Vanilla Smoothie
This vanilla smoothie is ultra-creamy and packed with protein! It makes a healthy breakfast for busy mornings or a post-workout snack. It’s only 5 ingredients and takes 5 minutes to make.
Why You’ll Love it:
This vanilla smoothie is made with frozen bananas and vanilla protein powder. It’s ultra-creamy and smooth with the perfect balance of flavors. I used whole milk to create an extra luscious consistency, but plant-based milk works great too!
Each serving of this vanilla smoothie recipe packs in 21 grams of protein. It makes two small smoothies or one regular-sized.
I typically enjoy this smoothie for breakfast or after a challenging workout. It gives me a boost of protein and amino acids. Just remember, not all protein powders are nutritionally equal. Look for a high-quality brand without harmful additives.
Key Ingredients:
Frozen banana – Frozen bananas are the base of this vanilla smoothie! Bananas are naturally sweet and creamy, but once frozen, they act as thickeners too. You need 1 and 1/2 frozen bananas for this recipe. One frozen banana is roughly one cup of frozen banana chunks.
Greek yogurt – For an extra boost of protein and creaminess! I used unsweetened Greek yogurt because the smoothie is already sweet and doesn’t need the added sugar. If you like an extra-sweet smoothie, you can use vanilla Greek yogurt.
Vanilla protein – You can use protein powder made from milk or plant proteins! Look for a high-quality protein with third-party testing and clean ingredients. Since this is a vanilla smoothie, be sure to use vanilla flavored!
Milk – I used whole milk this time, but sometimes I use unsweetened almond milk too! Both are delicious, but whole milk ups the creaminess a smidge. You can use any regular or plant-based milk you prefer.
Vanilla extract – For a hint of vanilla essence.
How to Make a Vanilla Smoothie:
This vanilla smoothie is a breeze to make! Just be sure to freeze your bananas the day before you plan to make it. I always keep frozen bananas in the freezer for just the occasion.
You can freeze bananas sliced, halved, or whole. Just be sure to peel them first! If you freeze them whole, they should still be soft enough to cut with a sharp knife. Just use a nonslip cutting board to cut them into chunks.
Combine ingredients: In the pitcher of your blender, combine the yogurt, protein powder, vanilla extract, frozen bananas, and milk – in that order. Adding the soft ingredients first helps get everything moving in the blender. The milk sinks to the bottom no matter what!
Blend: Blend until very creamy and smooth! Check the consistency. If it’s thicker than you like, add a splash more milk and blend to incorporate.
Serve: Pour into small glasses (or one bigger one) and enjoy immediately!
Recipe Tips:
- If possible, use a high-speed blender. High-speed blenders with powerful motors are more effective at breaking down frozen bananas. Most brands carry a high-speed model, even budget-friendly ones. Look for one with at least 900 watts of power.
- Check the consistency before you pour it. I prefer my smoothies on the thicker side. After you blend the smoothie, check the thickness. If you like it thinner, add more milk, a little at a time, until you achieve the desired consistency.
- For an icier texture, add a few ice cubes. I prefer to make my smoothies without ice 99% of the time. If you like an icier texture, add a few ice cubes too. You may need more liquid to compensate.
Vanilla Smoothie Variations:
This healthy vanilla smoothie is easy to customize! Here’s a few add-ins and substitutions you can use:
- Oats – For a vanilla oatmeal smoothie, add 1/4 cup of rolled oats! They add an oatey taste and slightly chewy texture.
- Vegan – Make this recipe vegan and dairy-free with a few simple swaps. Use vegan protein powder, vegan yogurt, and plant-based milk.
- Chia seeds – Adds a boost of healthy fats and plant-based protein. Add one tablespoon of chia seeds.
- Nut butter – Add a small scoop of peanut, almond, or cashew butter!
- Nuts – Add a handful of walnuts for added texture.
FAQs:
Vanilla extract is a great addition to smoothies. It adds a distinct warmth and vanilla essence! It taste best with commentary flavors that don’t overpower it, like banana, cinnamon, sweet potato, pumpkin, oatmeal, almond butter, chia seeds, mango, coconut, and cherries.
More Protein Smoothies:
Vanilla Smoothie
Equipment
- high-speed blender
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup unsweetened Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup vanilla protein powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ frozen bananas, cut into chunks (about 1½ cups)
- ⅔ cup milk (or milk of choice)
Instructions
- In the pitcher of your blender, combine the Greek yogurt, protein powder, vanilla extract, frozen banana, and milk – in that order.
- Blend until creamy and smooth! The smoothie will be thick at this point, If you like it thinner, add a splash more milk and blend to incorporate.
- Pour into glasses and enjoy immediately!
