Easy Banana Smoothie

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This Banana Smoothie whips up in minutes with just five ingredients: frozen banana, milk, almond butter, vanilla, and a pinch of cinnamon. It’s naturally dairy-free and vegan.

Up-close photo of finished Banana Smoothie.

Banana Smoothie

I never liked a “plain” banana smoothie (you know, without a million other fruits added in), until this recipe. And now I’m hooked! My version of a Banana Smoothie is packed with good ingredients, it’s smooth and creamy, and it’s so filling!

If you like almonds and bananas, you will love this smoothie. 

Process shots: take ripe bananas; cut into coins; freeze in a plastic bag for Banana Smoothies.

How to make Banana Smoothies

  • Freeze the banana: While this smoothie is simple to make, it does require just a bit of planning. I like to prep the bananas right after I get home from the grocery store, so I don’t forget! Remove the peel, slice the banana into coins, place in freezer-safe containers or bags, and freeze overnight. Honestly, having a completely frozen banana (as opposed to an unfrozen one) is what takes this smoothie over the top.
  • Measure: While it might seem silly to actually measure out ingredients for a smoothie instead of just throwing everything in, I highly recommend measuring ingredients the first few times you make this, so you get a good feel for the quantities. Throwing random ingredients in a blender can often end up giving you way too much smoothie or tasting, well, nasty. It’s also a good idea to measure if you’re tracking macros or calories.
  • Blend: If you have a high-powered blender (I recommend a Vitamix® or Blendtec®), you can add everything in and blend until smooth. If you don’t have a powerful blender, follow manufacturer instructions for what ingredients to add first to avoid cavitation.
  • Taste: Give it a quick taste and if needed, add in a bit of sweetener. We rarely add in sweetener because the banana sweetens this so much. The sweetness of bananas can vary, though, particularly depending on their ripeness.

QUICK TIP

Cavitation, you say? If this is a new term to you, take a look at this video that explains how blenders can turn a smoothie into a purée.

Overhead view of the Banana Smoothie ingredients in a blender jar, ready to be processed.

Banana Smoothies are good for you!

There are many health benefits to be gained from enjoying Banana Smoothies. Here are a few of the benefits:

  • Frozen bananas: This fruit is linked to moderating blood sugar levels, improving digestive health, and as an aid to weight loss.*
  • Almond butter: Almond butter is packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein. It also gives this smoothie so much flavor and increases the creaminess of it. Almond butter also helps to make this smoothie more filling.
  • Vanilla almond milk: Almond milk is low in calories and sugar while being high in calcium and other vitamins. Almond milk is also naturally dairy free, vegan, and lactose-free. I like using vanilla-flavored almond milk for an extra punch of flavor. Smoothies taste much better with milk than water!
  • Cinnamon: This unassuming spice is loaded with health benefits! Cinnamon consumption is linked to reduced heart disease risk and linked to lowering blood sugar.

*While I do have my background in health, (B.S. Exercise & Wellness) I am not a doctor or certified nutritionist. Make sure to consult your doctor or nutritionist as needed.

But wait, there isn’t ice listed in the ingredients for this recipe; what’s up with that?!

Do you put ice in smoothies?

You generally won’t find ice in any of my smoothie recipes because I find it detracts from the recipe. If you have fully frozen fruit, that will give you the perfect smoothie consistency without having to water it down with ice. There’s no ice in this banana smoothie and I think you’ll agree it’s best that way! 

Overhead view of the finished Banana Smoothie, blended and ready to drink.

Smoothie tips

I know: How complicated can making a Banana Smoothie be, right?! But I still have a few tips.

  1. Good ripe bananas make all the difference in this smoothie. Freeze the bananas when they’re ripe and use them only when completely frozen for the best smoothie experience.
  2. If needed, add a little honey or maple syrup to additionally sweeten this smoothie. I’ve found with a really good and ripe banana you don’t need the additional sweetener, but this can vary; so give your smoothie a quick taste and add a teaspoon or two as needed. (BTW, honey will make it no longer vegan.)

How long can you keep a Banana Smoothie in the fridge?

Generally, a smoothie will keep about 8-12 hours in the fridge. A quick smell will clue you into knowing if the smoothie is okay or not. If you do plan on storing a smoothie, store it in a container with an airtight lid. You’ll want to fill that container to the very top to prevent trapping air in the container. (Air exposure degrades the nutrients in the smoothie.)

For this Banana Smoothie recipe, I recommend eating it all in one sitting, preferably right after making it. I don’t find this smoothie sits or stores well. As the frozen banana melts, it changes the texture of this delicious drink.

Up-close photo of a Banana Smoothie.

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Creamy Banana Smoothie

4.94 from 32 votes
This Banana Smoothie whips up in minutes with just five ingredients: frozen banana, milk, almond butter, vanilla, and a pinch of cinnamon. It's healthy, creamy, and naturally dairy-free and vegan.
Print Recipe

Creamy Banana Smoothie

4.94 from 32 votes
This Banana Smoothie whips up in minutes with just five ingredients: frozen banana, milk, almond butter, vanilla, and a pinch of cinnamon. It's healthy, creamy, and naturally dairy-free and vegan.
Course Breakfast, Drinks
Cuisine American
Keyword banana smoothie
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 -2 servings
Chelsea Lords
Calories 371kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or milk of choice - (Note 1)
  • 1 cup frozen banana slices (~1 large banana)
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter (or peanut butter; I prefer almond butter)
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • scant 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional

Instructions

  • THE NIGHT BEFORE: Peel the banana and slice it into coins. Place the coins in a sealed bag in the freezer. If the banana isn't frozen solid, you'll want to add some ice to your smoothie.
  • DAY OF: Combine the almond milk, frozen banana, almond butter, vanilla, and cinnamon in a large, powerful blender. Blend until completely smooth (about 60 seconds in a high-powered blender).
  • Enjoy immediately.

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: You can use a different type of milk; just check and make sure it's dairy free if that's a concern.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 329mg | Potassium: 776mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 96IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 411mg | Iron: 2mg

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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Recipe Rating




47 Comments

  1. This looks like my kind of breakfast! Beautiful photos too! I love using frozen banana in smoothies. So creamy!

  2. 5 stars
    This smoothie sounds scrumptious, and a good substitute for folks with a sweet tooth who are trying to combat cravings!

  3. 5 stars
    Chelsea;
    Hi, our banana smoothie looks so good and tasty.What is the nutrictional information in your smoothie recipe?
    I am a type 2 diabetic and i would like o know what the carbs and sugar content is before i make your smoothie in my magic bullet blender for 1 person .
    Kim

  4. 5 stars
    I have made this twice now. Thank you so much for the amazing recipe. Definitely a new favorite.

        1. The only way to lose weight is to consume less calories than you burn in a day; if this smoothie helps reduce the overall amount of calories you intake in a day then it’s a good starting point 🙂

  5. Website is completely unusable on mobile due to the barage of ads which cause the screen to jump around. Wasn’t even able to find the recipe..

    1. Sorry you didn’t have a good experience on the site. The ads are how I can afford to host this space and run the website.

  6. Absolutely love this smoothie! I’ve only tried it with peanut butter but it tastes great. Perfect afternoon pick me up and the seasonings really bring it together. I did use Vanilla Almond Milk which I prefer. Try this! You won’t regret it.

  7. I was looking for a safe at home way to lower blood pressure and came across your banana smoothie recipe. Thanks, I plan to start this tomorrow morning and see how it goes.

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