Dairy-Free Cherry and Apple Smoothie

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The smoothies that have been churned in our blender over the years are a bit like snowflakes; no two have ever been exactly alike. Perhaps that is what is so delightful about smoothies, in general. You can chop and drop to your heart’s content — mixing and matching fruits, veggies, seasonings, greens, etc. – until you arrive at your desired flavor profile and texture, with little concern about precise measurement. Need to go a little sweeter, a little more tart, a little greener, or more nutritious? The change ups are easy… just drop in another add and give it a whirl.

So, why do we need a recipe? For the very reason that smoothies offer so much variety… it’s fun to see what just one little tweak, perhaps something you hadn’t considered, can do for both flavor and texture.

One spark of an idea is all you need.

With Stemilt’s dark red, plump, sweet cherries in season a little while longer, this had to be the launching point for the “yogurt-based” morning smoothie I was after. Following a dairy-free diet, I tend to lean toward the coconut milk-based yogurt alternatives, (which happen to present a delicious flavor pairing with cherries). And yet, get bored with the same fruit- and nut-topped bowl of yogurt. That’s why smoothies are so great… offering far greater versatility for incorporating greens and veggies than a bowl of yogurt might… unless, of course, you like your yogurt topped with a chop of kale or carrots?

Together with a Fuji apple (which is available all year long), this morning smoothie is a perfect sit-and-sip or grab-and-go option to yogurt-in-a-bowl, offering far more interesting flavor notes simply as a result of blending.

Stemilt’s sweet cherries are not only delicious, they are one of the top antioxidant-rich foods you can add to your diet, giving this smoothie a great, healthy kick of flavor, along with Stemilt apples… another antioxidant-rich fruit!

Wanting to retain that captivating rosy hue that cherries bring to the mix and, yet, still incorporate a veggie along with the cherries and apple, I opted for that carrot add I hinted at early… for its subtly sweet, nutritious and harmonious partnering quality (not something I would do to a bowl of yogurt!). Enhancing the coconut flavor of the “yogurt” is a little touch of organic coconut water. Then a few generous spoonfuls of flaxseed meal further amp the nutritional quotient, and a dash of cinnamon subtly ties all the flavor notes together without loudly announcing its presence. A few cubes of ice and violá… a beautifully hued, nutritious, satisfying, refreshing morning breakfast.

Chock full of rich antioxidants, heart-healthy omega 3’s, nutritious fiber, cholesterol lowering properties, and good-for-you vitamins, this delicious alternative to plain old  yogurt-in-a-bowl not only tastes great, it’s great for you… offering yet another spin to your blending repertoire.

Dairy-Free Cherry and Apple Smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Stemilt cherries, stemmed, pitted and halved (approx. 14-16 cherries)
  • 1 cup ice
  • 2 5.3 oz containers dairy-free coconut milk plain yogurt alternative (or plain yogurt of your choice)
  • 1 large Fuji apple, cored and cut into large pieces
  • 2 tbsp whole-ground flaxseed meal
  • 1 medium carrot, trimmed, peeled and cut into large pieces
  • 1/4 cup pure coconut water
  • 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

This nutritious and dairy-free smoothie is the perfect healthy option to get your day started.

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  • Yield
    1 28 oz. servings
  • Prep time
  • Cook time
  • Total time
  • Cuisine
    American
  • In Category
    Breakfast, Drinks, Smoothies
  • Level
    Easy

Instructions

  1. Add cherries, ice, yogurt, apple, flaxseed meal, carrot, coconut water, and cinnamon to pitcher of high-speed electric blender (one suitable for crushing ice and handling firm textures).
  2. Using a long-handle wooden spoon, push ingredients firmly down into pitcher.
  3. Blend on high (or use “smoothie” option, if applicable) for approximately 1 minute, or until pre-set time has expired. (If necessary, stop machine intermittently to scrape down sides or press ingredients down to remove any air pockets that might impede blending.)
  4. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

Nutritional Information

Per Serving

  • Calories: 256.8 (25.6% from fat)
  • Fat Content: 7.3 (sat 4.0g, poly 1.6g, mono 0.5g)
  • Protein Content: 3.4g
  • Carbohydrate Content: 46.4g
  • Fiber Content: 8.1g
  • Sugar Content: 8.1g
  • Cholesterol Content: 0mg
  • Sodium Content: 41.4mg

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