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.

Finished Banana Smoothies in two cups.
chelsea

author’s note

The Secret To The Creamiest Banana Smoothie!

Bananas are always on my shopping list. I used to buy extra mostly for banana bread and muffins, but lately I’ve been buying extras specifically to slice and freeze for smoothies.

One thing I’ve learned after making a lot of smoothies over the years is that frozen fruit makes all the difference. I almost never use ice because it waters smoothies down. Frozen bananas blend up extra creamy and give smoothies the best thick texture.

And honestly, I didn’t think I’d love a plain Banana Smoothie this much. I’m usually a chocolate protein shake girl, so a smoothie that was mostly banana sounded a little boring to me at first. But this one completely changed my mind. The banana makes it thick and creamy, the almond butter adds richness, and the cinnamon and vanilla make it taste so good.

Now this smoothie is constantly on repeat at my house because it’s quick, filling, and made with ingredients I almost always have on hand.

signature
Slicing bananas to place in a freezer bag for the recipe preparation.

Banana Smoothie Ingredients

IngredientSwaps & Tips
Frozen bananaFreeze bananas ahead of time for a thicker smoothie and so you don’t need to use ice, which can water it down.
Vanilla almond milkI use vanilla almond milk and love the flavor but any milk will work here.
Almond butterPeanut butter also works here.
Vanilla extractPure vanilla gives the best flavor
CinnamonOptional, but highly recommended
Banana Smoothie ingredients in a blender jar, ready to be processed.

How To Make This Banana Smoothie

  1. Add ingredients: Add milk, banana, almond butter, vanilla, and cinnamon to a high-powered blender.
  2. Blend: Blend for about 60 seconds or until completely creamy and smooth.
  3. Taste and adjust: If your banana wasn’t super ripe, add a little honey or maple syrup.
  4. Serve: This smoothie is best right after blending while it’s thick and creamy.
Finished Banana Smoothie, blended and ready to drink.

chelsea’s recipe tip

My Top Banana Smoothie Tips

  • Skip ice. Frozen fruit keeps the smoothie creamy instead of watered down.
  • Use a powerful blender for the smoothest texture.
  • Measure ingredients the first few times you make it. Smoothies can go from perfect to bland fast if ratios are off.
  • Start with less milk if you like a thicker smoothie.

Storage

This Banana Smoothie is best enjoyed right after blending while it’s thick and creamy.

  • Fridge: Store leftovers in a jar or bottle for up to 8–12 hours. Shake well before drinking.
  • Make Ahead: Freeze sliced bananas and portion smoothie ingredients into freezer bags for quick blending later.

More Easy Smoothie Recipes:

Tap stars to rate!
4.91 from 22 votes

Creamy Banana Smoothie

This Banana Smoothie is creamy, healthy, and ready in minutes! Blended with frozen banana, milk, almond butter, vanilla, and cinnamon, it’s naturally dairy-free and vegan.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 large serving

Video

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or milk of choice—see note 1
  • 1 cup frozen banana coins 1 large banana
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter or peanut butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional

Instructions 

  • The Night Before: Peel and slice the banana into coins, then freeze the slices in a sealed bag. If the banana isn’t fully frozen, add ice to the smoothie.
  • Day Of: Combine 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.
Final step! Please let us know how it was by leaving a review.

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.
Storage: This smoothie is best enjoyed immediately, but it can last 8–12 hours in the fridge.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | 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

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

 

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelsea’s Messy Apron! I’m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. I’m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping by—I hope you find something delicious to make!

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4.91 from 22 votes (1 rating without comment)

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51 Comments

  1. Grace V says:

    This was delicious! I loved the peanut butter and the banana together.

    1. Chelsea says:

      I’m so thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much Grace!

  2. Tammy says:

    Thank you for this recipe!

    1. Chelsea says:

      Thanks Tammy! 🙂

  3. Wanda Whitehead says:

    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.

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Hope you love it!

  4. Kimberly Davis says:

    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.

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you Kimberly!

  5. Amaira says:

    5 stars
    Your recipe is delicious. We are enjoying and love to see these recipes you share with us.

  6. Noush says:

    5 stars
    So tasty and filling! This could definitely replace a meal.

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Glad you enjoyed it!

  7. Noah says:

    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. Chelsea Lords says:

      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.

  8. Paige says:

    5 stars
    This was so tasty! Totally satisfied my milkshake craving.

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      I am so happy to hear this! Thanks so much Paige! 🙂

  9. zanu says:

    Nice And Great post it is very helpful for me Thanks For Share

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      You’re welcome 🙂

  10. Diana says:

    5 stars
    I tried this recipe during the lockdown on April and I cannot stop making it until now!

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Yay!! So glad you’ve loved this 🙂