Healthy Cranberry Smoothie
This cranberry smoothie recipe is made with bananas, oranges, yogurt, and spices like ginger and cinnamon. Made with fresh or frozen whole cranberries, it’s packed with nutritious ingredients and is rich in vitamin C. There’s no added sugars in this recipe, but it still tastes absolutely delicious!
Have you ever wondered what to do with whole fresh or frozen cranberries? This cranberry smoothie recipe is a perfect way to use them!
It combines whole cranberries with other delicious fruit pairings (oranges + bananas), along with greek yogurt for protein, avocado for healthy fats, and delicious warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, and vanilla.
It’s delicious all year long, but I particularly enjoy this during the colder months. As a dietitian, I’m happy to share that it’s packed with nutritious ingredients and is particularly rich in vitamin C.
Unlike many cranberry smoothie recipes that I’ve seen on the Internet, this one has zero added sugars (the sweetness comes from the fruit only).
I promise that the oranges and banana take away from the tartness of the cranberries, but if you do personally find it needs a little extra (we all have different preferences for sweetness), you can always add something like honey or a date to your blender.
Similarly, most cranberry juices have plenty of added sugars in them and they’re stripped of all the fiber and many of the beneficial plant compounds that are located in skin. This smoothie keeps all that nutrition goodness for you and is much more satisfying!
Want more smoothie recipe inspiration? Check out my roundup of easy, healthy smoothie recipes for more ideas!
Ingredients needed & substitutions
All you need to make this cranberry smoothie recipe are 9 simple ingredients:
- almond milk – or other milk of choice. Use an unsweetened version if possible!
- cranberries – I used frozen ones, but you could also use fresh. I don’t think this recipe would work the same with dried cranberries, however, so I would avoid those here.
- oranges – you can use any type of orange here, look for ones that are sweet and juicy! I used mandarin oranges that I had frozen.
- banana – fresh or frozen. Again, I like using frozen bananas cause it help makes things extra creamy and there’s no need to water this smoothie down with ice.
- avocado – fresh or frozen. This adds a nice creamy texture and healthy fats to this smoothie. I alway purchase a large bag of frozen avocado chunks at Costco that I LOVE adding to smoothies! If you don’t have avocado, you can try swapping it with another source of fat, like an almond butter. It would change the flavour, of course, but I think it will still work with the rest of the ingredients 🙂
- plain greek yogurt – or a vegan/dairy-free alternative, if needed. I often opt for a fuller fat greek yogurt, which is rich in protein, a little creamier, and much more satisfying!
- cinnamon
- ginger – I used ground, but you could also use freshly grated ginger
- vanilla extract
- optional: an unflavoured or vanilla protein powder, if desired
Full ingredient measurements and detailed instructions are located in the recipe card at the bottom of this post!
*Note – if using fresh ingredients instead of frozen, you will likely have to add ice to get the temperature nice and cold. The beauty of frozen ingredients in smoothies is that it gives the perfect temperature without having to water down the flavours! Plus, you get the added benefit of that smooth, thick texture.
My go-to smoothie blender
Vitamix Blender
I use this Vitamix almost every day. I bought it about 7 years ago and it still functions perfectly. It makes a super smooth and creamy smoothie in seconds (not to mention many other meals, like soups)!
Cranberry nutrition benefits
Cranberries are an under-rated nutrient powerhouse! To start, they’re an excellent source of dietary fiber – clocking in at almost 5 grams of fiber (or 18% of your daily needs) in a 1-cup serving.
From a micronutrient standpoint, cranberries are especially rich in vitamin C, with a 1-cup serving providing 22% of your daily vitamin C needs. They’re also a source of:
- vitamin B6
- manganese
- vitamin E
- vitamin K
- copper
Cranberries are also a great source of beneficial plant compounds and antioxidants, which are located mainly in the skin. As the skin is often lost in juicing, consuming cranberries by way of a smoothie can help you reap all those antioxidant benefits!
Orange nutrition benefits
Like cranberries, oranges are also an excellent source of antioxidants and dietary fiber. One large orange provides about 5 grams of fibre, again about 18% of your daily needs.
Oranges are also rich in micronutrients, including:
- vitamin C
- folate
- potassium
- calcium
- magnesium
Banana nutrition benefits
Bananas are also a great source of fiber, with one medium banana containing 3 grams.
They’re also a good source of micronutrients like:
- potassium
- vitamin C
- vitamin B6
- magnesium
More delicious, healthy smoothie recipes:
- Apple Banana Smoothie
- Strawberry Peach Smoothie
- Mango Banana Kefir Smoothie
- Sweet Potato Smoothie
- Kiwi Green Smoothie
Did you give this Cranberry Smoothie Recipe a try? Let me know by leaving a comment and recipe rating below!
If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Pinterest – seeing your creations always makes my day. You can also subscribe to my email list to never miss a new recipe or nutrition education post!
Get the Recipe: Healthy Cranberry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups almond milk, unsweetened (see notes)
- 1 cup whole cranberries, fresh or frozen (I used frozen)
- 1 medium-large banana, fresh or frozen (I used frozen)
- 1 large orange (or 2 smaller oranges, like mandarins)
- 1/4 cup avocado, fresh or frozen (I used frozen)
- 3/4 cup plain greek yogurt (I use a fuller fat option) (benefits of Greek yogurt)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger (or 1/2 tsp fresh)
- Optional: unflavoured or vanilla protein powder, collagen powder, or ice (if not using frozen produce)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender, starting with the almond milk.
- Blend on high until smooth and creamy. Feel free to adjust flavours or amounts of liquid until desired taste/consistency is reached. Enjoy!
Notes
- If using fresh fruit instead of frozen, you will likely have to add ice to get the temperature nice and cold. The beauty of frozen ingredients in smoothies is that it gives the perfect temperature without having to water down the flavours!
- If you’re NOT using frozen ingredients, you may want to use LESS MILK. The frozen ingredients really thicken things up, but with fresh fruits the texture of this smoothie will be more liquid. In which case, less milk (around 1 cup) will help to keep it thick!
- Instead of almond milk, you can use any milk or milk alternatives that you like. Just aim for an unsweetened one, if possible.
- If you want to make this a green smoothie, feel free to add a couple handfuls of spinach. Promise it won’t change the taste at all!
- Fresh or frozen whole cranberries work here, but I don’t think this recipe would work the same with dried cranberries.
- Avocado adds a nice creamy texture and healthy fats to this smoothie. I always purchase a large bag of frozen avocado chunks at Costco that I LOVE adding to smoothies! If you don’t have avocado, you can try swapping it with another source of fat, like an almond butter. It would change the flavour, of course, but I think it will still work with the rest of the ingredients 🙂
- For a vegan/dairy-free option, use a dairy-free alternative to greek yogurt.
- If you want to increase the protein content of this smoothie, feel free to add a scoop of your favourite protein powder. An unflavoured or vanilla version would work best.
- If you find that this smoothie is too tart for your liking, feel free to add some honey, maple syrup, or a pitted date for more sweetness!
Nutrition
As a dietitian, I create recipes with whole food ingredients that provide the nutrients needed for optimal health. My nutrition philosophy does not focus on numbers; however, I understand that this information can be helpful.
Do note that the nutrition info provided is an estimate and I cannot guarantee correctness of the displayed values. These numbers will differ depending on brands used, recipe modifications, and amount eaten. If you require specific nutrition information due to medical reasons, please consult with your dietitian or physician.
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know by leaving a recipe rating below, or by tagging @walderwellness on Instagram. I love seeing your beautiful creations!
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7 Comments on “Healthy Cranberry Smoothie”
Hi Carrie, What is the best way to freeze mandarins? Do you freeze them peeled or unpeeled, whole, or segmented?
Hi Jan! Great question! I will peel them first and then split them in half. Then I place them in a freezer safe baggy.
This is how I freeze most fruits – it’s a great way to store them if you can’t eat them up before they get too ripe, then they can be added frozen to a smoothie and make it so thick + cold!! I hope that helps 🙂
Thanks so much, Carrie! I have lots of mandarins right now, so I’m going to freeze some for this smoothie and put fresh cranberries on my shopping list. I’ve been freezing bananas for smoothies for awhile as soon as they get too soft for my liking. I do slice them before placing them into a freezer bag.
This recipe turned out well. I don’t have a high speed blender (yet), so I did have to wait a bit for my frozen fruit to defrost a bit. I did add a few dates to sweeten it up a bit and that gave it just the right amount of sweetness. It’s a great way to eat healthy cranberries!
Thank you so much for sharing, Jan! I’m so happy to hear that you liked this smoothie and found a new way to enjoy cranberries! I know they can be a little tart (I personally love the tartness haha), but so glad that a couple dates sweetened it just right!
If you do invest in a high-speed blender one day, I can’t recommend Vitamix highly enough! I’m not affiliated with them at all, but I’ve owned my Vitamix for 7ish years now and use it almost daily. It’s incredible how smooth it makes things in literally seconds. Their warranty is amazing too – for up to 6 years they’ll send you new parts, no questions asked! I had a crack in the jar part last year and they got a new one to me in a couple days 🙂
That’s good to know about the Vitamix, Carrie. I was asking about high speed blenders at Best Buy and the sales associate said the same thing. And my former yoga instructor in FL has had hers for about 20 years and also uses it almost every day, so I know it’s a great investment. I will get one as soon as we move into our new house. I barely have room for the kitchen appliances I already own in this tiny apartment we’re currently renting!
Love to hear that!! It really is a great investment if you’re a smoothie lover. It’s wonderful for making creamy soups too 🙂
Ah I can totally relate – never enough space for all the fun kitchen appliances haha!! Half of mine live in our storage room lol. Wishing you best of luck with the move into a new house – how exciting!!