Cherry Kale Smoothie
Cherry kale smoothies are thick, creamy and easy to make. A great way to get in a serving of veggies, this cherry green smoothie is packed with protein and is a great healthy breakfast, snack or post-workout meal!
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Why you will love this recipe
- Simple ingredients – most of the ingredients are right from the freezer or pantry and are pretty easy to find in most stores. Note that if you can’t find frozen kale, you can use frozen spinach! This cherry kale smoothie is vegan, dairy free and gluten free.
- Quick and easy – this kale cherry smoothie is so easy to make and is ready in just minutes. Make this smoothie even quicker by doing some smoothie prep earlier in the week.
- Easy way to get in fruits and veggies – green smoothies are such a great way to get in a serving or two of fruits and veggies. Since this recipe uses frozen kale (or spinach) it’s easy to sneak in some veggies without too much hassle.
Ingredients
- Frozen strawberries – the strawberries add some natural sweetness to the smoothie and also help to make it super thick and creamy (without adding any banana). I prefer frozen berries because they are easier to keep on hand (no worrying about them spoiling) and the stem and leaves have already been removed for you. If you are using fresh strawberries, remove the leaves and add about 1/4 cup of ice.
- Frozen dark sweet cherries – these cherries are one of my favorite frozen fruits. They are super sweet and add so much flavor to the cherry kale smoothie. Added bonus, they already have the pits removed too! If you only have fresh cherries, be sure to remove the stems and the pits before adding them to the blender and add about 1/4 cup of ice.
- Frozen kale or frozen spinach – frozen leafy greens are quickly blanched before freezing, helping to wilt them down. That means there are a lot of veggies in just a small serving. Note: if you don’t have frozen kale, do not use fresh kale, the smoothie will taste like dirt (speaking from experience). You can use frozen spinach or if you want to use a fresh vegetable, use baby spinach (about 1 cup).
- Protein powder – the protein powder helps to add some additional sweetness and also helps to make the smoothie more nutritionally balanced and filling. You can use vanilla or chocolate protein powder (both would be great). I like to use vegan protein powder as it’s easy to digest and also slightly thickens the smoothie. If you are using whey protein, the consistency may not be quite as thick.
- Chia seeds – chia seeds add so much fiber to the smoothie and also help to thicken the smoothie naturally. You could also use ground flax seeds to do the same thing. If you don’t have a high speed blender, I recommend buying chia protein (ground chia seeds).
- Almond butter – almonds and cherries go so well together and the almond butter adds some healthy fats, a little protein and also helps to make the smoothie thick and creamy.
- Dairy free milk – use whatever milk you have on hand. I prefer dairy free milk, usually almond milk, cashew milk or oat milk, but you could also use coconut milk, soy milk, rice milk, etc. If you usually have regular dairy, you could use full fat, 2% or skim milk. If you don’t have milk, add water or coconut water for extra electrolytes.
How to make a cherry kale smoothie
- Measure out the ingredients into a blender.
- Blend on high for about a minute until smooth.
Top tips
- Do not use fresh kale in the smoothie. Fresh kale has a very strong taste and when you blend it, the taste just gets stronger (its very earthy, almost like dirt). Using frozen kale, the kale is blanched (dropped in boiling water then transferred to cold water to stop cooking). This quick blanch helps to remove that earthy flavor and makes the kale blend into the other flavors easily without overpowering the smoothie.
- Use whatever berries you have on hand. If you don’t have fresh or frozen strawberries, you can use blueberries, blackberries or raspberries.
- Add some additional sweetness if needed. I like my smoothies to have some sweetness but not be overpowering, since it’s usually my breakfast, not a dessert. If you like a slightly sweeter smoothie (or if you are just getting used to adding in more veggies in your diet), you may want to add some additional sweetness with half of a banana, 1 or 2 pitted medjool dates or a liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.
- If you don’t have a high-speed blender, I recommend using chia protein (ground chia seeds) in place of chia seeds so that you are sure they get broken down when blended. Chia seeds can get stuck in your teeth if they are not fully blended down.
Other additions
- Hemp hearts – hemp hearts add additional protein and heart healthy fats. 3 tablespoons of hemp hearts = 10 grams of protein.
- Yogurt – add some creaminess to this cherry kale smoothie by adding yogurt or replacing come of the dairy free milk with yogurt.
- Cacao powder or cocoa powder – make this a chocolate cherry smoothie by adding some cacao powder or cocoa powder. You may want to also add some additional sweetness with some maple syrup or honey if the bitterness from the cacao is too much.
- Oats – oats add more fiber which can make the smoothie more filling. They will also help to naturally thicken the smoothie.
Substitutions
- Frozen strawberries – replace with blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, banana or mango
- Frozen dark sweet cherries – use any of the fruits listed above to replace the cherries.
- Frozen kale – replace with frozen spinach, frozen cauliflower rice or use fresh baby spinach (about 1 cup) in place of the kale.
- Chia seeds – replace with chia protein, ground flax seeds or simply omit.
- Protein powder – If you don’t have protein powder, you will likely want to add some additional sweetness (use banana, maple syrup, honey, dates). You can also add about 1/4 cup of oats to help thicken the smoothie as well.
- Almond butter – use whatever nut butter you have on hand, including peanut butter, sunbutter, tahini, cashew butter.
- Dairy free milk – if you don’t have milk on hand, you can use water or coconut water in place of the milk.
Common questions
Can you use fresh cherries in smoothies?
Yes, you can certainly use fresh smoothies in cherries. Note that you will need to remove the stem and the pit in the center of the cherry before blending. Do not add whole cherries to the blender without removing the pit.
What is the difference between sweet cherries and tart cherries?
As the name reflects, some cherries are naturally sweeter than others. I use dark sweet cherries in smoothies because they are easy to find in the grocery store and they are very sweet.
Tart cherries are usually more pink/red in color (vs. the deep red, maroon color of sweet cherries) and less sweet and more tart tasting. These cherries are great for salads and snacking but may not sweeten your smoothie like you expect.
If you are using tart cherries, add some additional sweetness with banana, dates, maple syrup or honey.
Is it ok to put raw kale in smoothies
I don’t recommend putting raw kale in smoothies. The raw kale has a very bitter, earthy flavor that intensifies when blended. It can make your smoothie taste like dirt. I recommend using frozen kale or using something more neutral tasting like baby spinach.
Is this cherry kale smoothie filling?
This cherry kale smoothie is very filling, it’s packed with fiber, protein and healthy fats. It’s also a great source of vitamins (strawberries, cherries and kale are all good sources of Vitamin C) and cherries are a great source of potassium, making this a great smoothie to have after workouts.
If you want to make this smoothie even more filling, add some extra protein (see all my favorite ways to add protein to smoothies), fiber (oats or avocado) or fats (nuts, seeds, avocado, hemp hearts).
Storing leftovers
Pour any leftover cherry kale smoothie into ice cube trays or popsicle molds to enjoy later. If you make smoothie ice cubes, you can use those in other smoothies or blend with milk to make a new smoothie.
You can also save leftover smoothie in the fridge for up to 24 hours. However, the smoothie won’t be as cold or thick so I recommend adding some ice and re-blending before enjoying leftovers.
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Cherry Kale Smoothie
Cherry Kale Smoothie is sweet, refreshing and easy to make. Made with strawberries, cherries, frozen kale and protein powder, this cherry green smoothie is thick and delicious and can even be made into a smoothie bowl. This healthy protein-packed smoothie is great for breakfast, snack, or post-workout treat. Naturally gluten free, vegan, and dairy free.
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Servings: 1
Ingredients
- 1 cup Strawberries
- 1 cup Dark sweet cherries
- 1/2 cup Frozen kale
- 1 serving Vegan Vanilla Protein Powder
- 1 tbsp Chia seeds
- 1 tbsp Almond butter
- 1 cup Dairy free milk
Instructions
- Measure out the ingredients into a blender.
- Blend on high for about a minute until smooth.
Equipment
Notes
- Do not use fresh kale in the smoothie. Fresh kale has a very strong taste and when you blend it, the taste just gets stronger (its very earthy, almost like dirt). Using frozen kale, the kale is blanched (dropped in boiling water then transferred to cold water to stop cooking). This quick blanch helps to remove that earthy flavor and makes the kale blend into the other flavors easily without overpowering the smoothie.
- Use whatever berries you have on hand. If you don’t have fresh or frozen strawberries, you can use blueberries, blackberries or raspberries.
- Add some additional sweetness if needed. I like my smoothies to have some sweetness but not be overpowering, since it’s usually my breakfast, not a dessert. If you like a slightly sweeter smoothie (or if you are just getting used to adding in more veggies in your diet), you may want to add some additional sweetness with half of a banana, 1 or 2 pitted medjool dates or a liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.
- If you don’t have a high-speed blender, I recommend using chia protein (ground chia seeds) in place of chia seeds so that you are sure they get broken down when blended. Chia seeds can get stuck in your teeth if they are not fully blended down.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Amount per Serving
Calories
426
Fat
18
g
Carbohydrates
46
g
Fiber
15
g
Sugar
26
g
Protein
29
g
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database.
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