Mixed Berry Smoothie

By
Molly Watson
Molly Watson
An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/15/21
Tested by
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Tested by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Mixed Berry Smoothie

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 14 ounces
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
220 Calories
3g Fat
43g Carbs
9g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 220
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 1g 6%
Cholesterol 7mg 2%
Sodium 83mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 43g 16%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Total Sugars 32g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 135mg 677%
Calcium 254mg 20%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 829mg 18%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Smoothies are the favored way to enjoy berries, be they fresh or frozen. You can make this mixed berry smoothie when berries are in season and fresh blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are readily available. But frozen berries are just as suitable—purchased or home frozen.

This recipe makes a single smoothie, but it easily doubles or triples or more; the batch limit depends only on the size of your blender. Most importantly, this recipe is more of a template. Despite the term "mixed berry," you should feel free to use just one type of berry if that's what you like or what you have on hand. 

0:43

Click Play to See This Mixed Berry Smoothie Recipe Come Together

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Mixed berry smoothie ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Put all of the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. This may take 2 minutes, which will seem like a long time to blend something, but the smooth texture at the end is totally worth it.

    Mixed Berry Smoothie ingredients in a blender

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. If you're not using frozen berries and want to add a couple of ice cubes to thicken things up, you can get the best results by adding them one at a time as the blender runs. Process each one until it's fully incorporated. It takes a bit of extra time, but the true "smoothie" texture that results will be worth the effort.

    Mixed Berry Smoothie in a blender, ice cubes in a glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Pour into a tall glass and serve immediately.

    Mixed Berry Smoothie in a glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Tips

  • Frozen berries will create a naturally thickened smoothie. For the same chilly effect with fresh berries, just toss in 2 or 3 ice cubes.
  • Use whatever kind of yogurt you prefer, but the berry flavor will shine through best if the yogurt doesn't contain other flavorings. Nonfat and low-fat yogurt are fine, but a whole milk yogurt will lead to the creamiest, most satisfying smoothie.
  • If you prefer to avoid seeds in your smoothie, stay away from seed-rich berries such as raspberries and blackberries and stick with blueberries and strawberries.

Recipe Variations

  • For a creamier, less fruity smoothie, use milk, soy milk, almond milk, or rice milk instead of the orange juice.
  • To make this a vegan smoothie, use a whole, peeled banana in place of the yogurt to thicken things up. Other tropical fruits can play this role too, including mangoes, aronia berries, and papayas. Plus, papaya adds a frothy element when you whip it up in a blender.
  • Add a couple of fresh mint leaves.
  • Add a tablespoon or two of almond butter for a thicker smoothie with some extra protein in it, along with a lovely nutty flavor. You can also add 2 to 4 ounces of soft tofu. It adds body and plenty of protein to the smoothie and hardly affects the flavor at all.
  • If you want to work some more greens into your diet, a handful of spinach will taste undetectable amid all the berry flavor. However, it will dull the color of the smoothie quite a bit.

How to Store and Freeze

  • If you have leftovers or want to save your smoothie for later, pour it into an airtight covered container, such as a Mason jar, and refrigerate it for up to two days.
  • To freeze your smoothie, pour it into an airtight freezer bag or freezer container, preferably plastic. If you use glass, use a wide-mouthed jar and leave at least 2 inches of headspace to allow for expansion. Freeze the smoothie for up to three months; defrost in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. If the smoothie separates after defrosting, shake or blend it for a few seconds.

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