Spinach Apple Smoothie

This spinach apple smoothie is refreshingly sweet and packed with feel-good nutrients and antioxidants! You won’t even taste the spinach. It’s easy to make and easy to customize!

Why You’ll Love it:

This spinach apple smoothie is ultra refreshing! Its bright green hue and apple-y flavor is an instant pick-me-up.

I like to add a splash of juice to my green smoothies. It adds a pop of sweetness without the need for added sugar like honey or maple syrup. You can swap the juice with water or almond milk if you prefer.

This apple spinach smoothie is full of:

• Vitamin C – Mango and spinach are both rich in Vitamin C! It’s vital for healing wounds and strengthening your immune system.
• Antioxidants – Antioxidants protect your healthy cells from damage caused by oxidative stress. They help prevent chronic diseases and cancer.
• Fiber – For a healthy gut and to keep you full for longer!

Key Ingredients:

• Apple – I prefer sweet-tart varieties like Honeycrisp and Pink Lady. You can use any variety you like. It’s best to keep the peel on for the added nutrients. If you don’t have a high-speed blender, it will add texture. I used my Ninja and barely noticed the peel.
• Baby spinach – Baby greens have the same nutritional profile as mature greens but they have softer leaves and blend easily.
• Frozen banana – Peel a banana, throw it in a zip-top bag, and freeze overnight. It’s easier on your blender if you cut it in half or in chunks before you freeze it.
• Frozen mango – For a tropical flair! The combination of frozen banana and mango create a smooth, creamy consistency.
• Apple juice – For a boost of apple flavor and sweetness. If you prefer not to use juice, you can swap it with cold water or almond milk.

How to Make a Spinach Smoothie:

This green smoothie is ready in a snap! Here’s what you need to do:

• Combine ingredients: I always start with the soft ingredients, in this case, the spinach and apple. It gives the blades something to catch and reduces stalling.
• Blend: Start the blender on low speed, then gradually increase the speed to high.

• Scrape and blend: If little bits of spinach get stuck on the sides, stop the blender, and scrape down the sides. Blend again until smooth.
• Serve: If the smoothie’s too thick to pour, add more liquid, and blend again to incorporate. Pour into glasses and enjoy immediately.

Variations & Substitutions:

• Protein – Add a scoop of vanilla protein powder or a tablespoon of hemp hearts. Or both!
• Greens – Swap the baby spinach with baby kale.
• Juice – White grape or passion fruit juice work great too! Always look for juice blends that are 100% juice with no added sugar or corn syrup.
• Less sugar – To reduce the sugar content, swap the juice with cold water or unsweetened almond milk.

Do I need a high-speed blender?

Technically you don’t need a high-speed blender, but I highly recommend it. A high-speed blender isa blender with a powerful motor that’s built to pulverize frozen ingredients, nuts, greens, and veggies.

Little bits of spinach in a smoothie is not tasty! I use a Ninja and a Vitamix. If you have the budget, I highly recommend a Vitamix. It creates a super smooth consistency without any bits of spinach leftover.

Recipe Tips:

• Order matters, but not in the way you think. I read online to add the liquid first and while it’s fine to do that, I don’t find it necessary. The liquid sinks to the bottom of the blender no matter when you add it. I do recommend placing the softest ingredients closest to the blades.
• Use baby greens! This is a great tip when using kale and spinach. Baby greens boast the same nutritional value as mature greens but they have small, soft leaves that blend well.
• If you don’t have a high-speed blender, you may want to peel the apple. I like to keep it on to get all the nutrients, BUT it won’t pulverize completely in a regular blender. The texture will taste gritty.

Storage:

Green smoothies are best enjoyed fresh! I highly recommend drinking it right away.

If you want to store it, try making smoothie pops! Pour the spinach apple smoothie into a popsicle mold, add popsicle sticks, and freeze overnight. They taste the best when they get a little melty.

Green Smoothie Recipes:

• Blueberry Banana Spinach Smoothie
• Green Passion Smoothie – Panera Copycat
• Detox Island Green Copycat Recipe
• Frozen Spinach Smoothie with Pineapple
• Tropical Spinach Cucumber Smoothie