This vegan berry smoothie is a creamy and delicious snack or light breakfast. This is a great choice if you’re not crazy about bananas or have run out of them. Fresh pineapple and cashew yogurt make the smoothie thick and creamy.
For this recipe, I used a cashew yogurt alternative. It is actually the first type of plant-based yogurt I have tasted, and it was quite good. Unlike dairy yogurt or coconut-based yogurt in which most of the fat is saturated, the main type of fat in cashews is monounsaturated (source: USDA FoodData Central). That makes this a more heart-healthy choice.
The benefits of a plant-based diet for good health (lower rates of obesity, heart disease, and some types of cancer) are well documented. Check out this free article in The Lancet about healthy diets and sustainable food systems.
Ingredient Notes
Cashew Yogurt: This plain yogurt has a neutral taste without being too tart. There are quite a few options for plant-based yogurt made with almonds, soy, or coconut. A berry, vanilla, lemon, or lime yogurt would go well with this recipe if you don’t have a plain one.
Berries and pineapple: I used fresh strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple in this recipe. If you are using frozen fruit straight from the freezer, defrost it partially in the microwave so it will blend smoothly. You can definitely try other types of fruit: mangos or bananas also would be delicious in this vegan berry smoothie. If you choose raspberries or blackberries, you can crush them and strain them through a colander first to avoid the seeds.
Sugar in this Smoothie
I recommend choosing a plain yogurt alternative instead of a sweetened one. Then you can control how much sweetener you use, instead of having several teaspoons of sugar in the container. We are learning that limiting added sugar is also important for heart health. This berry smoothie can be sweetened with just the fruit, or if you wish, a little maple syrup, agave nectar, or stevia.
Vegan Berry Smoothie Preparation Tips
- This recipe makes a 12 oz. smoothie.
- It is good without stevia: that is a personal choice based on how ripe the fruit is.
- You can use a regular blender or smoothie maker also. I like the convenience of a stick blender.
- Another type of non-dairy yogurt can be used in place of cashew yogurt.
Making a smoothie is super quick and easy, but to save time in the morning, you can do a little evening prep. Just lace the fruit, yogurt, stevia, and ginger in the blender cup for the stick blender at night and place it in the refrigerator. Then add the ice chips in the morning to blend it for a quick breakfast drink.
I hope you give this refreshing vegan berry smoothie a try. While I usually have a smoothie with breakfast or a snack, it can go well with a sandwich or soup for lunch too. I think people don’t realize how easy it is to make and enjoy a meal without animal foods (do check with your physician/registered dietitian for proper planning and supplements, like vitamin B12.)
More Recipes You May Enjoy
- Fresh Cantaloupe Berry Nice Cream
- Best Chocolate Banana Smoothie
- Vegan Berry Peanut Butter Smoothie
- Healthy Blueberry Smoothie with Almond Butter
- Vegetarian Breakfast Ideas
- Scrumptious Strawberry Sorbet
Vegan Berry Smoothie (without Banana)
Equipment
- Stick blender or regular blender
Ingredients
- ½ cup ice chips
- 3 chopped strawberries
- ⅓ cup chopped pineapple
- ⅓ cup plain cashew yogurt alternative
- ¼ cup blueberries
- 1 packet stevia
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Place the ice chips, fruit, cashew yogurt alternative, stevia, and ginger into the blender cup.
- Blend all ingredients in a stick blender or regular blender until smooth, about 30 seconds.
Notes
- This makes a 12 oz. smoothie.
- It is good without stevia: that is a personal choice based on how ripe the fruit is.
- You can use a regular blender or smoothie maker also.
- Another type of non-dairy yogurt can be used in place of cashew yogurt.
Nutrition
Thank you to Forager Project for the free product.
Have you tried making this vegan berry smoothie? If so, please leave a rating and note in the comments with your feedback.
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This sounds super delicious and a great way to start the day! I’m not a great fan of bananas in smoothies so this recipe is just perfect for me! Thank you so much for sharing it with #CookBlogShare
Delicious looking. I’m always on the lookout for smoothie recipes as my daughter loves them. Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare. Michelle
Thanks, and I hope she likes it.