Mixed Berry Smoothie

Written by
Molly Watson
An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients.
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Molly Watson
Updated 01/06/21
Berry smoothie
The Spruce
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yields: 14 ounces
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
168 Calories
1g Fat
41g Carbs
2g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 168
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 41g 15%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Protein 2g
Calcium 29mg 2%
*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. 

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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

  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.

    Blending a smoothie
    The Spruce

  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.

  4. Pour into a tall glass and serve immediately.

    Mixed berry smoothie
    The Spruce

  5. Enjoy!

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 2 days.
  • To freeze your smoothie, pour it into an airtight freezer bag or freezer container, preferably plastic. If you use glass, use a wide-mouth jar and leave at least 2 inches of headspace to allow for expansion. Freeze the smoothie for up to 3 months; defrost in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. If the smoothie separates after defrosting, shake or blend it for a few seconds.

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 mangos, 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.

Are Smoothies Good for Weight Loss?

Smoothies can be a good choice for weight loss. Liquids are good for digestion and smoothies are generally made with healthy, natural ingredients.

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