Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium apple (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji), cored and roughly chopped (or ½ cup unsweetened applesauce)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (adjust to taste)
- 1 medium ripe banana (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup milk of choice (dairy, almond, oat, or coconut milk)
- ½ cup Greek yogurt (vanilla or plain, optional but recommended)
- 2–3 tablespoons rolled oats (use certified gluten-free if needed)
- 1–2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup (optional, for extra sweetness)
- ½ cup ice cubes (more if using fresh banana)
- Pinch of nutmeg or vanilla extract (optional, for extra flavor)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Apple: Core and roughly chop your apple into chunks. If you have a high-powered blender, you can leave the skin on for extra fiber and nutrients—just wash it thoroughly. If you’re using applesauce, you can skip this step entirely!
- Add Liquids First: Pour your milk into the blender first. This crucial step helps the blades move freely and prevents ingredients from getting stuck at the bottom. If you’re using Greek yogurt, add it now as well.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add the rolled oats next. This gives them a head start on breaking down, which creates a smoother final texture. Sprinkle in the cinnamon and any optional spices like nutmeg.
- Add Fruit: Add the chopped apple pieces (or applesauce) and banana chunks. If you’re using any sweetener or optional add-ins like protein powder or nut butter, add them now.
- Add Ice: Top everything off with ice cubes. If you’re using a frozen banana, you might need less ice. If you want an extra-thick smoothie, add more ice.
- Blend Low to High: Start blending on the lowest speed for about 10-15 seconds to break down the larger chunks, then gradually increase to the highest speed. Blend for 45-60 seconds until completely smooth and creamy with no visible chunks of apple, oats, or ice.
- Check Texture and Taste: Stop the blender and check the consistency. If it’s too thick, add 2-4 tablespoons more milk and blend again briefly. If it’s too thin, add more ice or a bit more banana. Give it a taste test—add more cinnamon for spice, honey for sweetness, or a pinch of salt to enhance all the flavors!
- Serve Immediately: Pour into tall glasses and enjoy right away while it’s thick, cold, and at its absolute best! For a pretty presentation, sprinkle a tiny pinch of cinnamon on top, add a cinnamon stick as a garnish, or add a thin apple slice to the rim of the glass.
Notes
- For Smoothie Bowls: Use only ¾ cup liquid and skip the ice (or use just 2-3 cubes) to create a super thick, spoonable consistency. Pour into bowls and top with granola, apple slices, chopped walnuts or pecans, a drizzle of almond butter, cinnamon, and dried cranberries or raisins.
- Apple Variety Matters: Sweeter apple varieties (Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady) work best for smoothies. Avoid Granny Smith unless you really love tart flavors—they can make your smoothie very sour.
- Frozen Banana Trick: Keep peeled, sliced bananas in your freezer specifically for smoothies. Frozen bananas create an incredibly thick, ice cream-like texture that’s absolutely divine!
- Make It Apple Pie Smoothie: Add a tiny pinch of ground cloves and allspice along with the cinnamon, and use vanilla Greek yogurt for that authentic apple pie flavor.
- Boost the Protein: Add a scoop of vanilla protein powder, 2 tablespoons of almond butter, peanut butter, or cashew butter, or use 1 cup of Greek yogurt instead of ½ cup for a more substantial, protein-packed meal.
- Oat Texture: If you have time, soak your oats in the milk for 5-10 minutes before blending. This softens them and creates an even smoother texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 smoothie (approx. 12 oz)
- Calories: 245
- Sugar: 31g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 8mg