Creamy Apple Smoothie

Creamy Apple Smoothies are a refreshing taste of fall! They’re made with just 5 ingredients, vegan, and banana and yogurt-free. Perfect for healthy snacking, pre-workout treats, and autumn brunch!

Enjoy your daily smoothie, fall style! As much as I make smoothies, I recently realized that apples seldom made the list. So, when thinking up ways to enjoy my recent apple picking haul, I decided to try my hand at a vegan apple pie smoothie!

Though I usually add bananas to my blends, I decided to bypass them to achieve a classic fall flavor. Instead, I added creaminess with rich and nutty almond butter and soy milk. Sweetnesss comes from the apple and caramely Medjool dates. Into the blender went a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, adding those beloved warming fall spices in one go.

One sip of this balanced, fruity, creamy and cinnamon-spiced drink and I was smitten! It is my fall go-to for healthy snacks, pre-workout treats, and autumn brunches. Bonus: Baby J loves it, too! Add vanilla powder if desired to bulk it up, but its simply satisfying on its own, too. For more tasty and easy vegan smoothie recipes, check out my Banana Cardamom Smoothie and Watermelon Smoothie.

Ingredients

Apple: Choose a sweet apple, such as Fuji, Honey Crisp, or Gala. Peel it if desired and be sure to core it before blending.

Soy Milk: Unsweetened soy milk adds liquid, creaminess, and plant protein to the apple smoothie with milk. You can also use almond, oat, or pea milk.

Almond Butter: For a rich nuttiness that complements the sweet and juicy apples! You can use salted or unsalted almond butter and always stir well before adding. If needed, swap tahini.

Pumpkin Pie Spice: A classic fall spice blend that adds comforting and warm spice. If needed, you can swap all ground cinnamon or 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and a pinch each of ground allspice and cloves.

Medjool Dates: This variety of dates is known for its thick, jammy texture and sweet flavor. They are perfect for adding natural sweetness to the frosty drinks. If needed, use another variety of dates, or substitute 1-1 1/2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup.

Using Frozen Apples

If desired, you can use frozen apples in apple smoothie recipes! Doing so adds a delightfully frosty and refreshing texture and is a great way to preserve a large batch of fruit! To freeze apples, spread cored and chopped apples on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for 3-4 hours or until they are frozen. Transfer the frozen chunks to a freezer-safe container and freeze them for up to 3 months. Use 1 heaping cup of frozen apple pieces for each smoothie.

How to Make An Apple Smoothie

• Core the apple. Place the apple on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut off one side of the apple perpendicular to where the stem indent on the top of the apple starts. Remove this apple piece and place the apple cut-side down on the board. Cut off the left and right sides of the apple perpendicular to where the indent starts. Turn the remaining apple piece and cut off the final side of the apple, leaving the core. Throw out the core, or use it to make this caramel from my vegan apple pie. If there are any core or seeds in any of the apple pieces, cut them out.

• Add the ingredients to the blender. Add the apple pieces, soy milk, almond butter or tahini, pumpkin pie spice, and Medjool dates to a blender.

• Blend and serve. Blend the smoothie until smooth and creamy. Pour into a cup, garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, and enjoy!

Recipe Pro-Tips

• A note on high-speed blenders. A high-speed blender makes this smoothie with apple ultra creamy and frosty, like an apple shake! If you don’t have one, classic blenders can still blend apples well, though you may want to peel the apple for the smoothest result.
• Enjoy it fresh! Apple smoothies are best enjoyed fresh, so I don’t recommend refrigerating or storing leftovers for longer than an hour, should you have them.

Recipe Variations

Make any of the following swaps or additions to take your own spin on this recipe!

• Change Up the Fruit: For a tart smoothie, use a Granny Smith or Braeburn apple. Enjoy another favorite fall flavor by using a ripe Bartlett or D’Anjou pear instead of an apple.
• Protein Power-Up: Stay full all morning long or recover from a workout by adding a scoop of vanilla protein powder.
• Add Your Greens: Blend in 1-2 cups of your favorite baby greens, such as spinach or kale, to add extra nutrition to your simple apple smoothie.
• Make It a Smoothie Bowl: Reduce the milk to 1/2 cup and add 1-2 chunks of frozen banana for a scoopable apple cinnamon smoothie, perfect for chopping with chopped apples, cinnamon, and granola!
• Opt for Oats: For a fiber and delicious plant-based protein boost, blend in a few tablespoons of old-fashioned oats.
• Extra Creamy: Enhance the incredible mouthfeel of this smoothie by blending in 1 tablespoon of coconut milk or a chunk or two of frozen bananas.
• Add Healthy Fats: Boost the nutritional profile of this apple smoothie recipe by blending in 1 tablespoon of chia, flax, or hemp seed. All are chock-full of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which may help prevent diseases and support heart health (source, source).

Frequently Asked Questions

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