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Banana Berry Protein Smoothie

Jan 22, 2022 · 10 Comments

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Banana Berry Protein Smoothie in a tall glass garnished with a black berry, in front of a bowl of berries and a sliced banana
Banana Berry Protein Smoothie in a tall glass garnished with a black berry, in front of a bowl of berries and a sliced banana

This Banana Berry Protein Smoothie is thick, creamy and perfect for a workout or breakfast.

It’s naturally sweetened with frozen banana and berries combined with other healthful, nutrient-dense ingredients.

It takes just a few minutes to make and can be customized so many different ways.

Plus it’s easy to make it dairy-free, vegan and Paleo friendly!

a berry smoothie in a tall glass topped with a blackberry

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Banana Berry Protein Smoothie

This Banana Berry Protein Smoothie is what I prepare every morning before my workout.

I love the natural sweetness from the banana, plus the berries provide both sweetness and a bit of tartness.

And then I throw in a handful of other ingredients listed below. I try to get as much benefit out of my smoothie as possible. Yes, it’s a good way to get protein, healthy fats and whole foods, but it can also be good for your immune system!

If you don’t have or care for some of the ingredients here, I include lots of ways to customize it. You can have it every morning and make it differently every time!

 

What you need for this Banana Berry Protein Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • Frozen bananas – I prefer frozen bananas in my smoothies instead of ice (which literally waters down the flavor). They add not only natural sweetness, but also a thick, creamy texture. Plus they have fiber, potassium and vitamin C, among other benefits. To freeze them, simply peel bananas, rip or cut into chunks and place in a freezer-safe baggie. No need to thaw.
  • Berries – I like to buy a bag of frozen mixed berries but you could also go with all blueberries, strawberries, etc. They’re full of fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants and more.
  • Cherries – Cherries are one of my favorite fruits so I can’t help but add these too! These contain fiber, vitamin C, potassium, antioxidants and more. But they also contain naturally occurring sugar alcohols that give cherries a…shall we say…laxative effect. Adding just 4-5 frozen cherries to my morning smoothie has been, um, helpful. (TMI? Sorry.)
  • Protein powder – A protein smoothie has to have protein! I use an unflavored whey protein because a) it doesn’t contain any sweeteners that I can’t tolerate (like stevia or monkfruit) and don’t like the taste of and b) it doesn’t have a weird flavor so it won’t overpower the other ingredients.
  • Cinnamon – I add this for its anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its antioxidants. I don’t add enough to really affect the flavor of the smoothie, though.
  • Turmeric – Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient that might even be good for your brain and help depression. Again, I don’t add enough to taste it, just enough to reap the benefits. But because I add turmeric to my smoothie I also add…
  • Black pepper – I know, I know. Black pepper in a smoothie? But black pepper has an ingredient that helps us absorb a lot more of turmeric’s anti-inflammatory compounds. Any time you use turmeric, always add a bit of black pepper too. And again, this won’t affect the flavor of the smoothie.
  • Nut butter – Adding a scoop of nut butter (peanut, almond, sunflower seed, etc.) has so many benefits! It adds flavor, it helps the texture of the smoothie (without it, the smoothie is too light and airy; the nut butter gives it some weight and thickness), and the healthy fats also help you absorb more of turmeric’s nutritional compounds.
  • Sea salt – Just a pinch of salt not only helps bring out all the berry-licious flavor in the smoothie, but salt is good for those who regularly workout.
  • Water – I prefer water to milk, dairy-free milk or juice in my smoothies. Trust me, even without milk, this smoothie still gets thick and creamy.

Equipment:

  • a blender
  • measuring spoons and measuring cups (but you can also eyeball the amounts)
  • a glass or travel beverage bottle

 

How to make this Banana Berry Protein Smoothie

Step 1: Add the water to your blender, then the frozen banana and frozen berries. This will help the frozen ingredients blend as easily as possible.

Step 2: Add the other ingredients and blend until smooth.

a healthy smoothie made with berries and bananas in a tall glass garnished with a blackberry

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I make substitutions?

If you don’t like bananas, you can leave them out. Add a handful of ice instead. You can use a non-frozen banana but your smoothie won’t get as cold and frosty.

Use any frozen berries you like: blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc. Or use fresh berries (but if you don’t use a frozen banana your smoothie won’t be cold and frosty). Or leave them out altogether.

Same with cherries: you can use fresh, pitted cherries or leave them out altogether.

You can leave out the cinnamon, turmeric and black pepper if you want.

You can add freshly grated or ground ginger.

You can use any nut butter you like: peanut, almond, cashew, hazelnut, sunflower seed/sunbutter, etc.

You can add a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder.

Can I make this Banana Berry Protein Smoothie ahead of time?

You can keep it in the freezer in a freezer-safe, airtight container or baggie for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. You might have to mix in some water to loosen it up.

Other recipe you might like:

  1. Strawberry Banana Smoothie
  2. Chocolate Tahini Smoothie
  3. Sweet Potato Protein Smoothie
  4. Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
  5. Morning Glory Smoothie

 

a berry smoothie in a tall glass topped with a blackberry

Banana Berry Protein Smoothie

Don Baiocchi
This Banana Berry Protein Smoothie is a thick, creamy breakfast and great before or after workouts. It's full of fiber, antioxidants and natural sweetness from the frozen banana, berries and cherries. Plus it's easy to make dairy-free, vegan or Paleo!
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 0 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 serving
Calories 621 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1¼ cups water
  • 1 banana, peeled, cut into chunks and frozen (see notes)
  • 1 cup mixed frozen berries
  • 4-5 frozen cherries
  • 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder (vanilla, chocolate or unflavored)
  • 3 tablespoons nut butter (peanut, almond, sunflower seed, etc.)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • pinch freshly ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • First add the water to your blender, then the frozen banana and frozen berries. This will help the frozen ingredients blend as easily as possible.
  • Then add the other ingredients and blend until smooth!

Notes

To freeze bananas, simply peel them, rip or cut into chunks and place in a freezer-safe baggie. No need to thaw.
Variations and substitutions
  • If you don’t like bananas, you can leave them out. Add a handful of ice instead. You can use a non-frozen banana but your smoothie won’t get as cold and frosty.
  • Use any frozen berries you like: blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc. Or use fresh berries (but if you don’t use a frozen banana your smoothie won’t be cold and frosty). Or leave them out altogether.
  • Same with cherries: you can use fresh, pitted cherries or leave them out altogether.
  • You can leave out the cinnamon, turmeric and black pepper if you want.
  • You can add freshly grated or ground ginger.
  • You can use any nut butter you like: peanut, almond, cashew, hazelnut, sunflower seed/sunbutter, etc.
  • You can add a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder.

Nutrition

Calories: 621kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 37gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 357mgPotassium: 1035mgFiber: 13gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 249IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 302mgIron: 5mg
Keyword banana smoothie, easy smoothie, healthy smoothie, protein smoothie, strawberry smoothie
Tried this recipe?Mention @paleoglutenfreeguy or tag #paleoglutenfreeguy!

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Beverages, Breakfast, Recipes banana, blackberries, blueberry, cherries, cinnamon, protein powder, raspberries, smoothie, strawberry, turmeric, vegan

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Yang says

    January 29, 2022 at 9:30 pm

    5 stars
    I really love all the nutritious add-ins! This is a good breakfast or snack.

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      February 2, 2022 at 7:06 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  2. Stacey Crawford says

    January 28, 2022 at 11:20 am

    5 stars
    I love the cherry banana flavor combination and such a great idea to add turmeric and cinnamon & next time I might even add a little chaga powder.

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      January 28, 2022 at 1:13 pm

      Ooh, I’ve never tried chaga. Thanks for the tip!

      Reply
  3. jennifer says

    January 28, 2022 at 7:36 am

    5 stars
    So yummy! I love the protein and healthy fat boost with the powder and nut butter. A keeper for sure!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      January 28, 2022 at 1:13 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  4. ChihYu says

    January 26, 2022 at 7:43 pm

    5 stars
    There’s nothing better than a quick, easy breakfast that’s delicious and good for you! This smoothie is SO GOOD! It’s filling, so full of fruity flavor and goes down easy! Thanks also for the different variations!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      January 27, 2022 at 6:07 am

      Thanks! So glad you like it.

      Reply
  5. Shelby says

    January 24, 2022 at 11:36 am

    5 stars
    Such a great smoothie to kick off the day! i loved the turmeric in it!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      January 26, 2022 at 11:08 am

      Thanks!

      Reply
5 from 5 votes

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Well hello there! I’m Don, the creator behind Paleo Gluten Free Guy. I share fun, vibrant recipes for good health and pure enjoyment. All of my recipes are gluten-free and the majority of them are also Paleo, meaning they’re free of grains, dairy, refined sugar and legumes.

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