Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie
Based on the flavors of a classic American dessert and full of plant-based whole foods, it doesn't get better than a strawberry shortcake smoothie.
Servings: 1
Calories: 249kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups frozen strawberries
- ¾ cups almond milk here's how to make it
- 2 Medjool dates pitted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon maca powder optional
Instructions
- Combine berries, almond milk, dates, vanilla, and maca powder (if using) in blender. If you don't have a high-speed blender, see note 2 below.
- Blend on high speed until completely smooth, about 1 minute.
- Pour into a glass and serve.
Notes
- Frozen strawberries are the workhorse of this fresh and fabulous smoothie. Strawberries are always right at the top of the the dirty dozen, so use organic ones if you can (or, if you're the luckiest person alive, pick and freeze your own).
- Medjool dates are a brilliant whole-food source of sweetness for smoothies. They have a caramel-like flavor and, hey, also tons of dietary fiber and micronutrients. Pit them before using. If you have a high-speed blender, you can toss them in whole. Otherwise, mince them and blend with the almond milk before adding the rest of the ingredients.
- I've called for almond milk because the flavor of actual almonds complements strawberry shortcake flavors. But no one in our house is a fan of most commercial almond milks. So when I'm not up for making homemade almond milk, I tend to use another nondairy milk.
- There's a hint of vanilla extract in this recipe, but not too much because it has a bitter aftertaste when used raw in larger quantities. To amp up that flavor, you can use a vanilla-flavored milk if you like.
- Maca is a Peruvian root vegetable long considered to increase virility. These days it's used as a superfood since it's jam-packed with micronutrients that can be lacking in the standard diet. It has a subtle, almost malt-like flavor that I enjoy in smoothies. It's 100% optional in this recipe. Buy it Buy it here if you like.
- I really prefer to make smoothies right before drinking them. But if you're anticipating a busy morning, you can make this the night before and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Fill it all the way up to the top if possible to minimize oxidation.
Nutrition
Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 50.3g | Protein: 5.8g | Fat: 4g | Fiber: 8.2g