How to Make a Fruit Smoothie

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When that moment strikes and I have literally NOTHING else to make, a frozen fruit smoothie can always save the day.

It doesn’t even matter what fresh or frozen fruits I’m working with. They can ALL be turned into a creamy and delicious smoothie.

That is, if you have this go-to smoothie recipe on hand.

How to Make a Fruit Smoothie

While the recipe for a fruit smoothie is pretty basic, there is a special way of adding in your ingredients so it blends with ease.  This can change depending on if you’re using a personal-sized blender or a larger, more traditional blender, so make sure you pay attention to the special note at the end!

Jump to the recipe for the full instructions, ingredient amounts, and a printable recipe.

1. Pour in liquid. It doesn’t really matter when you add this in since it will inevitably sink towards the blade.
2. Add yogurt. This more liquid ingredient will help to blend up the other ingredients to it’s best if it’s placed closest to the blade.
3. Add fresh fruit. This is when fresh bananas, berries, or even an avocado go into the blender.
4. Toss in leafy greens. These are also easier to blend than frozen fruit so it’s good to place them closer to the blade.
5. Add frozen fruit. Make sure you’ve let it thaw for 5–10 minutes before this step so the blender does not get hung up.
6. Toss in add-ins. This is the time to add anything extra to give your smoothie a nutritional boost!
7. Blend it up! Start the blender on low so the ingredients slowly get mixed together. Once it’s churning, ramp up the speed to medium and blend until everything looks smooth and creamy.

Frozen Fruit

It’s essential that you use enough frozen fruit in your smoothie to make it perfectly creamy—not enough and you’ll end up with more of a liquid drink instead of a thick slushy consistency.

You can either buy the already frozen fruit at your grocery store or freeze fresh fruit that you have cut into 1 to 2-inch pieces. If you are freezing your own fresh fruit, make sure it has been in the freezer for at least 4–5 hours to ensure it is completely frozen.

Fresh Fruit

Using a mix of fresh and frozen fruit in a smoothie is a little secret I like to use. Many other recipes and websites call for ALL frozen fruit. But do you know what happens? You end up needing to add in a bunch of milk or other liquid in order to blend it up.

So instead, using a combination of fresh and frozen fruit gives you just the right consistency while also packing in the most fruity deliciousness!

Normally, 1 medium-sized banana is about what you’ll need for the fresh fruit component.

Liquid

Unsweetened milk is the liquid of choice when making frozen fruit smoothies since it makes them incredibly creamy and helps to balance the sweetness of the fruit.

Regular cow’s milk or a dairy-free alternative both work.

If using a plant-based milk, here are some of the recommended ones:

• Oat milk – My personal preference since it tastes the closest to regular milk and is super creamy.
• Almond milk
• Cashew milk
• Soy milk
• Coconut milk

Yogurt

I once thought yogurt was optional in smoothies. But the more I’ve made them, the more I’ve come to realize that yogurt is actually a pretty crucial component to the smoothie formula and essential for that creamy texture.

Not only is it thick and adds a wonderful creaminess to the mix, but it’s also got a slightly tangy bite that helps balance out the sweet fruit.

Unsweetened yogurt or plain Greek yogurt is preferred. However, if you like your smoothies on the sweet side, you can always try a flavored yogurt instead.

Plant and nut-based yogurt also work equally as well and can be used if on a vegetarian or vegan diet when you’re craving a great smoothie.

Sweeteners

Depending on the types of fruit and their ripeness, you may or may not need to add a little extra sweetener.

Typically, if I’m making a smoothie with a banana in it, a sweetener is not needed.

However, if more tangy fruits such as berries and kiwi are blended together, a little extra sugar is needed.

The best sweeteners to add into smoothies include:

• Honey
• Agave nectar
• Pure maple syrup
• Stevia liquid extract
• Coconut nectar

Optional Add-Ins

This is where the fun comes in!  There are so, so, so many things you can add into your smoothies to really up-level their nutritional benefits:

• Nuts and nut butters (peanut, almonds, cashew)
• Seeds (chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds)
• Oils (fish oil, flax seed oil, cod liver oil)
• Oats (use quick-cooking since they’re smaller and will blend up more easily)
• Protein powder (unflavored or sweetened)
• Spirulina powder
• Citrus zest (limes, lemons, oranges)
• Spices (turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper)
• Puree (pumpkin, sweet potato)
• And so much more!

Best Blenders for Smoothies

Okay, you’ve got all of your smoothie ingredients prepped and ready to go. Now how are you going to blend them up?

The key here is power.

You want to use a blender capable of completely mixing up all of the ingredients until they are smooth and creamy.

Here is a list of the best blenders for making fruit smoothies:

• Nutribullet – A wonderful personal-sized blender option. Make sure you use the larger cup in order to fit all of the ingredients without going over the max fill line.
  • Ninja Blender is also another great option!
• Vitamix – The most powerful of the traditional blenders and will give you a silky smooth smoothie every time. It is more of a splurge, so only spring for this if you make smoothies, soups, or sauces on a regular basis.
• Food Processor – Sort of a last resort, but will work if you don’t have another blender on hand!

Serving Smoothies

No smoothie would be complete without a fun straw to sip them up!

And there are so many different kinds you can use:

• Paper straws. (As you see pictured here.)
• Bamboo straws. A great re-usable option.
• Metal straws. Another option that can be rinsed and re-used.
• Plastic smoothie straws. These are not the most eco-friendly option, however, if you buy the larger ones you can easily rinse and re-use them numerous times!

Are smoothies healthy for you?

Yes! When smoothies are made at home, they are full of health benefits and a great way to get plenty of nutrients. The majority of a smoothie is made from antioxidant-packed fruit, protein-loaded milk and yogurt, and any other nutritious add-ins. They are relatively high in sugar and carbs, so they may not be suited for diabetics or those on a low-carb diet.

Also, there are so many add-ins you can mix into a smoothie to make them healthier. Nuts, nut butters (like almond butter), seeds, oils, spices, oats, and protein powders are all great additions and add healthy fats and protein.

What’s the best liquid for making smoothies?

Unsweetened milk is the best liquid to add to smoothies, either non-dairy milk or a regular version. It adds a nice creaminess while also helping to balance out the natural sweetness of the fruit. You can also use fruit juice or even coconut water!

Making vegan smoothies is also easy to do. Simply use a plant-based milk alternative, such as oat, cashew, or soy milk, and a nut-based yogurt alternative along with the fresh and frozen fruits.

Fruit Smoothie Recipes

Now that you’ve got the basic formula for making fruit smoothies, there are so many flavor combinations you can try.

Some classic mixes, like Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie, Peach Banana Smoothie, Strawberry Banana Smoothie, and a Mixed Berry Smoothie are delicious.

Both the Tropical Green Smoothie and the Pineapple Coconut Smoothie will make you feel like you’re on a beach.

And this Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie is dessert in a glass!

Check out this post that answers the question of Are Fruit Smoothies Healthy?