Say hello to this Cherry Smoothie recipe that takes less than 5 minutes to make! Whiz all the ingredients up in your blender for a healthy, rich and tart breakfast or snack packed full of fruits, nuts and seeds. Vegan friendly!
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Extra cherries on hand? Make sure to make Cherry Peach Crumble Bars, Small Batch Cherry Berry Cobbler, or this Rustic Cherry Almond Galette.
The wonderful world of cherries! A versatile stone fruit (fruit with pits in them) that pairs well with all kinds ingredients. For this drink concoction, we’re making a healthy cherry smoothie recipe using banana, some cashew butter, hemp hearts and milk.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Smooth, cold and creamy – everything you want in a smoothie.
- Made with only 6 ingredients, most of which you probably already have on hand.
- One step in your high speed blender equals pure smoothie bliss.
- Get the health benefits – and beautiful deep purple color – of sweet, tart cherries!
Smoothie Ingredients
Smoothie recipes are a quick and easy treat that really allow your creative juices to flow. Not only does this cherry smoothie look gorgeous, but it tastes delicious, too. Here’s what we need:
- frozen cherries – black cherries or dark sweet cherries are easy to spot in the frozen fruit section of your grocery store. Grab an extra bag, because you’ll be making this recipe on repeat, I can assure you.
- banana – this can either be fresh or frozen, just make sure the banana is ripe to naturally sweeten the smoothie. If you go the frozen banana route, you’ll want to increase the liquid to 1/2 cup or more, for the best consistency.
- nut butter – I used cashew butter, but almond butter or peanut butter are both great subs.
- hemp hearts – for a boost of healthy fats, fiber and omega-3’s! You can even swap these out for chia seeds.
- vanilla extract – for sweet vanilla essence. Try a touch of almond extract, too!
- milk of choice – I used unsweetened cashew milk, but any non-dairy milk or regular dairy milk will work. Quantity will vary based on how thick you like your smoothies.
TIP: If you want to make a cherry smoothie without banana, sub in 1 cup of fresh or frozen peaches!
Find the full detailed instructions with measurements in the recipe card below, at the end of this post.
How to Make
This black cherry smoothie is a one-step wonder. All you have to do is:
Add all ingredients to a blender (preferably a high speed blender, such as a Vitamix) and blend until smooth.
Taste test for thickness. If you want a thicker smoothie, start with ¼ cup liquid and work your way up from there.
Optional Mix-In’s / Flavor Additions:
There are a few additional ingredients you can add to the cherry smoothie mix to really make it your own. You could try:
- Cocoa / Cacao Powder: Make a chocolate cherry smoothie and add 1 tablespoon either cocoa or cacao powder.
- Protein Powder: Amp up the protein content with a scoop of your favorite vanilla or chocolate protein powder.
- Flaxseed Meal: A teaspoon or two of ground flaxseeds adds an extra layer of fiber.
- Greek yogurt: Replace half of the milk / liquid with 1/4 cup of Greek yogurt – or your favorite non-dairy yogurt. Adds a special tang!
- Spinach: Throw in a handful of baby spinach for a cherry spinach smoothie. Trust me – you won’t even know it’s there.
Serving Suggestions + Toppings
Enjoy this cherry smoothie as a sweet, tart start to your morning or a healthy snack to get you through those long afternoons.
For an extra layer of crunch, top off the smoothie with a sprinkle of chocolate chips, coconut flakes, slivered almonds, more hemp seeds or cacao nibs.
Recipe Tips & Notes:
- Use frozen cherries. This keeps the smoothie cold and thick without having to add ice. A frozen banana will make it even thicker.
- Adjust the liquid. You may need to add more liquid to get the frozen fruit completely blended, depending on the power of your blender.
- Make it sweeter. If you like your smoothies on the sweet side, add a tablespoon or two maple syrup or raw honey.
Cherry Smoothie FAQs
What fruit goes good with cherries?
The sweet, tart flavor of cherries is complimented by additional fruits and flavorings including almond, peaches, nectarines, chocolate and vanilla.
Are frozen dark cherries healthy?
Yes, frozen cherries are fresh fruit, after all. They are packed with plenty of B vitamins, antioxidants and fiber.
Do frozen cherries have pits?
No, frozen cherries do not have pits. Unless otherwise noted, frozen cherries are always pitted. But be sure to watch for them anyhow, as noted on most packaged frozen cherries.
More Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love:
If you make this Cherry Smoothie recipe, be sure to leave a comment and review on the blog! I love hearing from you, and it helps others learn more about the recipe too! Xx Ashley
Cherry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen dark sweet cherries
- 1 medium banana, fresh
- 1 tablespoon nut butter, pick your favorite
- 1 tablespoon hemp hearts
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
- ⅓ cup milk of choice, I used unsweetened cashew milk
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Taste test for thickness. If you want a thicker smoothie, start with ¼ cup liquid.
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