Enjoy a refreshing and nutritious breakfast in just 5 minutes with this Cherry Smoothie recipe! It’s dairy-free, naturally sweet, and SO easy to make.
If you know me even a little bit, then you know how much I love breakfast. I’m one of those people who can’t function without a nutritious breakfast to start my day.
As much as I love a stack of peanut butter pancakes or almond butter waffles, these are more like weekend breakfasts for us. During the week, I need something quick, easy, nutritious, satisfying, and made with simple ingredients.
That’s why I love smoothies like my Papaya Smoothie, Pineapple Mango Smoothie and my Keto Green smoothie. But to be honest with you, this cherry smoothie is my totally obsessed because of the flavor and color alone!
I mean…breakfast doesn’t *have* to be pretty, but it definitely helps to brighten up the morning. It’s loaded with nutrients (vitamins and minerals), gluten-free, vegan, and it’s the best smoothie to enjoy for breakfast or a quick afternoon snack.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ice — A few ice cubes give it a slushy texture.
- Frozen banana — Adding a frozen banana makes the smoothie super creamy. The subtle sweetness also helps balance the tart cherries and pineapple.
- Cherries —I like to use fresh sweet cherries when I can, but frozen cherries work just fine in this recipe. If you buy whole cherries, don’t forget to remove the pit first!
- Pineapple — Packed with water to make this smoothie extra hydrating and it adds just the right amount of natural sweetness. It also adds a touch of tropical flavor.
- Non-dairy milk — I typically use unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk, but you can go with any non-dairy milk you prefer like soy milk. You can also use cow’s milk too.
- Chia seeds — Full of fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. They’re an easy way to give your smoothie a boost.
- Pure maple syrup — Optional for extra sweetness. You could also use honey or agave.
Tip: Save your overripe bananas and toss them in the freezer! This way, you’ll already have a frozen banana on hand the next time you want to make a smoothie. It’s a great way to use up bananas when it’s too hot to bake banana bread.
How To Make The Best Cherry Smoothie
- Combine all the ingredients in a blender.
- Cover and blend until it’s nice and smooth.
- Adjust the flavor and consistency, if needed.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Olivia’s Recipe Tips
- For the best consistency, you’ll need at least one frozen fruit. So, if you forgot to freeze the banana, frozen cherries or pineapple will do the trick!
- If you add more than one frozen fruit you can omit the ice cubes – the fruit will create the same “slushy” texture.
- Start your blender on low to break up the large pieces. Then, increase the speed until you reach a smooth and creamy consistency.
- If your smoothie is too thick or isn’t mixing well, add a splash of more coconut milk to help it blend better.
Upgrade Your Cherry Smoothie
Protein: Make your smoothie more filling and satisfying with a scoop of protein powder or collagen peptides.
Greek yogurt: Vanilla Greek yogurt is also packed with protein and makes this smoothie extra creamy.
Greens: Add a handful of spinach or kale for a boost of vitamins and fiber. The cherries and pineapple will totally mask the flavor of the greens.
Avocado: A great way to get in healthy fats, and it blends like a dream!
More add-ins: You can also make your smoothie even more nutritions by adding flax seeds, cacao nibs or cocoa powder (hello, chocolate cherry smoothie), vanilla extract, hemp seeds and nut butter like peanut or cashew butter.
Smoothie Storage & Meal Prep
To Store: You can store this smoothie for an extra day in the fridge. I like to keep it in a mason jar and give it a good shake first since the ingredients can separate.
To Freeze: You can also freeze prepared smoothies for up to a month in a silicone freezer-safe container. Just be sure to leave extra space because it’ll expand as it freezes.
To Meal Prep: Make “cherry smoothie packs” by adding the fruit, chia seeds, and ice cubes to a freezer-safe bag. When you’re ready for a smoothie, pour a bag into your high speed blender, add the milk, and blend until smooth.
Frequently Asked Questions
A high-powered blender works best for breaking up the frozen fruit and getting everything nice and smooth. My favorite is the Vitamix – it’s the most powerful blender I have ever owned and I use it all the time! If I’m making a quick smoothie on the go, I prefer to use my NutriBullet because it’s so practical and easy to clean.
Yes, if you’re using fresh cherries it’s important to remove the pits first. You can also save time by buying pre-pitted or frozen cherries.
If you don’t need this recipe to be dairy-free, then you can use any milk you prefer.
The frozen banana gives this smoothie a rich and creamy texture. I don’t recommend skipping it altogether, but you can use frozen cherries or pineapple instead. For comparable creaminess, try adding an avocado or Greek yogurt.
If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how you liked it in the comments below! And don’t forget to check out the full collection of Smoothie Recipes here at Primavera Kitchen.
More Smoothie Recipes to Try
Cherry Smoothie Recipe
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Ingredients
- 3 cubes of ice
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup fresh cherries
- 1 cup pineapple chopped
- ½ cup almond milk
- 1 tbsp chia
- optional: 1 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a blender.
- Cover and blend until smooth for about 30 seconds.
- Taste to adjust flavor and serve immediately. Enjoy.
Tips
- Buy pre-pitted frozen cherries to save time.
- Add more ice to the blender if you want a thicker smoothie.
- A frozen banana makes the smoothie thick and creamy, so don’t forget to freeze your banana in advance!
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says
What a combination!
And I hear you. Busy days deserve nutritious food 🙂
Sues says
Cherries and pineapple are two of my very favorite things, so I am all about this!!
Ashley says
I’ve been on a smoothie kick all summer long and this flavor sounds fantastic! Love that you used both pineapple and cherry!
Beth says
I was whipping up a few smoothies yesterday and I think I have all of the ingredients to make this today after work!! 🙂
Chelsea @chelseasmessyapron says
Love the combo of cherries and pineapple! Plus that color is so gorgeous!!
ZazaCook says
What a delicious breakfast idea!
Kathy Blackburn says
Perhaps this is a ridiculous question, are we using pitted cherries? I do use a Vitamix for making smoothies, however not really sure I want throw the whole cherry into it!
Olivia says
No, you should remove the cherry pit.