The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios Show
Banana, pear, ginger, and kale come together in one fantastic smoothie that's perfect for fall. The green pear smoothie has layers of flavor that make it a recipe anyone will enjoy. Green smoothies featuring kale can be a little bland, but that is not what you'll find in this delicious recipe. The pear adds a soft, sweet fruity flavor that the banana backs up perfectly. Using almond milk, honey, and vanilla extract add nice accents. Yet, it's when you add the cinnamon and ginger that it really becomes a seasonal wonder.
I’m a believer that smoothies are the perfect meal or snack no matter what the weather. It is never too cold to have an awesome smoothie! Since smoothies are such a tasty way to pack in a meal on the go, I put on a big sweater and happily drink them even when the temps are frigid. We originally published our first guide on smoothie making way back in 2015, and since then, millions of folks have visited this post and used our recipes to make the best ever smoothies! I consider these smoothies simple classics because they have great flavor, all the ingredients are easy to source (no specialty stores here!), and they pack a nutritional punch that can nourish you nicely. These are the kinds of smoothies that I think everyone should know how to make, and chances are, you’ll find a favorite combo among these recipes. There really is no wrong way to make a smoothie, but I think these recipes are a great jumping-off point if the blender intimidates you. Are smoothies healthy for you?Before we dive into the quest of how to make a fruit smoothie, let’s dive into the why. Our philosophy here at Wholefully is that smoothies can be an incredibly nourishing part of your diet. Just like with our juicing recipes, we say it’s always better to eat whole fruits and veggies where possible. But it’s not always possible! Smoothies do make it easy to pack in all the nutrients of your favorite produce into one drinkable cup—which is great when you’re on the go or short on time. And let’s be honest, smoothies are just freaking delicious! We are big believers that you also need to nourish your soul with your food, and if drinking a perfectly tangy and sweet smoothie brings a smile to your face, then that’s healthy as healthy can be. How to Make a Fruit SmoothieMaking a fruit smoothie is as simple as tossing ingredients in a blender and letting it rip, but we want to make sure you succeed every time, so here’s our exact process:
What’s the best blender for making smoothies?Blenders have gotten so advanced in the past few years, that it’s hard to pick one that won’t blend up a great smoothie! If you’re blender shopping, here are the three blenders we recommend for daily smoothie-making:
What’s the best liquid for making smoothies?We like to use (unsweetened) milk of choice. If you’re a fan of coconut milk, use it. Like cow’s milk? Go for it. A fan of almond milk? Cool. Use whatever milk you like in your smoothies—you can’t go wrong. I just recommend you stick to unsweetened and unflavored versions. That gives you the most control over the smoothie. Do you put ice in a smoothie?We recommend using frozen fruit to both chill and thicken your smoothie. This gets you the right texture and temperature without watering it down. However, if you are fresh out of frozen fruit, you can toss in a handful or two of ice cubes into the blender to make your smoothie frosty and thick. What do I use to sweeten a smoothie?All of these smoothies here use frozen fruit as a base, which adds a nice baseline of sweetness that you can build on if your tastebuds would like. My recommendation is to blend up your smoothie without any added sweetener, then taste. Add in honey or maple syrup to taste. Many times, I don’t need to add anything! Another great natural option for sweetening: pitted Medjool dates. Throw in one or two of those bad boys and let the blender do its thing. You’d be amazed at how sweet your smoothie will be!
When I go grocery shopping, I buy the biggest ripe bunch of bananas I can find. Then when I get home, I peel them, break them into chunks, and then freeze them flat on a cookie sheet. When solid, I transfer them to a ziptop freezer bag. How can I make my smoothie healthier?The smoothie recipes below are plain, but if you want to expand your smoothie horizons, go for it! Toss in chia seeds or protein powder or hemp seeds or flax or whatever else makes your heart happy. If you have a standard set of mix-ins you like, you can even freeze them into booster packs—great for really quick and easy smoothies! How do I make smoothies if I don’t like bananas?Lucky for you, we have an entire post of recipes to make a smoothie without banana. Try those recipes, or tweak any of the recipes below by:
How do you make vegan smoothies?Use plant-based Greek yogurt (you can even make your own coconut milk yogurt) and stick to maple syrup and plant-based milks. What are some great smoothie recipes?Alright, now that you’re fully versed on how to make a great smoothie, let me share with you some of our absolute favorite combos! Click on any image to jump over to that specific smoothie recipe. Classic Simple Smoothies (perfect for beginners!)These smoothies are a great place to start. No weird ingredients that you have to special order, just fresh, real food that you can find at any typical supermarket. No Banana SmoothiesAllergic to bananas or just don’t like them? We’ve got you covered. All the smoothies are banana-free and have no-added sugar. Are you looking for even more smoothies? No worries, we’ve got you covered:
And check out some of our favorite smoothie hacks, too:
What’s a great smoothie formula?While we’ve got tons of great smoothie recipes for you to try, we know you’ll eventually want to break out on your own and make your own custom creations! When you’re ready to fly the smoothie nest, follow our perfect smoothie formula for a great smoothie every time.
While we’ve got tons of great smoothie recipes for you to try, we know you’ll eventually want to break out on your own and make your own custom creations! When you’re ready to fly the smoothie nest, follow our perfect smoothie formula for a great smoothie every time.
Place all ingredients in the blender carafe in the order listed. Blend all ingredients together until smooth.
Don’t eat bananas? Sub in frozen avocado and a bit extra sweetener for a similar creamy result. Canned pears (in juice) and Greek yogurt can also give you similar results. Check out our list of no banana smoothies for more ideas!
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1 At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you. |