Smoothies - A Couple Cooks https://www.acouplecooks.com/category/recipes/drink-recipes/smoothies/ Recipes worth repeating. Tue, 31 Oct 2023 16:42:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.2 https://www.acouplecooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Smoothies - A Couple Cooks https://www.acouplecooks.com/category/recipes/drink-recipes/smoothies/ 32 32 Zucchini Smoothie https://www.acouplecooks.com/zucchini-smoothie/ https://www.acouplecooks.com/zucchini-smoothie/#comments Mon, 25 Sep 2023 15:02:00 +0000 https://www.acouplecooks.com/?p=148880 This zucchini smoothie is fruity, creamy, and loaded with this versatile veggie! Whiz it up it two ways: green or…

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
This zucchini smoothie is fruity, creamy, and loaded with this versatile veggie! Whiz it up it two ways: green or chocolate.

Zucchini Smoothie

Got zucchini? Here’s a fun way to use it: whiz it into a smoothie! This versatile vegetable loads fiber into any blended drink. This one comes out fruity and creamy, and you can make it two ways: green or chocolate! (The chocolate variation is our favorite, but who’s counting.) You can also use either frozen zucchini or room temperature if you want to whip it up right away. Here are all the variations!

Ingredients in this zucchini smoothie

This zucchini smoothie is a fun way to use up this green vegetable, if you’re not in the mood for baking up zucchini bread or muffins. It replies on bananas and peanut butter as the base, lightly sweetened with a hint of maple syrup and made creamy with your milk of choice. Our son tried this and couldn’t stop sipping it! (Of course, it was the chocolate variation.) Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Frozen zucchini: Zucchini acts as the ice here. You’ll need just 2 hours to freeze it (use room temperature zucchini and frozen banana instead).
  • Banana: Room temperature banana is all you need: no need to freeze it! It’s essential for the creamy texture of the smoothie.
  • Spinach: This ingredient is just for the green variation: it adds a nice green color to the smoothie (but you can use in the chocolate variation as well).
  • Milk: Use your favorite milk here, dairy or non-dairy both work, making it a vegan smoothie. You can also use a combination of Greek yogurt and milk to heighten the protein (see below).
  • Peanut butter: Peanut butter adds a bit of protein and a nuance to the flavor; add more as desired.
  • Maple syrup: Pure maple syrup is our sweetener of choice, but you can use honey or agave syrup as other options.
  • Vanilla extract and cinnamon: These bring just the right flavor hints, like your favorite zucchini bread.
Zucchini Smoothie

Chocolate variation

Want to make a chocolate zucchini smoothie? Simply add cocoa powder to the list of ingredients above. You’ll likely want a touch more maple syrup to sweeten the smoothie and make it taste chocolaty.

It’s preferable to not use spinach in this variation as it brings a tinge of green to the brown color of the chocolate. However, the cocoa powder is so dark you likely won’t notice so you can throw it in if desired. (Our 6 year old didn’t mind one bit.)

Zucchini smoothie

How to freeze zucchini

You’ll need to freeze the zucchini for this smoothie at least 2 hours in advance.Here’s how to do it:

  • Slice the zucchini into thin half moon shapes. Place on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze for at least 2 hours.
  • If freezing for longer, remove the zucchini from the freezer after 1 hour and transfer to a sealed container for storage.
  • If you’d rather eat the smoothie right away, use room temperature zucchini and frozen bananas!
Zucchini Smoothie

Ways to add more protein

This zucchini smoothie doesn’t have lots of protein on its own, unless you use dairy milk (which has 8 grams protein per 1 cup). If desired, you can add more protein to make it even more filling! Here are a few options with dairy and plant-based protein:

  • Stir in Greek yogurt. Use ½ cup Greek yogurt and ½ cup milk for a significant dose of protein (Full fat Greek yogurt has about 10 grams protein in ½ cup).
  • Chia seeds. You can add plant-based protein and fiber with chia seeds: 2 tablespoons chia seeds adds 4 grams protein and 11 grams fiber.
  • Vanilla protein powder: We use this protein powder that has natural ingredients and a flavor that’s not too artificial. Just remember to reduce the maple syrup because protein powder adds sweetness.

More variations and mix-in ideas

Want a few different mix-ins for this zucchini smoothie? Try these flavors:

  • Use almond butter or cashew butter. Any nut butter works here! You can also add more nut butter to taste.
  • Swap in other frozen fruit. We recommend using at least one banana, but you can use another 1 cup frozen pineapple or mango instead of the second banana.
  • Throw in coconut. Throw in a handful of coconut (or toasted coconut) for a tropical vibe.
  • Sweeten with Medjool dates instead. You can use Medjool dates to sweeten if desired: start with 2 large dates and add more to taste.
Zucchini Smoothie

More smoothie recipes

You can mix up an entire rainbow of smoothies with your blender! Here are a few more fruit and vegetable smoothies we love:

This zucchini smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Print
Zucchini Smoothie

Zucchini Smoothie


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small smoothies

Description

This zucchini smoothie is fruity, creamy, and loaded with this versatile veggie! Whiz it up it two ways: green or chocolate.


Ingredients

  • 2 cups sliced frozen* zucchini (about 1 medium zucchini)
  • 2 medium ripe bananas (room temperature*)
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup milk of choice (dairy or non-dairy)
  • 1 handful baby or chopped spinach (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or honey or agave syrup), plus more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon peanut butter
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • Chocolate variation: 2 tablespoons cocoa powder and more maple syrup to taste (omit spinach if desired)

Instructions

  1. Slice the zucchini into thin half moon shapes. Place on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze for at least 2 hours.* If freezing for longer, remove the zucchini from the freezer after 1 hour and transfer to a sealed container for storage.
  2. Place all ingredients in a blender in the order listed. Blend until creamy and frothy, stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary, and adding a bit more liquid if necessary (start with ½ cup milk and add more as needed).
  3. Taste and if necessary, add another drizzle of maple syrup depending on the ripeness of the bananas. Serve immediately or store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 1 day.

Notes

*If you prefer, you can use room temperature zucchini and frozen bananas.

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blender
  • Cuisine: Drink
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Zucchini smoothie, zucchini smoothie recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
https://www.acouplecooks.com/zucchini-smoothie/feed/ 1
Lemon Smoothie https://www.acouplecooks.com/lemon-smoothie/ https://www.acouplecooks.com/lemon-smoothie/#comments Sat, 16 Sep 2023 20:34:00 +0000 https://www.acouplecooks.com/?p=146144 This lemon smoothie recipe is bright and creamy! Whiz it up in a blender for a refreshing, nourishing drink. Craving…

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
This lemon smoothie recipe is bright and creamy! Whiz it up in a blender for a refreshing, nourishing drink.

Lemon Smoothie

Craving the refreshing, zingy flavor of lemon? Try this easy lemon smoothie recipe! This frosty, pale yellow puree holds a secret: a super citrusy, sweet tart flavor owed to a load of lemon zest and juice. Whiz it up with frozen fruit and milk in a blender, and it’s one of the tastiest, most satisfying smoothies around! Here are a few tips to this fun lemon drink.

Ingredients in this lemon smoothie

Lemon is a unique flavor for a smoothie recipe: it’s more common to see berry flavors like a strawberry smoothie or bright green smoothies. But a lemon smoothie is a fun and refreshingly healthy way to enjoy fresh fruit! There’s no juice or loads of extra sugar: it’s lightly sweetened with a hint of maple syrup and made creamy with your milk of choice. Here are a few notes on the ingredients you need:

  • Lemon juice and zest: The best flavor in a lemon smoothie is from real lemon! You’ll use the zest from an entire lemon here, plus two tablespoons of the fresh juice (no substitutes).
  • Frozen pineapple: Frozen pineapple is essential for the frosty texture and it adds a nice yellow color.
  • Banana: Room temperature banana is all you need: no need to freeze it! It’s also essential for the creamy texture of the smoothie. (Alternatively, you could use fresh pineapple and frozen banana.)
  • Milk: You’ll need liquid for it to blend! Use your favorite milk here, dairy or non-dairy both work, making it a vegan smoothie option.
  • Maple syrup: Just 1 teaspoon maple syrup heightens the flavors and gives it the best, sweet tart flavor.
Lemon smoothie

Use turmeric for color

Turmeric is a a root used in cooking, part of the ginger family. It is most often used dried and ground into a yellow powder, which has an earthy, almost mustard-like flavor. But more than flavor, turmeric is also often used for color in recipes: in fact, it’s what gives yellow mustard its bright yellow color!

You can use turmeric here to make an even brighter lemon flavor! It won’t be noticeable flavor-wise.

Ways to add more protein

This lemon smoothie isn’t protein packed, unless you use dairy milk (which has 8 grams protein in 1 cup). If you’d like, you can add even more protein: whether it’s dairy-based or a vegan smoothie. Here are some ideas:

  • Stir in Greek yogurt. Use ½ cup Greek yogurt and ½ cup milk for a significant dose of protein.
  • Chia seeds. You can add plant-based protein and fiber with chia seeds: 2 tablespoons chia seeds adds 4 grams protein and 11 grams fiber.
  • Vanilla protein powder: Protein powder works well too! We use this protein powder that has natural ingredients and a flavor that’s not too artificial. Just remember to dial back the maple syrup or honey, because protein powder adds sweetness.
Lemon Smoothie

Variations on this lemon smoothie

Want to change up this lemon smoothie with mix-ins instead? There are a few additions that go well with the tropical flavors here! Here’s what we’d recommend trying:

  • Add cashew butter. A way to add plant-based protein is nut butter; we recommend the flavor of cashews here to compliment the lemon. Keep in mind this can also dampen the flavor of the smoothie.
  • Swap in frozen mango or peaches. Swap out a cup of the frozen pineapple for frozen fruit of another variety.
  • Throw in coconut. Throw in a handful of coconut (or toasted coconut) for a tropical vibe.
  • Add a handful of fresh mint or basil. Lemon mint and lemon basil are two tasty flavor combinations.

More smoothie recipes

This lemon smoothie is one of our favorite new smoothie recipes! Here are a few more we love:

This lemon smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Print
Lemon Smoothie

Lemon Smoothie


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 large or 2 small

Description

This lemon smoothie recipe is bright and creamy! Whiz it up in a blender for a refreshing, nourishing drink.


Ingredients

  • Zest of 1 lemon, plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 cup milk of choice (or ½ cup Greek yogurt and ½ cup milk)
  • 2 cups frozen pineapple 
  • 1 banana (room temperature, broken into chunks)
  • 6 ice ice cubes
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
  • 1/8 to 1/4 tsp turmeric (optional, for color)

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender in the order listed. Blend until creamy and frothy, stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary, and adding a bit more liquid if necessary.
  2. Taste and if necessary, add another drizzle of maple syrup depending on the ripeness of your pineapple (you likely will not need it). Serve immediately or store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 1 day.
  • Category: Smoothie
  • Method: Blender
  • Cuisine: Drink
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Lemon smoothie

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
https://www.acouplecooks.com/lemon-smoothie/feed/ 1
Mango Smoothie https://www.acouplecooks.com/mango-smoothie/ https://www.acouplecooks.com/mango-smoothie/#comments Mon, 15 May 2023 22:48:00 +0000 https://www.acouplecooks.com/?p=69526 Here’s how to make the best mango smoothie: it’s got the perfect sweet flavor and creamy texture! We dare you…

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
Here’s how to make the best mango smoothie: it’s got the perfect sweet flavor and creamy texture! We dare you not to take another sip.

Mango smoothie

No, we’re not using hyperbole. This really is the perfect mango smoothie. In fact, it tastes more like mango ice cream than a healthy drink! This bright yellow puree has the best sweet flavor and the creamiest icy texture. It’s become a bit of a legend in our household. We adore our sweet strawberry banana smoothie and rich vanilla protein smoothie, but the mango smoothie…this one is the ultimate treat. Here are all our secrets!

Why it’s the best mango smoothie

Some mango smoothies are just good: but this one is great. What makes it so special?

  • It’s got pure, sweet flavor. It’s perfectly mango-forward.
  • It’s got a silky smooth, creamy texture. Just the right thickness for sipping!
  • It’s full of healthy ingredients. There’s no added sweetener: just fruit.
  • It’s easily plant based. It calls for just ½ cup of milk, which can be non-dairy milk of your choosing!
Mango smoothie

Ingredients in this mango smoothie

This healthy mango smoothie has only a handful of ingredients and is mostly fruit! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Frozen mango: Frozen mango is easy to find at your local grocery and easy to store in the freezer for whenever a craving strikes. This is typically what we’ll use for a mango smoothie. You also can use fresh mango if you have it on hand, but in that case we recommend using a frozen banana to maintain the frosty texture.
  • Banana: The banana helps with texture and to accentuate the sweetness.
  • Water & Milk: You’ll need liquid to blend and creaminess helps, so we’ve used a combination of water and milk together. You can use any type of dairy or non-dairy milk.
  • Ice: Ice makes the perfect frothy texture.
  • Fresh lemon juice: Lemon juice is the key to brightening the flavors: it’s like the salt of sweet foods!

Love mangos? Try all our Easy Mango Recipes, like Mango Salad, Mango Salsa, Easy Mango Sorbet and more.

How to make a mango smoothie

How to make it plant based / vegan!

You can make this mango smoothie plant-based or vegan by using your favorite non-dairy milk instead of dairy milk. Here’s a run-down:

  • Oat milk: The flavor is sweet and it has a nice creamy texture.
  • Almond milk: This type of milk is a little closer to water in its texture, but it’s popular and easy to find.
  • Coconut milk: Coconut milk if very thick and adds a strong coconut flavor (it would be delicious here!).
  • Soy milk: This type of milk has a nice sweet flavor and thick texture.

Mix ins and variations

This mango smoothie is perfect as is (in our minds, at least!). But if you want to add a little pizzazz: here are some options!

  • Stir in Greek yogurt. Want to add a hit of protein? Add ¼ to ½ cup Greek yogurt in place of the milk. You may need a splash more water to get it to blend.
  • Add cashew butter. A way to add plant-based protein is nut butter; we recommend the flavor of cashews here to compliment the mango. Keep in mind this can also dampen the flavor of the smoothie.
  • Swap in frozen pineapple or peaches. Swap out a cup of the frozen mango for frozen fruit of another variety.
  • Throw in coconut. Throw in a handful of coconut (or toasted coconut) for a more tropical vibe.
  • Go big on banana. Go with two bananas or opt for a Mango Banana Smoothie instead.

Smoothie storage

Smoothies are best eaten immediately. But this mango smoothie actually lasts 1 to 2 days refrigerated! Store it in a sealed container or a mason jar with the lid on. It may separate, which is perfectly natural. Just shake it up and you’re good to go! It’s nice to make this smoothie in advance so you can have breakfast or a snack on demand.

Mango smoothie

This mango smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based and dairy-free, use non-dairy milk.

Print
Mango smoothie

Perfect Mango Smoothie


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 smoothies

Description

Here’s how to make the best mango smoothie: it’s got the perfect sweet flavor and creamy texture! We dare you not to take another sip.


Ingredients

  • 3 cups frozen mango (or fresh)
  • 1/2 banana (room temperature, broken into chunks)
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup milk (or non-dairy milk like oat milk or almond milk)*
  • 5 ice cubes
  • 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients to a blender, adding the liquids first, except for 2 cups frozen mango. Blend until smooth.
  2. Add the 2 cups frozen mango and blend again until smooth, adding a splash of additional water or milk to get it to blend if necessary. 

Notes

*To amp the protein, use ¼ to ½ cup Greek yogurt instead of milk. If necessary, add a few more splashes of water until the smoothie blends.

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Smoothie
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Mango Smoothie, How to make a mango smoothie, Best Mango Smoothie

More smoothie recipes

Here are a few of our favorite smoothie recipes:

Another healthy drink? Try our homemade kombucha!

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
https://www.acouplecooks.com/mango-smoothie/feed/ 14
Green Detox Smoothie https://www.acouplecooks.com/detox-smoothie/ https://www.acouplecooks.com/detox-smoothie/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2023 14:30:00 +0000 https://www.acouplecooks.com/?p=139291 This detox smoothie is a tasty way to infuse fruits and veggies into your day! The sweet tart green puree…

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
This detox smoothie is a tasty way to infuse fruits and veggies into your day! The sweet tart green puree is full of good-for-you ingredients.

Detox smoothie

Looking to drink your daily fruits and veggies? Try this Detox Smoothie, chock full of all natural, fresh ingredients! This green puree is 100% fruits and vegetables: no weird powders or supplements (and no detox diets). It’s perfect for when you want to infuse your body with good-for-you ingredients: and bonus: it tastes amazing too. The burst of tangy, sweet tart flavor made us instant fans. It quickly jumped to the top of our favorite smoothies list (even our green-veggie averse son loved it).

What is a detox smoothie?

This Detox Smoothie is not related to a detox diet: nor do we recommend them! A detox is a short term period of fasting followed by a period of eating fruits and vegetables. However, there’s not evidence that these types of cleanses and detoxes provide any tangible benefits, and often they can cause harm (per Healthline).

Instead, here we’ve defined a Detox Smoothie as a smoothie that’s made of 100% vegetables and fruits! This way, you can easily infuse good-for-you ingredients into your lifestyle (and it tastes great). There are no supplements, powders, or other substances required: just nourishing whole foods!

Detox smoothie

Ingredients in this detox smoothie

What’s in this detox smoothie? This recipe quickly jumped to the top of our favorites list because of the burst of tangy, sweet tart flavor with simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to whiz together in a blender:

  • Apple
  • Banana
  • Spinach
  • Water and ice
  • Frozen pineapple
  • Fresh ginger (optional)
  • Chia seeds
  • Lemon juice
Detox smoothie

Tips for working with ginger

Fresh ginger root might not be a mainstay in your refrigerator, but it adds a big punch of flavor to this detox smoothie! While it’s optional, we highly recommend using it here. Pick up some in the produce section of your grocery (and use the rest for these ginger recipes!). It can be tricky to peel, so we’ve got some tips for you:

  • Peel with a spoon! This works much better than a vegetable peeler! Use the edge of a spoon to peel off the skin of the ginger.
  • Grate it: Then use a grater or microplane to grate the ginger into a pulp.
  • Or mince it: If you don’t have a grater, use a large chef’s knife to slice thin slices in one direction, then chop in the other direction until the ginger is minced into small pieces.

Chia seed nutrition

The only other ingredient you might not already have on hand for this detox smoothie is chia seeds! Why add chia seeds here? The smoothie doesn’t have any dairy or natural source of protein, so we decided to add a bit of chia seeds for a protein and fiber boost. Here’s what these little seeds have to offer (source: Healthline):

  • Chia seeds are very high in fiber. 2 tablespoons of chia seeds have 11 grams of fiber, a whopping 44% of your daily need!
  • Chia seeds are high in protein. 2 tablespoons have 4 grams protein or about 8% of your daily need.
  • Chia seeds are high in antioxidants. Researchers agree that this is a good thing: read more about it here.
Detox smoothie

Detox smoothie storage

Can you make this smoothie in advance? Yes! This detox smoothie is best after 1 day in the refrigerator, so you can blend it up and enjoy later. You can get by with a 2 day storage time, just make sure to shake it before serving as it may separate naturally when refrigerated.

More green smoothie recipes

Some of our favorite detox smoothies are green smoothies that focus on natural, whole foods. Here are a few more similar smoothie recipes to try:

This detox smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Print
Detox smoothie

Green Detox Smoothie


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small smoothies or 1 large

Description

This detox smoothie is a tasty way to infuse fruits and veggies into your day! The sweet tart green puree is full of good-for-you ingredients.


Ingredients

  • 1 small apple
  • 1 banana, room temperature
  • 2 cups spinach
  • ¾ cup water
  • 4 ice cubes
  • 1 ½ cups frozen pineapple
  • ½ teaspoon peeled and grated ginger (from fresh ginger root), optional
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons* chia seeds
  • 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Chop the apple, leaving the skin on. Break the banana into pieces and place them both in the blender. Add the spinach and water and blend until smooth. Add the ice, frozen pineapple, ginger, chia seeds, and lemon juice. Blend again until smooth.
  2. Serve immediately or store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 2 days, shaking if the smoothie separates.

Notes

*We like this recipe with 1 tablespoon chia seeds, but you can add up to 2 tablespoons chia seeds for more protein and fiber. 2 tablespoons of chia seeds have 11 grams of fiber (44% of your daily need) and 4 grams protein (8% of your daily need).

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Drink
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Detox smoothie

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
https://www.acouplecooks.com/detox-smoothie/feed/ 5
Kefir Smoothie https://www.acouplecooks.com/kefir-smoothie/ https://www.acouplecooks.com/kefir-smoothie/#comments Fri, 28 Oct 2022 17:34:00 +0000 https://www.acouplecooks.com/?p=138473 This kefir smoothie is tangy, creamy and lightly sweet: the perfect way to use this fermented dairy beverage! Looking for…

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
This kefir smoothie is tangy, creamy and lightly sweet: the perfect way to use this fermented dairy beverage!

Kefir Smoothie

Looking for ways to use kefir? Try this Kefir Smoothie! This tangy drink is a great way to get all the benefits in kefir while enjoying a fruity beverage. Blend it up with strawberries, banana and pineapple, and it makes a sweetly sippable puree. Or, substitute any frozen fruit you like, like blueberries, peaches or mango. The sky’s the limit! Here’s how to use kefir in a smoothie.

Benefits of kefir

Kefir is a drink made from fermented milk. It’s similar to Greek yogurt with its tangy flavor, but it has a thinner, drinkable consistency. Here are a few of the potential benefits of kefir (source):

  • It has 30 species of probiotics, bacteria that improve gut health and may aid in digestion.
  • It is high in protein. 1 cup of kefir has 7 grams of protein, or 14% of the daily value.
  • It may have heart health and cholesterol lowering benefits. Read more here.
Kefir Smoothie

Ingredients in a kefir smoothie

Kefir is ideal to add to a smoothie, since you get all the benefits of this probiotic-rich drink while sipping on a fruity smoothie. Using kefir you won’t need to add other liquid like milk or juice, in contrast to our yogurt smoothies which need liquid for blending. Here’s what you’ll need for a kefir smoothie:

  • Banana: All you need is a room temperature banana: no need to freeze in advance!
  • Frozen strawberries and pineapple: Or, substitute any type of frozen fruit you like!
  • Kefir: A hefty amount of kefir means no need for extra liquid
  • Honey or maple syrup: Sweeten this beverage to your tastes with natural sweetener
  • Ice cubes: Ice cubes round out the frothy texture

Flavor variations

This kefir smoothie is delicious with the strawberry pineapple flavor, but there are so many more fruity flavors to try! Here are a few more ideas for blending up fruity variations:

  • Strawberry mango, strawberry blueberry or strawberry peach
  • Mixed berry
  • Raspberry pineapple, raspberry mango or raspberry peach
  • Blueberry mango, blueberry pineapple, or blueberry peach
  • Mango pineapple, mango coconut
Kefir Smoothie

Smoothie storage

You can blend up this kefir smoothie in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Some smoothie recipes last for a few days, but this kefir smoothie is best eaten immediately or within 1 day for best flavor. If it starts to separate while refrigerated, give it a shake before drinking.

More smoothie recipes

And that’s it! We hope you love this kefir smoothie as much as we do. Here are a few more tasty smoothie recipes you might enjoy:

This kefir smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free.

Print
Kefir Smoothie

Kefir Smoothie


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small or 1 large

Ingredients

  • 1 cup frozen strawberries*
  • 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
  • 1 banana (room temperature)
  • 1 ¼ cup kefir
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup, plus more to taste
  • 6 ice cubes

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender, breaking the banana into pieces. Blend until creamy and frothy, stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary and adding a tablespoon or so of water if necessary.
  2. Taste and adjust the sweetness as desired. Serve immediately or store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 1 day, shaking if the smoothie separates.

Notes

*Or substitute 2 cups total of the frozen fruit of your choice.

  • Category: Smoothie
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Smoothie
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Kefir smoothie

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
https://www.acouplecooks.com/kefir-smoothie/feed/ 3
Tropical Smoothie Recipe https://www.acouplecooks.com/tropical-smoothie-recipe/ https://www.acouplecooks.com/tropical-smoothie-recipe/#comments Sat, 22 Oct 2022 17:58:00 +0000 https://www.acouplecooks.com/?p=138315 This tropical smoothie recipe makes a fruity, creamy puree! Coconut, mango and pineapple come together in perfect harmony. Here’s a…

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
This tropical smoothie recipe makes a fruity, creamy puree! Coconut, mango and pineapple come together in perfect harmony.

Tropical smoothie recipe

Here’s a bright and beautiful smoothie: try this Tropical Smoothie recipe! This bright yellow puree tastes like a bit of sunshine, starring the juicy flavors of mango, pineapple, banana and coconut. It’s simple to blend up and the flavor is just what you need on a gray day: or even better, as a tasty sun-drenched breakfast on the patio. We’re big fans of smoothie recipes and this one has become a favorite in our arsenal (our son can’t get enough of it). Here’s how to blend up this tasty tropical drink!

Ingredients in this tropical smoothie recipe

This tropical smoothie recipe brings together sunny, tropical fruits into an irresistibly creamy puree. Unlike many of our smoothie recipes, this one uses coconut milk as part of the liquid elements to bring in a floral and fruity undertone. Here’s what you’ll need for this smoothie recipe:

  • Ripe banana: room temperature, no need to freeze!
  • Frozen mango
  • Frozen pineapple
  • Canned coconut milk
  • Orange juice (or pineapple juice)
  • Ice

Simply blend the ingredients until creamy! You can adjust flavors to taste: add a handful of coconut flakes for more coconut flavor, or a bit of honey for more sweetness. Pineapple juice adds a nice sweetness if you happen to have it on hand.

Tropical smoothie recipe

Coconut milk and a few substitutes

Coconut milk is a liquid that’s extracted from fresh coconut pulp. Canned coconut milk has a very high fat content, which makes it super creamy and smooth. The 2/3 cup of canned coconut milk in this recipe adds 240 calories and 24 grams fat. If you prefer using a substitute, here are a few ideas:

  • Boxed coconut milk also works. Boxed coconut milk is more diluted than the kind that comes in a can.
  • Or, use oat milk or almond milk and raw coconut. You can also use another non-dairy milk like oat milk and almond milk. Add in a handful of coconut flakes to get that tropical, fruity flavor!
  • Dairy milk also works! It adds protein as well. Make sure to add raw coconut if you’d like a coconut flavor.
Tropical smoothie recipe

Adding protein to this tropical smoothie recipe

Because it doesn’t use dairy-based milk, this tropical smoothie recipe doesn’t have much protein on its own. Protein makes it a more filling drink, suitable for a breakfast or post-workout snack. Here are the best ways to add protein here:

  • Add yogurt or dairy milk. Use a combination of yogurt and milk (or just milk) in place of the coconut milk. Greek yogurt is very high in protein, which is why we use it in many smoothie recipes.
  • Add protein powder. A scoop of vanilla protein powder adds loads of protein and a bit of sweetness.
  • Add chia seeds. You can add plant-based protein and fiber with chia seeds: 2 tablespoons chia seeds add 4 grams protein and 11 grams fiber.

More tropical smoothie recipes

There are lots more smoothie recipes that riff on the flavors of mango, pineapple, banana, and other tropical fruits! Here are a few ideas that you might enjoy:

This tropical smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Print
Tropical smoothie recipe

Tropical Smoothie Recipe


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small smoothies or 1 large

Description

This tropical smoothie recipe makes a fruity, creamy puree! Mango, pineapple and coconut come together in perfect harmony.


Ingredients

  • 1 ripe banana
  • 1 cup frozen mango
  • 1 ½ cups frozen pineapple
  • 2/3 cup canned coconut milk
  • ½ cup orange juice (or pineapple juice, for a sweeter smoothie)
  • 6 ice cubes
  • Coconut flakes, for garnish (or to blend)

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender, breaking the banana into pieces. Blend until creamy and frothy, stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary and adding a splash more coconut milk or juice if necessary.
  2. Taste and adjust flavors as desired (blend in coconut flakes for a more coconut-forward flavor, or add a bit of honey for more sweetness). Serve immediately or store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 2 days, shaking if the smoothie separates.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Smoothie
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Tropical smoothie recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
https://www.acouplecooks.com/tropical-smoothie-recipe/feed/ 2
Cranberry Smoothie https://www.acouplecooks.com/cranberry-smoothie/ https://www.acouplecooks.com/cranberry-smoothie/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2022 17:57:00 +0000 https://www.acouplecooks.com/?p=137919 This cranberry smoothie recipe is tart and creamy! It’s simple to blend up and bursts with bold berry flavor. Got…

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
This cranberry smoothie recipe is tart and creamy! It’s simple to blend up and bursts with bold berry flavor.

Cranberry Smoothie

Got cranberries? Here’s a great way to use them: a Cranberry Smoothie! This recipe was inspired by the leftover frozen cranberries in our freezer from this cranberry salsa, and it was the best way to use them. This bright crimson puree is frosty and tangy, with bold berry flavor. Sweeten it to taste with maple syrup or honey, so this drink can range from very tart to mildly sweet. Here’s how to make it!

Ingredients in a cranberry smoothie

This cranberry smoothie is beautifully bold and tart, featuring the flavors of cranberry, orange and vanilla. You can adjust the sweetness to taste, so you can customize it to make a very tart or mildly sweet drink. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

  • Frozen cranberries: Frozen are key for the texture in this smoothie. If all you have fresh cranberries, pop them in the freezer for 2 to 3 hours or overnight.
  • Banana: Make sure the banana is ripe: you can use it room temperature since the berries are frozen.
  • Yogurt: Yogurt adds protein, making this smoothie more filling. You can use Greek, plain or vanilla yogurt. See below for a vegan variation!
  • Orange juice (or milk or cranberry juice): Orange juice has a nice contrast to the berries. If you use sweetened cranberry juice, add maple syrup or honey to taste.
  • Vanilla extract: It’s optional, but it add a nice balance to the flavors.
  • Honey or maple syrup: Add just as much as you need to balance out the tart berries. See the section below for more!
  • Ice cubes

Then, it’s just a matter of blending it up! Add a little more liquid if it’s not able to blend.

Cranberry Smoothie

Customizing the sweeteness

Sweetness is needed to balance the tart berries in this cranberry smoothie, but the amount is up to you! The quantity in the recipe below is optimized for Greek yogurt and orange juice, and has a tart flavor. Add more sweetness to taste, or balance with vanilla yogurt or cranberry juice for a sweeter drink.

On using cranberry juice

We like the zippy flavor of orange juice in this cranberry smoothie, but you can also use cranberry juice! Keep in mind that cranberry juice comes sweetened and unsweetened. Here are a few tips on using it:

  • If using 100% natural cranberry juice, it is very tart. Add the honey or maple syrup quantity specified in the recipe below.
  • If using sweetened juice, it tastes very sweet. Add the honey or maple syrup to taste.
  • Need more ways to use cranberry juice? Try our Best Cranberry Cocktail Recipes.

Add orange zest for a flair

Want to add even more nuance in flavor? Add a hint of orange zest! If you have a fresh orange on hand, it adds a nice bold citrus flavor. Use just a few grates of zest (about ⅛ teaspoon if you like to measure things). Then add more to taste!

Cranberry Smoothie

Variations on this cranberry smoothie

Want a vegan smoothie? Or want to add more protein to this cranberry smoothie? Here are a few ideas:

  • Make a vegan smoothie! Simply add more juice or non-dairy milk in place of the yogurt.
  • Add more yogurt. Double the Greek yogurt quantity to add more protein (and add more liquid as necessary).
  • Add protein powder. A scoop of vanilla protein powder adds loads of protein and a bit of sweetness.

More smoothie recipes

Want to blend up tasty purees all colors of the rainbow? Pick from one of these tasty smoothie recipes:

Want more with cranberries? Try 20 Tasty Cranberry Recipes!

This cranberry smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, see the modifications above.

Print
Cranberry Smoothie

Cranberry Smoothie


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small smoothies

Description

This cranberry smoothie recipe is tart and creamy! It’s simple to blend up and bursts with bold berry flavor.


Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups frozen cranberries
  • 1 ripe banana (room temperature)
  • ¼ cup yogurt (Greek, plain or vanilla)
  • ½ cup orange juice** or milk (or sweetened cranberry juice and use sweetener to taste*)
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons honey or pure maple syrup
  • 12 ice cubes

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender, breaking the banana into pieces. Blend until creamy and frothy, stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary and adding a splash more juice if necessary.
  2. Taste and adjust sweetness as desired. Serve immediately or store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 2 days.

Notes

*Cranberry juice comes sweetened and unsweetened. If using 100% natural cranberry juice, add the honey or maple syrup. If using sweetened juice, add the honey or maple syrup to taste.

**Want to add more of a bold orange flavor? Add a hint of orange zest (a little goes a long way).

  • Category: Smoothie
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Cranberry smoothie, cranberry smoothie recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
https://www.acouplecooks.com/cranberry-smoothie/feed/ 1
Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie https://www.acouplecooks.com/chocolate-peanut-butter-smoothie/ https://www.acouplecooks.com/chocolate-peanut-butter-smoothie/#comments Thu, 24 Mar 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.acouplecooks.com/?p=127343 This chocolate peanut butter smoothie is made with healthy ingredients but tastes like a milkshake! Ideal for mornings or a…

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
This chocolate peanut butter smoothie is made with healthy ingredients but tastes like a milkshake! Ideal for mornings or a sweet treat.

Chocolate peanut butter smoothie

Need a healthy sweet treat? Try the Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie: made with good-for-you ingredients but tastes like a milk shake! We can’t resist smoothies that taste like dessert, like our Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie and Peanut Butter Smoothie. Put them together and you’ve got this one! It’s rich and chocolaty, but made with bananas, oats and honey. Blend it up for busy mornings or afternoons where you need a quick pick-me-up: it even doubles as a healthy dessert!

Ingredients in this chocolate peanut butter smoothie

This chocolate peanut butter smoothie relies on just a few good-for-you ingredients to make magic in the blender. Make it with milk or the non-dairy milk of your choosing. You can even make it with coffee (more on that below!). Here’s a run-down of the easy ingredients you’ll need:

  • Frozen bananas: This is the only step you’ll need to do in advance! Slice and freeze them on a baking sheet for at least 1 ½ hours. Or you can buy frozen bananas!
  • Old Fashioned oats
  • Cocoa powder or Dutch process (dark) cocoa powder: we prefer dark; more on that below
  • Peanut butter
  • Milk of choice (dairy, oat, or almond milk) or coffee: coffee adds a fun variation, much like this Coffee Smoothie! You can also add half milk, half strong coffee or espresso.
  • Honey or maple syrup
  • Ice
chocolate peanut butter smoothie

Dutch process vs standard cocoa powder

Use whatever cocoa powder you have on hand for this chocolate peanut butter smoothie. But we like it best with Dutch process cocoa powder, aka dark cocoa powder! This type has been treated with an alkali to make it pH neutral, which gives it a darker color and milder flavor. It makes the flavor ultra chocolaty: which we love!

Step it up with shaved chocolate

Serving this chocolate peanut butter smoothie as a treat? Top it with a sprinkle of dark chocolate! You only need about 1 tablespoon, and when you stir it in it makes for tasty chocolate chunks in each sip. It’s optional, but a fun way to take it up a notch! Then add a drizzle of peanut butter to take it over the top.

chocolate peanut butter smoothie

Ways to add more protein

This chocolate peanut butter smoothie has a decent amount of protein from the peanut butter, but we’ve tried to use just enough to get great flavor without loading on calories. Here are a few other options for adding protein:

  • Chia seeds. You can add plant-based protein and fiber with chia seeds: 2 tablespoons chia seeds adds 4 grams protein and 11 grams fiber.
  • Vanilla or chocolate protein powder: Protein powder works well too! We use this protein powder that has natural ingredients and a flavor that’s not too artificial. Just remember to dial back the maple syrup or honey, because protein powder adds sweetness.

More sweet smoothie recipes

Looking for more smoothies that taste like a treat? Here are a few more you might enjoy:

This chocolate peanut butter smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Print
Chocolate peanut butter smoothie

Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small smoothies

Ingredients

  • 2 medium frozen bananas (sliced and frozen on a baking sheet for at least 1 1/2 hours)
  • ¼ cup Old Fashioned oats
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder or Dutch process (dark) cocoa powder (we prefer dark)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1 cup milk of choice (dairy, oat, or almond milk) or coffee*
  • 2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • ¾ cup ice
  • For the garnish: 1 sprinkle chopped dark chocolate (optional), 1 drizzle of peanut butter

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until creamy and frothy, stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary. Resist the urge to over blend: blend until it just comes together. Taste and add the additional ½ tablespoon sweetener depending on the sweetness of the bananas.
  2. If desired, top with 1 tablespoon chopped dark chocolate (it makes for a nice mix in but it’s totally optional). Serve immediately or store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 2 days.
  • Category: Smoothie
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Smoothie
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Chocolate peanut butter smoothie, chocolate smoothie, chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie, healthy chocolate peanut butter smoothie

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
https://www.acouplecooks.com/chocolate-peanut-butter-smoothie/feed/ 6
Perfect Strawberry Smoothie https://www.acouplecooks.com/perfect-strawberry-smoothie/ https://www.acouplecooks.com/perfect-strawberry-smoothie/#comments Mon, 07 Mar 2022 19:20:00 +0000 https://www.acouplecooks.com/?p=61873 Here’s the most perfect strawberry smoothie you’ll find! It’s easy to blend up and has the best creamy texture and…

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
Here’s the most perfect strawberry smoothie you’ll find! It’s easy to blend up and has the best creamy texture and fruity flavor.

Strawberry smoothie

Have you met a perfect strawberry smoothie? Smoothies aren’t as easy to throw together it seems. Sure, you can throw random fruit and yogurt in the blender and whiz it up. But for the perfect creamy texture and the perfect just sweet enough fruit flavor? You’ve got to know something about smoothies. We’ve finally found our perfect strawberry smoothie recipe, which is below. Make it, memorize it, and make a perfect healthy smoothie on repeat!

What makes it a perfect strawberry smoothie?

Here at A Couple Cooks, we’ve been cooking for years and have a vegetarian cookbook under our belt, have mastered techniques like sourdough bread and pizza and lots of cocktails. So we decided: why not master smoothies? We started with this strawberry smoothie recipe. Here’s why it’s perfect, to us:

  • Light and creamy texture. It’s easy for smoothies to turn out too icy or thick. This one is light and creamy, with just the right icy and airy texture.
  • Subtly sweet, fruity flavor. Often smoothies are too bitter or overly sweet. This strawberry smoothie is lightly sweet, with just the right berry essence.
Best trawberry smoothie

Ingredients for this strawberry smoothie

Here’s what you’ll need to make this strawberry smoothie! We were careful to choose healthy ingredients for this smoothie: no overly sugary juices or syrups. Here’s what we selected:

  • Frozen strawberries: It’s easy to find and store frozen berries, and they add a great icy texture to this smoothie. If you want to use fresh berries, use a frozen banana.
  • Fresh banana: Our pet peeve is smoothie recipes that call for frozen bananas, because we never keep them on hand! Usually we want a smoothie recipe now. So we customized this one to use a fresh banana.
  • Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt gives this recipe a protein boost and helpful probiotics. (If you love yogurt you could add a touch more.) It also makes for a perfect creamy texture.
  • Ice: Here’s the most important part — ice is essential to a perfect strawberry smoothie! It makes just the right frothy texture. We’ve tried it without and it really makes a difference. Do not omit it!
  • Milk: You need just the right amount of liquid in a smoothie to get it to blend. Not enough and the blender gets stuck (the worst!), and too much it tastes milky. You can also use non-dairy milk.
  • Maple syrup: Adding a hint of maple brings out the sweetness in the berries. If you eat a low sugar diet you could omit, but it doesn’t quite taste sweet enough with no sweetener.
Strawberry smoothie

How to make it plant based / vegan!

You can make this strawberry smoothie plant-based or vegan by doing the following:

  • Make our strawberry banana smoothie. Try our Strawberry Banana Smoothie: it’s vegan and uses only 2 ingredients!
  • Substitute non-dairy milk AND vegan yogurt or ½ banana for the yogurt. We like using oat milk or almond milk. Oat milk is usually a little sweeter and creamier, so it’s our default for smoothies. You could also try coconut milk, which adds a nice coconut essence, or soy milk. For the yogurt, use vegan yogurt or another ½ banana.
Best strawberry smoothies

Optional add-ins & variations

Of course, you can mix in whatever you’d like to customize your healthy strawberry smoothie! But at the same time: if you want it to be perfect, you’ve got to use flavors that work. Here are some ideas:

  • Almond butter. Almond goes well with strawberry. Use about 1 tablespoon, 2 for a stronger almond flavor (it will also dull the color a bit).
  • Vanilla. Use ¼ to ½ teaspoon vanilla to heighten the flavors.
  • Mint or basil. Add a few fresh mint or basil leaves for an herbaceous spin.
  • Pineapple. Substitute 1 cup of the frozen berries for 1 cup frozen pineapple; see Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie.
  • Mango. Substitute 1 cup of the frozen berries for 1 cup frozen mango; see Strawberry Mango Smoothie).
  • Banana. Add another ripe banana and remove the Greek yogurt; see Strawberry Banana Smoothie).
  • Blueberries. Substitute 1 cup of the frozen strawberries for blueberry; see Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie.
  • Chocolate. Add cocoa powder; see Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie.

Things not to add? Handfuls of spinach leaves! They turn this smoothie into an unappealing shade of brown. If you want a green smoothie, go to our Perfect Green Smoothie.

Delicious strawberry smoothie

Smoothie storage

Smoothies are best eaten immediately. But this strawberry smoothie actually lasts 1 to 2 days refrigerated, stored in a sealed container or a mason jar with the lid on. It may separate, which is perfectly natural. Just shake it up and you’re good to go!

This strawberry smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based and dairy-free, see the recipe for variations.

Print
Strawberry smoothie

Perfect Strawberry Smoothie


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small smoothies

Description

Here’s the most perfect strawberry smoothie you’ll find! It’s easy to blend up and has the best creamy texture and fruity flavor. Variation: try our Strawberry Banana Smoothie (2 ingredients and vegan!).


Ingredients

  • 2 cups frozen strawberries
  • 1 banana (room temperature)
  • ¼ cup Greek yogurt*
  • 1 cup milk (or almond milk or oat milk)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup, honey, or agave syrup
  • ½ cup ice
  • Optional add-ins: 1 tablespoon almond butter, ¼ teaspoon vanilla, fresh mint leaves or basil leaves

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender, breaking the banana into pieces. Blend until creamy and frothy, stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary. If desired, garnish with a frozen strawberry and mint sprig. Serve immediately or store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 2 days.

Notes

*For vegan: make a Strawberry Banana Smoothie! Blend 2 cups frozen strawberries, 2 bananas (room temperature), ½ cup water and 8 ice cubes.

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Strawberry Smoothie, Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Affiliate Marketing Disclosure Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links, either through Amazon or RewardStyle, which means that if you click on one and make a purchase, we may receive a commission. This does not affect the price you pay for the product or service, and it helps us to continue creating high-quality content for you.

We only recommend products and services that we believe in and think will be helpful to our readers. We always disclose affiliate relationships honestly and transparently, so that you can make informed decisions about whether or not to click on our links.

Thank you for your support!

More smoothie recipes

We’ve got lots more where this came from! Here more smoothie recipes to try:

Another great healthy drink? Try our homemade kombucha: it’s fun to brew your own at home!

Last updated: November 2020

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
https://www.acouplecooks.com/perfect-strawberry-smoothie/feed/ 43
Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie https://www.acouplecooks.com/chocolate-strawberry-smoothie/ https://www.acouplecooks.com/chocolate-strawberry-smoothie/#comments Thu, 27 Jan 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.acouplecooks.com/?p=123560 This chocolate strawberry smoothie tastes like a treat, but it’s made with healthy ingredients! Blend up this tasty puree in…

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
This chocolate strawberry smoothie tastes like a treat, but it’s made with healthy ingredients! Blend up this tasty puree in 5 minutes.

Chocolate strawberry smoothie

Here’s a smoothie for when you’ve got a chocolate craving: the Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie! Because what’s more fun than chocolate covered strawberries, in drinkable form? This tasty recipe features strawberries, banana, almond butter and cocoa powder, blended up into a lusciously creamy puree. Its rich, fruity flavor made it an instant hit over here, and we gobbled it up like it was a milkshake. The ideal healthy treat!

Ingredients in this chocolate strawberry smoothie

This chocolate strawberry smoothie is made with just a few natural ingredients that you may already have on hand. It’s dairy-free when you use non-dairy milk; we recommend oat milk for smoothies because of its creamy texture and neutral flavor. Here’s what you’ll need for this smoothie (or jump to the recipe below for quantities):

  • Frozen strawberries
  • Banana
  • Old Fashioned oats: optional, but adds a hearty dose of whole grains
  • Cocoa powder
  • Almond butter
  • Milk of choice: dairy, oat milk or almond milk
  • Pure maple syrup or honey or agave syrup
  • Ice

Blend it up and give it a taste: you can add a splash more milk to get it to blend. The fruity rich chocolate flavor was a big hit over here.

Chocolate strawberry smoothie

Step it up with a garnish

This chocolate strawberry smoothie tastes incredible as is: but here’s a little trick for stepping it up if you’re making it as a treat. Top it with a sprinkle of dark chocolate! You only need about 1 tablespoon, and when you stir it in it makes for tasty occasional chocolate chunks. It’s optional, but a fun way to take it up a notch!

Ways to add protein

Almond butter brings protein to this chocolate strawberry smoothie without overwhelming the flavor! But you can add more protein especially if you’re using this as a meal replacement. Here are a few options:

  • Chia seeds. You can add plant-based protein and fiber with chia seeds: 2 tablespoons chia seeds adds 4 grams protein and 11 grams fiber.
  • More almond butter. Add another 1 tablespoon nut butter to add an additional 4 grams protein.
  • Vanilla or chocolate protein powder: Protein powder works well here: we use this protein powder that has natural ingredients and a flavor that’s not too artificial.
Chocolate strawberry smoothie

Variations on a chocolate strawberry smoothie

Once you’ve made the chocolate strawberry smoothie recipe below, try it with a few variations! Here are some ideas:

  • Substitute frozen raspberries for strawberries. Instant chocolate raspberry smoothie!
  • Use dark chocolate cocoa powder. Substitute Dutch process cocoa powder for the regular cocoa powder for a dark chocolate flavor! You should be able to find it at your local grocery. If you can’t find it, you can buy it online: try Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder or Ghiradelli Dutch Process Cocoa Powder.

More healthy chocolate recipes

Craving chocolate but want to satisfy it with something healthy? Try these tasty recipes:

This chocolate strawberry smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Print

Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small smoothies

Description

This chocolate strawberry smoothie tastes like a treat, but it’s made with healthy ingredients! Blend up this tasty puree in 5 minutes.


Ingredients

  • 1 cup frozen strawberries
  • 1 banana (room temperature)
  • ½ cup Old Fashioned oats (optional)
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter
  • ¾ cup milk of choice (dairy, oat milk or almond milk)
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
  • 1 cup ice
  • For the garnish: 1 sprinkle chopped dark chocolate (optional)

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender, breaking the banana into pieces. Blend until creamy and frothy, stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary and adding a splash more milk if necessary.
  2. If desired, top with 1 tablespoon chopped dark chocolate (it makes for a nice mix in but it’s totally optional). Serve immediately or store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 2 days.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Smoothie
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Chocolate strawberry smoothie

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

]]>
https://www.acouplecooks.com/chocolate-strawberry-smoothie/feed/ 2