~ The classic combination of bananas and peanut butter, plus the nutrition of Greek yogurt and the sweetness of maple syrup. Delicious enough for dessert! ~
This Recipe Is: • Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Vegetarian • Gluten Free •
So, you know how sometimes the very, very best stuff in life happens right after you’ve somehow managed to completely mess everything up?
Uh-huh. Well, we for sure know about that!
Because this (good-enough-to-be-called-dessert) smoothie was the product of a miserable, epic kitchen fail. Epic!
True story.
Remember the Peanut Butter Silk Pie Dip we posted last October? Outrageously good! Loaded with healthy, high-protein ingredients that pair beautifully with crunchy, nutritious apples and still manage to make you feel like you just indulged in a naughty dessert! Yeah – you remember …
And remember how we told you with that dip recipe that it was really, critically important that you mix the Greek yogurt and peanut butter together before adding the maple syrup and vanilla?
Uh-huh.
Well, we learned that handy lesson after utterly ruining two big batches of peanut butter dip. Not awesome.
We stood in Gretchen’s kitchen, staring dejectedly at two delicious yet completely unattractive, gloppy, goopy bowls of recipe-testing-gone-awry failure. (This is the part where Shelley gets just a wee bit grouchy … we won’t go there …)
But then … abject failure gave way to brilliant innovation!
Then … we KNEW! It was so completely clear!
This catastrophe was nothing a good blender (and a banana!) couldn’t fix! (Hurray for the marvels of modern appliances!)
And so, we pulled up our sad, ruined-dip boostraps and happily began slurping mini test batches of peanut butter banana smoothies. And they were sooooo good! Way, way beyond good, actually!
(Added bonus for us as budget-conscious mommies … we didn’t have to throw out gloppy, goopy, ruined dip! Nope, nope … it sure wasn’t ruined anymore!)
And thus was born … our Elvis.
We call it this, of course, because (according to popular legend), peanut butter and banana sandwiches were the favorite late-night nosh of The King. We’ve seen some reports that his sandwiches also included bacon or had to be fried in bacon grease, and some so-called “Elvis” recipes do, in fact, include bacon along with the peanut butter and banana.
But you know what? Don’t do it. Not in this recipe, anyway.
Trust us.
You know we tirelessly test and retest (and retest yet again …) every recipe we post, so you can bet we tried a bit of bacon. We’re here for you that way. (Plus, we just had to know!)
And as much as we love us some bacon every now and then … well … just really don’t do that, m’kay?
Instead, stick with this tried-and true, the-kids-beg-for-this-one-all-the-time smoothie recipe.
A healthy, fruit-filled, protein-loaded smoothie that tastes like a decadent treat.
If only all failures tasted this good!
Psssssst … and if you’re on the lookout for other delicious smoothie ideas, too, don’t miss our unique Tropical “Creamsicle” Pineapple Orange Smoothie and our Classic Strawberry Banana Smoothie. Happy slurping!!
"The Elvis" Peanut Butter-Banana Smoothie
The classic combination of bananas and peanut butter, plus the nutrition of Greek yogurt and the sweetness of maple syrup. So delicious!
• Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Vegetarian • Gluten Free •
Ingredients
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 2/3 cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/2 banana
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup natural, creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Put all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth, scraping down sides if needed.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 servings Serving Size: 1/2 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 139Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 63mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 1gSugar: 15gProtein: 5g
Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.
This smoothie I bet tastes fantastic! Peanut butter and banana are one of my FAV flavor combos ever! I love when recipe fails turn out sooo right! Can’t wait to try this one out for a breakfast or post workout boost! Love it!
It’s perfect for that post workout snack! And I don’t know about you, but I’m usually starving after my run, so I need something quick! This whips up so fast! In no time you’ll have a super healthy, crazy delicious, after workout snack!
And yes, Shelley and I were getting a little concerned when the dip wasn’t working out so well … but we knew it had a purpose. It tasted sooo good! ~Gretchen
Husband and I both loved the smoothie:) We have tried so many recipes from this site and all have been a hit! Thanks ladies!
Yay Melissa!! Thanks for the great feedback! We love that you’ve been trying out the recipes – and it sounds like you’ve had some success! So happy you and the hubby enjoyed this smoothie – it’s been popular at our houses, too! Keep us posted on any other recipes were a hit at your house! Thanks again for taking time to leave us a comment! 😀 ~G&S
You girls crack me up. You’re too funny! I’ve been making a drink like this that I found on Detoxintista.com (minus the yogurt) and she also adds cocoa powder. I love love love it so I know you girls are on to something very good here. I’ll have to try it now with the yogurt.
Hi Mireya! Sounds like you’ve got a new favorite smoothie! We love how totally simple it is to throw together, but has such a delicious flavor! We can’t help but slurp the bottom of the glass to get every last drop! Mmmmm … with cocoa powder … 😀 ~G&S
I have been making this kind of smoothie all spring and loving it; mine is vegan, though, with soy milk and coconut milk. I have been thinking it would be great with a splash of chocolate, so I will surely try that soon, since I just got some cocoa powder. Thanks for that point, Mireya.
Best,
D
Oh! I bet that the coconut milk adds a really great flavor! I may just need to try that – I’ve got some coconut milk on hand and could quickly whip up a smoothie for an afternoon snack! YUM!! 🙂 ~Gretchen
Isn’t amazing that failure can turn into success? My husband will be a big fan of this smoothie.
Have a great week 😀
Oh Juliana! You’ll have to let us know what your husband thinks! But we’ve gotta ask … will he like it because it’s peanut butter and banana, or just because it’s called The Elvis?? 😀 ~G&S
“Failures” sometimes make for the best recipes and creations to come out of the kitchen! I also think they encourage more great ideas! I love the name of this! PB and banana is my favourite combo on the planet. Nothing better to me!
We were really concerned when it wasn’t working out right … but it sure did taste good! We just knew it had a purpose! 🙂 We weren’t willing to give up on it! It’s so yummy, and so easy … you just can’t go wrong with Elvis! 🙂 ~G&S