Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ cups frozen cherries (sweet or tart, pitted)
- 1 frozen banana (previously peeled and sliced)
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt (or vanilla Greek yogurt)
- ¾ cup milk of choice (almond, oat, dairy, etc.)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional, to taste)
- ½ cup ice cubes (optional, for thicker texture)
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)
Instructions
- Prep Your Frozen Fruit: If you haven’t already, make sure your banana is peeled, sliced, and frozen solid (at least 2 hours or overnight). Your frozen cherries should be ready to use straight from the freezer. No need to thaw – frozen fruit creates the best texture.
- Layer Ingredients Strategically: Add ingredients to your blender in this specific order for optimal blending: milk first (creates the base liquid), then Greek yogurt, vanilla extract, any optional sweetener, frozen banana, and finally frozen cherries on top. If using ice or protein powder, add those last.
- Start Blending Low: Begin blending on the lowest speed setting for 10-15 seconds. This prevents ingredients from flying up the sides and helps break down the larger frozen chunks without straining your blender motor. You’ll hear the sound change as ingredients start breaking down.
- Increase to High Speed: Gradually increase your blender speed to high and blend for 45-60 seconds until the smoothie is completely smooth, creamy, and no chunks of fruit remain. The mixture should be a gorgeous pink-red color and have a thick, velvety consistency. If your blender has a tamper tool, use it to push ingredients toward the blades.
- Check Consistency: Stop the blender and check the thickness. If it’s too thick to blend or drink comfortably, add milk 2 tablespoons at a time and pulse briefly. If it’s too thin, add a few more ice cubes or some extra frozen cherries and blend again. Remember, the smoothie will thin slightly as it sits.
- Taste and Adjust: This is important! Taste your smoothie and adjust the sweetness if needed. If using tart cherries or your banana wasn’t very ripe, you might want to add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. If it’s perfect as is, you’re done! Blend briefly again if you add anything.
- Serve Immediately: Pour into glasses and enjoy right away for the best texture and temperature. If desired, garnish with a few fresh or frozen cherries on top, a sprinkle of granola, or a fresh mint leaf for a pretty presentation. Serve with a straw or spoon depending on thickness.
Notes
- Frozen fruit is key for that thick, creamy milkshake texture without diluting the flavor with too much ice
- The riper your banana before freezing, the sweeter your smoothie will be
- Tart cherries (Montmorency) offer more anti-inflammatory benefits but need extra sweetener; sweet cherries need little to no added sweetener
- If smoothie is too tart, add more banana or a pitted date instead of processed sugar
- For a smoothie bowl, use less milk (start with ½ cup) for a thicker, spoonable consistency
- Different blenders have different power levels – blend longer if needed to achieve smooth consistency
- The smoothie will separate if it sits for more than 20 minutes; just stir or shake before drinking
- Protein powder can make the smoothie thicker; reduce milk slightly if using
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 smoothie (approximately 16 oz)
- Calories: 235
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 65mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 10mg