Healthy Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Shake
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy
Healthy Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Shake Recipe
I don’t know about you, but I really can’t say no to cake. Hand me a slice and I’m going to say yes every time! Now, if you’ve been around for long enough, you know that I’m a chocolate guy. Though I gotta say, ever since I tried a strawberry cheesecake gelato from my local grocery store, my tummy has found a soft spot for that delicious flavour of strawberry cheesecake. I don’t think I’ve ever had a proper strawberry cheesecake, you know! I’ve had classic cheesecake, red velvet cheesecake… But not strawberry! Well, I’m sure this smoothie fits the bill for now till I get the real thing!
That being said, I find smoothies are such a great way to fulfill your sweet tooth cravings. You can really replicate the flavours you love from desserts into a nutritious smoothie, so you really get the best of both worlds! So that’s why I thought of this awesome smoothie recipe.
We all know about some great smoothies at coffee shops. While they’re pretty great, they’re quite pricey! You can easily make this smoothie for a fraction of the cost! Additionally, we’re not totally sure how they’re made. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they’re usually loaded with sugar! Trust me, you probably don’t need to have that much sugar every day. I say treat yourself on an occasion, but this Healthy Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Shake will be like cake in a glass for a decent cost and loaded with nutrition! You’ll want to make this strawberry cheesecake again and again whether you’re on the go or just want to enjoy a refreshing drink in the summer!
Cake for Breakfast!
Yes, this smoothie really is like having a cake for breakfast, and yes, it’s totally acceptable to do that! We’ve got one very healthy cake packed into a drink here though!
This smoothie is loaded with plenty of strawberries and a banana, so you’ve got your serving of fruits to start the morning! Additionally, it’s packed with protein to keep you full and satisfied! What makes this smoothie different from an actual cheesecake is that we’re avoiding any added sugars! It’s optional to top with whipped cream, and you certainly could use a lighter whipped cream. However, I’m being quite ambitious here and I’m using my own Homemade Whipped Cream recipe! This whipped cream is awesome because I’m using Stevia as the sweetener, which is a slightly better option than traditional powdered sugar! It works perfectly fine in the recipe! I do encourage you to make your own whipped cream because to be honest it does taste much better, and you can make a batch ahead of time so that you’ve got it ready to go in the morning!
One final touch that really makes this shake super delicious and cake-like is the addition of Madagascar bourbon vanilla bean paste. If you’ve seen some other of my sweet recipes, then you know I love this stuff! Thanks to a recommendation by a friend, this has been a real game changer! Just a little bit goes a long way, and the vanilla bean really transforms any recipe! If you don’t have this ingredient though, don’t fret! If all you have is vanilla extract, you can just double the amount of extract to get a similar taste to the bourbon paste. Though I highly recommend you go find some Madagascar bourbon vanilla bean paste to make desserts and anything sweet that much more delicious! I’m using it in my Whipped Cream recipe too!
Protein without the Powder!
I know that I use protein powder in my other protein smoothies, but here I’m going to show you how to make a great protein shake without the powder! Protein powder is a great way to boost up the protein in your smoothies, and if you’ve got some yummy protein powder flavours, such as cookies and cream, classic chocolate, or birthday cake, you can definitely make some really awesome smoothies! However, I know not everyone has protein powder, and I wanted to try something different by omitting it in this recipe and instead getting my protein in other ways! This smoothie is still thick and creamy thanks to the Greek yogurt we’ll be adding! Greek yogurt is the main protein source that will be in this recipe. I’m using plain Greek yogurt because that’s what I had on hand, but if you want some extra flavour to the smoothie, then I would highly recommend you use a vanilla, honey, or strawberry flavoured Greek yogurt!
I’m also using dairy milk in this recipe, so that’s loaded with protein! If you were to use most non-dairy alternatives, then you’re missing the protein from that source. Additionally, the cream cheese has a tiny bit of protein, but it still adds up! The cream cheese also contributes to the creaminess and texture of the smoothie!
Ingredients for Creamy and Sweet Mocha Blueberry Protein Smoothie
Only a handful of ingredients are needed to make this Healthy Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Shake! Here is what you’ll need:
Fresh or frozen strawberries
Banana
Milk
Greek yogurt (plain or flavoured)
Cream cheese
Madagascar bourbon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
Graham cracker
Sprinkles
Whipped cream
Ice cubes
How to Make Healthy Strawberry cheesecake protein shake
Begin by adding the strawberries in the blender.
Then add the Greek yogurt.
Slice the banana and add it in the blender.
Followed by the cream cheese and Madagascar bourbon vanilla bean paste.
Finally, add the ice cubes.
Run your blender at a high speed. Continue blending until everything is well combined, and you have a smooth texture.
Transfer the smoothie into a serving glass or mason jar.
Top a dollop of whipped cream.
Followed by a crumbled graham cracker.
Finish a dash of sprinkles!
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments! If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to post it on social media and tag it with #cookingwithanadi and mention me @cookingwithanadi. Thank you!