Category: smoothies

Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie

This chocolate peanut butter smoothie is made with healthy ingredients but tastes like a milkshake! Ideal for mornings or a…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This chocolate peanut butter smoothie is made with healthy ingredients but tastes like a milkshake! Ideal for mornings or a sweet treat.

Chocolate peanut butter smoothie

Need a healthy sweet treat? Try the Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie: made with good-for-you ingredients but tastes like a milk shake! We can’t resist smoothies that taste like dessert, like our Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie and Peanut Butter Smoothie. Put them together and you’ve got this one! It’s rich and chocolaty, but made with bananas, oats and honey. Blend it up for busy mornings or afternoons where you need a quick pick-me-up: it even doubles as a healthy dessert!

Ingredients in this chocolate peanut butter smoothie

This chocolate peanut butter smoothie relies on just a few good-for-you ingredients to make magic in the blender. Make it with milk or the non-dairy milk of your choosing. You can even make it with coffee (more on that below!). Here’s a run-down of the easy ingredients you’ll need:

  • Frozen bananas: This is the only step you’ll need to do in advance! Slice and freeze them on a baking sheet for at least 1 ½ hours. Or you can buy frozen bananas!
  • Old Fashioned oats
  • Cocoa powder or Dutch process (dark) cocoa powder: we prefer dark; more on that below
  • Peanut butter
  • Milk of choice (dairy, oat, or almond milk) or coffee: coffee adds a fun variation, much like this Coffee Smoothie! You can also add half milk, half strong coffee or espresso.
  • Honey or maple syrup
  • Ice
chocolate peanut butter smoothie

Dutch process vs standard cocoa powder

Use whatever cocoa powder you have on hand for this chocolate peanut butter smoothie. But we like it best with Dutch process cocoa powder, aka dark cocoa powder! This type has been treated with an alkali to make it pH neutral, which gives it a darker color and milder flavor. It makes the flavor ultra chocolaty: which we love!

Step it up with shaved chocolate

Serving this chocolate peanut butter smoothie as a treat? Top it with a sprinkle of dark chocolate! You only need about 1 tablespoon, and when you stir it in it makes for tasty chocolate chunks in each sip. It’s optional, but a fun way to take it up a notch! Then add a drizzle of peanut butter to take it over the top.

chocolate peanut butter smoothie

Ways to add more protein

This chocolate peanut butter smoothie has a decent amount of protein from the peanut butter, but we’ve tried to use just enough to get great flavor without loading on calories. Here are a few other options for adding protein:

  • Chia seeds. You can add plant-based protein and fiber with chia seeds: 2 tablespoons chia seeds adds 4 grams protein and 11 grams fiber.
  • Vanilla or chocolate protein powder: Protein powder works well too! We use this protein powder that has natural ingredients and a flavor that’s not too artificial. Just remember to dial back the maple syrup or honey, because protein powder adds sweetness.

More sweet smoothie recipes

Looking for more smoothies that taste like a treat? Here are a few more you might enjoy:

This chocolate peanut butter smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Chocolate peanut butter smoothie

Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small smoothies
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 medium frozen bananas (sliced and frozen on a baking sheet for at least 1 1/2 hours)
  • ¼ cup Old Fashioned oats
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder or Dutch process (dark) cocoa powder (we prefer dark)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1 cup milk of choice (dairy, oat, or almond milk) or coffee*
  • 2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • ¾ cup ice
  • For the garnish: 1 sprinkle chopped dark chocolate (optional), 1 drizzle of peanut butter

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until creamy and frothy, stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary. Resist the urge to over blend: blend until it just comes together. Taste and add the additional ½ tablespoon sweetener depending on the sweetness of the bananas.
  2. If desired, top with 1 tablespoon chopped dark chocolate (it makes for a nice mix in but it’s totally optional). Serve immediately or store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 2 days.
  • Category: Smoothie
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Smoothie
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Chocolate peanut butter smoothie, chocolate smoothie, chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie, healthy chocolate peanut butter smoothie

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie

This chocolate strawberry smoothie tastes like a treat, but it’s made with healthy ingredients! Blend up this tasty puree in…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This chocolate strawberry smoothie tastes like a treat, but it’s made with healthy ingredients! Blend up this tasty puree in 5 minutes.

Chocolate strawberry smoothie

Here’s a smoothie for when you’ve got a chocolate craving: the Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie! Because what’s more fun than chocolate covered strawberries, in drinkable form? This tasty recipe features strawberries, banana, almond butter and cocoa powder, blended up into a lusciously creamy puree. It’s rich, fruity flavor made it an instant hit over here! We gobbled it up like it was a milkshake. It’s the ideal healthy treat!

Ingredients in this chocolate strawberry smoothie

This chocolate strawberry smoothie is made with just a few natural ingredients that you may already have on hand. It’s dairy-free when you use non-dairy milk; we recommend oat milk for smoothies because of its creamy texture and neutral flavor. Here’s what you’ll need for this smoothie (or jump to the recipe below for quantities):

  • Frozen strawberries
  • Banana
  • Old Fashioned oats: optional, but adds a hearty dose of whole grains
  • Cocoa powder
  • Almond butter
  • Milk of choice: dairy, oat milk or almond milk
  • Pure maple syrup or honey or agave syrup
  • Ice

Blend it up and give it a taste: you can add a splash more milk to get it to blend. The fruity rich chocolate flavor was a big hit over here.

Chocolate strawberry smoothie

Step it up with a garnish

This chocolate strawberry smoothie tastes incredible as is: but here’s a little trick for stepping it up if you’re making it as a treat. Top it with a sprinkle of dark chocolate! You only need about 1 tablespoon, and when you stir it in it makes for tasty occasional chocolate chunks. It’s optional, but a fun way to take it up a notch!

Ways to add protein

Almond butter brings protein to this chocolate strawberry smoothie without overwhelming the flavor! But you can add more protein especially if you’re using this as a meal replacement. Here are a few options:

  • Chia seeds. You can add plant-based protein and fiber with chia seeds: 2 tablespoons chia seeds adds 4 grams protein and 11 grams fiber.
  • More almond butter. Add another 1 tablespoon nut butter to add an additional 4 grams protein.
  • Vanilla or chocolate protein powder: Protein powder works well here: we use this protein powder that has natural ingredients and a flavor that’s not too artificial.
Chocolate strawberry smoothie

Variations on a chocolate strawberry smoothie

Once you’ve made the chocolate strawberry smoothie recipe below, try it with a few variations! Here are some ideas:

  • Substitute frozen raspberries for strawberries. Instant chocolate raspberry smoothie!
  • Use dark chocolate cocoa powder. Substitute Dutch process cocoa powder for the regular cocoa powder for a dark chocolate flavor! You should be able to find it at your local grocery. If you can’t find it, you can buy it online: try Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder or Ghiradelli Dutch Process Cocoa Powder.

More healthy chocolate recipes

Craving chocolate but want to satisfy it with something healthy? Try these tasty recipes:

This chocolate strawberry smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small smoothies
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This chocolate strawberry smoothie tastes like a treat, but it’s made with healthy ingredients! Blend up this tasty puree in 5 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup frozen strawberries
  • 1 banana (room temperature)
  • ½ cup Old Fashioned oats (optional)
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter
  • ¾ cup milk of choice (dairy, oat milk or almond milk)
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
  • 1 cup ice
  • For the garnish: 1 sprinkle chopped dark chocolate (optional)

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender, breaking the banana into pieces. Blend until creamy and frothy, stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary and adding a splash more milk if necessary.
  2. If desired, top with 1 tablespoon chopped dark chocolate (it makes for a nice mix in but it’s totally optional). Serve immediately or store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 2 days.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Smoothie

Keywords: Chocolate strawberry smoothie

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Coffee Smoothie

Wake up to this frosty coffee smoothie recipe! The fragrant coffee flavor is paired with banana, oats and almond butter.…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

Wake up to this frosty coffee smoothie recipe! The fragrant coffee flavor is paired with banana, oats and almond butter.

Coffee Smoothie

Are you a coffee lover? Here’s a way to drink your cup of joe with a few healthy ingredients in the mix. Try this Coffee Smoothie! Because if you’re going to drink coffee, why not add bananas, oats and almond butter to the mix? This puree has just the right bittersweet flavor without lots of added sugar, and smooth, creamy texture. Drink it as a tasty afternoon snack (tastes like a milkshake!) or add protein to make it a morning meal. You choose!

Ingredients in this coffee smoothie recipe

This coffee smoothie recipe has taken us a while to hone to perfection: because it’s hard to get just the right coffee flavor and icy texture! Luckily, we finally found the combination that gets it to the consistency of a Wendy’s frosty, but using healthy ingredients. The recipe is similar to a drink at a local coffee shop in town: there they call it the Healthy Elephant (so you can call it that, if you like!). Here’s what you need for this recipe:

  • Frozen bananas
  • Espresso, cold brew or strong coffee: see notes on the methods to use below!
  • Oats
  • Almond butter
  • Milk of choice: dairy or non-dairy
  • Honey
  • Ice
Coffee Smoothie recipe

Coffee methods to use

The key to this coffee smoothie recipe? Strong coffee. You must use a very strong coffee or espresso to get just the right coffee flavor, otherwise it’s much too weak. This is key to making a great coffee smoothie, so don’t skimp here! Here’s what to use:

Coffee banana smoothie

How to freeze bananas

The other necessity for this coffee smoothie recipe? Frozen bananas. This is important because you want to get an icy, creamy texture without watering down the flavor with too much ice. For most of our smoothie recipes we try to use non-frozen bananas, but in this one it is key.

  • How to freeze bananas? Slice them into rounds and place them on a baking sheet so they don’t clump together. For this smoothie, you can just throw the slices into a sealed container if you’d like.
  • How long to freeze bananas? The shortest time you can get away with is 1 ½ hours. Or just freeze them overnight!

Sweeten to taste!

What we like about this coffee smoothie recipe is that it’s not too sweet! It lets the bitter coffee shine through, with just enough sweetness from the banana and honey. But keep in mind: you can sweeten this coffee smoothie to taste! The sweetness definitely depends on the bananas, so if they’re not as ripe you may need more honey.

Want to make a vegan coffee smoothie? No problem! Use maple syrup or agave syrup to sweeten, and of course your favorite non-dairy milk (ours is oat milk).

Coffee Smoothie

Adding protein to this coffee banana smoothie recipe

Want to drink this coffee banana smoothie as a breakfast? You’ll probably want to add a little protein for staying powder. The best way to add more protein here? Protein powder. We don’t often use it, but it’s a nice way to pack in quite a bit without affecting the overall flavor too much. Here’s how to find a healthy protein powder:

And that’s it! Let us know what you think of this creamy coffee smoothie in the comments below.

More coffee drinks

Love coffee? Us too! Here are a few more coffee drinks you’ll love:

This coffee smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Coffee smoothie

Coffee Smoothie

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small or 1 large smoothie
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

Wake up to this frosty coffee smoothie recipe! The fragrant coffee flavor is paired with banana, oats and almond butter.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium frozen bananas (sliced and frozen at least 1 1/2 hours)
  • ¼ cup Old Fashioned oats
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter
  • ¼ cup milk of choice (dairy, oat milk or almond milk)
  • ¼ cup espresso, cold brew, Moka pot coffee, or strong coffee (brewed double strength)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon honey, plus more if desired (agave syrup or maple syrup for vegan)
  • 1 cup ice
  • Protein adder: 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, optional

Instructions

  1. If you haven’t already, slice the bananas and freeze them for at least 1 ½ hours until solid.
  2. Blend all ingredients in a blender. Taste and add additional sweetener if desired.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Smoothies

Keywords: Coffee smoothie, coffee smoothie recipe, coffee banana smoothie

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie

This strawberry watermelon smoothie is full of juicy flavor! This 3 ingredient recipe is a deliciously healthy treat. Here’s a…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This strawberry watermelon smoothie is full of juicy flavor! This 3 ingredient recipe is a deliciously healthy treat.

Strawberry watermelon smoothie

Here’s a smoothie recipe that’s so simple and so utterly delicious, it’s jumped to the top of our favorites. Try this Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie! It’s sweet and delicious, with just the right juicy flavor with no added sweetener. It’s a great snack or even works as a healthy dessert after a summer meal: it’s just that good! Our 4 year old could not stop sipping it, and neither could we.

3 ingredients for a strawberry watermelon smoothie

This strawberry watermelon smoothie has the least ingredients of any of our smoothie recipes. But it’s one of the top in terms of flavor! There’s something about the melon and berry combination that’s pure summer. This one has a bit of nostalgia for me: I created it based on my favorite smoothie at the mall growing up in the 1990’s (ha!). It’s actually much better than the inspiration. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Frozen strawberries: These bring in sweetness and an icy texture
  • Watermelon: Make sure it’s perfectly ripe, in season melon
  • Banana: A room temperature banana combines to make the perfect creamy texture and accentuates the sweetness

Simply throw them in the blender and puree it up. It makes the perfect sweet tart, fruity flavor!

Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie

Find a ripe watermelon!

The most important advice for this smoothie? Make sure your watermelon is ripe! It’s not worth making this smoothie with out of season watermelon, which can be tart and tasteless. Here are a few tips for shopping:

  • Shop in watermelon season. If it’s out of season, it’s much more likely to be unripe.
  • Look for a yellow field spot. Most watermelons should have a patch on the bottom, which is where they were resting on the ground before being picked. If the patch is yellow, the watermelon is ripe (if it’s white, it’s unripe).

Ways to add protein to a strawberry watermelon smoothie

One thing to note about this strawberry watermelon smoothie: it’s just fruit, so it doesn’t have protein. That means it’s best served as a treat or a way to drink your vitamins, not as a meal replacement. But if you’d like to add protein, you can feel free! Protein makes it filling and more suitable for drinking as a snack or breakfast. Here are a few protein adders:

  • Chia seeds. Add plant-based protein and fiber with chia seeds! 2 tablespoons chia seeds adds 4 grams protein and 11 grams fiber (see this Chia Seed Smoothie).
  • Protein powder: Use a high quality vanilla protein powder (some notes on buying a good brand are in this energy balls post).
  • Almond butter or cashew butter. 1 tablespoon nut butter adds 4 grams protein. This does compete with the flavor a bit, and dulls the color of this smoothie. But it works!
Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie

Flavor variations

Want to mix up this strawberry watermelon smoothie to have different flavor variations? Here are a few things to vary, change or add:

  • Mint or basil: Add a handful of mint or basil leaves for an herby variation
  • Blueberry: use 2 cups frozen blueberries
  • Raspberry: use 1 cup frozen raspberries and 1 cup strawberries
  • Strawberry blueberry: use 1 cup frozen blueberries and 1 cup strawberries
  • Mango: use 2 cups frozen mango
  • Pineapple: Use 2 cups frozen pineapple

More fruit smoothie recipes

Strawberry is the number 1 fruit to add in fruit smoothie recipes! Here are a few more variations on the theme:

This strawberry watermelon smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Strawberry watermelon smoothie

Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie (3 Ingredients!)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 3 small or 2 medium smoothies
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This strawberry watermelon smoothie is full of juicy flavor! This 3 ingredient recipe is a deliciously healthy treat.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups frozen strawberries
  • 3 cups cubed watermelon
  • 1 banana (room temperature)

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Serve immediately.
  • Category: Smoothie
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Healthy

Keywords: Strawberry watermelon smoothie

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Grape Smoothie

This grape smoothie recipe is tangy sweet with just 4 ingredients! It’s an easy breakfast or snack that’s a great use for frozen grapes. On our way to making smoothie recipes with all the fruits and vegetables, we met a smoothie that surprised us. This weirdly delicious Grape Smoothie! The flavor is such a pop of sweet tart and delicious, you might not believe it on first sip. Who knew frozen grapes were the key to the tastiest of all smoothies? Consider us impressed. This one stood out to us in our list of 30+ smoothies as a simple, easy and healthy way to feel like you’re eating a treat. Here’s what you need to know to make it! Ingredients in a grape smoothie This grape smoothie is ultra simple: in fact, it’s got one of the shortest ingredient lists for any of our smoothie recipes. Here’s what you need: Grapes: We prefer the sweet flavor of red grapes in this smoothie! If you have green grapes, you can certainly use them too. They’re a little more tart, so you could add a little honey or maple syrup as necessary. Banana: No need for frozen banana: use a room temperature […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This grape smoothie recipe is tangy sweet with just 4 ingredients! It’s an easy breakfast or snack that’s a great use for frozen grapes.

Grape Smoothie

On our way to making smoothie recipes with all the fruits and vegetables, we met a smoothie that surprised us. This weirdly delicious Grape Smoothie! The flavor is such a pop of sweet tart and delicious, you might not believe it on first sip. Who knew frozen grapes were the key to the tastiest of all smoothies? Consider us impressed. This one stood out to us in our list of 30+ smoothies as a simple, easy and healthy way to feel like you’re eating a treat. Here’s what you need to know to make it!

Ingredients in a grape smoothie

This grape smoothie is ultra simple: in fact, it’s got one of the shortest ingredient lists for any of our smoothie recipes. Here’s what you need:

  • Grapes: We prefer the sweet flavor of red grapes in this smoothie! If you have green grapes, you can certainly use them too. They’re a little more tart, so you could add a little honey or maple syrup as necessary.
  • Banana: No need for frozen banana: use a room temperature banana here.
  • Greek yogurt: We love adding Greek yogurt to smoothies because it’s protein packed. You can also make this smoothie vegan by simply adding more non-dairy milk.
  • Milk: You can use any type of milk you’d like here, or if you don’t stock it, substitute water.
Grape smoothie

Allow 2 hours for frozen grapes (or overnight)

Are frozen grapes good for smoothies? Yes! Frozen grapes are perfect for adding an icy texture and sweetness to smoothies. They’re a bit sweeter than frozen blueberries and strawberries, which makes them great for adding to smoothie flavors of all kinds. Add them to your next blueberry smoothie or strawberry smoothie to mix it up!

How long does it take grapes to freeze? Allow about 2 hours for grapes to freeze completely. It’s also easy to toss them into a freezer safe container and freeze overnight.

Flavor variations and add-ins!

This grape smoothie is a great canvas for adding interesting flavors to your puree. In fact, we can think of about 100 variations. Here are some favorites:

  • PB&J: Add 1 to 2 tablespoons peanut butter for a PB&J vibe
  • Vanilla: Add 1 scoop vanilla protein powder or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Berries: Substitute 1 cup frozen blueberries, raspberries or strawberries for half of the grapes
  • Mango: Substitute 1 cup frozen mango for half of the grapes
  • Pineapple: Substitute 1 cup frozen pineapple for half of the grapes
  • Coconut: Add a handful of shredded coconut or coconut milk
  • Chocolate: Add 3 tablespoons cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Grape smoothie recipe

Make it a vegan grape smoothie (& add protein!)

This grape smoothie has Greek yogurt, like many of our smoothie recipes, to load on protein and healthy probiotics. But want a vegan smoothie? Here’s what to do:

  • Use non-dairy milk for the Greek yogurt and milk (start with 3/4 cup). You don’t need Greek yogurt here: though it does add some creamy body! Use a non-dairy milk like almond milk or oat milk. Coconut milk also works, but it’s high fat: consider using just 1/2 cup coconut milk and 1/4 cup almond or oat milk.
  • Add back some protein! You’ll lose some protein from removing the yogurt. Here are some ideas for adding plant based protein to smoothies:
Grape smoothie

Smoothie storage

This grape smoothie is best right after you blend it up. But you can make smoothies in advance! Store them up to 1 day, refrigerated in a sealed container or a mason jar with the lid on. If it separates, just shake it up and you’re good to go!

This grape smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, see the substitutions listed in the recipe.

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Grape Smoothie

Grape Smoothie (4 Ingredients!)

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  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small or 1 large
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

This grape smoothie recipe is tangy sweet with just 4 ingredients! It’s an easy breakfast or snack that’s a great use for frozen grapes.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups seedless red grapes, frozen at least 2 hours or overnight
  • 1 banana (room temperature)
  • 1/2 cup milk (or almond milk or oat milk)
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (or 1/4 cup non-dairy milk for vegan, see below)

Instructions

  1. Before starting the recipe, remember to freeze the grapes!
  2. Place all ingredients in the blender starting with the milk and yogurt, breaking the banana into pieces. Blend until smooth, adding a splash more liquid as necessary to come to the desired consistency. 
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Smoothie

Keywords: Grape smoothie

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Pomegranate Smoothie

This tasty pomegranate smoothie is one of the best ways to use those bright pink seeds! It’s loaded with flavor, nutrients, and protein. Got pomegranate seeds? We’ve got a recipe for you. Try this perfect Pomegranate Smoothie! This delicious pink drink is bursting with fruity flavor and one of our favorite ways to use pomegranate seeds (except eating them by the handful, of course!). It pairs the jewel-toned seeds with frozen pineapple and banana to make a creamy puree that’s full of nutrients and vitamins. Throw in a little Greek yogurt for protein and you’ve got a smoothie that’s filling and irresistibly good. In fact, our 3 year old goes gaga over this one (it was actually his idea, too). Pomegranate smoothie ingredients This pomegranate smoothie is so beautifully fruity and creamy, you’ll add it to your smoothie rotation stat! We love grabbing whole pomegranates and using the seeds to snack on and for salads and smoothies. In fact, our 3 year old Larson loves them so much he had the idea for this recipe (“What if we made a pomegranate smoothie?”). This one has a short ingredient list…the star ingredient of course being those jewel-toned fresh pom seeds! The […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This tasty pomegranate smoothie is one of the best ways to use those bright pink seeds! It’s loaded with flavor, nutrients, and protein.

Pomegranate smoothie

Got pomegranate seeds? We’ve got a recipe for you. Try this perfect Pomegranate Smoothie! This delicious pink drink is bursting with fruity flavor and one of our favorite ways to use pomegranate seeds (except eating them by the handful, of course!). It pairs the jewel-toned seeds with frozen pineapple and banana to make a creamy puree that’s full of nutrients and vitamins. Throw in a little Greek yogurt for protein and you’ve got a smoothie that’s filling and irresistibly good. In fact, our 3 year old goes gaga over this one (it was actually his idea, too).

Pomegranate smoothie ingredients

This pomegranate smoothie is so beautifully fruity and creamy, you’ll add it to your smoothie rotation stat! We love grabbing whole pomegranates and using the seeds to snack on and for salads and smoothies. In fact, our 3 year old Larson loves them so much he had the idea for this recipe (“What if we made a pomegranate smoothie?”). This one has a short ingredient list…the star ingredient of course being those jewel-toned fresh pom seeds! The pomegranate smoothie ingredients you’ll need are:

  • Pomegranate seeds: You can use the whole fruit or separate seeds; see below
  • Frozen pineapple: Pineapple melds with the pomegranate and doesn’t overwhelm. Other ideas? Frozen mango or frozen blueberries.
  • Banana: Use a room temperature banana: no need to freeze it unless you want to!
  • Ice: This completes the frothy texture.
  • Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt adds loads of protein: 12 grams or 6 grams per serving. You can use the vegan variations below as desired.
  • Maple syrup: We like just a hint of sweetener for this one to brighten the flavor! Feel free to substitute honey or agave syrup as your sweetener of choice.
Pomegranate seeds

Use a whole pomegranate or buy the seeds

This pomegranate smoothie uses 1 cup seeds: this is enough from 1 medium pomegranate. It’s actually very easy to seed your own pomegranate! Here are a few tips for how to get those seeds:

  • Cut the pomegranate in quarters, then remove the seeds in a bowl of water. This avoids a big mess of pink splatters all over your kitchen! We’ve got a great step-by-step tutorial: go to How to Cut a Pomegranate.
  • Or, buy pomegranate seeds instead! Pomegranate seeds that are already removed are easy to find at your local grocery. The downside? They’re not as fresh, and they go bad quickly.
Pomegranate seeds

Only got pomegranate juice? Here’s a variation

Were you hoping for a pomegranate smoothie using store-bought pomegranate juice? You can do that too! Here’s what to do:

  • Substitute 1/3 cup pomegranate juice for the pomegranate seeds.
  • Consider using a frozen banana. This can help to make a thicker texture if you’re using juice and not seeds. But it works with room temperature banana as well!

Make it a vegan pomegranate smoothie

Want to make this pomegranate smoothie into a vegan smoothie? Here’s what to do:

  • Substitute the Greek yogurt with coconut milk. This works well with the texture! See also our Coconut Milk Smoothie.
  • Add back some protein! We love using Greek yogurt in smoothies because it’s packed with protein to keep you full. Here are some ideas for adding plant based protein: try 1 to 2 tablespoons cashew butter or almond butter or 2 tablespoons chia seeds.

We hope you enjoy this tasty way to enjoy this magic fruit: let us know what you think in the comments below!

Pomegranate smoothie

Pomegranate nutrition

There are lots of inflated claims around pomegranate nutrition. In fact, a popular pomegranate products company was hit with an FTC complaint around false advertising about reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease. That said, pomegranates are a very healthy fruit that’s part of a healthy diet! Here’s what we do know (source: Healthline):

  • Antioxidants: Pomegranates have lots of antioxidants: punicalagins and punicic acid, if you must know!
  • Vitamin C: 1 cup of seeds has 30% of your daily vitamin C.
  • Fiber: 1 cup of seeds has 7 grams fiber.
  • Other vitamins: Pomegranates are also a good source of vitamin E, folate, potassium, and vitamin K.
  • Sugar: Like most fruits, pomegranate does have sugar! 1 cup seeds has 24 grams sugar.

This pomegranate smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For plant-based, dairy-free and vegan, see the substitutes above.

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Pomegranate smoothie

Easy Pomegranate Smoothie

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 large or 2 small
  • Diet: Vegetarian
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Description

This tasty pomegranate smoothie is one of the best ways to use those bright pink seeds! It’s loaded with flavor, nutrients, and protein.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pomegranate seeds (cut and seed 1 pomegranate or buy 5 ounces seeds)
  • 1 cup frozen pineapple
  • 1 banana (room temperature)
  • 1 cup ice
  • 1/3 cup Greek yogurt*
  • 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Place the pomegranate seeds in the blender and blend for a few seconds until mostly liquified. 
  2. Add the remaining ingredients in a blender, breaking the banana into pieces. Blend until creamy and frothy, stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary. 
  3. Eat immediately or store 1 day in a sealed jar; if it separates, shake to re-integrate it.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Pomegranate smoothie

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This creamy pumpkin smoothie tastes like pie…but it’s loads healthier! This tasty drink features yogurt, fruit and pumpkin spice. Ready for pumpkin season? We’re here for it! Many of the season’s recipes are sugar loaded: pumpkin cookies, cakes, and of course good old pumpkin pie. But why not enjoy all the flavors in a healthy and delicious way? This Pumpkin Smoothie is creamy and full of pumpkin-spiced flavor: and made with Greek yogurt and fruit! It’s a deliciously cozy way to usher in the season…without the sugar high. It’s also packed with protein from the yogurt. Our son Larson was very into this one (especially sipping it out of his new pumpkin mug.) Bring on the pumpkin! Ingredients in this pumpkin smoothie This pumpkin smoothie is full of good-for-you ingredients. It’s also got a drizzle of added maple syrup to make it just sweet enough that it feels like a treat. Here are the ingredients in this tasty smoothie: Pumpkin puree: Make sure not to use pumpkin pie filling! You’ll just need plain unsweetened pumpkin puree. If you do have pumpkin pie filling, omit the spices and maple syrup, then add to taste. Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt adds a creamy […]

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This creamy pumpkin smoothie tastes like pie…but it’s loads healthier! This tasty drink features yogurt, fruit and pumpkin spice.

Pumpkin smoothie

Ready for pumpkin season? We’re here for it! Many of the season’s recipes are sugar loaded: pumpkin cookies, cakes, and of course good old pumpkin pie. But why not enjoy all the flavors in a healthy and delicious way? This Pumpkin Smoothie is creamy and full of pumpkin-spiced flavor: and made with Greek yogurt and fruit! It’s a deliciously cozy way to usher in the season…without the sugar high. It’s also packed with protein from the yogurt. Our son Larson was very into this one (especially sipping it out of his new pumpkin mug.) Bring on the pumpkin!

Ingredients in this pumpkin smoothie

This pumpkin smoothie is full of good-for-you ingredients. It’s also got a drizzle of added maple syrup to make it just sweet enough that it feels like a treat. Here are the ingredients in this tasty smoothie:

  • Pumpkin puree: Make sure not to use pumpkin pie filling! You’ll just need plain unsweetened pumpkin puree. If you do have pumpkin pie filling, omit the spices and maple syrup, then add to taste.
  • Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt adds a creamy body and loads on the protein. It also provides probiotics for gut-health. You can also use any type of plain yogurt.
  • Banana: No need to freeze your banana! Use it room temperature, and it helps to add creaminess.
  • Apple: Apple also adds texture and body.
  • Pumpkin pie spice: This brings in the magic! Use store-bought or our homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice blend.
  • Maple syrup: Adds the final sweetness: you’ll need this to combat the bitterness of the pumpkin.
Pumpkin smoothie

Blending up the perfect smoothie

This pumpkin smoothie has just the right texture using Greek yogurt and pumpkin puree as the main liquid components. But here’s a note if your smoothie doesn’t start to blend right away:

  • Place all the liquid items into your blender first. This helps the blades not get stuck when you start to blend.
  • If necessary, add a splash or milk or water to your smoothie to help it blend. Whether you’ll need it depends on the consistency of your yogurt and how powerful your blender is.

Variations and add-ins!

This pumpkin smoothie tastes pretty great as is. But you can mix it up if you like! Here are a few ideas for other add ins for this smoothie:

How to make a pumpkin smoothie

Pumpkin smoothie topping ideas

Want to take this pumpkin smoothie over the top? If you’re serving it for guests for a fall brunch, it could be fun to step it up a bit. Here are some ideas for toppings: let us know what other ideas you have!

  • Granola: Add healthy maple pecan granola for a tasty treat!
  • Chopped pecans or walnuts: A few chopped nuts look like lovely confetti.
  • Pumpkin seeds: Pepitas would be perfect! Or even pumpkin seed granola.

Vegan pumpkin smoothie variation

Want to make this into a vegan pumpkin smoothie? You can substitute oat milk or almond milk for the Greek yogurt! You can also use your favorite brand of vegan yogurt. It will have a slightly thinner texture than with yogurt, but it will taste just as good.

This pumpkin smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, use the variation in the recipe.

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Pumpkin smoothie

Pumpkin Smoothie

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small smoothies or 1 large
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

This creamy pumpkin smoothie tastes like pie…but it’s loads healthier! This tasty drink features yogurt, fruit and pumpkin spice.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or plain yogurt (or oat milk for vegan)
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 medium ripe banana
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh apple chunks (skin on, about 1 medium apple)
  • 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 cup ice cubes
  • For the topping: pumpkin pie spice, maple pecan granola, etc.

Instructions

  1. Place the ingredients in the blender in the order indicated, breaking the banana into pieces as you add it.
  2. Blend on high until fully pureed and smooth, stopping and scraping as necessary. Depending on your blender and the consistency of your yogurt, you may need to add a splash of milk or water to get it to start. Eat immediately or refrigerate up to 1 day. 
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Pumpkin smoothie

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This cinnamon-spiced apple smoothie is creamy and irresistibly tasty! It’s full of natural sweetness and packed with protein. Here’s a smoothie that’s full of cozy spiced, naturally sweet flavor: the perfect Apple Smoothie! This one works anytime and in any season. But of course it’s perfect for fall when you’ve got mounds of apples to use up. In fact, it’s a healthy way to enjoy the flavors of apple pie or apple crumble! Cinnamon and vanilla are just the right compliment to the sweet tart fruit. It’s also loaded with protein from Greek yogurt, which gives it just the right creamy texture. You’ll almost feel like you’re drinking an apple pie milkshake…but a wholesome version! Let’s go. Ingredients in this apple smoothie The great thing about this apple smoothie? You might already have the ingredients on hand. If you stock bananas and Greek yogurt like we do, you’ll be able to whip up this smoothie in no time. Here’s what you’ll need: Apples: You can use any variety! For the best flavor, use sweet tart apples like Honey Crisp or Granny Smith (stay away from Red Delicious here). Banana: No need to freeze it: you can use a room temperature […]

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This cinnamon-spiced apple smoothie is creamy and irresistibly tasty! It’s full of natural sweetness and packed with protein.

Apple smoothie

Here’s a smoothie that’s full of cozy spiced, naturally sweet flavor: the perfect Apple Smoothie! This one works anytime and in any season. But of course it’s perfect for fall when you’ve got mounds of apples to use up. In fact, it’s a healthy way to enjoy the flavors of apple pie or apple crumble! Cinnamon and vanilla are just the right compliment to the sweet tart fruit. It’s also loaded with protein from Greek yogurt, which gives it just the right creamy texture. You’ll almost feel like you’re drinking an apple pie milkshake…but a wholesome version! Let’s go.

Ingredients in this apple smoothie

The great thing about this apple smoothie? You might already have the ingredients on hand. If you stock bananas and Greek yogurt like we do, you’ll be able to whip up this smoothie in no time. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Apples: You can use any variety! For the best flavor, use sweet tart apples like Honey Crisp or Granny Smith (stay away from Red Delicious here).
  • Banana: No need to freeze it: you can use a room temperature banana! If you do have one frozen, that will work too.
  • Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt adds lots of protein to this smoothie, and live probiotics which help gut health.
  • Milk: Use any type of milk, including non-dairy milk
  • Ice: Ice helps to get just the right texture. Note that this smoothie is more creamy than icy.
  • Vanilla and cinnamon: These bring in that apple pie flavor!
Apple smoothie

It’s great naturally sweet, or add a bit of maple syrup

This apple smoothie tastes fantastic with no added sweetener: it’s perfectly sweet tart! However, the flavor can depend on the ripeness of the fruit and your personal tastes. Take a taste, and if you’d like it sweeter, add a bit of maple syrup or honey. This is a nice option if you’re looking for a sweet treat to take the place of a dessert.

Start with 1/2 tablespoon in the blender, and increase if you need more. You may want to stir it in instead of blend, because if you over-blend the texture can get too liquid.

Vegan variation

Want to make this apple smoothie vegan? Try our Green Apple Smoothie recipe! It pairs green apple and cashews to make a beautifully sweet tart vegan smoothie. The cashews add plant-based protein to help it stay satiating and keep you full.

Apple smoothie

More flavor variations!

This apple smoothie tastes amazing as is. But if you’d like it mix it up even more, we’ve got answers! Here are some ideas for fun variations on the theme:

  • Ginger: Add 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger to the mix for a spicy brightness.
  • Spices: Add 1/8 teaspoon allspice or nutmeg. Even better, replace the cinnamon with equal parts Pumpkin Pie Spice or Chai Spices.
  • Oats: Add whole grains by throwing in 1/2 cup rolled oats.
  • Pecans, cashews or almonds: Throw in 1/4 cup nuts to add a nutty undertone and even more plant-based protein.
  • Nut butter: Or add 1 to 2 tablespoons almond butter, peanut butter or cashew butter.
Apple smoothie

Apples nutrition

Apples are very good for you and full of nutrients! Here’s a little breakdown on some of the top benefits (Source: Healthline).

  • Apples are a good source of vitamin C: 1 apple contains 14% of your daily needs
  • They are full of fiber and water: 1 apple has 4 grams fiber or about 15% of your daily needs
  • Apples contain pectin, a type of fiber that acts as a prebiotic and helps with gut health
  • Most of the nutrients in apples are in the skin, so you should eat the skin as much as possible. That’s why we included the skin in this apple smoothie.

This apple smoothie is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based and dairy-free, see the variation above.

Print
Apple smoothie

Cinnamon Apple Smoothie

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (7 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small smoothies
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

This cinnamon-spiced apple smoothie is creamy and irresistibly tasty! It’s full of natural sweetness and packed with protein.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh apple chunks (skin on, about 1 large or 2 small apples)
  • 1 ripe banana (room temperature)
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup milk (or almond milk or oat milk)
  • 8 ice cubes
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Optional: 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup or honey (we liked ours without sweetener)

Instructions

  1. Chop the apple. Place all ingredients in a blender, breaking the banana into pieces. Blend until creamy and frothy, stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary. If desired, garnish with an apple slice. Serve immediately or store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 1 day.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Smoothies

Keywords: Apple smoothie

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This overnight Vegan Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Shake recipe has oatmeal added to it so this shake will keep you full all morning long. Early Fall and Pumpkin Spice Even though fall doesn’t start until the end of September, somehow as soon as August ends, it feels like fall to me. Maybe it’s wishful thinking?

Raspberry Smoothie

Here’s how to make the perfect raspberry smoothie! It’s got the best sweet tart flavor, frosty texture, and vibrant color. Here’s one of the very best smoothie recipes out there…this perfect raspberry smoothie! This beautiful puree has it all: the best sweet tart flavor, creamy frosty texture, and stunning brilliant color. This one was an instant favorite in our house! It’s one of the most refreshing smoothies you’ll find. It doubles as a treat: like our creamy peach smoothie, it’s the perfect ending to a summer meal. Here’s how to make it: with a few variations! Ingredients in this raspberry smoothie Sure, you can throw raspberries in a blender with milk and ice. But want the perfect raspberry smoothie? Each one of these components are optimized to perfection. Here’s what you need: Frozen raspberries: For the best icy texture, we recommend using frozen raspberries. If you’ve got fresh berries from the farmers market, consider freezing them (this is also a great way to preserve them). Or, see our variation below with fresh berries. Banana: A banana amps up the sweetness and adds a beautiful creaminess. Greek yogurt: Yogurt adds creaminess and a bit of protein. (For plant-based, see below.) Water […]

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Here’s how to make the perfect raspberry smoothie! It’s got the best sweet tart flavor, frosty texture, and vibrant color.

Raspberry smoothie

Here’s one of the very best smoothie recipes out there…this perfect raspberry smoothie! This beautiful puree has it all: the best sweet tart flavor, creamy frosty texture, and stunning brilliant color. This one was an instant favorite in our house! It’s one of the most refreshing smoothies you’ll find. It doubles as a treat: like our creamy peach smoothie, it’s the perfect ending to a summer meal. Here’s how to make it: with a few variations!

Ingredients in this raspberry smoothie

Sure, you can throw raspberries in a blender with milk and ice. But want the perfect raspberry smoothie? Each one of these components are optimized to perfection. Here’s what you need:

  • Frozen raspberries: For the best icy texture, we recommend using frozen raspberries. If you’ve got fresh berries from the farmers market, consider freezing them (this is also a great way to preserve them). Or, see our variation below with fresh berries.
  • Banana: A banana amps up the sweetness and adds a beautiful creaminess.
  • Greek yogurt: Yogurt adds creaminess and a bit of protein. (For plant-based, see below.)
  • Water and milk: Using part water helps to intensify the pink flavor.
  • Maple syrup or honey: Add a little sweetener for just the right pop.
  • Ice: Ice adds the final frothy texture.
Raspberry smoothie

Variations: vegan or fresh berries

Want a vegan smoothie? We’ve got a few variations on this recipe. This one uses fresh berries and a frozen banana, so you can use all the beauty of fresh berries. Here’s what to do to make a vegan version of this smoothie:

  • Option 1: Substitute 1/2 banana for the Greek yogurt, or use vegan yogurt.
  • Option 2: Use fresh berries! Blend together 2 cups fresh raspberries, 1 frozen banana, 1/2 cup oat milk, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and 1 cup ice.

Add protein to this raspberry smoothie

Want to add even more protein to this raspberry smoothie? Here are a few ideas:

  • Use more Greek yogurt: Yogurt adds quite a bit of protein. Use 1/2 cup instead of 1/4 cup Greek yogurt. Note that the color will be lighter and less vibrant.
  • Add cashew butter or almond butter. A cashew flavor or almond flavor goes well with raspberries. Use about 1 tablespoon, 2 for a stronger flavor. This addition also dulls the flavor a bit.
Raspberry smoothie
The vegan variation with fresh berries

Flavor variations!

This raspberry smoothie tastes amazing as is. But if you’d like it mix it up even more, we’ve got answers! Here are some ideas for ways to make it even tastier:

  • Mint or basil. Add a few fresh mint or basil leaves for an herbaceous spin.
  • Coconut. Throw in a handful of coconut to the mix (or toasted coconut).
  • Ginger. Add 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger to the mix for a spicy brightness.
  • Mango or pineapple. Substitute 1 cup of the frozen raspberries for 1 cup frozen mango or pineapple. This will vary the color a bit as well.
Raspberry smoothie

Smoothie storage

Smoothies are best eaten immediately. But this raspberry smoothie can last for 1 day refrigerated, stored in a sealed container or a mason jar with the lid on. If it starts to separate, simply shake it up before drinking!

This raspberry smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

Print
Raspberry smoothie

Perfect Raspberry Smoothie

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small smoothies
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

Here’s how to make the perfect raspberry smoothie! It’s got the best sweet tart flavor, frosty texture, and vibrant color. 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups frozen raspberries
  • 1 banana (room temperature)
  • 1/4 cup Greek yogurt*
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup milk (or almond milk or oat milk)
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
  • 1/2 cup ice
  • For the garnish: Frozen raspberry, mint leaf

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender, breaking the banana into pieces. Blend until creamy, stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary. If desired, garnish with a frozen raspberry and mint leaf. Serve immediately or store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 1 day.

Notes

*Vegan Variation with fresh berries: Blend 2 cups fresh raspberries, 1 frozen banana, 1/2 cup oat milk, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and 1 cup ice.

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Raspberry smoothie

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