This blueberry peanut butter smoothie is a quick, easy, nutritious, and delicious treat! It’s made with frozen blueberries and bananas, peanut butter, spinach, a touch of cinnamon and stevia based sweetener, and almond milk. This smoothie is also vegan, dairy-free, and naturally gluten-free.
Blueberry Peanut Butter Smoothie
My 18 month old son, Grayson, is obsessed with this blueberry peanut butter smoothie. It’s creamy, perfectly sweet, and a beautiful (fun) purple hue, which is why Grayson loves it. I’s also packed full of veggies, fruit, and plant-based protein, and totally filling, which is why I love it.
I recently discovered Grayson’s love of smoothies. Obsessed may be the better word! So, we make this blueberry peanut butter smoothie almost every Sunday morning. It makes me so happy he enjoys smoothies because they are all natural, quick to whip up, and full of fruit, veggies, and protein (things that can be hard to get him to eat otherwise!). Plus, I love smoothies too, so it’s a treat we can enjoy together.
Pro-mama tip: do not need feed this smoothie to your child near carpet (or in bed!). I did this the other morning and Grayson spilled it all over our clean white carpet and bedspread. Whoops! Luckily, it did come out but it made for an interesting Sunday morning 😅
Any who, this blueberry banana smoothie is great for a breakfast on the go, a post-work out treat, or an afternoon pick me up snack.
Ingredients in blueberry peanut butter smoothie
- frozen blueberries, the star of this smoothie, it gives the smoothie it’s beautiful purple hue and adds a natural, delicious berry sweetness.
- frozen banana, helps make this smoothie super creamy and delicious. Also, helps naturally sweeten it.
- spinach, adds nutritious greens and is undetectable; it’s a great way to sneak veggies/greens into your kid’s (and own) foods!
- peanut butter + peanut butter powder, gives the smoothie a rich taste and makes it perfectly filling while also adding protein and nutty goodness. I also use peanut butter powder (finely pressed peanuts with oils removed) as it adds a more intense peanut butter flavor but is much lower in calories than pure peanut butter (you can omit and use all regular peanut butter if desired).
- almond milk, keeps this smoothie dairy-free and delicious.
- extras flavor boosts, I add a touch of cinnamon as I think it plays nice with the peanut butter (and I just love cinnamon!). I also add a touch of a stevia based sweetener to make this smoothie perfectly sweet (but you can omit if your bananas are ripe enough to naturally sweeten the smoothie).
tips for making smoothies
I know making smoothies is not particularly difficult (throw all the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth). But I do have a few, easy tips to ensure the perfect, creamy, and thick smoothie every time!
- use a high powered blender; I truly believe it’s worth investing in a good blender to make things like smoothies, sauces, cashews based treats, ice cream bases, and other blended items. It makes all the difference. For instance, spinach becomes undetectable when using a good blender (but can end up chunky in a not so good blender). This is what I use (it’s relatively affordable for a good blender and works like a dream!)
- make sure the fruit is frozen; this leads to a creamy, thick smoothie. I prefer using frozen fruit over adding ice because it creates a smoother texture (ice can lead to an icey texture).
- add the milk a little at a time; I add milk, about a half cup at a time, until I reach my desired consistency. I prefer a thick smoothie, more like a milkshake, so don’t like to add too much milk. Of course, you can add more if you like it thinner. But it’s hard to thicken a smoothie once it’s become too thin, so adding the milk gradually is key.
- blend until perfectly smooth; blend, scraping down the sides as necessary, until all the ingredients are well-incorporated and perfectly smooth. This may take a few minutes, but be patient! There is nothing worse than when your smoothie gets caught in the straw because there is still chunks of fruit!
how to meal prep smoothies
Smoothies are actually great for meal prep (and busy mornings on the go). I just portion out and add bananas and blueberries to a ziplock bag and pop in the freezer. I also keep the other ingredients close together in the fridge/pantry so they are easy to grab the next day. When ready to make, simply add the frozen fruit and other ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth!
extras + substitutions for this smoothie
This smoothie is easy to customize to make your own:
- use a different nut butter; almond or cashew butter would also work great.
- switch up the fruit; frozen mixed berries, peaches, or strawberries would also taste delicious.
- add extra nutrients; hemp or flaxseeds would be great additions. Or sneak in other greens like kale. Even a scoop of protein powder would work great!
- any milk will work; I always have almond milk on hand, so that’s what I prefer. Dairy milk or any other cream, smooth non-dairy milk will work too!
- spice it up; I think ginger or turmeric would also work beautifully in this smoothie!
other delicious + nutritious smoothies
enjoy!
If you make this blueberry peanut butter smoothie, please leave a comment below. I absolutely love to hear from you guys and your thoughts on my recipes. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or pin it on pinterest so I can see your creations!
Blueberry Peanut Butter Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 frozen ripe medium banana**
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter powder optional**
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon optional, I used 1/2 teaspoon but use as little or as much as desired
- 1/2 cup spinach loosely packed
- 1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk plus more to thin if necessary
- 1 pitted date
- 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder optional
Instructions
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Add the frozen fruit, peanut butter + powder, cinnamon, spinach, and about a 1/2 cup of the almond milk to the blender. Blend, adding more milk, 1/2 cup at a time, until reached desired consistency and all the ingredients are well blended. Taste and add stevia if necessary.
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Pour into 2 glasses, serve, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Peel and cut the banana into chunks before freezing to ensure it blends well.
I also use peanut butter powder as it adds a more intense peanut butter flavor plus is lower in calories than regular peanut butter, If you do not have it, you can omit and use another tablespoon of regular peanut butter instead.
