How to Make Smoothies with Frozen Fruit

Co-authored by Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: December 14, 2022 References Tested

If you're craving a fruit smoothie but don't have access to ripe produce, use frozen fruit! Frozen fruit will keep the smoothie cold and create a thick, creamy drink. Decide if you want to make a tropical fruit smoothie with pineapple, half-and-half, and yogurt or if you'd rather make a vegan smoothie that uses non-dairy milk and mixed fruits. To include protein and fiber, blend a frozen fruit smoothie that has oats and nuts. You can also make a low-fat protein smoothie that uses non-fat milk, peanut butter, and frozen bananas. To create a decadent smoothie, include coffee, frozen berries, and chocolate protein powder.

Ingredients

Creamy Tropical Fruit Smoothie

2 cups (490 g) frozen pineapple chunks
1 cup (240 ml) half-and-half
1 (11-ounce or 305-g) can mandarin orange segments, drained
3/4 cup (190 g) yogurt (any flavor)
1 sliced banana or mango, frozen
1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lime or lemon juice

Makes 2 smoothies

Vegan Frozen Fruit Smoothie

1 cup (240 ml) almond, soy, or hemp milk
1 sliced banana, frozen
1 cup (150 g) frozen fruit medley (strawberry, mango, pineapple, papaya)
1 tablespoon (15 ml) coconut oil
1 to 2 tablespoons (10 to 20 g) chia seeds
1 teaspoon (2 g) ground ginger

Makes 1 smoothie

Frozen Fruit Smoothie with Oats and Nuts

1 sliced banana, frozen
1 cup (150 g) frozen fruit mix
2 tablespoons (30 g) yogurt
1/2 cup (45 g) rolled oats
1/2 cup (65 g) mixed nuts
1 cup (240 ml) milk, soy milk, or apple juice
Honey, to taste

Makes 2 smoothies

Low-Fat Protein Smoothie

½ cup (120 ml) fat-free milk
½ cup (125 g) fat-free plain yogurt
2 tablespoons (32 g) creamy natural unsalted peanut butter
¼ banana, sliced and frozen
1 tablespoon (21 g) honey
4 ice cubes

Makes 1 smoothie

Mocha Berry Almond Smoothie

1 tablespoon (16 g) almond butter
1 cup (230 g) frozen raspberries
1/2 sliced banana, frozen
6 tablespoons (66 g) chocolate protein powder
1/2 cup (120 ml) iced coffee concentrate or 3/4 cup (180 g) chilled regular coffee
1/4 cup (60 g) milk, soy milk, or almond milk
1 teaspoon (7 g) honey, optional

Makes 1 smoothie

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Creamy Tropical Fruit Smoothie

1
Pour the half-and-half, lime juice, and yogurt in a blender. Measure 1 cup (240 ml) of half-and-half, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of fresh lime or lemon juice, and 3/4 cup (190 g) of yogurt into a 5-cup (1.2 liter) blender.^{[1]
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- For the richest smoothie, use Greek yogurt.
- Use your favorite yogurt flavor or keep it plain, if you want a smoothie that's a little tart.
2
Add the frozen pineapple, mandarin oranges, and frozen banana or mango. Put 2 cups (490 g) of frozen pineapple chunks into the blender. Open an 11-ounce (305 g) can of mandarin orange segments and drain them. Discard the liquid and add the orange segments to the blender. Add 1 frozen sliced banana or mango.^{[2]
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3
Blend the smoothie on HIGH for up to 1 minute. Put the lid on the blender and turn it on to completely blend the tropical fruit smoothie. Depending on how strong your blender is, you may need to stop and scrape down the sides occasionally. Blend the smoothie until the frozen fruits are smooth.^{[3]
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4
Pour and serve the creamy tropical fruit smoothies. Remove the lid from the blender and pour the smoothie into 2 tall serving glasses. If you want to garnish the smoothies, sprinkle a little toasted coconut over them before serving.^{[4]
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- Avoid storing the smoothies because they'll separate as they sit.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Vegan Frozen Fruit Smoothie

1
Put the vegan milk into the blender and add the chia and ground ginger. Pour 1 cup (240 ml) of almond, soy, or hemp milk into a blender. For a little flavor and crunch, add 1 to 2 tablespoons (10 to 20 g) of chia seeds and 1 teaspoon (2 g) of ground ginger.^{[5]
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- If you want to use fresh ginger instead of dried ginger, use 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of grated ginger root.
2
Add the frozen banana, fruits, and coconut oil. Put 1 frozen sliced banana into the blender along with 1 cup (150 g) of frozen fruit and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of coconut oil.^{[6]
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- Use any combination of your favorite frozen fruits such as strawberries, mangoes, pineapple, and papaya.
3
Blend the smoothie for about 1 minute. Cover the blender and turn it on to HIGH. Blend the smoothie until the frozen fruit is completely smooth and combined. Pour the smoothie into a serving glass and drink it immediately.^{[7]
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- The smoothie will separate as it sits, so avoid making it in advance.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Frozen Fruit Smoothie with Oats and Nuts

1
Blend the frozen banana, fruit, and yogurt for 1 minute. Put 1 sliced frozen banana in a blender and add 1 cup (150 g) of your favorite frozen fruit mix. Scoop in tablespoons (30 g) of yogurt and put the lid on the blender. Blend the ingredients until they're smooth and thick.^{[8]
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- You can use any mix of fruits such as cherries, strawberries, raspberries, or peaches.
2
Add the oats, nuts, and liquid. Remove the lid and add 1/2 cup (45 g) of rolled oats and 1/2 cup (65 g) of mixed nuts. Pour in 1 cup (240 ml) of milk, soy milk, or apple juice.^{[9]
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- Use a combination of your favorite nuts such as almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, or pecans.
3
Blend the smoothie for 1 minute. Put the lid on the blender and blend the ingredients until they're completely smooth. If you want a thinner smoother, pour in another 1/4 cup (60 ml) of milk, soy milk, or apple juice and blend the smoothie again.^{[10]
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4
Pour the smoothies into glasses and drizzle them with honey, if desired. Divide the smoothie mixture between 2 tall serving glasses. If you want to make the smoothies sweeter, drizzle a little honey over the tops just before you serve them.^{[11]
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- Avoid storing the smoothies because they'll separate.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Low-Fat Protein Smoothie

1
Put the milk and yogurt into the blender. Pour ½ cup (120 ml) of fat-free milk into the bottom of the blender and scoop ½ cup (125 g) of fat-free plain yogurt on top.^{[12]
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- If you want to use flavored yogurt instead, leave out the honey because the smoothie will be sweet enough.
2
Add the peanut butter, frozen banana, honey, and ice cubes. Measure and add 2 tablespoons (32 g) of creamy natural unsalted peanut butter to the blender. Add ¼ of a frozen sliced banana and 1 tablespoon (21 g) of honey. Put 4 ice cubes on top.^{[13]
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3
Blend the smoothie for 1 minute and serve it. Put the lid on the blender and blend the ingredients until they're totally smooth. You may need to stop and scrape down the blender occasionally. Pour the low-fat protein smoothie into a serving glass and enjoy it immediately.^{[14]
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- The smoothie will separate as it sits, so blend it right before you want to drink it.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Mocha Berry Almond Smoothie

1
Pour the coffee, milk, and honey into the blender. Measure 1/2 cup (120 ml) of iced coffee concentrate or 3/4 cup (180 g) of chilled regular coffee into your blender. Add 1/4 cup (60 g) of milk, soy milk, or almond milk along with 1 teaspoon (7 g) of honey, if you want the smoothie to be sweeter.
2
Add the almond butter, frozen fruit, and chocolate protein powder. Spoon 1 tablespoon (16 g) of almond butter into the blender along with 6 tablespoons (66 g) of chocolate protein powder. Add 1 cup (230 g) of frozen raspberries and 1/2 of a sliced frozen banana.
3
Cover and blend the smoothie for about 1 minute. Put the lid on the blender and turn it to HIGH. Blend the smoothie until the fruits are blended and the smoothie is thick.
4
Serve the mocha berry almond smoothie. Remove the lid from the blender and pour the smoothie into a serving glass. Sprinkle a little cocoa powder over the top or garnish it with a fresh raspberry. Serve the smoothie before it begins to separate.^{[15]
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