You’ll learn How to Make a Fruit Smoothie that comes out perfectly creamy and loaded with flavor every time once you know this basic recipe. With this simple smoothie formula, you’ll be able to mix it up with fresh berries and frozen tropical fruits, add in greens such as spinach or kale, and even make them vegan and dairy-free.
Frozen Fruit Smoothie Recipe
When that moment strikes and I have literally NOTHING else to make, a frozen fruit smoothie can always save the day.
It doesn’t even matter what fresh or frozen fruits I’m working with. They can ALL be turned into a creamy and delicious smoothie.
That is, if you have this go-to smoothie recipe on hand.
Table of Contents
- Frozen Fruit Smoothie Recipe
- Basic Smoothie Formula
- How to Make a Fruit Smoothie
- Blender Tip
- Frozen Fruit Tip
- Fresh Fruit Tip
- Liquid Tip
- Yogurt Tip
- Sweetener Tip
- Add-Ins Tip
- Best Blenders for Smoothies
- Serving Smoothies
- Are smoothies healthy for you?
- What’s the best liquid for making smoothies?
- Fruit Smoothie Tips
- Fruit Smoothie Recipes
- How to Make a Fruit Smoothie
Basic Smoothie Formula
A very simple recipe can guide you when making homemade fruit smoothies. Here are the ingredients you will need and the recommended amounts to make roughly 16 ounces:
- 2 cups frozen fruit
- 1 cup fresh fruit
- ½ cup liquid
- ¼ cup yogurt
- 1–2 tbsp. sweetener
- Add-ins, optional
(Read below for more details about each ingredient.)
How to Make a Fruit Smoothie
While the recipe for a fruit smoothie is pretty basic, there is a special way of adding in your ingredients so it blends with ease. This can change depending on if you’re using a personal-sized blender or a larger, more traditional blender, so make sure you pay attention to the special note at the end!
Here are the steps for making the perfect frozen fruit smoothie in a traditional blender:
- Pour in liquid. It doesn’t really matter when you add this in since it will inevitably sink towards the blade.
- Add yogurt. This more liquid ingredient will help to blend up the other ingredients to it’s best if it’s placed closest to the blade.
- Add fresh fruit. This is when fresh bananas, berries, or even an avocado go into the blender.
- Toss in leafy greens. These are also easier to blend than frozen fruit so it’s good to place them closer to the blade.
- Add frozen fruit. Make sure you’ve let it thaw for 5–10 minutes before this step so the blender does not get hung up.
- Toss in add-ins. This is the time to add anything extra to give your smoothie a nutritional boost!
- Blend it up! Start the blender on low so the ingredients slowly get mixed together. Once it’s churning, ramp up the speed to medium and blend until everything looks smooth and creamy.
Blender Tip
A personal-sized blender, such as a Nutribullet or Ninja, will have the blade on the TOP instead of the bottom when you add in ingredients. In order to prevent the blades from getting stuck, you’ll want to reverse the order of ingredients: Add frozen fruit, leafy greens, fresh fruit, yogurt, and liquid. The optional add-ins can be tossed in at any time.
Frozen Fruit
It’s essential that you use enough frozen fruit in your smoothie to make it perfectly creamy—not enough and you’ll end up with more of a liquid drink instead of a thick slushy consistency.
You can either buy the already frozen fruit at your grocery store or freeze fresh fruit that you have cut into 1 to 2-inch pieces. If you are freezing your own fresh fruit, make sure it has been in the freezer for at least 4–5 hours to ensure it is completely frozen.
Frozen Fruit Tip
Just before making your smoothie, pull the frozen fruit out for about 5-10 minutes so it thaws slightly. This will make it much easier for all of the ingredients to blend together.
Fresh Fruit
Using a mix of fresh and frozen fruit in a smoothie is a little secret I like to use. Many other recipes and websites call for ALL frozen fruit. But do you know what happens? You end up needing to add in a bunch of milk or other liquid in order to blend it up.
So instead, using a combination of fresh and frozen fruit gives you just the right consistency while also packing in the most fruity deliciousness!
Normally, 1 medium-sized banana is about what you’ll need for the fresh fruit component.
Fresh Fruit Tip
If you don’t have any fresh fruit on hand, you can always remove 1 cup of frozen fruit from the freezer and let thaw for at least 30 minutes. This will give you enough softened fruit to work with so your blender doesn’t have trouble mixing up the ingredients.
Liquid
Unsweetened milk is the liquid of choice when making frozen fruit smoothies since it makes them incredibly creamy and helps to balance the sweetness of the fruit.
Regular cow’s milk or a dairy-free alternative both work.
If using a plant-based milk, here are some of the recommended ones:
- Oat milk – My personal preference since it tastes the closest to regular milk and is super creamy.
- Almond milk
- Cashew milk
- Soy milk
- Coconut milk
Liquid Tip
Out of milk but still want to make a smoothie? No worries! Orange juice, apple juice, and even water can be added in. Just know the smoothie will end up being a little more icy than creamy.
Yogurt
I once thought yogurt was optional in smoothies. But the more I’ve made them, the more I’ve come to realize that yogurt is actually a pretty crucial component to the smoothie formula and essential for that creamy texture.
Not only is it thick and adds a wonderful creaminess to the mix, but it’s also got a slightly tangy bite that helps balance out the sweet fruit.
Unsweetened yogurt or plain Greek yogurt is preferred. However, if you like your smoothies on the sweet side, you can always try a flavored yogurt instead.
Plant and nut-based yogurt also work equally as well and can be used if on a vegetarian or vegan diet when you’re craving a great smoothie.
Yogurt Tip
Sensitive to lactose but still want that classic yogurt taste? Try using goat milk yogurt! It has less lactose than regular cow’s milk yogurt and is easier to digest for most people with lactose intolerance.
Sweeteners
Depending on the types of fruit and their ripeness, you may or may not need to add a little extra sweetener.
Typically, if I’m making a smoothie with a banana in it, a sweetener is not needed.
However, if more tangy fruits such as berries and kiwi are blended together, a little extra sugar is needed.
The best sweeteners to add into smoothies include:
- Honey
- Agave nectar
- Pure maple syrup
- Stevia liquid extract
- Coconut nectar
Sweetener Tip
Make your smoothie first without adding any sweetener to it. Try it, and then add the additional sweetener to taste. Remember, you can always add more to it but you can’t take it away!
Optional Add-Ins
This is where the fun comes in! There are so, so, so many things you can add into your smoothies to really up-level their nutritional benefits:
- Nuts and nut butters (peanut, almonds, cashew)
- Seeds (chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds)
- Oils (fish oil, flax seed oil, cod liver oil)
- Oats (use quick-cooking since they’re smaller and will blend up more easily)
- Protein powder (unflavored or sweetened)
- Spirulina powder
- Citrus zest (limes, lemons, oranges)
- Spices (turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper)
- Puree (pumpkin, sweet potato)
- And so much more!
Add-Ins Tip
Be a little cautious when adding in extra ingredients. Start with a little bit and then taste the smoothie after each addition to make sure you still like the flavor!
Best Blenders for Smoothies
Okay, you’ve got all of your smoothie ingredients prepped and ready to go. Now how are you going to blend them up?
The key here is power.
You want to use a blender capable of completely mixing up all of the ingredients until they are smooth and creamy.
Here is a list of the best blenders for making fruit smoothies:
- Nutribullet – A wonderful personal-sized blender option. Make sure you use the larger cup in order to fit all of the ingredients without going over the max fill line.
- Ninja Blender is also another great option!
- Vitamix – The most powerful of the traditional blenders and will give you a silky smooth smoothie every time. It is more of a splurge, so only spring for this if you make smoothies, soups, or sauces on a regular basis.
- Food Processor – Sort of a last resort, but will work if you don’t have another blender on hand!
Serving Smoothies
No smoothie would be complete without a fun straw to sip them up!
And there are so many different kinds you can use:
- Paper straws. (As you see pictured here.)
- Bamboo straws. A great re-usable option.
- Metal straws. Another option that can be rinsed and re-used.
- Plastic smoothie straws. These are not the most eco-friendly option, however, if you buy the larger ones you can easily rinse and re-use them numerous times!
Are smoothies healthy for you?
Yes! When smoothies are made at home, they are full of health benefits and a great way to get plenty of nutrients. The majority of a smoothie is made from antioxidant-packed fruit, protein-loaded milk and yogurt, and any other nutritious add-ins. They are relatively high in sugar and carbs, so they may not be suited for diabetics or those on a low-carb diet.
Also, there are so many add-ins you can mix into a smoothie to make them healthier. Nuts, nut butters (like almond butter), seeds, oils, spices, oats, and protein powders are all great additions and add healthy fats and protein.
What’s the best liquid for making smoothies?
Unsweetened milk is the best liquid to add to smoothies, either non-dairy milk or a regular version. It adds a nice creaminess while also helping to balance out the natural sweetness of the fruit. You can also use fruit juice or even coconut water!
Making vegan smoothies is also easy to do. Simply use a plant-based milk alternative, such as oat, cashew, or soy milk, and a nut-based yogurt alternative along with the fresh and frozen fruits.
Fruit Smoothie Tips
- Skip the bananas. An avocado can be substituted for a banana along with a tablespoon or two of sweetener.
- Go for the goat yogurt. If you’re slightly lactose intolerant, goat’s milk yogurt is a wonderful alternative that tastes very similar to cow’s milk yogurt.
- Add and adjust. Start by adding a little bit of optional ingredients and then taste after each addition to make sure you still like the flavor.
- Sweeten it last. You’d be surprised how sweet fruit can be! Wait until the end to stir in any additional sweeteners.
- Pay attention to the blade. You want to add your softer ingredients closer to the blade and the harder (frozen) ingredients further away for easier blending.
Fruit Smoothie Recipes
Now that you’ve got the basic formula for making fruit smoothies, there are so many flavor combinations you can try.
Some classic mixes, like Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie, Peach Banana Smoothie, Strawberry Banana Smoothie, and a Mixed Berry Smoothie are delicious.
Both the Tropical Green Smoothie and the Pineapple Coconut Smoothie will make you feel like you’re on a beach.
And this Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie is dessert in a glass!
Check out this post that answers the question of Are Fruit Smoothies Healthy?
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How to Make a Fruit Smoothie
Email this recipe!
Ingredients
- ½ cup milk oat, coconut, or nut-based
- ¼ cup yogurt regular, Greek, or plant-based
- 1 cup fresh fruit or avocado
- 2 cups frozen fruit thawed for 5-10 minutes
- 1-2 Tbsp. sweetener optional
- Optional add-ins Nuts, seeds, oils, spices, oats, and protein powder
Instructions
- Pour liquid into a blender along with yogurt, fresh fruit, frozen fruit, sweetener, and any optional add-ins. (In this order if using a traditional blender or in the reverse order if using a personal blender.)
- Blend ingredients together until smooth and well combined. Serve immediately.
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Video
Notes
- One serving equals 8 ounces of smoothie.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Skip the bananas. An avocado can be substituted for a banana along with a tablespoon or two of sweetener.
- Go for the goat yogurt. If you’re slightly lactose intolerant, goat’s milk yogurt is a wonderful alternative that tastes very similar to cow’s milk yogurt.
- Add and adjust. Start by adding a little bit of optional ingredients and then taste after each addition to make sure you still like the flavor!
- Sweeten it last. You’d be surprised how sweet fruit can be! Wait until the end to stir in any additional sweeteners.
- Pay attention to the blade. You want to add your softer ingredients closer to the blade and the harder (frozen) ingredients further away from the blade for easier blending.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thanks for the simple, easy and very informative instructions and tips. I can’t wait to try this out. Never made one before.
Yay! Well I can’t wait to hear what you think when you do- please let me know 🙂
Tropical green smoothie!! Only substitution was pineapple for half of frozen banana, Only because I had frozen mango and frozen banana!
🥭🌱🍌👌💯% delicious & perfect texture!
Ummm yes please!! That combo of tropical fruits sounds ah-maaazing, Ashley!! What a great idea! So happy to hear it had the perfect texture, too (SO not a fan of thick and clumpy smoothies!) Thanks for leaving a comment & rating- it means a lot. Can’t wait to hear what you cook up next! ❤ London
Really, super easy….
Love it ❤️
Yay! So glad you found it helpful 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, Toni!
Enjoyed all recipes I’ve just started a new diet going to be doing a lot of new things probably
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Linda! That’s why I’m here! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!
I just purchased a personal blender and I will be using your good base ingredients and switch out the fruit to have a variety of different flavors each day. I have most of the ingredients on hand but a trip to the grocery store is needed. Thanks for sharing this recipe. **
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Judy! You can’t beat smoothies in the morning. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!
Most delicious smoothie I’ve ever had it’s so creamy and I love it. I’m using this so much more now and I just act like protein powder. Oh my gosh, so good!
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! I love how creamy it is, too! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!
I really want to know how to make smoothies
I hope this helps!
Hey there.
First of all, I just want to say thank you for sharing this awesome article on how to make a fruit smoothie. As someone who loves starting my mornings with a refreshing and nutritious smoothie, I was thrilled to stumble upon your post. Your step-by-step guide and mouthwatering pictures made it super easy for me to follow along and recreate your delicious creations in my own kitchen.
I must admit, I’m not the most skilled when it comes to cooking, but your instructions were so clear and straightforward that even a novice like me could whip up a fantastic fruit smoothie. I appreciate how you emphasized the importance of choosing ripe and quality fruits, as it truly makes a difference in the taste and texture of the final product. Your suggestion to add a handful of spinach for an extra nutrient boost was a game-changer for me. I never would have thought to sneak in some greens, but now I can enjoy a guilt-free and refreshing treat that’s packed with vitamins.
Overall, your article has inspired me to get creative with my smoothie recipes and explore different combinations of fruits and add-ins. I can’t wait to experiment with your suggestions and maybe even come up with a few unique creations of my own. Thank you once again for sharing your expertise and passion for smoothies. You’ve definitely made a positive impact on my morning routine, and I’m sure many others will benefit from your fantastic guide too.
Cheers,
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Alexander! These are such encouraging words! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!
Hi, can’t wait to try these recipes. Thank you for the pro tips. I’m confused because you mentioned that you like to use a banana but then at the bottom of the recipe you say skip the banana?
I’m only mentioning that if one prefers, they can skip the banana. It’s up to you!
How many servings does one recipe make? It says 16 ounces, which seems like one serving. It just seems like a lot of fruit for one serving.
The recipe, as written, makes 2 servings.
Thanks for sharing informative article.
Yay! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!