This healthy blackberry smoothie is perfectly creamy and yogurt-free! It is the perfect vegan smoothie for blackberry season (obviously). This blackberry banana smoothie is the perfect drink for a hot summer day.
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Table of Contents
Are berry smoothies healthy?
The short answer is yes, berry smoothies are healthy. Fresh berries are packed with antioxidants, which help keep free radicals under control. Berry smoothies are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Berries are also known to improve heart health. Does it get better than that? Be sure to add this delicious smoothie to your list of healthy breakfasts to rotate through your meal plans.
Blackberries, specifically, are often overlooked in favor of more popular berries, such as blueberries or strawberries. But these little berries are amazingly nutritious! Blackberries are an excellent source of fiber, manganese, vitamin C, and K. So, excuse me while I run to my local grocery store to get some blackberries so I can make this simple smoothie again.
One study found that increasing dietary intake of mixed-berry flavonoids can reduce depressive symptoms in older adults.
How many calories does a blackberry smoothie have?
This vegan blackberry smoothie has 109 calories per serving. A serving of this blackberry smoothie without yogurt is one and a third cups or 317ml.
Ingredients + Notes
This healthy smoothie recipe uses simple ingredients.
- Almond milk: Almond milk or oat milk is usually my go-to plant-based milk for making a good smoothie.
- Banana: Using a frozen banana is ideal because it makes it cold without the use of ice cubes.
- Blackberries: These juicy berries can be added to this refreshing drink fresh or frozen. I do tend to opt for frozen berries in smoothies, though, so it maintains a thicker texture.
A full list of ingredients with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Pro Tips
- Use frozen fruit to achieve a thick, creamy smoothie. Plus, a cold smoothie is always best. That being said, fresh blackberries are delicious too!
- If you have a high-power blender, add chia, hemp, or flax seeds to increase the nutritional content of this blackberry banana smoothie.
- This blackberry smoothie with banana should be sweet enough from the fresh fruit, but if you prefer an extra sweet drink, try adding two to three dates.
How to Make a Blackberry Smoothie Without Yogurt
This vegan blackberry smoothie recipe is so simple that I almost feel like it’s void of the word recipe.
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- Add the plant milk, banana, and blackberries into a blender* and blend until nice and smooth.
- Pour into a glass or jar and top with mint.
Topping Ideas
A rule I use a lot is ‘if it’s in the ingredients list, it can go on top of the final result’. So feel free to add sliced ripe banana, fresh blackberries, or a few fresh mint leaves for a refreshing finish. Other topping ideas include:
- Coconut flakes
- Granola
- Your favorite berries, such as raspberries or strawberries.
- Healthy fats such as vegan Greek yogurt, almond butter, cashew butter, hemp seeds, chia seeds, or flax meal.
- Drizzle maple syrup or agave nectar (or another vegan alternative to a little honey).
- Layer the best Vanilla Chia Pudding or Coconut Chia Pudding on top for extra omega-3s and some crunch!
FAQ
1. Peel and chop your banana into 1-inch/2-cm chunks.
2. Freeze for a minimum of 3 hours (preferably 12+ hours) in a freezer bag or container.
For best results and to prevent your bananas from browning, do a ‘flash freeze’. This is where you freeze your banana chunks spaced out on a baking sheet covered in parchment for 2 hours, then transfer the pieces to a bag.
If you haven’t had time to freeze your banana, you can use a fresh banana. However, the frozen banana will add a lovely thick texture to your smoothie, so you may find that using fresh banana results in a runnier consistency.
Your smoothie may also not be cold enough, so feel free to add a few ice cubes to the recipe.
Yes, of course! The almond milk adds a very slight nutty flavor and a creaminess that you won’t get with water or juice. However, feel free to use another plant-based milk, such as flax, oat, or soy milk, for a similar consistency. You could also use coconut milk for a hint of sweet coconut in the smoothie.
Recipe
More Vegan Smoothie Recipes
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Blackberry Smoothie Without Yogurt
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 1/2 cup frozen blackberries
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 2+ fresh mint leaves, optional topping
Instructions
- Blend: Add all ingredients into a blender* and blend until nice and smooth.
- Enjoy: Pour into a glass or jar and enjoy!
Notes
-
- Use frozen fruit to achieve a thick, creamy smoothie. Plus, a cold smoothie is always best. That being said, fresh blackberries are delicious too!
- If you have a high-power blender, add chia, hemp, or flax seeds to increase the nutritional content of this blackberry banana smoothie.
- This blackberry smoothie with banana should be sweet enough from the fresh fruit, but if you prefer an extra sweet drink, try adding two to three dates.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
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Reference
Millar, C., Dufour, A., Hannan, M., & Sahni, S. (2021). Increasing mixed-berry flavonoid intake may reduce depressive symptoms in older adults: Framingham Heart Study. Innovation in Aging, 5(Suppl 1), 858. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igab046.3132
So refreshing and perfect for blackberry season.
Thanks so much, Amber. I’m glad you enjoyed it!