This Cherry Smoothie is sweet, refreshing and easy to make in less than 10 minutes It uses fresh or frozen cherries, chia seeds, nut butter, your favorite plant-based milk and optional protein powder for a creamy and delicious breakfast or snack that’s sure to satisfy. Naturally vegan, paleo, dairy-free and Whole30 compliant.
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Easy Cherry Smoothie Recipe
Looking for a refreshing and healthy breakfast to start the day? This simple Cherry Smoothie is full of vitamins, nutrients and perfect now that it’s peak cherry season. It comes together quickly in just 5 minutes with minimal ingredients you most likely have in your kitchen!
All you need are some cherries, your favorite dairy-free milk and optional liquid sweetener of your choice.
Because this vegan smoothie uses fresh or frozen cherries, you can enjoy this recipe year-round. And you can easily customize it according to your preferences.
Why you’ll love this healthy smoothie recipe
- Perfect for a pre or post-workout snack, after a morning walk or run in the sun or a trip to the beach
- This healthy cherry smoothie is simple to customize and packed with vitamins and nutrients
- A creamy and refreshing spring or summer breakfast or snack
- Easy to make in under 5 minutes
- Kid-friendly and naturally vegan, dairy-free, paleo with low carb, keto and Whole30 options
Looking for more smoothie recipes? Check out these 5 Healthy Smoothies with lots of delicious options.
What You’ll Need
This simple smoothie recipe come together with just 6 ingredients. Feel free to make substitutions as you see fit!
- Almond Milk: We like unsweetened almond milk from Malk Organics. But you can use any plant-based milk you like or have on hand.
- Dairy-free yogurt: We like Culina’s Plain & Simple coconut cream based yogurt or Kite Hill Plant-based Greek-style yogurt for an almond milk based yogurt. You can sub with canned coconut cream or regular Greek yogurt if not dairy-free.
- Cherries: We prefer using frozen cherries in this recipe but you can also use fresh pitted cherries. For fresh cherries, be sure to add 1 cup of ice and reduce the milk to 1/4 cup instead.
- Banana: Cut into slices or chunks and frozen. You can also sub with avocado or steamed and frozen zucchini for a low carb keto cherry smoothie without bananas.
Optional
- Protein Powder: We use NuZest Just Clean or Sprout Living Simple Sunflower Seed Protein which are our favorite plant-based protein powder but you can use your favorite. We have not tested this with a Whey protein powder since we wanted to keep this smoothie recipe vegan but feel free to do so if it fits with your dietary preference.
- Cashew butter: to add creaminess, flavor and extra protein. You can also sub with cashews, almond butter, peanut butter (not paleo), sunflower seed butter or any nut butter of you choice. Shredded unsweetened coconut would be another delicious option.
- Pure Maple Syrup: For keto/low-carb smoothies, use yacon syrup, Lakanto sugar-free maple syrup or another liquid sweetener of choice. Leave out for Whole30. Date syrup or 1 pittend Medjool date would work as well.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: To enhance all of the delicious flavors.
- Chia Seeds or hemp seeds: Optional for extra fiber and protein. You’ll need 1 teaspoon. Ground flaxseeds would be a great options as well.
How to Make this Cherry Smoothie
This healthy smoothie will be finished in no time! You just have to blend all of the ingredients together and serve.
- Blend Ingredients: Place all ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.
- Serve: Pour into glasses and enjoy!
Tips for Success
Read on for some extra tips and tricks for making vegan cherry smoothies.
- Adjust Consistency: If you like a thinner smoothie, add more plant-based milk until you’re satisfied with the consistency.
- Use Frozen Fruit: While many people think fresh fruit is preferable to frozen fruit, that’s actually not the case for smoothies. Using frozen fruit eliminates the need for ice, which makes for an ultra creamy and flavorful smoothie. If you want to use fresh cherries, be sure to remove the pits and freeze them beforehand.
- Chill the Glasses: Since you can’t really keep a smoothie cold on a hot summer day with ice cubes, we like to chill our glasses before pouring in the smoothies. You can do this by filling each glass up with soda water and ice, then letting them sit for 1 minute. Pour out the seltzer and ice, then add in your smoothie!
Variation Ideas
There are so many delicious and nutritious ways to switch up this healthy cherry smoothie! Here are some simple ideas for inspiration:
- Add Other Fruits: Try making a mixed berry smoothie or a Blueberry Smoothie by replacing half of the cherries with frozen blueberries and raspberries! Make it a Mango Smoothie by including mango or other yummy additions include banana, pineapple and kiwi.
- Add Leafy Greens: Adding spinach or kale and make it a Green Smoothie or Blackberry Kale Smoothie. Adding greens is a great way to make your cherry smoothies even healthier. A handful or two won’t change the flavor!
- Add Protein Powder: Make this a protein smoothie by adding a tablespoon of your favorite protein powder. Yes, it’s that simple!
- Add Chocolate: Similarly, you can add a tablespoon of cocoa powder to your smoothies for a chocolatey twist. When we do this, we like to drizzle chocolate syrup inside the rims of the glasses before pouring in our smoothies.
Are Smoothies Good For You?
These simple cherry smoothies are not only made with natural sweeteners and real fruit, but they’re also packed with potassium-rich coconut and heart-healthy chia seeds.
In addition to being vegan, these smoothies are paleo, dairy-free and low-carb with keto options! They make a great breakfast, midday snack or post-workout treat.
Can I Meal Prep This?
Yes! If you’d like to make this healthy milkshake in advance, store it in an airtight lidded container in the fridge. Try to minimize the air between the sufrace of the smoothie and the lid of the container. This prevents the nutrients in your smoothie from oxidizing, or diminishing.
Can I Save Extras?
You can store this vegan smoothie in the fridge for up to 2 days. Follow the storage instructions above. When you’re ready to enjoy a smoothie that’s been sitting in the fridge, be sure to give it a good stir.
More Healthy Smoothie Ideas
Looking for other nutritious smoothie recipes to add to your weekly menu? Say no more!
This Cherry Smoothie is sweet, refreshing and easy to make in less than 10 minutes It uses fresh or frozen cherries, chia seeds, nut butter, your favorite plant-based milk and optional protein powder for a creamy and delicious breakfast or snack that's sure to satisfy. Naturally vegan, paleo, dairy-free and Whole30 compliant.
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk or any non-dairy milk
- 1/3 cup dairy-free plain yogurt , we like Culina's Plain & Simple coconut cream based yogurt or Kite Hill Plant-based Greek-style yogurt for an almond milk based yogurt. You can sub with canned coconut cream or regular Greek yogurt if not dairy-free.
- 2 cups frozen cherries , preferred. You can also use fresh pitted cherries. For fresh cherries, be sure to add 1 cup of ice and reduce the milk to 1/4 cup instead.
- 1/2 banana , cut into slices or chunks and frozen. Sub with frozen avocado chunks, or steamed and frozen cauliflower for a banana-free / low carb / keto version.
- 1 tablespoon plant-based protein powder , we like NuZest Just Clean or Sprout Living Simple Sunflower Seed Protein.
- 1/2 tablespoon creamy nut butter / seed butter , optional to taste
- 1 1/2 tsps ground flax seeds , hemp seeds or chia seeds, optional to taste
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract , optional to taste
- Liquid sweetener , optional to taste
- Add all the ingredients to a high-powered blender.
- Blend on high until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Add more liquid as needed to thin out or add more frozen fruit, ice or banana to thicken. Taste and add sweetener, if desired.
- Pour into glasses and garnish with fresh cherries and some coconut chips, if desired.
gabby -
this smoothie is so delicious!! I had never tried adding cherries to a smoothie before and i will definitely be making this for breakfast again – thank you for the delicious recipe!