This creamy Cranberry Smoothie made with no banana, is perfect for using up excess fresh or frozen cranberries. It's healthy, full of fiber, and will really hit the spot with its fruity & gently spiced flavors.
Smoothies aren't just for the Summer! Fall and winter fruits and veggies can make a fantastic and healthy addition to your breakfast blend, and this Cranberry Smoothie recipe is perfect for using up any fresh or frozen cranberries you have leftover and taking up space in your fridge or freezer after Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
This delicious cranberry smoothie recipe made with no banana, brings together the tartness of fresh, plump cranberries, the juicy sweetness of apple, the rich nuttiness of pecans or walnuts and the fragrant warmth of cinnamon. The combination is delicious and makes a wonderfully nutritious breakfast or snack.
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Cranberries are a fruit that tends to be really under-used. They only get their time to shine in cranberry sauce a couple of times a year. They are fantastic in both savoury and sweet dishes like my Mushroom Lentil Loaf and Cranberry Apple Pear Crumble though, and as you will find when you try this recipe, cranberries are really great in smoothies!
Ingredient & equipment notes
To make this smoothie you will need a blender. High-speed blenders are fantastic to have if you make a lot of smoothies.
The ingredients that go into this fresh cranberry smoothie are simple and healthy. Here is what you need:
- Cranberries - Either fresh or frozen cranberries are fine. If they are fresh it will be necessary to add some ice to the smoothie while blending. If they are frozen you won't need any ice. The tart cranberries work really well with the sweet apple and creamy nuts.
- Raw pecans or walnuts - Either work well so just use what you have. They add some healthy fats, calcium and protein to your smoothie and make it much more satisfying and filling. They also make the smoothie creamy while adding a lovely nutty flavor. If you don't have raw nuts you can use 2 tablespoons of nut butter instead.
- Apple - It really compliments the tart cranberries and naturally sweetens the smoothie. I leave the peel on to save time and increase the fibre content of the smoothie. Pear also works well.
- Cinnamon - Everyone's favorite warming spice! It works really well with apples and cranberries.
- Non-dairy milk - Any plant-based milk is fine to use. My oat milk or cashew milk are both great in it if you make your own. If the milk you are using is sweetened you might want to omit or reduce the maple syrup though.
- Maple syrup - This helps balance the flavors without using any refined sugar. Cranberries taste pretty tart and they need a bit of mellowing. Maple syrup is a gentle and great tasting natural sweetener. You could use agave instead if you prefer.
How to make a cranberry smoothie
This cranberry smoothie recipe is super quick and easy to make! Simply core the apple, then add everything to the blender and blend until smooth. If you are using fresh cranberries throw in a handful or two of ice. If you are using frozen cranberries there is no need unless you want it to be extra chilled.
Success Tips
- You might at first think there is more milk than you need, but this cranberry smoothie tends to thicken up quite a lot as it sits after blending.
- Red specks throughout your smoothie are normal even if you are using a high-speed blender and blend thoroughly.
Some ways you can adapt this recipe
- Use fresh cranberries instead of frozen. Just throw in a handful of ice too to compensate.
- Throw in a little leftover cranberry sauce to use it up.
- For extra heartiness throw in a handful of rolled or old-fashioned oats. You will need a touch more milk though.
- Use orange juice instead of milk
- Add some cranberry juice instead of some of the milk
- Use either walnuts or pecans. To make it nut-free use hulled sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or hemp seeds instead.
- Give your smoothie a boost by adding a handful of greens like spinach or kale to make a cranberry green smoothie.
- Add some vegan yogurt to make the smoothie creamier.
- Switch the apple for a banana to make a cranberry banana smoothie.
Are cranberries good for you?
Cranberries are a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E, vitamin K and copper so are great for your immune system. They are also a fantastic source of fiber when eaten in their whole form (although not when juiced). You can read more about their nutritional benefits here.
How to freeze fresh cranberries
When local fresh cranberries are in season I like to buy extra and freeze them to use throughout the year. This means you can enjoy a cranberry smoothie at any time of year.
To freeze cranberries, simply buy a bag of fresh cranberries and give them a good wash under running water. Lay them out on a clean dish towel and allow them to dry. Once dry line a large baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat then pour on the cranberries. Spread them out and place the entire tray carefully in the freezer. Make sure it stays level. After an hour they should be frozen. Remove the tray from the freezer and transfer the cranberries to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container.
Frozen cranberries have a long shelf-life and will be good for about 12 months.
Recipe FAQS
Cranberries should feel firm to the touch and look plump and shiny.
Hungry For More?
Looking for more seasonal smoothies? You might enjoy:
- Sweet Potato Smoothie
- Persimmon Smoothie
- Chocolate Tahini Pumpkin Smoothie
- Healthy Chocolate Smoothie
- Vegan Green Smoothie
Recipe
Cranberry Smoothie
Author:Ingredients
- ¾ cup (75 grams) frozen cranberries , (or fresh cranberries but add a handful of ice too)
- 1 large apple , cored and chopped into chunks
- 1 small handful (about 2 tablespoons) raw pecans or walnuts , or 2 tablespoons of nut butter (see notes for nut-free option)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup , or agave
- 1 cup (240 mls non-dairy milk
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add all the ingredients to a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
NOTES
- You might at first think there is more milk than you need, but this cranberry smoothie tends to thicken up quite a lot as it sits after blending.
- Red specks throughout your smoothie are normal even if you are using a high-speed blender and blend thoroughly.
Variations
- Use fresh cranberries instead of frozen. Just throw in a handful of ice too to compensate.
- For extra heartiness throw in a handful of rolled or old-fashioned oats. You will need a touch more milk though.
- Use either walnuts or pecans.
- Add a handful of greens like spinach or kale to make a cranberry green smoothie.
- Add some vegan yogurt to make the smoothie creamier.
- Switch the apple for a banana to make a cranberry banana smoothie. You might need to add a touch more milk too.
NUTRITION
Nutritional information is provided for convenience. The data is a computer generated estimate and should be used as a guide only.
Angela says
The only cranberries I can find are cranberry sauce and cranberry juice here in S Australia : ( In the past our shops have stocked frozen cranberries but not this year - I guess that there was not the demand for them which is such a pity.
Oh well,there's plenty of other smoothies to choose from : )
Thank you for all your lovely recipes Melanie and a Happy Christmas to you,your loved ones and all your readers.
Please please everybody stay safe - I even heard that Covid had reached Antarctica! Here's to a safer and healthier 2021!
A Virtual Vegan says
You're welcome Angela and Merry Christmas to you too!
CHRISTINE GRENIER says
Any chance I can use canned cranberries? :-)
A Virtual Vegan says
I'm sure that would be fine although the smoothie would end up much sweeter. It would be worth making it without the maple syrup, see what it's like then add as needed after and blend a little again.
Kathy says
Just made this for breakfast...Delicious!!
Chessie says
Perfect for the season! I am sipping this right now. I love cranberries in a smoothie, and I was lucky enough to find some fresh, organic cranberries.
A Virtual Vegan says
Awesome! So glad you are enjoying it. I always stash a big bag of cranberries in the freezer so I can enjoy this smoothie all year long!
Andrea says
Came at the perfect time. I had saved some cranberries and then didn't end up making what I had saved them for. I wasn't sure what to do with such a small amount of cranberries when I saw this recipe. It was VERY good. I tasted the walnuts first, but quite good, I also added some spinach, which changed the color but not the taste. I will be making it again!
A Virtual Vegan says
I figured lots of people would have some cranberries hanging about in their fridge. I certainly do! So glad you enjoyed it!
Gustavo Woltmann says
Glad to found some new idea here. I will prepare this for this coming Valentines day as a surprise gift for my special someone. She always like a new taste of healthy drinks and she always make some experiment sometimes I don't like the taste but she always said "Such a priceless taste ever" then smile.
A Virtual Vegan says
I hope she enjoys it Gustavo. Enjoy your Valentine's Day together!
Brynn says
This sounds so yummy. Just wondering if it matters what kind of apple you use? What kind did you use for this recipe? Thank you.
A Virtual Vegan says
Any medium sized eating apple will be fine in this recipe. I have made it with varying kinds depending on what was in the fruit bowl at the time. Our apples are usually locally grown ones from somewhere in BC if at all possible. I make this smoothie a lot and it's always good no matter what kind I use. Hope that helps :O)
Kathryn Grace says
Hello again. Came back to let you know I made this last night. I have a cold and couldn't get it out of my mind. Craved those cranberries! I didn't have enough cashews on hand to make cashew milk, but I had plenty of good yogurt (sorry, we're not vegan yet). I added a banana that was calling to me as well. Probably needed the potassium. Even though I couldn't taste it, I drank the whole thing. I'd made about a quart! I slept better last night than I've slept in a week. Still congested this morning, but not as achy. Looking forward to trying this again when I can taste it, and hopefully with cashew milk this time!
A Virtual Vegan says
I do hope you get well soon. Those cranberries are so full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that I'm sure they would have helped!
Kathryn Grace says
Thank you. I do think it helped. Today I made the recipe with cashew milk, although I still craved potassium foods, so added a banana and an orange. So good. Love it even more with the cashew milk.
A Virtual Vegan says
I think cashew milk adds the to the creaminess. I bet the orange was great in it!
lorena alfredini says
If you are allergic to nuts than I suppose you can use chia seeds and coconut milk and turn it into a pudding....
A Virtual Vegan says
You could just omit the nuts and it would still be good as a smoothie. Just use a non dairy milk that isn't nut based. Oat milk, rice milk, coconut milk, soy milk would all work.
Anne VD says
Wonderful smoothie! I had leftover cranberries in my fridge and this is such a great use for them! It is going to become on of my favorite! I added some fresh ginger to it, for an extra kick. Thank you A Virtual Vegan for your beautiful website and FB page!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and I am glad you enjoyed it. Adding some ginger is a great idea. I will try it next time! It's great to hear you like my website and Facebook page. It makes all the handwork worthwhile!
Kathryn Grace says
Oh my goodness, I can actually smell this smoothie just reading the recipe, and it smells like Christmas! Looking forward to trying it!
A Virtual Vegan says
It is Christmas in a glass!
Patricia says
Wow! I love this smoothie! Plus, what a great way to use up my leftover cranberries from Thanksgiving Thanks you!!
A Virtual Vegan says
I am glad you liked it Patricia! And yes it's a great way to use up leftover cranberries, or an excuse to go buy more!