(Non-fat) Chocolate Cherry Pie Milkshakes

I have spent most of my summer making healthy breakfast smoothies. Almond milk, protein powder, a frozen banana and ocassionally, a teaspoonful of chia seeds. Don’t get me wrong, they are delicious, energizing and the perfect post-workout refreshment (or an I-skipped-the-gym-today, but-still-like-to-feel-refreshed beverage).

Yesterday, I came across a can of cherry pie filling in my cabinet and got to thinking. I didn’t feel like heating up the house by baking a heavy dessert, and while the thought of eating it with a spoon crossed my mind, I decided to go a more sophisticated route.

This sweet and satisfying treat is surprisingly low in calories and virtually fat-free (other than a negligible amount from the grahams and chocolate chips). It’s perfect for summertime entertaining…or in place of your breakfast smoothie…because that’s when I first tested this out.

There’s smooth chocolate, rich cherry filling, creamy ice cream, fluffy whipped cream and even a graham cracker component to mirror the crust. It’s black forest cake meets cherry pie and falls in love as a milkshake.

Ingredients:

Makes about 4 shakes

1 1/2 cups cherry pie filling

1/2 cup non-fat chocolate ice cream

2 cups unsweetened chocolate almond milk

4 or 5 ice cubes

2 sheets low-fat graham crackers

1 tablespoon semisweet chocolate chips

Whipped cream for garnish

Instructions:

Blend together almond milk, ice cream, pie filling, ice cubes, one sheet of graham crackers (4 individual pieces) and chocolate chips.