by Sandra Ximen (’26) | March 22, 2024

From guacamole to the popular avocado toast, avocado is a beloved ingredient in cuisines all over the world. With its light flavor and creamy texture, it’s no wonder that the avocado has become a world-wide phenomenon. But what if I told you that your favorite fruit has snuck itself into some of your favorite desserts? Pudding, smoothies, cake, mousse, you name it; foodies have most definitely tried to avo-fy it.

Well, technically, using avocado in sweets is not so far-fetched. In scientific terms, because they have pits, avocados are actually classified as berries. Moreover, many Asian countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam have long established avocado as a delectable dessert. For a quick and easy recipe, simply mash up an avocado, drizzle on some condensed milk, and enjoy! 

So, let’s give avocado desserts a try. With summer fast approaching, I have prepared a cool and refreshing, yet luscious and chocolatey, smoothie recipe for you all to enjoy. This recipe requires hardly any time or effort, so please do yourself a favor and try it out! 

Ingredients:

1 cup of milk (swap for almond, coconut, oat, or another plant based milk for a vegan alternative)

1 large avocado pitted and sliced 

2 tablespoons of honey (other alternative sweeteners include sugar, coconut sugar, or 4-6 soft dates)

2 tablespoons of cocoa powder

½ large banana

a pinch of salt

Additional toppings:

Chocolate chips

Melted chocolate

Granola

Nut butter (typically almond butter)

1 scoop of protein powder

Caramel glaze

Berries (fresh or frozen, both work!)

Instructions:

1. Add the milk, avocado, sweetener, cocoa powder, banana, and salt into a blender.
2. Blend until smooth, frothy, and fully mixed.
3. Adjust flavor as needed with additional sweetener or cocoa powder for more chocolate flavor; adjust thickness with more milk or avocado.
4. Pour into a glass, top with additional toppings (melted chocolate is my go-to) and enjoy!

Here are some additional tips:

1. If using dates, add them to the blender first, as they take longer to break down. 
2. Flaky sea salt and caramel glaze is the perfect topping combination, trust me!
3. Top-secret tip: the more chocolate, the better.
4. For prepping a special breakfast: simply make the smoothie the night before, pour melted chocolate on top, and refrigerate. In the morning, crack the hardened chocolate layer to reveal the smoothie. 

If you’re worried about the avocado taste coming through, fear not. The subtle, nutty flavor of the avocado only serves as a unique addition. Thus, this healthy and nutrient-filled alternative to the traditional chocolate smoothie is a must-try!