Watermelon Cherry Smoothie
Watermelon cherry smoothies are so refreshing and perfect for summer. This watermelon and cherry smoothie has a texture similar to a slushy and is the perfect way to cool off all summer long. Made with simple ingredients, this smoothie is naturally sweetened and is a great way to rehydrate after being out in the sun.
Why you will love this recipe
- Easy to make – cool off this summer in less than 5 minutes with this ice cold watermelon cherry smoothie. Just add everything to the blender and blend for about a minute or until the ice and frozen cherries are well broken down.
- Great use for extra watermelon – if you buy a large watermelon or it was not quite as sweet as you hoped for, don’t throw it away – make smoothies with it instead! The dark sweet cherries help to add sweetness and the watermelon helps create that slushy consistency.
- Replenish electrolytes and water after being in the sun – this watermelon cherry smoothie is made with coconut water, which is a great source of potassium and magnesium, which are electrolytes that can help you recover after being out in the sun.
Ingredients
- Watermelon – be sure to use seedless watermelon in your smoothies. If there are seeds, pick them out before blending. You can use fresh or frozen watermelon. Fresh adds liquid to the smoothie (so you don’t needs as much). For this recipe I used fresh but you can use frozen, just add about 1/4 cup of coconut water and the ice cubes are optional.
- Frozen dark sweet cherries – dark sweet cherries add so much sweetness to the smoothie and are also packed with flavor. I love the combination of cherries and watermelon together. I prefer frozen cherries because they are already pitted and when blended they help to make the smoothie super refreshing. If you are using fresh, be sure to remove the stem and the pit and add a little extra ice.
- Coconut water – coconut water can be found in most grocery stores now. It does not have a strong coconut flavor but does provide some great electrolytes. If you can’t find coconut water, you can use regular water.
- Chia seeds – chia seeds help to thicken the smoothie slightly. If you don’t have a strong blender, I recommend using ground chia seeds (chia protein) in place of the chia seeds. You could also use ground flax seeds.
- Lime juice – the lime juice helps to balance out the sweetness from the watermelon and cherries and makes the smoothie super refreshing. It’s also a good source of Vitamin C.
- Ice cubes – ice cubes are added to help ensure the smoothie is cold and refreshing and also helps to thicken it slightly.
How to make watermelon cherry smoothies
- Measure the ingredients into a blender.
- Blend on high for about 1 minute until smooth.
Top tips
- Use ground chia seeds if you don’t have a strong blender. The ground chia seeds won’t get stuck in your teeth if they don’t’ get blended up by your blender.
- Be sure to use a seedless watermelon or remove all the seeds from your watermelon before using it in smoothies.
- For the best results, I recommend using frozen cherries. They are easy to find in most grocery stores now and are pretty budget friendly. They are already pitted and because they are frozen, they help to make the watermelon cherry slushy super cold and refreshing.
- This smoothie has the texture of a slushy, not a thick creamy smoothie. It’s the perfect drink to serve on a hot day, especially if you have been out in the heat.
- You could even turn this watermelon cherry smoothie into popsicles to enjoy all summer long.
Other additions
- Fresh herbs – add fresh mint or basil to make this even more refreshing.
- Strawberries or blueberries – adding frozen strawberries or blueberries will make the smoothie creamier and will also increase the Vitamin C and fiber.
- Add yogurt to make the smoothie creamier. You can replace the coconut water with yogurt.
Common questions
Can you use watermelon in smoothies?
Yes! Watermelon is great in smoothies. It is about 90% water so you don’t have to add much other liquid to the smoothie when you add watermelon.
If you find that the watermelon you chose isn’t very sweet and you don’t know what to do with it, use it in smoothies. Add other sweet fruit and blend it up for a super refreshing smoothie. No need to waste that watermelon!
Can you freeze watermelon for smoothies?
If you find that you have too much watermelon and won’t be able to use it before it goes bad, you can freeze it for smoothies. Be sure to remove the rind and cut into manageable sized cubes so you can easily add the frozen watermelon to the blender.
When using frozen watermelon, you will need more liquid than when the watermelon is fresh.
What are the benefits of adding watermelon to smoothies?
Watermelon is great for hydration and full of antioxidants. It’s also a great source of lycopene too (it’s got about 40% more than tomatoes).
Is this watermelon cherry smoothie anti-inflammatory?
Both watermelon and cherries are full of antioxidants which can help with free radicals in the body. Also, there are anti-inflammatory compounds in cherries may help reduce muscle pain and damage.
Because of this, this watermelon cherry slushy is perfect for post workout recovery too.
Storing leftovers
The watermelon will start to separate from the rest of the ingredients pretty quickly so it’s best to enjoy this smoothie right away or freeze the leftovers.
Freeze in popsicle molds or ice cube trays to enjoy the smoothie again later. You can reblend the smoothie cubes with coconut water to create a new smoothie with the leftovers.
Substitutions
- Watermelon – you could use strawberries or mango to pair with the cherries that would still taste great with the lime juice. Use fresh or frozen and add about 1/4 cup of coconut water to account for all the water in the watermelon being lost.
- Dark sweet cherries – replace these with frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries, frozen mango.
- Coconut water – you can use regular water in place of coconut water.
- Chia seeds – use ground flax, ground chia seeds or simply omit from recipe.
- Lime juice – you could also use orange juice (about a tablespoon) or lemon juice (this will be a little more tart).
If you love this recipe, you should try
Watermelon Cherry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup watermelon
- 1 cup frozen cherries
- 1/2 cup coconut water
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 lime - juiced
- 1/2 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Measure the ingredients into a blender.
- Blend on high for about 1 minute until smooth.
Equipment
Notes
- Use ground chia seeds if you don’t have a strong blender. The ground chia seeds won’t get stuck in your teeth if they don’t’ get blended up by your blender.
- Be sure to use a seedless watermelon or remove all the seeds from your watermelon before using it in smoothies.
- For the best results, I recommend using frozen cherries. They are easy to find in most grocery stores now and are pretty budget friendly. They are already pitted and because they are frozen, they help to make the watermelon cherry slushy super cold and refreshing.
- This smoothie has the texture of a slushy, not a thick creamy smoothie. It’s the perfect drink to serve on a hot day, especially if you have been out in the heat.
- You could even turn this watermelon cherry smoothie into popsicles to enjoy all summer long.
