Strawberries and bananas are a classic combination. Instead of having them in a milkshake, which is based on ice cream, why not try them in a smoothie instead? Make with yogurt or milk and ice, smoothies are much lighter and healthier than milkshakes. Once you know the basics of making this classical smoothie, you can experiment with your own additions and variations, such as the tropical strawberry banana smoothie!

Ingredients

Milk-Based Smoothie[1]

  • 1 cup (144 grams) strawberries
  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup (240 milliliters) skim milk
  • ¼ cup (55 grams) sugar substitute
  • 6 to 8 ice cubes

Serves 2

  • 2 cups (288 grams) strawberries
  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup (250 grams) non-fat Greek yogurt
  • 2 teaspoons honey, maple syrup, or sugar
  • 1 cup (140 grams) ice (optional)

Serves 2

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Making a Milk-Based Smoothie

  1. 1
    Prep the fruit, then add them into the blender. Rinse, hull, and slice 1 cup (144 grams) of strawberries. Next, peel a banana, and slice it into 1-inch (2.54-centimeter) pieces. Toss everything into a blender.
  2. 2
    Add 1 cup (240 milliliters) of milk. For a lighter, healthier smoothie, use skim milk. For a richer smoothie, you can use whole milk instead. If you are vegan, try almond milk or coconut milk.[2]
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  3. 3
    Add ¼ cup (55 grams) of sugar substitute. You can use a little less, if you prefer a less-sweet smoothie. If you don't have any sugar substitute, you can use white or brown sugar instead, although you may want to adjust the amount.
    • For a healthier smoothie, use 1 tablespoon (22.5 grams) of honey instead.[3]
  4. 4
    Add 4 to 6 ice cubes. Because you are using fresh fruit, your smoothie will turn out very thin. The ice will thicken it up.
  5. 5
    Blend everything together until evenly combined. This will take about 45 to 60 seconds. From time to time, you may need to pause the blender, and scrape any unblended fruit towards the bottom with a rubber spatula.
  6. 6
    Taste the smoothie and make any adjustments. If the smoothie is too thin, add some ice or more strawberries/bananas. If it's too thick, add some milk. Blend the smoothie after each addition that you make.[4]
  7. 7
    Pour and serve the smoothie. Distribute the smoothie between two tall glasses. Garnish each one with a slice of strawberry or banana, if desired, and serve promptly.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Making a Yogurt-Based Smoothie

  1. 1
    Prep the bananas and strawberries, then add them to a blender. Peel one banana, then slice it into 1-inch (2.54-centimeter) pieces. Rinse 2 cups (288 grams) of strawberries, then hull and slice them. Toss both the strawberries and the banana into a blender.
  2. 2
    Add 1 cup (250 grams) of non-fat Greek yogurt. You also use plain or full-fat yogurt. For extra sweetness, you could try vanilla yogurt instead.
  3. 3
    Add 2 teaspoons of your choice of sweetener. Honey will give the best flavor, but you can also try agave nectar, maple syrup, or even plain sugar. If you are using vanilla yogurt, however, you may want to skip on the sweetener.
  4. 4
    Consider adding some ice for a thicker smoothie. You don't really have to do this, as the yogurt will give the smoothie a thick base. If you want something thicker, however, you can add up to 1 cup (140 grams) of ice.
  5. 5
    Pulse the blender until everything is combined. This will only take about 45 seconds. If the ingredients are not blending smoothly, pause the blender, and use a rubber spatula to scrape any un-mixed smoothie towards the bottom.
  6. 6
    Taste and adjust the consistency. Give the smoothie a quick taste. If it is not sweet enough, add some more of your sweetener. If it is too thick, add a splash of milk. If it's too thin, add some ice cubes. Be sure to blend the smoothie after each addition you make.
  7. 7
    Serve the smoothie. Divide it evenly between two tall glasses. Add a straw into each one, and serve immediately. If you want a fancier smoothie, add a banana or strawberry slice over the rim of the glass.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Trying Other Recipes

  1. 1
    Switch out the yogurt, milk, and ice for frozen bananas to make it vegan. Puree the strawberries in a blender first, then add the bananas. Blend everything together, then give it a taste. Add in your choice of sweeter, if needed, and blend one last time. Divide the smoothie between two cups, and serve.[5]
    • 4 bananas, sliced and frozen
    • 2 cups (288 grams) strawberries, sliced
    • 2 tablespoons (45 grams) agave nectar, date honey, or maple syrup (optional)
  2. 2
    Give the smoothie a tropical twist with orange juice. Place all of the ingredients into a blender. If you want a thicker, colder smoothie, be sure to use frozen bananas. Blend the ingredients until everything is smooth, then pour the smoothie into two glasses. Serve the smoothies immediately.
    • 2 bananas, sliced
    • 1 cup (144 grams) strawberries, sliced
    • ½ (120 milliliters) cup orange juice
    • 6 ounces (165 grams) low-fat vanilla yogurt
  3. 3
    Use frozen strawberries and orange juice for a tropical vegan smoothie. Place all of the ingredients listed below into a blender. Blend them together until everything is smooth, about 1 minute; pause the blender and scrape down the sides as needed. Pour the smoothie into a tall glass, and serve it promptly.[6]
    • 1½ cups (216 grams) strawberries, sliced and frozen
    • 1 banana, sliced
    • ½ cup (120 milliliters) orange juice
  4. 4
    Add some oats for extra fiber and texture. Place all of the ingredients listed below into a blender. Pulse the blender until everything is smooth. From time to time, you may want to pause the blender, and use a rubber spatula to scrape down any un-mixed smoothie. Distribute the smoothie between two glasses, and serve right away.[7]
    • 1 cup (240 milliliters) unsweetened almond milk or skim milk
    • ½ cup (125 grams) fat-free plain Greek yogurt
    • 2 cups (288 grams) strawberries, sliced and frozen
    • 1½ ripe medium bananas, sliced
    • ½ cup (40 grams) quick oats or old fashioned oats
    • 1 tablespoon (22.5 grams) honey
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  5. 5
    Use yogurt and chia seeds for an extra dose of protein. Place all of the ingredients listed below into a blender. Pulse the blender until everything is smooth. From time to time, pause the blender, and scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula. Add more honey if desired, then pour it into a tall glass and serve it immediately.[8]
    • 1 cup (250 grams) plain or Greek yogurt
    • ½ cup (120 milliliters) milk of choice
    • 1½ cups (216 grams) strawberries, sliced and frozen
    • 1 banana, sliced
    • 1 tablespoon (10 grams) chia seeds
    • 1 teaspoon honey
  6. 6
    Try a vegan chia smoothie instead. Whisk the chia seeds with ½ cup (120 milliliters) of the almond milk, then refrigerate for 10 minutes. Blend the bananas with the rest of the almond milk, then add the strawberries and blend again. Add in the chia seed mixture, and blend until smooth. Pour into two glasses and serve promptly.[9]
    • 2 tablespoons (20 grams) chia seeds
    • 1½ cups (350 milliliters) almond milk, divided
    • 2 medium bananas, sliced and frozen
    • 2½ cups (360 grams) strawberries, sliced and frozen
  7. 7
    Make a smoothie bowl for a more filling meal. Blend together the frozen banana, strawberries, and coconut milk until smooth. Pour the mixture into a bowl, then top it off with fresh strawberry and banana slices. Add a handful of freeze-dried strawberries and bananas, and a sprinkle of chia seeds. Arrange these as beautifully as you can, then dig in![10]
    • 1 banana, frozen
    • 1½ cups (216 grams) strawberries, sliced and frozen
    • ½ cup (120 milliliters) unsweetened coconut milk
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How much ice do I add?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Use one to one and a half cups of ice per serving.
  • Question
    How long does it take to make a strawberry banana smoothie?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It will take 10-15 minutes.
  • Question
    Do I need sugar to make a smoothie?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You don't. It's healthier without sugar, though it may be tastier with it.
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Things You'll Need

  • Blender or food processor
  • Cutting board
  • Knife
  • Spoons
  • Rubber spatula
  • 2 tall glasses

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 1,009,072 times.
4 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 127
Updated: December 1, 2021
Views: 1,009,072
Categories: Smoothies
Article SummaryX

If you want to make a banana and strawberry smoothie, start by slicing 1 cup (128g) of strawberries and 1 banana into 1-inch pieces. Add the fruit to a blender before pouring in 1 cup (240ml) of milk. Use skim milk if you’d like a light smoothie and whole milk if you want it to be richer. Next, include 1/4 cup (32g) of sugar substitute or 1 tablespoon of honey. To finish, put 4-6 ice cubes in the blender before blending the mixture for 45-60 seconds. Serve and enjoy!

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