Green Apple Cinnamon Smoothie (with Spinach and Banana)

This ultra-creamy green apple cinnamon smoothie is made with spinach, banana, avocado and other delicious, nutritious ingredients. It creates a tasty, satisfying smoothie that’s perfect to drink for breakfast or a snack without using protein powder!

It’s easy to customize and a great recipe to keep on hand for days when you’re short on time but want a nourishing smoothie.

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Ingredients for an Apple Cinnamon Green Smoothie

This recipe uses some delicious and nutrient-packed ingredients. Feel free to customize to your taste preferences or based on what you have on hand! I typically like to use:

• Plant-based milk: I use soy milk when making smoothies because I find it to be the richest, creamiest plant-based milk option. It makes for a delicious smoothie and adds some protein to help keep you feeling full. Soy milk typically has 6-7 grams of protein per cup whereas many other plant-based milk options have 1-2 grams.
• Green apple: This smoothie uses half a green apple for a tart and delicious flavor! The recipe makes one serving (a large serving) which is why we’re only using half an apple, but use more if you want a strong apple flavor or are making a smoothie for 2 or more people!
• Banana: Half of a medium-sized banana goes a long way to boost the carbohydrates and sweetness of this smoothie. You can use frozen banana if you prefer (then you can skip the ice). If you aren’t a fan of banana, leave it out or replace with extra avocado or vegan yogurt.
• Avocado: Bringing healthy fats, ¼ of a medium-sized avocado per smoothie will help you feel full for longer while also adding some green color and creaminess to the shake.
• Spinach: Full of antioxidants, spinach (or another type of leafy green vegetable like kale) will help boost the nutrition of the smoothie with vitamin C, iron and calcium.
• Hemp seed: Packing-in even more nutrition and protein, hemp seeds are one of my favorite ingredients to add into smoothies. They don’t gel or cause the smoothie to thicken like chia or flax seeds would, making it the ideal addition.
• Cinnamon: One of the prominent flavors in this recipe is cinnamon, which pairs perfectly with apples!
• Vegan yogurt: Making for an even creamier smoothie, vegan yogurt brings a lot to the recipe. Choose a vegan yogurt that’s higher in protein if possible (soy-based yogurts are typically the best) to keep you feeling fuller for longer.
• Dates: If your plant-based milk and/ or yogurt is not sweetened to start with, you may want to add a dried date for extra sweetness. They also provide a boost of fiber and potassium.
• Vanilla extract: I’ve tried this vegan green apple cinnamon smoothie with and without vanilla extract, and believe me, you’ll want to add it! A splash of vanilla truly adds to the flavor of any smoothie.
• Ice cubes: While these have no impact on nutrition or flavor, you’ll likely want to add a couple ice cubes to ensure your smoothie stays cold.

How to Make This Smoothie Recipe

As with any smoothie, all you need to do is prep the ingredients, toss them into a blender and blend to smooth!

For this recipe, prep the apple by cutting out the core. You also need to cut and peel an avocado and peel a banana.

That’s it! So easy and quick to toss together and perfect for when you’re short on time.

Vegan Protein for Smoothies (Without Protein Powder)

I don’t enjoy the texture or flavor of protein powder, so I’m always looking for tasty add-ins that help increase protein content without making the shake chalky or have a strange aftertaste.

Some of my favorite vegan protein sources that go well in smoothies include:

• Hemp seeds
• Chia seeds (these gel after soaking, so only use if you plan to drink right away!)
• Tofu (soft/silken or firm work)
• Peanut butter
• Powdered peanut butter
• Any other type of nut or seed butter
• Soy milk (instead of almond, rice, cashew, etc. with oat generally being the next best choice)
• Non-dairy yogurt that’s high in protein (likely a soy-based yogurt)
• Rolled oats
• Quinoa

Rolled oats and quinoa aren’t super high in protein but can be a nice addition with other high-protein options. Rolled oats bring a nice flavor to a smoothie and make it taste more like a muffin or baked-good.

More Vegan Smoothie Recipes

If you’re looking for more smoothie inspiration, check out these other recipes:

• Spinach pineapple smoothie
• Peanut butter banana and avocado smoothie

If you make this recipe, please rate and comment below to help others benefit from your experience!

More Vegan Beverage Recipes

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