How To Make Chocolate Protein Shakes Taste Better (5 Tips)

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Chocolate is one of my favorite flavors, but chocolate protein powders can be hit or miss, so I’ve had to perfect my ability to make a chocolate protein shake taste better.

Key Takeaways

• You can make chocolate protein shakes taste better by adjusting the sweetness level to suit your taste by adding flavor enhancers (stevia drops, vanilla extract, mint extract, etc.).

• You can also change the consistency of the shake to suit your preferences by adding Greek yogurt, nut butter, or mixing it with various milk varieties.

• Sometimes, switching protein brands can make all the difference when looking for a chocolate protein powder.

5 Tips On Making Your Chocolate Protein Shake Taste Better

The most common complaints I hear from my clients about chocolate protein shakes are related to the level of sweetness, the flavor, and the consistency. 

Luckily, all of these issues can be resolved, so your chocolate protein shake tastes better.

It’s Too Sweet

• Switch brands: If your chocolate protein shake is too sweet, consider switching to a brand like Diesel 100% New Zealand Whey Isolate Milk Chocolate which has only natural sweeteners like stevia and not the artificial high-intensity sweeteners like acesulfame potassium or sucralose. 

• Pay attention to what you mix your protein powder with: If you’re mixing your protein powder with juice or adding fruit, honey, or maple syrup then you can easily cut down on the level of sweetness by leaving these out. Instead, you could mix your protein with water or unsweetened milk. 

• Add plain Greek yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt has a flavor that is more bitter so adding it to a protein shake that’s too sweet can balance out the sweetness. Mixing protein powder with Greek yogurt in a shake is also a great way to bump up the protein content even more. 

• Add unsweetened cocoa powder: Similar to Greek yogurt, unsweetened cocoa powder has a bitter taste which can help to reduce the sweetness of your chocolate protein powder while adding extra chocolate flavor.

If It’s Not Sweet Enough

• Switch brands: If your chocolate protein powder isn’t sweet enough, then consider choosing a brand like Pure Protein 100% Whey Rich Chocolate Protein Powder which has added sugar and/or high-intensity sweeteners such as acesulfame potassium or sucralose. 

• Add your own sweetener: You can also increase the sweetness by adding stevia, honey, maple syrup, banana, or dates to your chocolate protein shake.  Additionally, you could mix your protein powder with a sweetened plant-based milk.

If It’s Too Bland

• Switch brands: If your chocolate protein powder is too bland, then try a brand with a richer chocolate flavor like Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder Double Rich Chocolate, or choose a flavor that combines chocolate with another flavor like peanut butter or caramel.

• Add flavors: Another option is to add flavor enhancers to your chocolate shake like cocoa powder, nut butter, and Dark Chocolate Stevia Drops, or flavor extracts like vanilla, almond, or mint extract.

• Add fruit: You could also improve your protein shake by adding strawberries, cherries, or bananas, which all pair perfectly with chocolate and are a great way to add fiber to your shake.

If It’s Too Watery

• Use less liquid: If your chocolate protein shake is too watery, then you could be mixing it with too much liquid, especially if your protein powder isn’t a strong flavor to begin with.  Try reducing the amount of liquids that you’re adding to your shake.

• Use more protein powder: Another option to make your shake less watery is to add two scoops of protein powder to your shake instead of one. This will amp up the flavor and improve the consistency of your shake.

• Add ice: You can also improve the consistency of your protein shake by mixing it in a high-speed blender with ice, which turns your protein shake into a protein ice cream.

• Add frozen fruit or vegetables: My secret weapon for thick, nutritious protein shakes is to blend in frozen cauliflower because it’s flavorless, it adds nutrients with minimal extra calories, and creates a thicker texture like a milkshake. You could also use frozen berries or bananas in place of the cauliflower.

• Add xanthan gum: Xanthan gum is a food additive that serves as a thickener – just ¼ to ½ a tsp added to a protein smoothie can result in a thick, fluffy texture.  Some brands of protein powder like Quest Nutrition Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder include xanthan gum in the ingredients so that it has a creamier consistency when it’s mixed.

If It’s Too Thick

• Use more liquid: If your chocolate protein shake is too thick, then you might not be using enough liquid. Try increasing the amount of liquids that you’re using when mixing your protein shake.

• Remove added ingredients: Adding ingredients like fruit, vegetables, or oatmeal to a protein shake will also make it thicker, so if you’re currently adding to your shake then you may want to try leaving them out to make your shake thinner.

• Check the label for xanthan gum: If you’re not a big fan of a thick protein shake then it’s best to avoid protein powders that contain xanthan gum, because it’s a thickener. Choose a protein powder without xanthan gum like Authentic Whey Salted Chocolate Caramel for a thinner protein shake.

3 Chocolate Protein Shake Recipes That Taste Awesome

If you’re not enjoying your chocolate protein shake, then perhaps you’re not mixing it with the right flavors.

Here are my favorite chocolate protein shake recipes:

1. Triple Chocolate Delight

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened chocolate almond milk
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
• 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 handful ice cubes
• Optional: 5 drops Dark Chocolate Stevia
• Optional: sprinkle pink Himalayan salt

Directions:

Combine the following ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

• Calories: 170 (28g protein, 6g carbs, 4g fat)

2. Chunky Monkey 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened chocolate almond milk
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
• 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp powdered peanut butter 
• 1 medium banana
• 1 handful ice cubes
• Optional: 5 drops English Toffee Stevia
• Optional: sprinkle pink Himalayan salt

Directions:

Combine the following ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.

• Calories: 290 (32g protein, 31g carbs, 5g fat)

3. Mint Chocolate Madness

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup unsweetened chocolate almond milk
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
• 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ tsp peppermint extract OR 5 drops Peppermint Cookie Stevia
• 1  handful baby spinach
• 1 handful ice cubes

Directions:

In a high-speed blender, combine the following ingredients in the order listed and blend until smooth.

• Calories: 175 (28g protein, 6g carbs, 4g fat)

Related Articles:

• How To Make Vanilla Protein Shakes Taste Better
• Best Fruits For Protein Shakes

What Are The Best Tasting Chocolate Protein Powders?

The 3 best tasting chocolate protein powders on the market are:

• Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder Double Rich Chocolate – Best Chocolate Taste

• Authentic Whey Salted Chocolate Caramel – Best Chocolate Flavor Combination

• Diesel 100% New Zealand Whey Isolate Milk Chocolate – Best Naturally Sweetened (Stevia)

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Make A Chocolate Protein Shake Thinner?

The easiest way to make a chocolate protein shake thinner is to use more liquid.  However, other options would be to reduce the amount of protein powder you use and to avoid brands that include xanthan gum (a thickener).

Can I Add Peanut Butter To My Chocolate Protein Shake?

Yes, you can add peanut butter to your chocolate protein shake because chocolate and peanut butter are an iconic flavor combination. You could add regular peanut butter to increase your calories (90 calories per tbsp) or powdered peanut butter for a peanut butter flavor for fewer calories (30 calories per tbsp).

What Fruits Are Good With Chocolate Protein Shakes?

The best-tasting fruits with chocolate protein shakes are berries of any kind (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, etc.), cherries, and bananas.  Melons, apples, and pineapple generally do not taste as good with chocolate protein.  That said, you can use any fruit that you like based on your preferences.