This delicious green treat is my current smoothie obsession!
It’s both delicious, refreshing, and it’s packed with nutrients and flavor! Using Natural Delights Medjool Dates for natural caramel flavor and sweetness worked perfectly for the Vanilla Cinnamon flavor profile I wanted to create.
This balanced smoothie is great for anytime you want a satisfying energy boost!
My idea for this recipe came from the incredible date milkshakes we were treated to on the Natural Delights Harvest Tour. These shakes were definitely a dessert, but I was inspired to recreate that creamy vanilla and cinnamon goodness with this healthy green smoothie!
Along with natural sweetness, fresh medjool dates are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals…
I started with dates, then added frozen avocado for a nice dose of healthy fat that also gives the smoothie a thick and extra creamy texture. For greens, I chose spinach for its mild taste and added fiber. Vanilla protein powder is my favorite for this smoothie. I used plant based Sprout Living Vanilla Lucema and also love Vital Proteins Performance Vanilla Protein (lactose free).
Ryan and the kids love smoothies but they get nervous when they see me break out with a green one! But, they tested it and gave it two thumbs up…trust me, it’s SO good! See my top tips for smoothie building below…
Savvy Smoothie Tips:
- Use a high speed blender for best results. I use a Ninja Blender System.
- When using dates in smoothies, chop them into small pieces before adding to blender and blend with your milk before adding other ingredients. This helps to further break up the dates, resulting in a smoother smoothie!
- For a smooth, thick, more frozen smoothie: freeze your fruit/veggies beforehand and use the full amount of ice in the recipe. Bags of frozen, diced fruits/veggies can be found in most grocery stores or dice/freeze your own at home. I always have pre portioned ziplock bags of frozen bananas and avocado, and berries in the freezer for smoothies!
- If you are using an unsweetened or unflavored protein or collagen powder for this recipe you may want to add an extra date for added flavor and sweetness!
- For this smoothie I like to use vanilla protein! My favorites are Sprout Living Vanilla (plant based) or Vital Proteins Performance protein powder (contains whey but is lactose free). Both are stevia sweetened.
Vanilla Cinnamon Smoothie (dairy free)
My idea for this recipe came from the incredible date milkshakes we were treated to on the Natural Delights Harvest Tour. These shakes were definitely a dessert, but I was inspired to recreate that creamy vanilla and cinnamon goodness with this healthy and delicious green smoothie!
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1- 16 oz smoothie 1x
- Category: snack
Ingredients
8 oz unsweetened vanilla almond milk (I use Califia or MALK)
1 pitted medjool date (chopped into small pieces)
½ small frozen avocado or ½ cup diced avocado pieces (fresh is fine too but frozen makes the texture perfect!)
2 scoops protein powder of your choice (I used Sprout Living Vanilla Lucema)
½ tsp cinnamon
1 handful fresh spinach
½ to 1 cup of ice cubes
Instructions
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Pour almond milk into blender and add chopped dates
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Blend about 15-30 seconds to combine (helps dates to evenly blend into the milk)
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Then, add avocado, protein powder, cinnamon, spinach, and ice to blender.
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Blend again until the smoothie reaches desired consistency. I prefer it to be thick, icy, and smooth so I usually add the full amount of ice. Use less ice if you don’t want it to be as “frozen.”
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Pour into a cup, sip, and enjoy!
Notes
- Use a high speed blender for best results.
- When using dates in smoothies, chop them into small pieces before adding to blender and blend with the milk before adding other ingredients to further break them up, resulting in a smoother smoothie!
- For a smooth, thick, more frozen smoothie: use frozen fruit and veggies!
- If you are using an unsweetened or unflavored protein or collagen powder for this recipe you may want to add an extra date for added flavor and sweetness!
- For this smoothie I like to use vanilla protein! My favorites are Sprout Living (plant based) or Vital Proteins Performance (contains whey but is lactose free). Both are stevia sweetened.
Keywords: dairy free, green smoothie, balanced smoothie
Have a wonderful day & thanks for stopping by!
Photography: Kristen Massad
This post was sponsored by Natural Delights. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
