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A sweet, dairy free Strawberry Apple Smoothie that satisfies as much for dessert as it does for breakfast or a midday snack. It’s thick and creamy with no bananas!
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This stunning pink beauty is sweetened only with the fruit itself and a few dates. Not only is this Strawberry Apple Smoothie a sweet delicious treat, it’s nutritious and healthy too!
Bonus: it’s dairy free, sugar free, and gluten free!
Ingredients you need
Ingredient notes and substitutions
Strawberries ~ Use frozen strawberries. This makes for a creamy, thick smoothie without the need for ice, which may water the flavors down.
Apple ~ Use your favorite kind. I usually go for Gala, Fuji, or Granny Smith, but use whatever you have.
If you have a super sweet apple, like a Honeycrisp, you may only need one date for extra sweetness. Taste and adjust to your preference.
No need to peel the apple, but do cut out the core.
Dates ~ Dates are incredibly nutritious. They’re naturally sweet and high in antioxidants and fiber. [source]
I like to buy pitted dates, but if yours have pits, make sure to remove them before throwing them in your smoothie. Even if you buy pitted ones, it’s always good to break them open and check to make sure there aren’t any remnants of the pit left.
Medjool dates are large and very sweet, usually just 1 or 2 is plenty to give this Strawberry Apple Smoothie enough sweetness. If you are using a different date variety, you may need 3 or 4. Start with just a couple and adjust to your taste preference.
Cashews ~ Raw cashews contain healthy fats, protein, and offer natural sweetness. A small dollop of cashew butter would also work.
If you prefer almonds or peanuts, use those. Almond butter or peanut butter would also work.
For a nut free option, simply leave them out or use hemp seeds instead.
Oats ~ I like old fashioned rolled oats. They add to the creamy texture of the smoothie and offer extra nutrients, like fiber, helping to keep you full.
Extras ~ I almost always add a sprinkle of cinnamon to my smoothies. I love the flavor and it has many health benefits. [source] You can leave it out if you prefer.
A dash of ginger or a squeeze of lemon would both taste great, as well.
How to make the recipe
Place all ingredients into a high speed blender (1) and blend until smooth (2).
Pro tips and tricks
~ Make sure your dates have no pits left in them. Check them even if you buy pitted dates…there are sometimes remnants of the pits left behind.
~ Core the apple, but no need to peel it.
~ Use frozen strawberries for thick, creamy smoothie.
~ Layer your ingredients in the blender in this order: milk, dates, oats, cinnamon, cashews, apple, strawberries. If you have a good high speed blender, it might not matter much how you add your ingredients, but if your blender isn’t as strong, it will make a difference.
~ If your smoothie is too thick, add some water a few tablespoons at a time.
~ If your smoothie is too thin, add more oats 1 tablespoon at a time.
~ To ensure this smoothie is gluten free, use certified gluten free oats.
~ To make this smoothie nut-free, use hemp seeds instead of cashews.
FAQs
Frozen fruits make smoothies thicks and creamy. It also keeps everything cold so there is no need for ice, which could possible water down the flavor.
No, you don’t need to peel apples for smoothies. I do recommend you remove the core and seeds, however.
It really depends on the smoothie flavor. I like milk best in most smoothies. But in tropical flavored smoothies, I tend to use water or coconut water, instead.
There are many ways to thicken a smoothie without banana. In this Strawberry Apple Smoothie, frozen fruit, oats and cashews all contribute to the thick creamy texture.
In green smoothies, avocados are a great thickener.
Nut butters and protein powders are also good for thickening smoothies depending on the flavors used.
More vegan smoothies
- Strawberry Beet Smoothie
- Matcha Smoothie
- Peach Smoothie
- Tropical Green Smoothie
- Apple Pie Smoothie
- Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie
- Chocolate Mixed Berry Smoothie
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you tried it, please use the star rating system in the recipe card and leave a comment with your feedback. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For even more easy family recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook!
Strawberry Apple Smoothie
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup non dairy milk
- 2-3 pitted Medjool dates
- ¼ cup old fashioned oats
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon or to taste (optional)
- 2 tablespoons raw cashews
- 1 apple cored
- 2 cups frozen strawberries
- water as needed, to thin
Instructions
- Place all ingredients, except water, into a high speed blender and blend until smooth.
- If the smoothie is too thick and not blending well, add water a few tablespoons of water at at time, until the desired consistency is reached.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are calculated using online calculators and are estimates only. Please verify using your own data.
Gwen
What are the calories? I used honey to sweeten it instead of dates and didn’t use almond butter. Plus lactose free milk. I really like the oats incorporated into the drink.
Thanks for sharing.
Jenn S.
Thanks, Gwen! I’m glad you liked it! I’m not sure of the calories. You can plug it into MyFitnessPal or NutritionData.com if you wish.
Mary Howell
Have almond butter on hand. Since you said any nut butter should do, I’ll try it first. Wondering if organic coconut milk is a suitable substitution? I react to soy. 🙁 Have to get some more almond. I’m guessing regular milk will do in a pinch.
I’m going to try all three of your listed smoothies this week…that’s the plan!
Thanks for the tip on the dates. I keep mine in the fridge…could that make them not blend as well, too? I’ve got a good blender.
Jenn S.
Hi, Mary. Almond butter should work just fine. And coconut milk would also be delicious. It may alter the flavor a bit, but it actually sounds quite yummy to me. It will be a tropical strawberry shortcake! 🙂 And, of course, if you drink dairy, that would definitely work too. I can’t wait to hear what you think. You’ll have to let me know which is your favorite! Oh, and for the dates, if they seem a little dried out, just soak them in hot water for about 10 minutes. But, if you’ve got a high speed blender, it shouldn’t really matter much.
Thu
Are there alternative options for the cashew butter? Will peanut butter taste similar?
Jenn S.
Hi, Thu! Cashew butter has a fairly neutral, yet sweet flavor. Peanut butter might alter the flavor just a bit, but would probably still be delicious. Any nut butter would work similarly. Hope you enjoy!
craving nature
This looks so creamy and delicious!
Jenn S.
Thanks! It’s very creamy and one of our faves!
Linda Nerney
I always have problems with dates in my smoothies. They never blend properly. I may substitute maple syrup in this recipe because it sounds great.
Jenn S.
If your dates are very dry, it helps to soak them first to soften them up. They blend more easily that way. But maple syrup would work too, Linda!
Valerie
Can this Strawberry smoothie be made with a gluten free grain or seed other than oats…like quinoa?
Jenn S.
Hi, Valerie. The oats are a thickener and to add a little extra bulk and flavor. Cooked quinoa would probably work great!
Rebecca @ Nourishing Blog
Look at how beautiful those smoothies are!! Almost too pretty to eat… Almost!! Love the addition of the oats!
Jenn S.
Thank you, Rebecca! They are definitely a beautiful pink color…my little girls LOVE it!
Christine
Ooooh. Cashew butter. Nice add. And I’ve never used oats in a smoothie. You just pop them in raw, right? Sounds delish.
Jenn S.
Yes, Christine, you put them in raw. It makes the smoothie thick and creamy…and also I don’t feel so bad calling this delicious treat breakfast! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Jolena @TheRubyKitchen
Lovely smoothie! It looks so creamy and delicious. Pinned!
Jenn S.
Thank you so much for pinning it, Jolena! I hope you love it!
Natalie
This must be the creamy, dreamiest strawberry smoothie I’ve ever seen!!
Jenn S.
Thanks, Natalie! It IS pretty dreamy!!
winwinfood
Oh my gosh! Healthy and vegan strawberry shortcake in a glass! I can’t take this, where is my blender? 😀
Jenn S.
LOL, Lucie! Go make it now! 🙂
Cadry's Kitchen
This sounds so delicious! I am beyond ready for summer fruits like strawberries, and what a good idea to add oats. I haven’t tried that.
Jenn S.
I’m with you, Cadry! Can’t wait to start my garden back up again and have my pick of fresh veggies and herbs all the time! And, the local farmers markets for fresh fruit. I. Can’t. Wait! I love adding oats to smoothies…makes them nice and thick and I feel like I could call it breakfast and me on my way! 🙂
Bianca
Yummy! Who knew something so thick and decadent could be so healthy and delicious?! Awesome recipe, thank you for sharing <3
Jenn S.
Thanks, Bianca! Milkshakes used to be a weakness of mine. Thank goodness for healthy smoothies!
Laura // Chronicles of Passion
Yes please!! This looks so thick and delicious!! I love thick smoothies/shakes like this and I bet with the dates and cashew butter, this would be awesome. Thanks for the inspiration:)
Jenn S.
Thanks for stopping by, Laura! It’s so thick my 3 year olds had trouble sucking it up through the straw. 🙂 They were determined though and managed to slurp down the whole thing!
Linda @ Veganosity
Yum! I’ve been making frozen strawberry smoothies lately too. It must be spring! This looks delicious, I can’t wait to try your version.
Jenn S.
Yes, Linda! I’m so excited for the summer fruits and veggies! Finally!