How To Make a Smoothie

Everything you need to know about smoothies.

Our formula for easy and nourishing smoothies.

Smoothies are great for a quick breakfast, easy snack, and even refreshing dessert. They’re portable, versatile, and can be *so* good for you. If you’re not eating enough produce, a smoothie is a delicious way to pack in 1-2 more servings of fruit + veg. 

Plus, they’re super simple to make. Here’s our guide for how to make a smoothie in a blender for perfect results every time.

What should I put in my smoothie?

There are so many ways to customize a smoothie based on your dietary preferences and taste buds. Take a peek at what you could blend in a smoothie:

• Fruit: Any frozen fruit will work as the base but pineapple, mango, and berries are some of our faves. 

• Liquids: Choose between options like milk (dairy or plant-based), fruit juice, water, coconut water, and even cold tea. Anything goes!

• Banana: Adds an extra creamy texture and works as a natural sweetener. 

• Greens: Spinach is one the best leafy greens to add in a smoothie, thanks to their mild taste. You can also pair kale, chard, and collard greens with sweet fruits to downplay their bitter flavor.

• Avocado: Think avocado only belongs on toast? Think again. Avocados help brighten up your day (and your skin!). They offer antioxidants (such as vitamin C), remove toxins from your body, fight inflammation, and are a good source of fiber and healthy fats. Plus, they add richness to any smoothie.

• Plain greek yogurt: Unsweetened yogurt has a tangy bite that helps balance out the sweetness of fruits. Bonus: it creates a decadently thick and creamy texture (sort of like ice cream) and kicks the protein up a notch.

• Protein powder: Drinking a protein shake before or after a workout can help with muscle recovery.

• Nuts or seeds: Nuts add protein and body to your smoothies and make them so much more filling and satisfying. Almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds are all good choices.

How to make a smoothie

Smoothies are easy to switch up based on your taste buds or dietary preferences. To get started, here’s a simple smoothie formula for about 16 ounces of smoothie:

• 3 cups of frozen fruit

• 1 cup liquid

• ¼ cup of yogurt (optional)

• 1-2 tablespoons of sweetener (optional)

• Add-ins (optional)

If you’re making a smoothie with banana or other very sweet, ripe fruits, then sweetener isn’t needed. But if your smoothie is loaded with tart fruits like berries or kiwi, then a little sweetener will taste better. For more inspiration, explore easy smoothie ideas that’ll make your mornings a breeze.

Now, let’s dive into all the different parts of a smoothie.

Frozen fruits for a smoothie

Frozen fruits make for a thick and refreshing smoothie. Only have fresh fruit on hand? No problem. Just balance it out with a frozen banana or a cup of ice. Check out some of the best frozen fruits to blend in a fruit smoothie:

1. Banana 

2. Peaches 

3. Cherries

4. Pineapple

5. Mango

6. Strawberries

7. Blackberries

8. Raspberries

9. Blueberries

10. Pomegranates

How do I make my smoothie thick?

Be sure to use enough frozen fruit in your smoothie for a perfectly creamy texture. Not enough and you’ll be stuck with a watery drink. Just before you blend your smoothie, let the frozen fruit thaw slightly for 5-10 minutes. This’ll make the ingredients blend together much easier.

Best liquids to use in a smoothie

IMHO, unsweetened milk (dairy or non-dairy) is the best liquid for frozen fruit smoothies. The mild flavor helps balance out the sweetness of the fruit. If you want to try something different, here are a few fun options:

• Oat, almond, cashew, soy, or coconut milk

• Pineapple, mango, apple, or orange juice

• Cold-brewed coffee or tea

• Chocolate milk

• Kombucha or kefir

Should I add milk or water to my smoothie?

Water is calorie-free, sugar-free, and doesn’t cost anything. If you prefer your smoothie thicker, go for almond or oat milk. Coconut water is rich in electrolytes, potassium, fiber, and sodium, which are good for training/hydration. Dairy milk has a delicious flavor and helps mask any bitter taste from a greens smoothie.

Other crave-worthy smoothie ingredients

Seriously, the add-in opportunities in a smoothie are endless. Here are a few ideas to spice up your smoothies.

• Nut butter. Scoop some peanut butter, cashew butter, almond butter, or sunflower seed butter to thicken smoothies and get that nutty flavor.

• Veggies. You can add leafy greens like fresh spinach or kale. Avocado and frozen cauliflower create an extra smooth and creamy texture.

• Seeds. Sprinkle in some pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, chia seeds, or hemp hearts for protein.

• Grains. You can use quick rolled oats, quinoa, or even millet to add protein, fiber, and creaminess.

• Citrus zest. Use the peel of limes, lemons, or oranges for added freshness.

• Protein. Wondering how to add protein to smoothies? Add a scoop of your favorite protein or collagen powder.

• Cheese. Go for cream cheese or cottage cheese for extra thickness.

• Sweeteners. For a hint of sweetness, add a drizzle of pure maple syrup, honey, agave, coconut nectar, or even pitted Medjool dates. 

• Spices and powders. Add a dash of turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, or cayenne pepper for a little kick. You can also use acai powder, maca powder, spirulina–the list goes on.

• Extracts. For extra flavor, add a dash of vanilla, almond, or maple extract.

You’ll want to start small with add-ins. Add just a small amount, blend, and give a taste test to make sure you still dig the flavor. You can always add more later if you need more oomph.

Blender recommendations for smoothies

You’ll want a blender that’s strong enough to mix all your ingredients into a smooth and creamy texture. Peep this list of top blenders for making fruit smoothies:

• Nutribullet: This personal-sized option blends all the fixings so your smoothie is perfectly decadent and silky. 

• NinjaBlender: Another standout personal-sized option.

• Vitamix: A powerful, traditional blender that gives you a velvety texture. 

How to make a smoothie without a blender:

If you don’t have a blender on hand, try a food processor or a whisk to get the job done. You can mash very soft, ripe fruit and yogurt for blender-free smoothies.

Common smoothie mistakes and how to avoid them

Let’s face it—smoothies are easy, but they can go wrong if you’re not careful. Here are some common mistakes and tips to nail your blend every time:

Mistake: Overloading your blender.

Fix: Stick to the recipe proportions, blending in batches if needed. Too much at once can strain the motor.

Mistake: Forgetting to thaw frozen fruits.

Fix: Let frozen ingredients sit out for 5-10 minutes before blending for smoother results.

Mistake: Using too much liquid.

Fix: Start small and add more liquid gradually to control the consistency.

Mistake: Adding ice last.

Fix: Ice should go in first or last, depending on your blender. Experiment to find what works best for your setup.

 

Avoiding these mistakes will take your smoothie game from meh to marvelous!

How to store smoothie ingredients

Making smoothies is easiest when you’ve got all the essentials ready to go. Here’s how to store smoothies (and their ingredients) like a pro:

• Fruits and Veggies - Keep fresh produce in airtight containers in the fridge or freeze them in small portions for convenience. Bananas turning spotty? Peel, slice, and freeze for smoothies anytime.

• Greens - Wash and dry spinach, kale, or chard, then store them in reusable bags or containers in the freezer.

• Liquids - Have shelf-stable options like plant-based milk or juices on hand. Refrigerate open containers and use them up quickly.

• Add-ins - Keep nuts, seeds, and protein powders in airtight jars in your pantry. If you don’t use them often, pop them in the fridge or freezer to extend their shelf life.

Organizing your smoothie stash ensures you’ll never skip a smoothie because you’re missing an ingredient!

Save time with Smoothies from Daily Harvest.  

With the right ingredients, smoothies can help boost your fruit and vegetable intake, and lock in a variety of essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Fiber is an all-star for digestion, and some of your fave smoothie ingredients are loaded with fiber. (Think: fruit, veg, nuts, seeds, and oats.)

But divvying up the perfect ratio of fruit, veg, add-ins, and milk takes time and a whole lot of counter space. 

If you’re dreaming of a thick smoothie bowl but don’t want to spend time measuring ingredients, we’ve got you covered. Daily Harvest’s ready-to-blend Smoothies take only minutes to prepare and are packed with juicy fruits, leafy greens, and good-for-you-protein. Plus, there’s no gluten, dairy, GMOs, or artificial ANYTHING in our food. 

Tip: Pair our ready-to-blend Smoothies with Mylk, our plant-based milk. It’s made with real ingredients (almonds, vanilla, oats, sea salt–that's it) and packaged into compact frozen wedges. Just add water and blend with our Smoothies for the dreamiest, creamiest thing you’ll ever drink.

30+ Smoothie flavors shipped to you.

That’s right. We’ve got over 30 crave-worthy, chef-crafted Smoothies made with thoughtfully sourced organic ingredients. Wanna know the REAL struggle? Figuring out which incredible Smoothie to sip first. Sooo, where to start? Let’s break it down.

Smoothie #1: Avocado + Greens is packed with earthy spirulina and nutrient-dense spinach and a hint of sweetness from ripe apples and nourishing, filling avocado. Get a boost of energy from 8 grams of protein and 7 grams of dietary fiber. Talk about green goodness. 

Smoothie #2: Strawberry + Peach will give you flashbacks of classic strawberry and banana sherbert. Strawberry and peach provide the OG fruity flavor, while oats and flax seeds provide fiber to keep you full and happy all day. Btw, we added some goji berries for good measure too. These superfood berries contain more iron than spinach and have the highest protein content of any fruit. Oh yeah.

Smoothie #3: Mint + Cacao tastes just like a refreshing mint chip ice cream, but the cacao nibs and chlorella work hard to protect your body from harmful compounds such as heavy metals and other environmental toxins. Plus, you’ll get vital nutrients like spinach for iron, bananas for vitamin C, and potassium and cashew butter for heart-healthy fats.

Smoothie #4: Chocolate + Blueberry has your choco fix over here. Our decadent chocolate and blueberry blend is loaded with antioxidants from blueberries and organic cacao, while organic maca provides a natural boost of energy. We’ve also jam-packed leafy greens like kale and spinach to support your digestive system. This all-star gives you 12g of fiber and 35% of your daily iron.

Smoothie #5: Cold Brew + Cacao is THE mocha frappe pick-me-up. In this healthy smoothie, we combined cold-brewed and magnesium-rich cacao nibs with nourishing cauliflower mingled with ashwagandha, an adaptogenic herb believed to reduce stress. The results? A decadent, perfect Smoothie with 10 grams of satisfying protein and all the energy you need to tackle the day.

That’s just a tiny peek into our best selling smoothies. We’ve got dozens and dozens more to explore. Have at it. 

Our POV: Smoothies aren’t just a breakfast thing. Daily Harvest makes it sooo easy to prep and enjoy a refreshing Smoothie morning, noon, and night. Just add your choice of liquid, pour into a blender, give it a quick whirl, and boom, you’re ready to sip on a nutrient-packed Smoothie. Take a bow, fruit + veg.