Classic Raspberry Smoothie

A classic raspberry smoothie with tangy, sweet raspberry flavor! Raspberries are packed with antioxidants, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids to help you feel bright & fresh. Gluten-free and dairy-free!

Why You’ll Love it:

This raspberry smoothie recipe is for true raspberry lovers! It’s subtly sweet with a tart punch from the raspberries. A squeeze of navel orange brightens it up and a banana adds natural sweetness.

Here’s why you’ll love it:

• Customizable – I love a good pucker, but I know some don’t. Make this raspberry smoothie as sweet or zippy as you like!
• Healthy – Raspberries pack a nutritional punch! They’re a good source of immune-boosting vitamin C, disease-fighting antioxidants, and gut-healthy fiber.
• Easy – Just dump, blend, and pour. It’s nearly impossible to mess this one up! But even if you do, fixing it is a breeze.

Feel free to jazz it up with protein powder, greens, or chia seeds. Check out all the variations below the ingredient list.

Key Ingredients:

• Banana – Bananas are naturally sweet and creamy. They counteract some of the zip from the raspberries! Be sure to use a yellow, ripe banana. Ripe bananas are sweeter than green ones.
• Frozen raspberries – It’s important to use frozen raspberries for a thick shake-like consistency. If you want to use fresh raspberries, swap the banana with a frozen one!
• Navel orange – Citrus adds a bright pop of flavor and vitamin C! If you don’t have a navel orange, swap with 1/4 cup of store-bought OJ.
• Almond milk – I used unsweetened almond milk. For a sweeter smoothie, use sweetened. You can use any plant-based milk you like.
• Maple syrup – I don’t typically add sweeteners, but raspberries are ultra-tart! One tablespoon adds just enough sweetness for me. For a sweeter smoothie, add more.

Substitutions:

• Fresh raspberries – If you want to use fresh raspberries, swap the banana with a frozen one or add ice. I prefer the texture of smoothies with little to no ice. Too much ice and the texture gets gritty.
• Juice – Feel free to swap the orange juice with any juice you like. Passionfruit or apple juice both work great!
• Sweetener – If you don’t want to add a sweetener, you can swap the maple syrup with a Medjool date or two. Avoid old dates or they won’t blend up smooth! Or add an alternative sweetener like stevia or monk fruit instead.

Variations:

This raspberry smoothie is easy to customize! Here’s a few of my favorite variations:

• Fruit: Swap half of the frozen raspberries with frozen mixed berries, mango, pineapple, or peaches! Raspberries + Pineapple = perfection!
• Protein: For a boost of protein, add two tablespoons of protein powder, 1/3 cup of Greek yogurt, or 2 tablespoons of hemp hearts.
• Chia seeds: Add one tablespoon of chia seeds for added texture and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Oats: Oats add a subtle oatmeal flavor and chew. Add 1/4 cup of rolled oats.
• Greens: For a boost of micronutrients, add a handful of baby spinach. It has a mild flavor and tender leaves that blend easily.

How to Make a Raspberry Smoothie:

This healthy raspberry smoothie is a breeze to make! Here’s what you need to do:

• Combine ingredients: Add all the ingredients to your blender. Start with the soft ingredients first, i.e. the banana. It gives the blades something to catch and reduces stalling.
• Blend: Start the blender on low speed, then increase the speed to high. Blend until smooth.

• Adjust: Taste and adjust the flavor/consistency as necessary. If you want it sweeter, add more maple syrup.
• Pour: Pour the smoothie into a glass and enjoy immediately!

Expert Tips:

• Use frozen berries. Raspberries are 85 percent water, which means they turn into pulpy juice if blended. Frozen berries create a thick shake-like texture.
• For a thinner smoothie, add more liquid, a little bit at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
• For a thicker smoothie, add more frozen berries or ice cubes until the smoothie thickens.
• Raspberries are tart! For a sweeter smoothie, swap half of the raspberries with frozen strawberries or add more sweetener.

Storage Tips:

Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately, when they’re frosty cold! You can store this smoothie in the fridge for up to 24 hours, but I recommend up to 4 hours.

My favorite way to store fruit smoothies is in popsicle form! Pour the leftover smoothie into popsicle molds, add popsicle sticks, and freeze overnight. They taste the best once they melt a little!

Raspberry Smoothie Recipes:

• Blueberry Raspberry Smoothie
• Strawberry Raspberry Smoothie
• Pineapple Raspberry Smoothie
• High Fiber Smoothie