Category: Cold Breakfast Recipes

Mixed Berry Smoothie

This Mixed Berry Smoothie recipe is rich, creamy, packed with lots of fruit and perfect for a quick breakfast or a midday snack.

The post Mixed Berry Smoothie appeared first on Budget Bytes.

When I don’t have time to make a big breakfast, one of my favorite ways to start the day has always been with a quick smoothie. They’re refreshing, satisfying, easy to make, and perfect for a simple breakfast or a sweet midday snack! I’ve been making smoothies for quite some time and one smoothie that I always find myself coming back to is this Mixed Berry Smoothie recipe. It’s rich, creamy, packed with lots of fruit, and way cheaper than Smoothie King!😄 So no matter if you’re new to smoothies or a smoothie pro, you’ll definitely want to add this one to your smoothie rotation!

Overhead shot of two mixed berry smoothies in glasses with metal straws and fresh fruit on the side.

Ingredients For Mixed Berry Smoothie

This mixed berry smoothie recipe is made with simple ingredients and is also very flexible. Here’s what we used:

  • Frozen Mixed Berries: Frozen fruit is the key to getting a super creamy and thick smoothie consistency, without having to use any ice. For the berries we used a mix of frozen strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. But feel free to use any combination of frozen berries that you like. Frozen berries are also a lot more economical than fresh berries because they don’t go bad quickly in your fridge!
  • Banana: You can either use a fresh or frozen banana in this smoothie recipe. I opted for a frozen banana to make my smoothie extra thick and keep it from melting too fast.
  • Almond Milk: We used plain, unsweetened almond milk for our smoothie, but you can use any type of dairy or non-dairy milk that you like.
  • Yogurt: A little bit of yogurt gives the smoothie a wonderful creamy texture. We used plain yogurt, but a vanilla flavored yogurt would also taste great.
  • Sugar & Vanilla Extract: A little bit of sugar and vanilla provide sweetness and added flavor. Feel free to substitute with honey in place of the sugar. And if you’re using a vanilla-flavored yogurt or vanilla almond milk, then you can omit the vanilla extract.

What Else Can I Add In My Smoothie?

There are lots of different ingredients you can add to this mixed berry smoothie for extra nutrients and to make it more filling. Here are a few ideas:

  • Quick oats
  • Ground flaxseeds
  • Chia seeds
  • Hemp seeds
  • Spinach
  • Kale
  • Honey (in place of the sugar)

Make a Smoothie Bowl!

I love using this mixed berry smoothie recipe to make delicious smoothie bowls! The smoothie itself becomes the base foundation of the bowl, then just top the smoothie with yummy toppings like fresh fruit, seeds, granola, and maybe a drizzle of honey. Smoothie bowls are super versatile and easy to customize based on what you currently have in your fridge and pantry. They’re also super filling and just a fun way to turn this breakfast smoothie into a refreshing sweet treat! ;)

Money-Saving Tip!

You can often find great deals on fresh berries when they are in season. Berries are mostly in season during the Summer and early Fall months. Use this time to grab your favorite berries when they are on sale and freeze them for later! Sometimes I even go strawberry picking with my little ones in the month of May, then freeze some of the strawberries to use the rest of the year.

Front side view of two mixed berry smoothies in glasses with one smoothie glass being held by a hand.
Front view of two mixed berry smoothies in a glass with a metal straw.
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Mixed Berry Smoothie

This Mixed Berry Smoothie recipe is rich, creamy, packed with lots of fruit and perfect for a quick breakfast or a midday snack.
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Total Cost $6.92 recipe / $3.46 serving
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 2 (16 oz. glasses)
Calories 261kcal
Author Marsha – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

  • 3 cups frozen mixed berries $4.99
  • 1 frozen banana, sliced $0.21
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt $0.80
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract $0.25
  • 1 Tbsp sugar $0.02
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk* $0.65

Instructions

  • Add the frozen mixed berries, frozen banana (sliced in half), yogurt, vanilla extract, sugar, and almond milk to a large blender.
  • Blend the ingredients until smooth. If the smoothie is too thick, add more milk as needed to make it blend smoothly. Serve immediately and enjoy.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*We used unsweetened almond milk for our smoothie, but you can use any type of dairy or non-dairy milk that you like.

Nutrition

Serving: 16oz. | Calories: 261kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 6g | Sodium: 275mg | Fiber: 8g

How to Make A MIXED BERRY SMOOTHIE – Step by Step Photos

Overhead shot of mixed berry smoothie ingredients separated in different bowls.

Gather together 3 cups of frozen mixed berries, 1 frozen banana (sliced in half), 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 Tbsp of sugar, and 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk.

Front view of mixed berry smoothie ingredients in a blender with almond milk being poured inside the blender.

Add all of the ingredients to a large blender and blend until smooth.

Overhead view of mixed berry smoothie fully blended inside the blender container.

If the smoothie is too thick, add more milk as needed to make it blend smoothly.

Front view of two mixed berry smoothies in a glass with a metal straw.

How gorgeous does this smoothie look? Serve immediately and enjoy!

Overhead shot of two mixed berry smoothies in glasses with metal straws and fresh fruit on the side.

More Smoothie Recipes

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Green Smoothie

This Green Smoothie is creamy, tangy, and light! Yes, it’s good for you, but more importantly, it’s so yummy you’ll start to crave it.

The post Green Smoothie appeared first on Budget Bytes.

This Green Smoothie is creamy, tangy, and light! Yes, it’s good for you, but more importantly, it’s so yummy you’ll start to crave it. I started making it to sneak more greens into my kiddo’s diet during the blisteringly hot LA summer months, but we loved it so much that it became a year-round favorite. PS I’ve made this green smoothie recipe for hundreds of kids at the cooking classes I host at schools all over the country. I’ve never had anyone not drink the whole thing. So this one’s a winner!

Side shot of green smoothies surrounded by cut fruit.

What Is A Green Smoothie?

A green smoothie is a velvety blend of leafy greens like spinach and kale, frozen fruit to add natural sweetness, and a liquid or creamy ingredient to help bring everything together and create a smooth texture. It’s loaded with vitamins, minerals, and probiotics.

What You’ll Need

This green smoothie recipe is simple because I’m not particularly eager to complicate my morning routine. I love that I can put the green smoothie ingredients in freezer packs if I’m facing a busy week. Sometimes I’ll blend the smoothie the night before, shake it up in the morning, and it’s still absolute perfection.

  • Baby spinach – this is the “green” in your smoothie. It blends easily, and the fruit in the smoothie overpowers its mild flavor. You can sub with baby kale or your favorite super greens blend.
  • Plain Yogurt – adds creaminess and a smooth texture. I use yogurt with probiotics to up the nutrition factor. You can substitute the yogurt with milk, cottage cheese, or plant-based alternatives.
  • Orange Juice – helps to loosen the smoothie texture and adds a sweet tang that helps cover the bitterness of the raw spinach. You can sub with apple juice, pineapple juice, or with water.
  • Green Apple – adds fiber and acidic notes that mask the spinach flavors. You don’t have to peel your apple, but make sure you scrub the peel with baking soda to remove the wax used to preserve it. You can substitute the apple with any other apple, grapes, peaches, mango, or pear.
  • Frozen Bananas – you need to blend frozen fruit to create a creamy smoothie texture. Ice will only water down your results and ruin the blades of your blender. Bananas should be ripe, as their natural sugars will help sweeten the blend. Substitute bananas with frozen avocado, or frozen mango.
  • Frozen Pineapple – the bright, tart notes of pineapple help mask the spinach flavor. You can freeze pineapple canned in its own juices to help lower costs. Reserve the juices and use them instead of orange juice.
Overhead shot of three green smoothies surrounded by cut fruit.

Green Smoothie Benefits

Greens are the most nutrient-dense when consumed raw, like in this smoothie. This green smoothie recipe is a good source of Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Iron, Potassium, and Calcium. These nutrients help with bone strength and digestive health and support immunity. Learn more about the health benefits of green smoothies HERE.

How To Make A Smoothie Pack

I use a large mason jar to store my smoothie packs because I pour the smoothie back into the jar as soon as I blend it. You can keep the ingredients in your freezer-safe container of choice.

  1. Slice the bananas and add them to your freezer-safe container.
  2. Follow with the pineapple and the apple.
  3. Top with spinach and seal.

When you’re ready to enjoy your smoothie, add the juice and yogurt to a blender jar, add the spinach from the pack, and process until creamy. Follow with the remaining ingredients in the pack and blend until smooth.

Side shot of hand holding green smoothie with a straw in it.
Side shot of green smoothies surrounded by cut fruit.
Print

Green Smoothie

This Green Smoothie is creamy, tangy, and light! Yes, it's good for you, but more importantly, it's so yummy you'll start to crave it.
Course Breakfast, Lunch, Snack
Cuisine American
Total Cost $6.21 recipe / $0.78 serving
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 8 cups
Calories 75kcal
Author Monti – Budget Bytes

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup orange juice $0.50
  • 1/2 cup yogurt, plain $0.34
  • 4 cups fresh baby spinach, packed (5 oz container) $3.00
  • 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks $1.25
  • 1 green apple, chopped $0.62
  • 2 bananas, frozen $0.50

Instructions

  • Add orange juice and yogurt to a blender jar. Top with fresh baby spinach and blend until smooth.
  • Add the pineapple, apple, and bananas and blend until smooth. Add more juice (or water) to thin out the smoothie to your preference.
  • Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to a day to ensure maximum freshness, nutrition, and flavor.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 20mg | Fiber: 2g
Overhead shot of three green smoothies surrounded by cut fruit.

How to Make A Green Smoothie – Step by Step Photos

Side shot of juice being added to a blender full of spinach.

Add 1 cup orange juice and 1/2 cup yogurt to a blender jar. Top with 4 cups fresh baby spinach and blend until smooth.

Side shot of frozen fruit being added to blended spinach.

Add 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks, one green apple peeled and chopped, and two frozen bananas. Blend until smooth. Add more juice (or water) to thin out the smoothie to your preference.

Overhead shot of finished smoothie in a blender.

Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to a day to ensure maximum freshness, nutrition, and flavor.

Side shot of green smoothies surrounded by cut fruit.

More Great Smoothie Recipes

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