I’ve found that every single year after the holidays, I’ve always got leftover cranberries of some form hanging around. So, I decided to put them to good use and use them to make a quick and easy breakfast. Thus, this amazing 3 ingredient cranberry banana smoothie was created!
Besides the fact that it requires only 3 ingredients and about 5 minutes to throw together, there’s still even more reasons to love this smoothie recipe.
That’s because cranberries are packed with antioxidants, which have a lot of great health benefits! The banana adds sweetness to the tart cranberries, as well as thickness to the smoothie. Of course, they also add fiber and essential vitamins as well.
Not only is this smoothie a great way to use up leftover cranberries from Thanksgiving or Christmas dishes, but it’s a healthy way to kick start your day. Just blend and go for an energized morning, or enjoy an afternoon pick-me-up!
Ingredients for Cranberry Banana Smoothies
1 cup frozen cranberries
1 cup frozen banana slices
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
You can also use fresh cranberries and/or banana, but you’ll need to add ice in that case as a thickener
If you don’t have cranberries, you may also swap in ½ cup of cranberry juice or leftover cranberry sauce and add ice to thicken
Substitute any other non-dairy milk for the almond milk if preferred. Coconut milk is another great choice, but really any variety works!
For a thinner smoothie, feel free to add more milk. For a thicker smoothie, add more banana, or ½ cup yogurt (raspberry, vanilla, or orange flavors are great choices). I feel this smoothie is very thick as written, so I’d imagine you’d mostly want to thin it
Step By Step Instructions
Place all ingredients in a blender
Set to high, puree, or the smoothie setting, depending on your available options
Adjust with milk to thin or more banana (or ice) to thicken as desired
Yes, you can use frozen cranberries in your cranberry banana smoothie. In fact, it’s recommended, as frozen berries actually enhance the thickness and chill of your smoothie while maintaining the tart cranberry flavor.
Simply blend them with the other ingredients as you would with fresh cranberries.
How Can I Make a Dairy Free Cranberry Banana Smoothie?
As written, this recipe is already dairy free. If you make a substitution, just make sure to use non dairy milk alternatives such as almond milk, soy milk, or coconut milk instead of regular dairy milk.
You can also opt for dairy free yogurt or kefir for added creaminess. These dairy free options are all delicious, creamy, and satisfying in smoothies.
Are There Any Alternatives to Bananas for Creaminess?
If you’re looking to avoid bananas or simply want to try a different flavor profile, consider using avocado. Avocado adds a creamy texture and healthy fats to your smoothie.
Additionally, Greek yogurt or silken tofu can be used as banana alternatives to achieve a similar creamy consistency.
Can I Prepare This Smoothie in Advance and Store It?
Yes, you can prepare your cranberry banana smoothie in advance and store it for later consumption. It’s best to store it in an airtight container or a mason jar in the refrigerator.
However, it will likely need to be re-blended with ice or more frozen fruit to restore the initial thickness. A better alternative is to measure and portion ingredients into freezer bags ahead of time, then blend when ready to consume.
What’s the Best Way to Sweeten Cranberry Banana Smoothies Naturally?
Due to the banana, these smoothies already have inherent natural sweetness. However, for more, you can add honey, agave nectar, maple syrup, or Medjool dates as natural sweetener options for your smoothie.
Alternatively, naturally sweet fruits like mango or pineapple can sweeten your smoothie without the need for added sugars.
How Can I Adjust the Consistency of the Smoothie to My Liking?
To adjust the consistency of your smoothie, you can add more liquid (such as milk or juice) for a thinner smoothie or increase the amount of frozen fruit or ice for a thicker, frostier texture.
Experiment to find the perfect consistency to suit your preferences.
Recipe Pro Tips
If you’d like to blend a serving of collagen or protein powder in, add it after the initial blending is complete. Use the lowest setting on your blender to just mix it in
This recipe works in a full sized blender or a portable blender (sometimes I have to blend a little first to pack it down in my portable sized one to fit it all in)
Storage Tips
You can store any leftover smoothie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. However, you’ll want to add ice or more frozen fruit and re-blend before consuming or else it will be soupy
I prefer to measure my ingredients ahead of time and portion them into freezer bags (freeze the milk in an ice cube tray). Then, I can just grab, blend, and go to save time in the morning!
With just 3 ingredients and 5 minutes you’ll have a delicious cranberry banana smoothie! It’s a great way to use up those post-holiday cranberries, and so easy you won’t be tempted to skip breakfast. That’s a New Year’s resolution I can keep! Probably.
Portion everything ahead of time to make it even easier to enjoy a great morning smoothie, or a quick afternoon snack. It’s just the right balance of tart and sweet and easy to enjoy on the go!
If you’re not chugging it down on the way to work or the gym, serve it in gorgeous clear glassware so you can appreciate the beautiful vibrant colors that cranberries give this smoothie!
Easy Cranberry Banana Smoothie
This simple cranberry banana smoothie requires just 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to make. It’s thick, creamy, low fat, and a perfect breakfast on the go or afternoon snack!
1 Cup frozen cranberries, 1 Cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 Cup frozen banana slices
Set to high, puree, or the smoothie setting, depending on your available options
Adjust with milk to thin or more banana (or ice) to thicken as desired
Enjoy!
Notes
You can also use fresh cranberries and/or banana, but you may need to add in ice as a thickener
If you don’t have cranberries, you may also swap in ½ cup of cranberry juice or leftover cranberry sauce and add ice to thicken
Substitute any other non-dairy milk for the almond milk if preferred. Coconut milk is another great choice, but really any variety works!
For a thinner smoothie, feel free to add more milk. For a thicker smoothie, add more banana, or ½ cup yogurt (raspberry, vanilla, or orange flavors are great choices). I feel this smoothie is very thick as written, so I’d imagine you’d mostly want to thin it
If you’d like to blend a serving of collagen or protein powder in, add it after the initial blending is complete. Use the lowest setting on your blender to just mix it in
This recipe works in a full sized blender or a portable blender (sometimes I have to blend a little first to pack it down in my portable sized one to fit it all in). Since it’s so thick, I do tend to use my full size blender just for the power (but you could thin it more if needed to alleviate that)
You can store any leftover smoothie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. However, you’ll want to add ice or more frozen fruit and re-blend before consuming or else it will be soupy
I prefer to measure my ingredients ahead of time and portion them into freezer bags. Then, I can just grab, blend, and go to save time in the morning!
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any swaps or adjustments, and actual quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Keyword cranberry banana smoothie, cranberry in smoothie, cranberry recipes, nutrient rich drinks, quick and easy smoothies, smoothie recipes, what to do with leftover cranberries
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
