This cinnamon-spiced apple smoothie is creamy and irresistibly tasty! It’s full of natural sweetness and packed with protein.

Here’s a smoothie that’s full of cozy spiced, naturally sweet flavor: the perfect Apple Smoothie! This one works anytime and in any season. But of course it’s perfect for fall when you’ve got mounds of apples to use up. In fact, it’s a healthy way to enjoy the flavors of apple pie or apple crumble! Cinnamon and vanilla are just the right compliment to the sweet tart fruit. It’s also loaded with protein from Greek yogurt, which gives it just the right creamy texture. You’ll almost feel like you’re drinking an apple pie milkshake…but a wholesome version! Let’s go.

Ingredients in this apple smoothie

The great thing about this apple smoothie? You might already have the ingredients on hand. If you stock bananas and Greek yogurt like we do, you’ll be able to whip up this smoothie in no time. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Apples: You can use any variety! For the best flavor, use sweet tart apples like Honey Crisp or Granny Smith (stay away from Red Delicious here).
• Banana: No need to freeze it: you can use a room temperature banana! If you do have one frozen, that will work too.
• Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt adds lots of protein to this smoothie, and live probiotics which help gut health.
• Milk: Use any type of milk, including non-dairy milk
• Ice: Ice helps to get just the right texture. Note that this smoothie is more creamy than icy.
• Vanilla and cinnamon: These bring in that apple pie flavor!

It’s great naturally sweet, or add a bit of maple syrup

This apple smoothie tastes fantastic with no added sweetener: it’s perfectly sweet tart! However, the flavor can depend on the ripeness of the fruit and your personal tastes. Take a taste, and if you’d like it sweeter, add a bit of maple syrup or honey. This is a nice option if you’re looking for a sweet treat to take the place of a dessert.

Start with 1/2 tablespoon in the blender, and increase if you need more. You may want to stir it in instead of blend, because if you over-blend the texture can get too liquid.

Vegan variation

Want to make this apple smoothie vegan? Try our Green Apple Smoothie recipe! It pairs green apple and cashews to make a beautifully sweet tart vegan smoothie. The cashews add plant-based protein to help it stay satiating and keep you full.

More flavor variations!

This apple smoothie tastes amazing as is. But if you’d like it mix it up even more, we’ve got answers! Here are some ideas for fun variations on the theme:

• Ginger: Add 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger to the mix for a spicy brightness.
• Spices: Add 1/8 teaspoon allspice or nutmeg. Even better, replace the cinnamon with equal parts Pumpkin Pie Spice or Chai Spices.
• Oats: Add whole grains by throwing in 1/2 cup rolled oats.
• Pecans, cashews or almonds: Throw in 1/4 cup nuts to add a nutty undertone and even more plant-based protein.
• Nut butter: Or add 1 to 2 tablespoons almond butter, peanut butter or cashew butter.

Apples nutrition

Apples are very good for you and full of nutrients! Here’s a little breakdown on some of the top benefits (Source: Healthline).

• Apples are a good source of vitamin C: 1 apple contains 14% of your daily needs
• They are full of fiber and water: 1 apple has 4 grams fiber or about 15% of your daily needs
• Apples contain pectin, a type of fiber that acts as a prebiotic and helps with gut health
• Most of the nutrients in apples are in the skin, so you should eat the skin as much as possible. That’s why we included the skin in this apple smoothie.

This apple smoothie is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based and dairy-free, see the variation above.

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A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes