5-Minute 3-Ingredient Cherry Smoothie

This cherry smoothie is about as simple as a weekday breakfast gets: three ingredients, one blender, and five minutes. It tastes like a cherry pie in a glass, with no added sugar or dairy.

Frozen cherries and a ripe banana do all the work, blending into a frosty, spoon-thick smoothie with just enough almond milk to get things moving. You will want this one in your rotation.

What Makes This Cherry Smoothie So Good

It is one of those rare smoothies where cherry leads the flavor, not the banana. The banana is there for body and natural sweetness, so the fruit you actually named the drink after shines through.

Frozen fruit means no ice, which means no watery puddles three minutes later. It is thick enough to eat with a spoon if you are that kind of person, and it works for breakfast, a post-workout snack, or a late-night sweet craving.

Ingredients

• 2 cups frozen pitted cherries: dark sweet cherries give the deepest color and flavor
• 1 ripe banana: a frozen ripe banana makes the smoothie thick and almost shake-like
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk: any milk works, but almond keeps it light and a little nutty

Variations / Substitutions

• Make it green: A handful of spinach blends in without changing the taste, just the color.
• Boost with protein: Add a scoop of vanilla or unflavored protein powder and a little more almond milk to keep it moving.
• Swap the milk: Oat milk makes it extra creamy, coconut milk gives it a tropical note.
• Add natural sweetness: If your cherries are tart, toss in a pitted Medjool date or a teaspoon of maple syrup.

For another quick smoothie, try my Mango Banana Smoothie.

How to Make Cherry Smoothie

Step 1: Blend the Smoothie

Add the 2 cups frozen pitted cherries, 1 ripe banana, and 1 cup unsweetened almond milk to a high-speed blender. Blend on high until completely smooth and thick, about 60 seconds. You may need to stop once and scrape down the sides if the fruit clumps under the blade. The mixture will turn a vivid magenta and thicken to a soft-serve consistency.

Step 2: Pour and Serve

Pour the smoothie into two glasses and serve right away. The frosty chill softens fast, so these taste best the moment you make them.

Tips for the Best Cherry Smoothie

• Use frozen banana, not just ripe. A frozen banana gives the smoothie the body of soft serve without watering it down the way ice cubes do.
• Do not over-blend. Blending too long warms the smoothie and makes it thin. Stop as soon as it is smooth.
• Adjust the thickness. Too thick for your blender? Add a splash more almond milk. Too thin? Toss in a few more frozen cherries.
• Taste it first. Cherry sweetness varies. Try the smoothie before you add any sweetener, you might not need it.

Scale it to how many you are serving:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use fresh cherries instead of frozen?

Yes, but use them straight from the fridge and add a handful of ice to keep the smoothie cold and thick.

Do I need to add sweetener?

Not usually. The banana and ripe cherries do the job. If your cherries are tart, 1 teaspoon of maple syrup or one pitted date fixes it.

Is this smoothie vegan?

Yes, as long as you use plant-based milk. Almond milk keeps it fully vegan.

Can I make this ahead of time?

It separates quickly, so it is really best fresh. If you need to, store it in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 4 hours and shake well before drinking.

Cherry Smoothie Recipe

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Servings: 2 servings

Calories: 160

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups frozen pitted cherries
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk

Method

 

1. Add cherries, banana, and almond milk to a blender. Blend on high until smooth, about 1 minute.
2. Pour into two glasses and serve immediately.

Notes

If your blender struggles, add a splash more almond milk and blend again. A high-speed blender gives the smoothest texture, but any blender will get the job done.