Dark Cherry Smoothie

Here's an easy and delicious Dark Cherry Smoothie you can enjoy year-round thanks to frozen cherries. Perfect for a grab and go breakfast or after-workout snack.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Of all the ways there are to indulge yourself, a smoothie is right up there. It can be a nice little reward for washing the dishes, say, or organizing your closets :) It's also just right for an easy and filling breakfast, or healthy-but-kind-of-special afternoon snack.

There are plenty of solid reasons to put a Dark Cherry Smoothie on your "must make" list, and here's a few:

• Cherry anything feels super special, but in a smoothie? Move over, green juice.

• This smoothie is easy to make non-dairy if you use nut milk...bonus points for this fact.

• It's quick, easy and you can make it year-round thanks to pitted frozen cherries!

  

  For the full recipe, instructions and ingredients, please scroll to the recipe card below.

  1. Coconut Milk: For this recipe we want the full-fat version, and not just because of it's delish, rich flavor, but also because of the solid cream that sits at the top of the can once you remove the lid. We'll spoon this it out and set it aside, then mix it with flavorings to make a creamy topping.

  2. Cherries: Dark, sweet, pitted frozen cherries. Available in most grocery stores.

  3. Milk: Regular milk or any non-dairy milk you'd like.

  4. Banana: This gives the smoothie a creamy consistency and a little flavor boost too without being overwhelming.

  5. Honey: You control the sweetness! Start with a couple of tablespoons, and take it from there.

  6. Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract adds a mysteriously wonderful depth of flavor you can't get with anything else.

  7. Toasted Coconut: Totally optional, but adds a pretty touch to finish the presentation of these Dark Cherry Smoothies.

  8. Fresh Cherries: Another nice garnish, don't you think?

For the full recipe, just scroll on down to the recipe card.

Making a Dark Cherry Smoothie is easy! Here's what you do:

1. Open the can of coconut cream and spoon out the solid part - about 1/3 of a cup - and place it in a medium-sized bowl. Freeze for 15 minutes. Make the coconut whipped cream by adding vanilla and maple syrup to the bowl and beat with an electric hand mixer or whisk until it's smooth and fluffy, a minute or two.

2. Pour the remaining coconut cream from the can into an electric blender along with the partially frozen cherries (let cherries sit at room temperature for 15 minutes) as well as the milk, banana, honey and vanilla extract.

3. Blend until smooth. Check the flavor and add more honey if you'd like.

4. Pour into glasses.

5. Garnish with the whipped coconut cream, toasted coconut and fresh cherries. Enjoy!

A few tips for this recipe:

• Partially thaw the cherries by leaving them out on the counter for about 15 minutes. They should be slightly softened but still frozen.

• You can substitute any kind of non-dairy milk you'd like instead of regular milk for this recipe.

• Add more honey if you like it a little sweeter.

• This recipe makes six half cup servings, but you can easily adjust it to make more or less. Better yet, double the recipe and make a big smoothie for everyone!

  

  Can I use something other than coconut milk in this recipe?

  You can use any milk you'd like! I'd start with cashew or almond milk for their rich flavor.

  Can I use something instead of the coconut whipped cream in the recipe?

  You can certainly buy any kind of frozen, non-dairy topping and it will be delicious on this smoothie.

  Dark Cherry Smoothie

  A refreshing, tasty cherry smoothie is a perfect quick breakfast or snack!

  Course: Smoothies and Drinks

  Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

  Total Time: 25 minutes

  Servings: 6

  Ingredients

  • ▢ 1 can Coconut Milk, canned full fat variety, with the solid portion from the top of the can reserved and set aside Approx. a 13.5 ounce can

  • ▢ 2 ½ cups Cherries (frozen,dark,sweet, pitted) partially thawed (12 ounce bag) See Recipe Tips

  • ▢ ½ cup Milk, regular or non-dairy

  • ▢ ½ cup Banana, cut in chunks

  • ▢ 2 tablespoons Honey or more for desired sweetness

  • ▢ ½ teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract

  • ▢ For the COCONUT WHIPPED CREAM

  • ▢ 1 tablespoon Maple Syrup

  • ▢ 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract, pure (not imitation)

  • ▢ ⅓ cup Coconut Cream layer, reserved from can above

  • ▢ ¼ cup Toasted Coconut for serving

  • ▢ ⅓ cup Fresh Cherries with stems for serving, optional

  Instructions

  • Make the SMOOTHIES

    Open the can of coconut cream and spoon out the solid cream that's on the top, about 1/3 cup, and place in a medium-sized bowl. Freeze for 15 minutes.

    Pour the remaining contents of the coconut cream can into a blender along with the partially frozen cherries, milk, banana, honey and vanilla extract

    Whiz everything together until completely smooth, adding a bit more milk if its too thick, and a bit more honey if you like it sweeter

    Pour into glasses

    Garnish with whipped coconut cream, toasted coconut and a fresh cherry, if desired.

  • Make the COCONUT WHIPPED CREAM

    Whip the the partially frozen coconut cream with a hand mixer or whisk in the medium-sized bowl with the vanilla and maple syrup until smooth and fluffy.

    Divide on top of each smoothie

  Notes

  • Partially thaw the cherries by leaving them out for about 15 minutes. They should be slightly softened but still frozen.

  • Use any kind of non-dairy milk you’d like instead of regular milk in this recipe

  • Add more honey to this recipe if you like it a little sweeter

  • This recipe makes six 1/2 cup servings, but it can be three one cup smoothies too.