Fruit Smoothies

Vanilla Flax Almond Butter Smoothie

Almond butter, flaxseed, and vanilla give this banana smoothie a nutty, lightly spiced character. Cauliflower adds body and dates bring sweetness. Almond milk carries the ingredients without the sharper flavor of juice, making the vanilla easier to notice.

Healthy Smoothie Recipes

Vanilla Flax Almond Butter Smoothie

Almond butter, flaxseed, and vanilla give this banana smoothie a nutty, lightly spiced character.

Prep: 5 minutesServings: 1

Base recipe: 1 serving; the full base batch

Vegan

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Ingredients

  • 0.5 banana, peeled
  • 0.5 cup cauliflower, cooked and cooled, then frozen
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter
  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
  • 1–2 Medjool date, pitted (adjust to taste)
  • 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

  1. Pour the measured liquid into the blender. Add the softer prepared ingredients first, keeping the frozen pieces separated so they can move toward the blades instead of forming a solid block above them.
  2. Add the remaining edible ingredients, including the measured fruit, nuts, seeds, or spices listed for this recipe. Blend until evenly combined. Use the machine instructions to choose a suitable speed, and stop before checking texture or scraping the jug.
  3. Taste a small spoonful after blending. If the mixture is too thick to pour, add cold water one tablespoon at a time and blend briefly again. Divide the base batch into 1 serving and enjoy promptly.

Notes

Contains tree nuts. Prepared ingredients are required; additional cooking, cooling, freezing, brewing, or soaking time is excluded from the active prep estimate. Serving volume and nutrition totals are not measured.

Adapted from Jen Hansard at Simple Green Smoothies.

Tips and ingredient notes

Use ground flaxseed for an easier texture and check dates for stones. Prepare cauliflower as its package directs and cool it first. Begin with one date before choosing a sweeter variation.

Stir separated almond butter before measuring so the spoon contains both oil and nut solids. Smooth butter gives a different finish from crunchy butter. Add it to the liquid portion where possible rather than leaving a thick clump stuck above frozen fruit.

Ground flaxseed disperses more readily than whole seeds and changes the texture as it hydrates. Begin with the measured portion. If preparing flax yourself, grind a small amount and store it according to the package advice rather than assuming it keeps like whole seeds.

Ingredient health benefits

  • Almond butter provides vitamin E, which helps protect cells from oxidative damage.
  • Dates add dietary fiber, which supports normal bowel function.

Nutrition references: NIH: Vitamin E; NHS: Dietary fiber. These are ingredient contributions; nutrition per serving has not been calculated.

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Recipe adapted from Jen Hansard at Simple Green Smoothies. Article text and directions written for Healthy Smoothie Recipes. Supplement omissions and preparation changes mean source nutrition totals do not apply.

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