There are a lot of really great green smoothie recipes out there. And because so many people are doing so many great things with the spinach smoothie, I hadn’t really planned on adding to that pile of recipes. That is until this past weekend. When I had a Eur-freakin-eka moment. Apple pie. Green smoothie. Go.
I’ve tried a million different formulas for green smoothies and they almost always turn out delicious. Usually I toss in some kind of dairy-free milk (I’m digging coconut milk right now), spinach (although I’ve been known to use kale, too), some berries, a banana and call it a day. But for some reason, this past weekend, the half-gallon of apple cider in our fridge kept calling out to me.
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The great thing about the apple pie part of this smoothie (which is made up of cider, apple sauce and a pinch of cinnamon) is that it completely and totally covers the taste of the spinach part of the smoothie.
I know people say that all the time about green smoothies—I promise you can’t taste the six pounds of kale!—but more often than not, you still can. No matter how much you blend or try to cover it up with strawberries, that earthy green taste still seems to be there. But not in this one. Nope. Not a bit. It just tastes like you’re drinking a freaking apple pie. And I don’t care who you are—that, my friends, is awesome.
I highly recommend using a high-powered blender for this recipe. If you really want a dreamy-creamy smoothie, you’ll need the extra umph to get your spinach chopped. I recently invested in a Vitamix, it’s PURE LOVE. Seriously. It’s amazing. Before I joined the Church of the Vitamix, I had a Ninja blender for years that worked really well, too (and for about 1/4 of the price).
You can keep this smoothie completely dairy-free by swapping in coconut, almond, or soy yogurt for the Greek yogurt. And if you’re a banana-hater? Leave out the banana, and instead sub in a cup of drained canned pears. They add sweetness and a smooth texture to the smoothie, without overpowering the apple pie flavor.
If you want even MORE smoothie recipes, I highly recommend checking out my 8 Staple Smoothies You Should Know How to Make post.
Want a juice instead? Try this Green Apple Juice!
Apple Pie Spinach Smoothie
This Apple Pie Spinach Smoothie offers all the delectable flavors of apple pie in a nourishing, drinkable form! You won’t taste the spinach at all.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup 100% apple cider
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup lightly packed baby spinach
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 medium frozen banana
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- A few ice cubes
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in the carafe of a blender and blend on high until smooth. Taste and blend in more cinnamon if desired. Pour into a glass and serve immediately.
Notes
If you love cinnamon, sprinkle a little more on top of the smoothie to serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1 smoothieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 292Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 74mgCarbohydrates: 61gFiber: 6gSugar: 42gProtein: 14g
At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.
