Apple Spice Green Smoothie
This easy Apple Spice Green Smoothie recipe has all the crave-able festive flavors you love using energizing whole-food ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen spinach ~140 grams
- 1/2 banana ~65 grams
- 1 medium apple* ~145 grams
- 1 Tbsp. unsweetened dried cranberries ~3 to 6 grams (depending on type)
- 1/2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed ~2 grams
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1 cup unsweetened plant milk** ~240 mL
Instructions
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Add all the ingredients to your high-speed blender pitcher.
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Generally you want the ingredients that are the hardest to blend closest to the blades. If you're using frozen banana or apple you can put those in first, otherwise I typically start with the frozen spinach and follow with the rest of the ingredients.
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I like to wait until I'm just about to blend before I add in my liquid--this helps to keep a thicker smoothie texture.
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If your blender has a special smoothie mode feel free to use that setting. Otherwise, blend on high for 30 to 40 seconds (up to 60 depending on the strength of your blender) or until you have a smooth and creamy texture.
Recipe Notes
Recipe Yield: 2-1/2 cups
*Apple: You can choose a sweet variety like fuji, Honeycrisp or gala. If you want a lower-sugar option use a green apple. I like using fuji apples best in this recipe. If you have a larger apple use 1/2 to 3/4 to get to about 145 grams.
**Plant Milk: I like using unsweetened vanilla almond milk for this recipe. The brand I use has 30 calories per cup and that's reflected in the nutrition info, adjust your calories according to what liquid you use. I’ve also made this using water—it’s a bit less creamy but otherwise works and it will save you some calories.
For a thicker smoothie texture: Use frozen banana and/or apple in place of fresh. As written, using fresh banana and fresh apple, this recipe will yield a just-thicker-than-juice consistency.
How to prep this recipe as smoothie packs: Use freezer-safe plastic or silicone. Place the frozen spinach, banana, apple slices, cranberries and flaxseeds into your baggies. Store in the freezer until you're ready to blend. When you're ready to blend, empty the contents of your pack into your blender pitcher and add the spices and plant milk. Because all of the ingredients are frozen, you can let the ingredients sit in the blender pitcher for a few minutes to help defrost (especially if you don't have a high-speed blender).
Storage recommendations:
Refrigerator: Keep in a covered jar for up to 2 days, shake well before drinking. After 3 to 4 hours the texture is going to change and become more liquid. If you want to revive the smoothie re-blend with 1/2-cup ice.
Freezer: Freeze smoothie in an ice-cube mold then store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. You can thaw the smoothie cubes in the refrigerator and then shake well to reconstitute or re-blend the smoothie cubes with more liquid till you reach your desired consistency.