12 Mind-Blowing, Muscle-Building Protein Shakes

April 25, 2011/Health and Fitness/Leave a response

From Bodybuilding.com
By: Aubrie Richeson

Each of these easy-to-make elixirs contains 25 to 50 grams of high-quality protein, for starters. It only gets better from there...

Mixing up a protein shake is a chemistry experiment. A little of this, a little of that, a scoop of this, and then BLEND. (Imagine whirring noise here.) Once the OFF switch is pressed, the results of the experiment are at hand.

If the ingredients represent a perfect blend, if they were entered in the correct amounts, drinking won't stop until the shake is gone. If you take a sip and then stop to assess it, something went wrong, something's amiss. Palatable? Maybe. Perfect? Alas, no.

Here at Bodybuilding.com, we don't need no stinkin' experiments when it comes to protein shakes. So when the staff asked me, a Team Bodybuilding.com member, for my best protein shake recipes, I was happy to oblige. After all, I'm something of a master mixologist when it comes to turning protein powder into liquid magic. Here, then, are my best muscle-building, mind-blowingly-yummy-tasting shake recipes.

Team Bodybuilding.com member Aubrie Richeson will rope you in ... with her mad blender skills.

We, in turn, are happy to share them with you. You're welcome!

1. Coconut Twisted Julius
    * 1 cup unsweetened Coconut Milk * 2 scoops Vanilla Protein * 2 tbsp Orange Juice Concentrate * 1/2 frozen Banana
2. Muscular Mango
  • 1 cup sugar-free Apple Juice
  • 1/2 cup 0% Greek Yogurt
  • 1 tbsp Orange Juice Concentrate
  • 1/2 cup frozen Mango
  • 1/2 cup frozen Pineapple
  • 2 scoops Vanilla Protein
3. Almond Joy
  • 1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk
  • 2 scoops Chocolate Protein
  • 2 tbsp Almond Butter
  • 2 tbsp Dark Chocolate Chips
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded Coconut
4. Caramel Coffee
  • 1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk
  • 2 scoops Chocolate Protein
  • 1 tsp instant Coffee
  • 1 tsp sugar-free Caramel Creamer
5. The Fuzzy Protein
  • 1/2 cup frozen Peaches
  • 1 cup water or sugar-free Apple Juice
  • 1/2 cup 0% Greek Yogurt
  • 2 scoops Vanilla Protein
6. Dark Chocolate Banana
  • 1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk
  • 2 scoops Chocolate Protein
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp Dark Chocolate Chips
  • 1/2 frozen Banana
7. Cheesecake Protein
  • 1 cup water or unsweetened Almond Milk
  • 1 oz fat-free Cream Cheese
  • 2 scoops Vanilla Protein
  • 1/4 cup crushed Graham Crackers
8. The "Rich"
  • 2 scoops Chocolate Protein
  • 10 Ice Cubes
  • 12 oz fat free Milk
  • 2 tbsp fat free Vanilla Yogurt
  • 1 tbsp natural Peanut Butter
  • 2 tbsp Hazelnut Coffee
  • 1/8 cup Caramel Ice Cream Topping
9. Chocolate Peanut Butter
  • 2 scoops Chocolate Protein
  • 2 tbsp Whipping Cream (heavy cream, not cream out of a can)
  • 1 tbsp Peanut Butter
  • 12 oz Water
  • 1 tbsp Flax Meal
  • 4-6 Ice Cubes
10. Fibrous Fruit
  • 1 cup nonfat Milk or Apple Juice
  • 1/2 fresh Banana
  • 3-4 fresh or frozen Strawberries or 1/3 cup Blueberries or Peaches
  • 1 tsp Wheat Germ or Bran
  • 1-3 tbsp Protein Powder made from Milk and Egg
  • A few Ice Cubes if fruit isn't frozen
11. Snickers Mocha
  • 1 scoop Protein Powder
  • 1/2 cup cold Coffee
  • 1/2 cup skim or unsweetened Almond Milk
  • 1 tsp drops of sugar-free Caramel Creamer
  • 1/4-1/2 packet of sugar-free Chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfast
  • 3 Ice Cubes
  • 1 tsp Butternut flavoring extract
12. Sweet Strawberry
  • 2-3 scoops Vanilla Protein
  • 8 fluid oz Water
  • 1 fat-free Strawberry Yogurt or Greek Yogurt
  • 1/2 cup frozen Strawberries
  • 1 tsp Flaxseed Oil
A final note on these recipes:

You can change them to fit your calorie needs! Some of these recipes have more carbs than others, some have higher fat, and some are great for cutting.

So if you're currently leaning out, you may want to switch out any almond or coconut milk for water.

If you're lactose intolerant, omit dairy products. Get creative and don't let boredom take you shopping down the baked goods aisle when hunger calls!