HELLO GORGEOUS. That’s all I can say about this wonderful smoothie recipe that will have your tastebuds dancing. It’s the first recipe in our NEW AK Cherry Week — a week dedicated to sharing all of my best cherry recipes here on the blog and on social. Follow along on Instagram here, and stay tuned for cherry goodness all week long!
Okay, I’ll tell you a little more about it. This incredible cherry lime smoothie recipe combined the flavors from my absolute favorite almond cherry smoothie with the fresh tartness of my key lime pie smoothie to give you a creamy version of cherry limeade that you’ll want to make again and again.
We’re packing in tons of beautiful cherries (I love using tart cherries), lime juice and lime zest, and greek yogurt to create a thick, delicious smoothie for the perfect breakfast or snack. As always, feel free to customize with your fav nutritional boosters, and remember to top your glass with my famous granola. Enjoy!
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Fall in love with cherries
I’ve been a huge fan of cherries (specifically tart cherries) for as long as I can remember. They taste amazing, add a beautiful pop of color to recipes, and have a wide range of health benefits. They:
- Help reduce inflammation & may help with muscle recovery (post-workout perfection)
- Naturally have melatonin, which can help with sleep
- Are heart-healthy and packed with antioxidants & vitamin C
Everything you’ll need to make this cherry lime smoothie
This gorgeous smoothie is made with just 6 core ingredients for a refreshing smoothie you can make any time. It’s perfectly sweet, a little tart, and packed with 14g of protein! Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Frozen cherries: I love using frozen tart cherries, but feel free to use any frozen cherries that you like (dark or sweet cherries work just as well).
- Lime: we’re adding both fresh lime juice and lime zest for that bright, fresh limeade flavor.
- Medjool dates: this smoothie is naturally sweetened by using a couple of dates!
- Yogurt: some greek yogurt adds a wonderful boost of protein and gives the smoothie that extra delicious tart flavor.
- Vanilla: a little vanilla extract brings out the sweetness. Learn how to make your own vanilla here!
- Milk: feel free to use any dairy or non-dairy milk you’d like. I typically use unsweetened almond milk.
- Ice: you’ll also need some ice to help the smoothie blend up.
Can I make it dairy free?
Sure! Simply blend in your favorite vegan/dairy free yogurt. I love siggi’s plant-based yogurt.
Our favorite smoothie nutritional boosters
You can really mix and match these add-ins to make this smoothie your own and bump up the nutrition:
- Flaxseed meal: this is one of my favorite ingredients to add to shakes and smoothies for a little boost of fiber and minerals. It’s especially great for nursing mamas as flaxseed can help increase milk supply. Usually, a tablespoon is plenty! Here’s a brand I love.
- Chia or hemp seeds: add in a tablespoon of chia seeds or hemp seeds for a boost of healthy fats, fiber & omega-3s.
- Protein powder: another easy way to add extra protein. I like to add collagen peptides or a plain or vanilla flavored protein powder in this recipe. Here is a great plant-based option.
- Spinach: if you’re looking to get more greens in your smoothie, try adding a cup or two of raw or cooked spinach. You’ll never be able to taste it, but just know that it may change the color of your smoothie to a darker, brownish color.
Don’t forget this trick when using dates
Note that you may need to soften your dates before adding them to the blender. To do so, simply soak your pitted dates in 1 cup of very warm water for at least 5 minutes. This will help them soften up and be perfect for blending. While the dates are soaking you can get all your other ingredients out, measured and ready.
Tips for making the perfect cherry lime smoothie
- Use frozen fruit. Using frozen cherries in this recipe is best as it helps keep the smoothie cold and thick. The ice will, of course, help as well, but frozen fruit ensures that you can use less ice overall and your smoothie won’t turn out watery.
- Add more liquid. Don’t be afraid to add more liquid if your smoothie is too thick or won’t fully blend — especially if you’re adding more mix-ins. High powered blenders tend to blend frozen fruit much better, so if you have a regular or personal size blender, you may need to add more milk.
- Sweeten it up. This cherry lime smoothie should be perfectly sweet but if you’d like it sweeter you can add a 1/2 tablespoon of honey, pure maple syrup, or another Medjool date.
Meal prep this cherry lime smoothie
Make this cherry limeade smoothie ahead of time to enjoy later! I have three amazing methods for prepping and storing smoothies right in your freezer. You’ll learn the ice cube tray method, the mason jar method and the freezer pack method.
More smoothie recipes you’ll love
Get all of my delicious smoothie recipes here!
I hope you love this incredible cherry lime smoothie! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
The
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Cherry Lime Smoothie
Deliciously sweet and tart cherry lime smoothie made with 6 simple ingredients and a wonderful boost of protein from greek yogurt. This easy smoothie tastes just like cherry limeade but has a thick, creamy texture you’ll love. The perfect, refreshing breakfast or snack!
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen cherries (tart are my fav!)
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 large pitted medjool dates
- ½ cup plain greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼-½ cup dairy free milk (almond is my fav!), plus more as needed
- ½ cup ice
Instructions
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First soak your pitted dates in 1 cup of very warm water for at least 5 minutes. This will help them soften up and perfect for blending. While the dates are soaking you can get all your other ingredients out, measured and ready.
-
Add all ingredients to a high powered blender: frozen cherries, lime zest, lime juice, pitted dates, greek yogurt, vanilla, milk, and ice. Feel free to add any optional add-ins to your smoothie if you’d like. Blend until smooth, adding more milk to thin, if necessary. Pour into a glass and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
See the full post for tip, tricks, and ways to customize this smoothie recipe.
Nutrition
Serving: 1smoothieCalories: 356calCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 14.1gFat: 7.7gSaturated Fat: 3.1gFiber: 6.1gSugar: 52.1g
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on May 12th, 2023, and republished on July 14th, 2024.
