recommend 100% whey protein powder! It gets super foamy!
Ice – I don’t typically use ice, but smoothie king does! And in this case, I feel like the ice combined with the banana create the right texture.
Milk – You can use any milk you prefer – plant-based or regular. I used nonfat milk, but almond milk is my favorite plant-based alternative.
Turbinado – Turbinado comes from sugar cane that’s been pressed and boiled. It is slightly less refined than white sugar and still contains molasses, which gives it a caramel-like flavor and color. It tastes delicious, but it has little nutritional value. I normally avoid it, but this is a dessert smoothie.
How to Freeze Bananas for Smoothies:
The base of this smoothie is a frozen banana. Frozen bananas blend into a creamy shake-like consistency, which is why they’re so popular in smoothies.
If you have a high-speed blender, frozen chunks or halves work fine. If you have a regular blender, it’s best to freeze them in slices, which are easier for your blender to pulverize.
There’s multiple ways to freeze them. Here’s my take on it:
- Big batch – If you’re freezing lots of bananas, it’s best to slice and freeze them first, then bag them. This way they don’t stick together. Peel the bananas, slice or halve them, then freeze in a single layer on a parchment lined sheet pan. Transfer the frozen bananas to a gallon zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Small batch – If you’re only freezing one or two bananas, I go with the lazy method. I just peel, slice or halve them, and place them directly into a zip-top bag. Some of them stick together, but I just throw them into the blender anyhow!
Roughly one heaping cup of banana slices equals one large banana.
How to Make a Banana Boat Smoothie:
This banana boat smoothie recipe is super simple (as always!).
Combine ingredients: In the pitcher of your blender, combine the yogurt, protein powder, turbinado, frozen banana, ice, and milk. Place the softest ingredients at the bottom. The milk will sink to the bottom no matter when you add it.
Blend: Blend until smooth and creamy. Start on low, then increase the speed to high. Taste for flavor and consistency. If you prefer a sweeter smoothie, add more turbinado. For a thicker smoothie, add more ice or frozen banana slices.
Serve: Pour into glasses and enjoy immediately!
Recipe Tips:
- Freeze your banana the night before. Peel the banana first, then slice it up and throw it in a bag. This is what gives the smoothie it’s ultra-creamy texture.
- Use a large ripe banana. If your bananas are dinky, use one and a half for good measure. Be sure to use a yellow, ripe banana for good banana flavor. Underripe bananas taste bitter and chalky.
- Adjust the flavor/consistency as desired. For a thicker smoothie, simply add more ice or frozen banana chunks. For more sweetness, add extra turbinado. For less, omit it.
- Use a protein blend. 100% whey protein gets super foamy when blended.
Variations:
- Dairy-free – Can’t have dairy? No problem! Just swap the whey protein with a plant-based protein and the milk with almond or cashew milk.
- Oats – Add 1/4 cup of oats for added whole grains and a slight oatey flavor.
- Chia seeds – Add 1 tablespoon of chia seeds for omega 3 fatty acids and a bit of texture.
- Smoothie bowl – To make a banana boat smoothie bowl, reduce the amount of milk to 1/2 cup. Serve in a bowl with your favorite toppings!
More Smoothie King Smoothies:
Banana Boat Smoothie Recipe
Equipment
- high-speed blender
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup vanilla greek yogurt
- ¼ cup vanilla protein powder
- 1 large frozen banana (or 1 1/2 small frozen bananas)
- ¾ cup ice
- ¾ cup milk of choice regular or plant-based
- 2 teaspoons turbinado optional
Instructions
- In the pitcher of a high-speed blender, combine the yogurt, protein powder, turbinado, frozen banana, ice, and water.
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into glasses and enjoy immediately!
