Blackberry Smoothie

Name: Blackberry Smoothie
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup frozen blackberries; ¼ cup frozen raspberries; 1 frozen banana; 2 cups coconut water (or less if you want the smoothie thicker); ½ tsp fresh lemon zest; 1 serving of plain protein powder (optional, vanilla protein powder or one with mixed greens also work)

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe· 5 from 4 reviews

This Blackberry Smoothie is refreshing, smooth, and good for you! It comes together in just 5 minutes and it's the perfect way to use up those summer berries while they're in season. It can be served as a snack or light breakfast with added protein powder!

Dark purple smoothie in a short glass garnished with a slice of lemon and fresh blackberries.

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Why This Recipe Works
Ingredients
Variations and Substitutions
Step-by-Step Instructions
Serving Suggestions
Storing
FAQs
Other Refreshing Fruity Smoothies
📖 Recipe

Why This Recipe Works

Light and refreshing - This smoothie is made with juicy blackberries and refreshing coconut water. It doesn't have any milk or yogurt which makes it extra light and refreshing. It's great for spring and summer when the temperature goes up and you're craving simpler meals. It's made with lemon zest which gives it that extra zing and freshness.

Breakfast or a snack - If you want something healthier than ice cream in the summer but just as refreshing, this smoothie is perfect for that. It can be a light snack for two people, great for hot summer days. You can also add protein powder to it and enjoy it for breakfast as a single serving.

Easy to make - Smoothie is the easiest meal you can make when you're in a rush. Simply add everything into a blender and blend on high until smooth. It's also perfect to take with you in reusable bottle and enjoy on the go.

Dark purple smoothie in short glasses garnished with a slice of lemon and fresh blackberries.

Ingredients

Blackberries - I recommend using frozen blackberries. I usually buy them fresh and freeze them for smoothies as they're usually harder to find in the frozen aisle on their own.
Raspberries - A few frozen raspberries give the smoothie extra flavor and tang.
Banana - Frozen banana is what helps to thicken the smoothie and make it creamy. Alternativelly, you could also use frozen cauliflower rice instead.
Lemon zest - Fresh lemon zest adds flavor and freshness that goes really well with the blackberries. The beries are tart enough on their own so I don't recommend adding lemon juice.
Coconut water - Coconut water is packed with natural electrolytes and makes the smoothie extra refreshing.
Protein powder - This is optional. If you're serving the smoothie just as a refreshing snack, you can skip it. I like adding protein powder when having smoothies for breakfast to make them more filling. Plain protein powder works best but you can also use vanilla protein powder or one with greens added.

Frozen banana, blackberries, raspberries, coconut water, protein powder, and lemon zest laid out in small glass bowls with text overlay.

Variations and Substitutions

Milk - If you don't have coconut water, you can add some almond milk or water instead.
Yogurt - If you want to make the smoothie creamy, add ½ cup of yogurt. Full-fat Greek yogurt or thick vegan coconut yogurt are great options.
Ice - If you're using fresh berries, I recommend adding a handful of ice cubes to make the smoothie cooler.
Greens - You can add fresh leafy greens like baby spinach or kale to the smoothie or a green powder. When adding fresh greens, I recommend adding them to the blender first so they blend well.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Add everything into a high-speed blender.
Blend on high until smooth.

Backberries, raspberries, coconut water, protein powder, and other ingredients in a blender before and after blending.

Serve immediately in a glass or in a bowl with berries, granola, or other toppings.

Bright purple smoothie being poured into a short glass from a high speed blender.

Serving Suggestions

In a glass - Pour your smoothie into a tall glass and enjoy! I like serving it with a glass straw.
In a bowl - If you want to serve the smooth in a bowl and add toppings, I recommend adding only 1 cup of the coconut water first and then add more if needed when blending the smoothie. You want the smoothie to be thicker so it can hold toppings.
Toppings - homemade almond butter, granola, chopped nuts, yogurt, whipped cream, fresh berries, raw chocolate sauce, or homemade nutella!

Storing

The smoothie is best enjoyed right away. If you need to store it, keep it in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Choose a jar that fits the smoothie the best. The less air there is in the jar, the longer it will stay fresh as the air oxidizes the smoothie.

FAQs

Can I freeze the smoothie?

Frozen fruit shouldn't be frozen again once it's defrosted so I don't recommend it. If you know you're going to consume it in a week or two and you need to freeze it, you can freeze your leftover smoothie in popsicle molds to make smoothie ice cream. When refreezing frozen fruit, it develops icy texture (crystallization) so it won't be as smooth and creamy frozen.

Can I use fresh fruit?

You can use fresh blackberries and fresh raspberries but I recommend using only frozen banana. Fresh banana has different texture and won't make the smoothie as creamy. If you're using fresh berries, add a handful of ice.

Dark purple smoothie in a short glass garnished with a slice of lemon.

Other Refreshing Fruity Smoothies

If you're using for more smoothies that have lots of fruits and coconut water, check out the four linked below! They don't have any yogurt or milk and they're perfect for hot summer days. To see all the latest ones, head over to Smoothies!

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