Frozen cherries, dark cacao powder, almond milk, and banana. Dessert for breakfast. Zero guilt.
Mix cacao powder with 2 tbsp warm almond milk until a thick paste forms. This dissolves the powder completely and prevents grainy texture. Cacao blooming in liquid makes it taste richer and more chocolatey.
Add frozen cherries, banana, remaining almond milk, and the cacao paste to blender. Blend high 60 seconds. The frozen cherries keep it thick. Add maple syrup and vanilla and blend 10 more seconds.
Pour into a dark mug or glass. Top with cacao nibs for crunch, a single fresh cherry with stem, and a dusting of cacao powder. This smoothie should look like liquid chocolate. Because it essentially is.
The full ingredient list for one batch. Adjust to taste — every fruit has different sweetness levels depending on ripeness. Always taste before adding sweetener.