Cherry Pie Protein Smoothie

Okay if I’m honest, smoothie and juice “recipes” often feel like a cop out to me, partly because it’s not so much a recipe as it is just a list of ingredients to add to your blending (or juicing) apparatus of choice.

That said, if you’re a new to or not particularly big drinker of smoothies, it can be challenging to ascertain what flavour combinations yield the best results. Fear not, I am here to offer my advice after years of trial and (much) error.

In my world, there are two types of smoothies: ones made with a non-dairy milk base and ones with a water or juice base. Generally, I prefer to make fruitier and denser (read: filling) smoothies with a milk base, and reserve milder, greener and more vegetable-based smoothies for category number two.

My basic formula for a milky or “M” smoothie would be 1 cup of non-dairy milk (usually unsweetened almond) half a frozen banana, a handful of spinach, a tablespoon of chia or flaxseeds, followed by either more frozen fruit or whatever add-ins I’m feeling for the day. A “W” or water-based smoothie on the other hand typically consists of 1 cup of coconut water, 1-2 cups of greens, and a whole cucumber, supplemented with more veggies and tropical fruits or more citrusy fruits (think apples, pineapples and mangoes).

Following up on my top protein powder picks, today’s smoothie is definitely of the “M” variety and it is one of my favourite post-workout smoothie combinations. Since I head to the gym in the mornings, this is by far the easiest and quickest breakfast option to whip up before I head out. 

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Cherry Pie Protein Smoothie

One of my go-to protein smoothie recipes, this smoothie tastes good enough to be dessert!

Course Breakfast

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author Nada E.

Ingredients

• 1 cup frozen cherries
• 2 frozen bananas
• 1-2 cups baby spinach optional
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tbsp almond or peanut butter
• 1/2-1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 scoop Vega <g class="gr_ gr_43 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="43" data-gr-id="43">Sport</g> Protein in Vanilla or vegan protein powder of choice

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth - enjoy while frosty.

Some quick notes:

• Although I love it, I find the taste of this particular protein to be a little bit strong, so I only use half of the recommended scoop size per serving – adjust based on your personal tastes.
• I love the combination of almond butter and cherries, but this tastes equally good with peanut butter if almonds aren’t your thing.
• Feel free to omit the spinach if you’re not into blending your greens, although I promise you cannot taste it at all.
• The combination of the stevia sweetened protein powder and fruit make this smoothie more than sweet enough for my own personal tastes, but taste test and adjust as needed using your sweetener of choice.
• You could also omit the protein powder and substitute 1/4 cup of rolled or quick oats per serving for an equally hearty breakfast beverage.

Happy blending, friends!