This frozen banana smoothie recipe will convince you that plain banana smoothies can actually taste incredibly good. It has a rich banana flavor balanced with subtle vanilla aromas. I love its thick texture that reminds me of a banana milkshake. All you need are a few simple ingredients, including milk.
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This healthy banana smoothie recipe can be made all year round but is especially refreshing during summer (almost like banana ice cream). It makes a great snack or even breakfast smoothie (I like adding oats in that case).
Among the best smoothies on the blog, we also have this frozen mango smoothie, frozen strawberry smoothie and frozen yogurt smoothie. Make sure to try them next.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- This frozen banana smoothie only requires 5 ingredients and is ready in 5 minutes.
- It's perfect to use up leftover or overripe bananas as an alternative to making banana bread.
- It's kid-friendly and perfect for the whole family.
- This recipe is naturally vegan, gluten-free and nut-free.
- You can easily vary the flavors and adapt this smoothie to your personal preference (I provide 6 variation ideas below).
Ingredients
- Frozen ripe bananas are key to a flavorful smoothie. They also make your smoothie ice cold without having to add ice cubes.
- Plant-based milk helps the blending process. My favorite options are rice milk for its sweetness, soy milk for its neutral flavor and almond milk for its nutty flavor. I try to use milk alternatives without added sugar as the bananas are already pretty sweet (especially if they were really ripe before freezing).
- Plant-based yogurt makes the smoothie extra creamy. I usually use plain soy yogurt but you can use Greek yogurt if not vegan.
- Vanilla extract highlights the flavor of the banana.
- Hemp seeds are a great source of protein and can easily be added to smoothies to make you feel full for longer. One tablespoon contains more than 3 grams of protein. They have a subtle flavor that you'll barely notice.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
How to freeze bananas for smoothies
Here's the best way to freeze bananas that prevents them from sticking together and saves space in your freezer.
Peel fresh bananas and cut them into slices. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet that you lined with parchment paper (or a silicone mat). Place it in the freezer for at least 8 hours or overnight.
Transfer them to freezer bags (or silicone bags). Once the banana slices are completely frozen, store them in a zip bag and squeeze out the air.
Quick tip: Cut the bananas into thin slices if you don't have a powerful high-speed blender. The thinner the slices, the easier they will break down when blending.
Elo's tips
- Freeze a bunch of bananas at a time. This will save you time and effort, especially if you make smoothies and smoothie bowls on the regular.
- If you don't have enough frozen banana slices, you can use part fresh bananas.
- If using a small blender, run the frozen bananas under warm water to slightly soften them. This will make the blending process easier and prevent damaging the blades. You can omit this tip if using a high-speed blender.
- If your frozen bananas aren't sweet add a splash of pure maple syrup to your smoothie.
- Always start with a little milk and add more if necessary. If you add a lot of milk right away, you will lose the thickness that the frozen bananas provide.
- For a really thick smoothie, reduce the amount of milk and use the tamper of your blender or scrape the sides from time to time.
Instructions
STEP 1: Add your milk of choice, yogurt, vanilla extract and hemp seeds to a powerful blender.
STEP 2: Add in the frozen bananas. It's preferable to add the frozen fruit after the soft ingredients to spare your blades.
STEP 3: Blend until perfectly smooth. Start blending on slow-medium and gradually increase the speed.
STEP 4: Optionally adjust thickness. I personally like the thick and creamy texture of this frozen banana smoothie. However, you can add some extra milk if you prefer a thinner consistency.
Cleaning hack: Add water and dish soap to your blender to clean it effortlessly. Some blenders have a cleaning program that you can press. Otherwise, simply turn on the blender at medium speed and make sure the water reaches the lid. Then, rinse it off and let it dry.
Equipment
To make this frozen banana smoothie, I recommend using a high-speed blender. They have enough powder to blend the frozen fruits and the blades are much more resistant compared to smaller blenders.
This KitchenAid blender is the one I've been using for over 2 years and one of my best purchases! It's powerful enough to blend frozen fruits and make nut butter that always has an extra smooth texture. The best part is that it's more affordable than its equivalents.
It's definitely worth the investment if you make smoothies, nut butter, sauce and soups more often.
Watch the video!
Variations
- Nutty smoothie - add a heaping tablespoon of peanut or almond butter.
- Chocolaty smoothie - add two teaspoons of cocoa powder and stir in cacao nibs.
- Fruity smoothie - add a handful of fresh fruit such as mango, strawberries or raspberries.
- Green smoothie - add a handful of spinach.
- High protein smoothie - add a scoop of your favorite (plant-based) protein powder.
- Dessert smoothie - replace the yogurt with a scoop of (plant-based) vanilla ice cream.
Correctly layer your smoothie ingredients: start with soft ingredients such as liquids, fresh fruits and greens. Then add powders and sweeteners. Hard ingredients such as frozen fruit come next to protect your blades. End with sticky ingredients such as nut butter to prevent them from sticking to the bowl of your blender.
Frequently asked questions
You can keep a banana smoothie in the fridge for 30 minutes if closed airtightly with a lid. Note that the texture will change as the bananas melt. It's preferable to drink the smoothie right after making it.
Bananas are rich in carbohydrates, including fiber, making you feel full for longer. It was shown that they may have various health benefits such as improving blood sugar levels, helping weight loss, and supporting digestive health (source).
You don't need to add ice to smoothies that contain frozen fruit. It's actually preferable to omit it to prevent watering down the smoothie.
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The recipe
Frozen Banana Smoothie
Equipment
- Baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 cup (140 g) frozen banana about 1 large banana
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) milk plant-based
- ¼ cup (65 g) plain yogurt plant-based
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon hemp seeds for protein (optional)
Instructions
- Cut the bananas into slices and place them on a baking sheet that you previously line with parchment paper. Freeze for at least 8 hours.
- Add the milk, yogurt, vanilla extract, hemp seeds and frozen banana slices to a blender.
- Start blending on low-medium and gradually increase the speed until perfectly smooth.
- Serve right away.
Video
Notes
- If you don't have enough frozen banana slices, you can use part fresh bananas.
- If using a small blender, run the frozen bananas under warm water to slightly soften them. This will make the blending process easier and prevent damaging the blades. You can omit this tip if using a high-speed blender.
- If your frozen bananas aren't sweet add a splash of pure maple syrup to your smoothie.
- Always start with a little milk and add more if necessary. If adding a lot of milk right away, you will lose the thickness that the frozen bananas provide.
- For a really thick smoothie, use the tamper of your blender or scrape the sides from time to time.
Nutrition
More smoothie recipes
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