Chocolate Coconut Smoothie Bowl

Oh my goodness.

I

need

 to stop making things in bowls. Especially sweet things. I also need to stop using coconut extract... and cocoa powder.

Well let's face it, I will always use cocoa powder. But, as much as I like it, I really do need to break this breakfast-for-every-meal phase I'm going through... Ehh, maybe tomorrow. For right now I'm just going to keep bombarding you with chocolatey smoothie bowls.

At least this one doesn't have peanut butter in it... I was so close to plopping a big dollop on top but I stayed strong.

Let's talk about flavors though.

Chocolate & coconut obviously go well together- but lately I've been digging the chocolate & berry combo. One of my favorites is chocolate & goji berry.

I finally got some goji berries back in my house, which I never did like until I went to this amazing juice/smoothie bar & cafe in Florida over spring break. They topped every smoothie bowl or smoothie with

 rehydrated 

goji berries, amongst MANY other toppings. I was instantly in love. So now, on top of every smoothie bowl I make- I have to top it with rehydrated goji berries- it's become an obsession. 

The key is to rehydrate them for a good 10-15 minutes, especially if they're going on something cold, or else they'll just harden back up and become chewy bits of bitterness that get stuck in your teeth.

This smoothie bowl is probably one of my favorites I've made because it came out so thick and creamy (basically like a chocolate milkshake) from the coconut cream ice cubes. They are mandatory for such a creamy smoothie, so definitely take the time to freeze the coconut milk before making this (I know it will be tough to wait- hang in there!)

But seriously. Creamy, thick & chocolatey smoothie w/ a coconut flair, topped with plump goji berries, cacao nibs, coconut, and drowned (literally) in a FUDGY chocolate sauce that takes 2 minutes to make. No joke.

It was delicious. And devoured within minutes of it being made.

Chocolate Coconut Smoothie Bowl

Serves 1

For the smoothie-

1 frozen banana

1 TBS cacao powder (use more if you want a darker chocolate flavor)

2 TBS oats

2 coconut cream ice cubes (read below)

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla coconut milk 

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

For the chocolate sauce-

1/2 TBS cacao powder 

1/2 tsp. coconut oil

1/2 tsp-1 tsp. honey (depending on sweetness)

2 TBS milk to mix

Blend the smoothie ingredients together until thick & creamy and stick in the freezer to keep chill. 

Melt the chocolate sauce ingredients in the microwave for 15 seconds. Add milk to make pourable. If it is too thin, add more cacao powder or honey, if too thick keep adding milk slowly, 1 tsp. at a time. Heat back in the microwave for 15 seconds to melt the lumps (if any). Chill while preparing toppings.

Top the smoothie bowl with goji berries, coconut shreds, & cacao nibs. Drizzle chocolate sauce over it all & dig in!

Note* Make sure to take a picture before pouring the chocolate as I soon learned chocolate may not always look as good as it tastes. 

Now for the coconut ice cubes....

All it is is a can of coconut milk (full fat or light doesn't matter- full fat for a creamier smoothie but I used light). 

Pour into an ice tray, about 2 TBS in each, and freezer over night or at least 3-4 hours. Pop them out and store in a bag in the freezer.