Light, creamy and ready in 5 minutes, this Cherry Vanilla Smoothie is an easy, breezy way to power your mornings! To make this quick smoothie, frozen sweet cherries are blended with Greek yogurt, avocado, milk and vanilla, and naturally sweetened with a touch of honey, for a simple and nourishing way to start your day. The texture is silky smooth, the flavour is deliciously sweet and the ingredients are simple to keep on hand – making this smoothie a natural fit for your morning routine.
Cherry Vanilla Smoothies have become my new go-to, for a quick nutritious breakfast or on-the-go snack. Getting everyone fed and out the door in the morning can be a challenge, so I’m always on the lookout for easy breakfast recipes everyone will love. Fresh cherries are a favourite at my house and are usually a summertime treat, reserved for hot, sunny days at The Lakehouse when they’re in peak season. This Cherry Vanilla Smoothie recipe calls for frozen cherries, which allows us to enjoy sweet cherry flavour year-round, and makes this smoothie seem extra special in the dead of winter. Ready in just 5 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weekday mornings. More than just a quick breakfast option, this smoothie is just the thing for a light pre-game meal, post-dance class snack or a refreshing post-workout boost. No matter where the day takes you, this Cherry Vanilla Smoothie checks all the boxes! Plus, I love the nostalgic combination of cherries and vanilla. It reminds me of old-fashioned desserts and sock-hop era soda fountains and ice cream counters, which adds a little extra fun.
What Goes in A Cherry Vanilla Smoothie?
To make your Cherry Vanilla Smoothie as delicious as possible, here’s what to consider when selecting ingredients:
- Frozen Cherries: Loaded with antioxidants, frozen sweet cherries are the star of this recipe and provide a thick, chilled texture to the smoothie and delicious fruit flavour. Frozen cherries eliminate the need for ice, which can water down flavours. Look for bags of pitted, frozen sweet cherries in the freezer section of most grocery stores.
- Avocado: The fresh, ripe avocado in this recipe gives the smoothie an impossibly silky, creamy texture and adds nutrients. I’ve used a quarter of a fresh avocado in my smoothie, but keeping a bag of frozen avocado in the freezer may be easier if you make this smoothie often. Simply add a few chunks of frozen avocado (roughly 1/4 of an avocado) to the mix and blend the smoothie for a few extra seconds to achieve a smooth consistency.
- Greek Yogurt: This superfood adds creaminess, protein, probiotics and nutrients to this smoothie. Avoid fat-free versions and reach for a yogurt that is at least 2% milk fat for best results.
- Milk: Use the milk of your choice in this smoothie. I use 2% cows milk, but almond milk and other plant-based milks work as well. This recipe makes a thick and creamy smoothie. If you prefer a thinner, more gulp-able smoothie, add more milk gradually until you reach your preferred consistency.
- Honey: This Cherry Vanilla Smoothie is sweetened naturally with the addition of honey. The amount of honey you need will depend on the sweetness of your cherries as well as personal preference. Start by adding just 1 tsp to add a hint of sweetness, then add more to taste.
- Vanilla: Vanilla extract is added to the smoothie for classic cherry-vanilla flavour. The recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of vanilla, but I often double it for maximum vanilla taste. If you like almond extract, a dash added to the mix also enhances the cherry flavour.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
SERVING SUGGESTIONSAt my house, Cherry Vanilla Smoothies are normally whipped up in 5 minutes and served for a quick family breakfast, or poured into insulated travel mugs and taken along to practice, rehearsals or on the drive to the ski hill. The only things I’m usually serving on the side is a handful of granola or nuts. In other words, this recipe is a quick and easy snack to whip up and eat on the fly. That being said, this smoothie is really delicious and deserves more glory. Served in small, chilled glasses and garnished with fresh cherries and mint sprigs, this smoothie moves seamlessly from weekday snack to breakfast for company. For a heartier meal, make the smoothie extra thick and transform it into a smoothie bowl by topping it with fresh fruit, seeds or nuts.
Cherry Vanilla Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen sweet cherries
- 1/4 avocado
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup milk (or more for desired consistency)
- 1-2 tsp honey (or to taste)
- 1 tsp vanilla (or more to taste)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a high powered blender and blend on high until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides if necessary. Taste and add additional honey if needed. Pour into a tall glass and enjoy cold.
RECIPE NOTES
- If possible, use a high powered blender to achieve a smooth and creamy consistency. If you make smoothies frequently, a Vitamix blender is a worthwhile investment. For a more budget-friendly option that still delivers smooth results, check out the Ninja blenders.
- How thick a smoothie should be is a matter of personal preference. If the mixture seems too thick, or isn’t blending smoothly, add more milk until desired consistency is reached.
- Cherry Vanilla Smoothie is best served immediately, while it is cold and creamy. However, if you have leftovers, pour the smoothie into a jar with a tight fitting lid and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours. The ingredients may separate, so give the jar a good shake (or blitz in the blender) to restore creaminess before serving.
- Leftover smoothie can also be made into frozen smoothie popsicles. Simply pour the leftover smoothie into popsicle molds, add popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 8 hours!
Looking for other healthy breakfast ideas? Try these popular Style and Grace recipes!
