Mango Cherry Smoothie
Mango cherry smoothie is refreshing, flavorful and the perfect breakfast or light meal, especially on a hot summer day. This cherry mango smoothie comes together in just minutes and is made with super simple ingredients you likely have on hand. Thick and creamy without any yogurt, this tropical cherry smoothie is great anytime.
If you love cherry smoothies, you should try this cherry kale smoothie or strawberry cherry smoothie.
Why you will love this recipe
- Simple, healthy ingredients – naturally sweetened with dark sweet cherries and mango chunks, this smoothie is made with just 5 simple ingredients that will leave you feeling energized and satisfied.
- Super refreshing – make this smoothie as a snack or way to beat the heat in the summer, the cherry mango combination is so refreshing.
- Easy to make – smoothies are just the best for busy mornings or afterschool snacks. All you have to do is measure the ingredients and blend!
- Thick enough to become a smoothie bowl – this mango cherry smoothie is thick and creamy and can easily be topped with your favorite toppings to become a smoothie bowl. If you want it really thick, use a little less milk.
Ingredients
- Frozen mango – mango helps to naturally sweeten the smoothie. I like to use frozen mango because it’s already cut into chunks and makes the smoothie super cold and refreshing. If you use fresh mango, cut it from the pit and remove the skin, add about 1/4 cup of ice.
- Frozen dark sweet cherries – dark sweet cherries are so sweet and perfect for smoothies. They are already pitted and the stems are removed, making them really easy to just measure and dump into the blender. If you are using fresh cherries, remove the pit and the stem and add 1/4 cup of ice.
- Milk (regular or dairy free) – use whatever milk you have on hand. You can also use coconut water or water.
- Chia seeds – chia seeds thicken the mango cherry smoothie and add some fiber, making it more filling. Use chia protein (ground chia seeds) or ground flax if you don’t have a high speed blender.
- Cashews – cashews help to make the smoothie more filing and also help to thicken it. Use whatever nuts or seeds you have on hand. Almonds, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds would all be great. You can also use nut butter or seed butter.
How to make a mango cherry smoothie
- Measure out all the ingredients into a blender.
- Blend on high until thick and creamy (about 1 minute).
Top tips
- I recommend using frozen fruit for the best flavor and texture. If you only have fresh fruit, you can freeze it for smoothies the night before. Check out all my tips on how to freeze fruit for smoothies.
- If you are using fresh cherries, be sure to remove the pits. The cherry pits will not only ruin the texture of the smoothie, they are actually dangerous to consume. Use a cherry pitter or remove them by hand.
- If you are using fresh fruit that you don’t have time to freeze, be sure to add some ice for the best texture and to make the mango cherry smoothie cold and refreshing. I recommend 1/4- 1/2 cup of ice for each fresh fruit you add. Note that ice can water down the flavor so you may want to use a little less milk.
Other additions
- Protein powder – you can use vanilla or chocolate protein powder to give make this smoothie even more filling.
- Yogurt – amp up the creaminess by adding a little yogurt or swap out half the milk for yogurt to make a super thick and creamy smoothie.
- Hemp hearts – hemp hearts add healthy fats and protein (3 tablespoons = 10 grams protein).
- Coconut flakes – coconut flakes can add a fun tropical twist and some healthy fats.
- Oats – make this mango cherry smoothie even more filling by adding some oats (rolled oats or quick oats). About 1/4 cup will make the smoothie thicker and have more fiber.
- Veggies – frozen spinach, frozen kale, frozen cauliflower rice, zucchini, beets (steamed then frozen are best), sweet potatoes (cooked), or fresh baby spinach to add more vitamins, minerals and fiber to the smoothie.
- Sweetness – especially if you are adding something like veggies or oats, you may find that you want to add a little more sweetness to the smoothie. You can add half a banana, maple syrup, honey or dates (pitted).
Topping ideas
This cherry mango smoothie is thick and creamy and could easily handle toppings if you want to pour it into a bowl to enjoy. Some great topping ideas include:
- Sliced fruit – mango, cherries, banana, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries would all be good
- Coconut flakes
- Chopped nuts/seeds
- Drizzle of nut butter or seed butter
- Granola or cereal
Substitutions
- Cherries – berries are a great substitution for cherries, especially strawberries or blueberries.
- Mango – banana is a great substitutions for mango, as they are both naturally very sweet and create a creamy smoothie. Avocado and maple syrup or yogurt and maple syrup would also work well.
- Milk – use whatever you have on hand as the liquid for your smoothie. Another great option would be coconut water.
- Chia seeds – replace the chia seeds with ground flax or simply leave them out.
- Cashews – any nut or seed will work well to replace the cashews. You could also use about 2 tablespoons of your favorite nut or seed butter (tahini would be a great alternative).
Common questions
Can you use fresh fruit in smoothies?
Yes you can certainly use fresh fruit instead of frozen but you will want to be sure that the fruit is clean and that any necessary preparation is done (leaves removed, pits removed, skin removed if needed).
When you add fresh fruit, the smoothie doesn’t get as thick as using frozen fruit so I recommend adding ice to create the same texture. You want about 1/4 – 1/2 cup of ice for each fresh fruit you are adding to a smoothie. Note that the ice can water down the flavor, so I recommend using slightly less milk or water in your smoothie to account for this.
Can you freeze fresh fruit for smoothies?
If you only have fresh fruit but want to use it in smoothies without adding ice, you can freeze the fruit in advance. It is ideal for the fruit to freeze a full 24 hours but a minimum of 8 hours is needed, so you can easily freeze fruit the night before for smoothies the next day.
Freezing fruit is quite simple, you just need a large baking sheet, wax paper (or parchment paper) and clean fruit that has been properly prepared. Check out all the tips I have on how to freeze fruit for smoothies.
What fruits go well with cherries?
Cherries are naturally sweet and pair well with most fruit. Some of my favorite pairings include berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries), mango, banana, peach, pineapple.
Can you put cherries in the blender whole?
It is not recommend that you blend cherries without removing the pits. Cherry pits will make your smoothie very difficult to drink (they don’t break down) and they are poisonous and could make you sick.
It’s important that you always pit your cherries before using them in smoothies. This is why I love using frozen cherries, as the pits are already removed.
Storing leftovers
The ideal way to store any leftover smoothie would be to pour it into popsicle molds (these are so fun to enjoy in the summer) or into ice cube trays to make smoothie cubes. You can use those smoothie cubes in other smoothies to add flavor or blend them later with milk or water to create a new smoothie.
You could also store the smoothie in the fridge for up to 24 hours, but the texture will be different, and the smoothie won’t be as refreshing because it’s not ice cold. To get around this, blend the smoothie with some ice before enjoying the leftovers.
If you love this recipe, you should try
Mango Cherry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup Mango
- 1/2 cup Cherries
- 1 cup Dairy free milk
- 1 tbsp chia seeeds
- 1 tbsp Cashews
Instructions
- Measure out all the ingredients into a blender.
- Blend on high until thick and creamy (about 1 minute).
Equipment
Notes
- I recommend using frozen fruit for the best flavor and texture. If you only have fresh fruit, you can freeze it for smoothies the night before. Check out all my tips on how to freeze fruit for smoothies.
- If you are using fresh cherries, be sure to remove the pits. The cherry pits will not only ruin the texture of the smoothie, they are actually dangerous to consume. Use a cherry pitter or remove them by hand.
- If you are using fresh fruit that you don’t have time to freeze, be sure to add some ice for the best texture and to make the smoothie cold and refreshing. I recommend 1/4- 1/2 cup of ice for each fresh fruit you add. Note that ice can water down the flavor so you may want to use a little less milk.
