[Recipes] The Peppermint Bark Protein Shake

If you’ve ever walked into a Williams-Sonoma, you’ve been bombarded with a waterfall of all peppermint bark everything.

Just like gingerbread, egg nog, and sugar cookies, peppermint bark—think dark chocolate laced with peppermint—has transformed into a Christmas staple, especially if you’re infatuated with chocolatey, minty deliciousness.

In the spirit of lean holiday indulgence, we’ve blended up The Peppermint Bark Protein Shake — an exact replica of the candy, except that it’s in lean, drinkable, protein shake form. It’s a surefire way to quench any insatiable holiday sweet tooth and shoot your diet up with HQ protein, antioxidants, fiber, B vitamins, and other nutrients, without the onslaught of calories, bad fats, or sugar.

The main health booster? Raw cacao nibs. Native to South America, cacao nibs are oozing with antioxidants, including flavonoids and polyphenols, and theobromine, an alkaloid that can help boost blood flow, energy levels, and overall heart health (e.g. improved cholesterol and BP). They’re also loaded, naturally, with iron, magnesium, and fiber.

It’s a natural superfood that has endless health perks. Stuff it into your diet whenever possible.1234

The Peppermint Bark Protein Shake — Ingredients

*Makes 2 protein shakes

• 2 cups almond milk (e.g. Califia) — or coconut milk and coconut almond milk both work, too.
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
• 1 banana
• 3 tbsp. raw cacao nibs
• 10 mint leaves
• 1-2 drops peppermint extract
• 3 ice cubes

The Peppermint Bark Protein Shake — Make It

Time: 2 minutes

• (1) Throw everything in a blender.
• (2) Blend all until smooth and creamy.
• (3) Pour and chug. You can also hang a candy cane off the side or crush one up and toss the pieces on top.

Nutrition Info

• Calories — 245
• Total Fat — 10g
• Carbs — 18g
• Sugar — 7g
• Fiber — 2.5g
• Protein — 14g
• Calcium — 50%

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Bryan DiSanto

Founder & Editor-in-Chief at Lean It UP

ELLO ELLO I'm Bryan DiSanto. I'm the Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Lean It UP, a CPT/CSN/Fitness Coach, Chef trained at Le Cordon Bleu – Paris, NYU graduate, ex-fat kid, and all-around fitness junkie.

I also contribute to Men's Health Magazine.

When I'm not working on my abs (or somebody else’s), whipping up avocado roses and avocado toast, or running a Tough Mudder, I'm probably yelling at a Carolina Panthers game somewhere.

Come be friends with me on Instagram (@BRYDISANTO) & Snapchat (BRYDISANTO).

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1. Examine.com — Cacoa [↩]
2. AJCN — Polyphenols: food sources and bioavailability [↩]
3. Watanabe N, et al. Flavan-3-ols fraction from cocoa powder promotes mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle in mice. Lipids Health Dis. (2014 [↩]
4. Roberto Corti, MD, Andreas J. Flammer, MD, Norman K. Hollenberg, MD, PhD, Thomas F. Lüscher, MD. Contemporary Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine — Cocoa and Cardiovascular Health [↩]