Cherry Smoothie
This cherry smoothie recipe turns a bag of frozen sweet cherries into a thick, ruby colored drink in under five minutes. It blends frozen cherries, banana, Greek yogurt, and milk into a naturally sweet smoothie with no added sugar required.
Equipment
- High-speed blender
- Liquid measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Ice Cube Tray - for freezing extra banana chunks or cherry juice (optional)
- Rubber spatula - for scraping down the sides of the blender jar
- Glass jars or cups with lids - for storing leftovers (optional)
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen pitted sweet cherries - 300g
- 1 medium ripe banana - about 120g, peeled and frozen
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt - 120g
- 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk - 180ml, or milk of choice
- 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup - 15-30ml
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract - 5ml
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract - 1ml, optional
- Ice cubes - as needed, if your fruit isn't fully frozen
- Fresh or frozen cherries - for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Pour the almond milk into the base of the blender jar before adding anything else to keep the blades from getting stuck on frozen fruit.
- Spoon the Greek yogurt on top of the almond milk, then drizzle the honey or maple syrup over the yogurt so it doesn't stick to the bottom.
- Break the frozen banana into two or three chunks and add it to the blender.
- Add the full 2 cups of frozen pitted cherries on top of the softer ingredients so the blades can pull them down as they spin.
- Start the blender on the lowest speed setting for about 10 seconds, then gradually increase to high speed.
- Continue blending for 45 to 60 seconds total until no icy chunks remain, scraping down the sides with a spatula if needed.
- If the smoothie is too thick to pour, add more almond milk one tablespoon at a time. If too thin, add a few more frozen cherries and blend again briefly.
- Pour the smoothie into two glasses, garnish with fresh or frozen cherries if desired, and serve immediately with a spoon or wide straw.
Notes
- Always use frozen cherries unless your banana is also frozen, as this keeps the texture thick and creamy without needing extra ice.
- Pit fresh cherries completely before freezing them yourself, since even one leftover pit can ruin the smoothie texture.
- Pour liquid in before solids to prevent your blender from struggling against dense frozen fruit at the bottom.
- Use a ripe, spotty banana for natural sweetness instead of relying only on honey, which gives the best flavor balance.
- Blend in short bursts if your blender isn't high-speed, scraping down the sides between each burst for even blending.
- Add extra milk gradually rather than all at once, since it's easier to thin a smoothie than to thicken it.
- Taste before serving since cherry sweetness can vary noticeably between batches, and adjust honey accordingly.
- Store leftovers in a sealed glass jar or cup in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, then stir or briefly re-blend before drinking.
- Freeze leftover smoothie in an ice cube tray, then blend the cubes with a splash of milk for a quick refresh later.
- For a dairy-free version, swap the Greek yogurt for a dairy-free yogurt alternative and use almond, oat, or coconut milk.
Nutrition
Serving: 1SmoothieCalories: 210kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 8gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 45mgPotassium: 480mgFiber: 5gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 4mg
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