How to make yogurt smoothies with frozen fruit

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This basic recipe will teach you How to Make ANY Fruit Smoothie using fresh and frozen ingredients!  Once you learn this simple formula you’ll be able to mix it up with tropical fruits and berries, add in greens such as spinach or kale, and even make them vegan and dairy-free.  And the best part?  Only a few simple ingredients and less than 5 minutes are needed to make the best homemade smoothie!

Frozen Fruit Smoothie Recipe

Frozen fruit can always be found stocked in our freezer.

When that moment strikes and I have literally NOTHING else to make, a frozen fruit smoothie can always save the day.

It doesn’t even matter what fresh or frozen fruits I’m working with.  They can ALL be turned into a creamy and delicious smoothie.

That is, if you have this basic formula on hand.

I would never leave you hanging, though.  In addition to this simple guide, you’ll also find a few recipes you can start off with – and then add in all of the nuts, seeds, milks, juices, yogurts, and protein powders your heart desires.

Because after you finish reading this post, you’ll never need me again.  Well, at least not when it comes to making incredible frozen fruit smoothies!

Basic Smoothie Formula

There is a very simple and basic recipe that you can use as a guide when making fruit smoothies at home.  Here are the ingredients you will need and the amounts that are recommended to make roughly 16 ounces of smoothie:

• 2 cups frozen fruit. 
• 1 cup fresh fruit.
• ½ cup liquid.
• ¼ cup yogurt.
• 1-2 Tbsp. sweetener.
• Add-ins, optional.

Now that you’ve got that basic formula handy, let’s dive into each component of a perfect smoothie in a little more detail.

Frozen Fruit

It’s essential that you use enough frozen fruit in your smoothie to make it perfectly creamy.  Not enough and you’ll end up with more of a liquid drink instead of a thick slushy consistency.

You can either buy the already frozen fruit at your grocery store or freeze fresh fruit that you have cut into 1-2 inch pieces.  If using fresh fruit that has been frozen, make sure it has been in the freezer for at least 4-5 hours to ensure it is completely frozen.

Pro Tip:  Just before making your smoothie, pull the frozen fruit out for about 5-10 minutes so it thaws slightly.  This will make it much easier for all of the ingredients to blend together.

Fresh Fruit

Using a mix of fresh and frozen fruit in a smoothie is a little secret I like to use.  Many other recipes and websites call for ALL frozen fruit.  But do you know what happens?  You end up needing to add in a bunch of milk or other liquid in order to blend it up.

So instead, using a combination of fresh and frozen fruit gives you just the right consistency while also packing in the most fruity deliciousness!

Normally, 1 medium-sized banana is just about what you’ll need for the fresh fruit component.

Pro Tip: If you don’t happen to have any fresh fruit on hand, you can always remove 1 cup of frozen fruit from the freezer and let thaw for at least 30 minutes.  This will give you enough softened fruit to work with so your blender doesn’t have trouble mixing up the ingredients.

Liquid

Unsweetened milk is the liquid of choice when making frozen fruit smoothies since it makes them incredibly creamy and helps to balance the sweetness of the fruit.

Regular cow’s milk or a dairy-free alternative can be used.

If using a plant-based milk, here are some of the recommended ones to use:

• Oat milk – My personal preference since it tastes the closest to regular milk and is super creamy.
• Almond milk
• Cashew milk
• Soy milk
• Coconut milk

Pro Tip: Out of milk but still want to make a smoothie?  No worries!  Orange juice, apple juice, and even water can be added in.  Just know the smoothie will end up being a little more icy than creamy.

Yogurt

I used to think yogurt was optional in smoothies.  But the more I’ve made them, the more I’ve come to realize that yogurt is actually a pretty crucial component to the smoothie formula.

Not only is it thick and adds a wonderful creaminess to the mix, but it’s also got a slightly tangy bite that helps to balance out the sweet fruit.

Plain, unsweetened yogurt or Greek yogurt is preferred.  However, if you like your smoothies on the sweet side, you can always try using a flavored yogurt instead.

Plant and nut-based yogurt also work equally as well and can be used if on a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Pro Tip: Sensitive to lactose but still want that classic yogurt taste?  Try using goat milk yogurt!  It has less lactose than regular cow’s milk yogurt and is easier to digest for most people with lactose intolerance.

Sweeteners

Depending on what types of fruit you use and how ripe they are, you may or may not need to add a little extra sweetener.

Typically, if I’m making a smoothie with a banana in it, a sweetener is normally not needed.

However, if more tangy fruits such as berries and kiwi are being blended together, a little extra sugar is needed.

The best sweeteners to add into smoothies include:

• Honey
• Agave Nectar
• Pure Maple Syrup
• Stevia Liquid Extract
• Coconut Nectar

Pro Tip: Make your smoothie first without adding any sweetener to it.  Take a taste of it and then add the additional sweetener to taste.  Remember, you can always add more to it but you can’t take it away!

Optional Add-Ins

This is where the fun comes in!  There are so, so, so many things you can add into your smoothies to really up-level their nutritional benefits:

• Nuts and Butters (peanut, almonds, cashew)
• Seeds (chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds)
• Oils (fish oil, flax seed oil, cod liver oil)
• Oats (use quick cooking since they’re smaller and will blend up more easily)
• Protein powder (unflavored or sweetened)
• Spirulina powder
• Citrus zest (limes, lemons, oranges)
• Spices ( turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper)
• Puree (pumpkin, sweet potato)
• And so much more!

Pro Tip: Be a little cautious when adding in extra ingredients.  Start with a little bit and then taste the smoothie after each addition to make sure you still like the flavor!

Best Blenders for Smoothies

OK, you’ve got all of your smoothie ingredients prepped and ready to go, now how are you going to blend them up?

The key here is powerful.

You want to use a blender capable of completely mixing up all of the ingredients until they are smooth and creamy.

Here is a list of the best blenders for making fruit smoothies:

• Nutribullet – A wonderful personal-sized blender option.  Make sure you use the larger cup in order to fit all of the ingredients without going over the max fill line.
  • Ninja Blender is also another great option!
• Vitamix – The most powerful of the traditional blenders and will give you a silky smooth smoothie every time.  It is more of a splurge, so only spring for this if you make smoothies, soups, or sauces on a regular basis.
• Food Processor – Sort of a last resort, but will work if you don’t have another blender on hand!

How to Make a Fruit Smoothie

While the recipe for a fruit smoothie is pretty basic, there is a special way of adding in your ingredients so it blends with ease.  And this can change depending on if you’re using a personal-sized blender or a larger more traditional blender.  So make sure you pay attention to the special note at the end!

Here are the steps for making the perfect frozen fruit smoothie in a traditional blender:

1. Pour in liquid.  It doesn’t really matter when you add this in since it will inevitably sink towards the blade.
2. Add yogurt.  This more liquidy ingredient will help to blend up the other ingredients to it’s best if it’s placed closest to the blade.
3. Add fresh fruit.  This is when fresh bananas, berries, or even an avocado gets added in.
4. Toss in leafy greens.  These are also easier to blend than frozen fruit so it’s good to place them closer to the blade.
5. Add frozen fruit.  Make sure you’ve let it thaw for 5-10 minutes before adding in so the blender does not get hung up.
6. Toss in add-ins.  This is the time to add in anything extra you want to give your smoothie a nutritional boost!
7. Blend it up!  Start the blender on low so the ingredients slowly get mixed together.  Once it’s churning, ramp up the speed to medium and blend until everything looks smooth and creamy.

Pro Tip: A personal-sized blender, such as a Nutribullet or Ninja, will have the blade on the TOP instead of the bottom when you add in ingredients.  In order to prevent the blades from getting stuck, you’ll want to reverse the order of ingredients: Add frozen fruit, leafy greens, fresh fruit, yogurt, and liquid.  The optional add-ins can be tossed in at any time.)

Serving

No smoothie would be complete without a fun straw to sip them up!

And there are so many different kinds you can use:

FAQs

Are smoothies healthy for you?

Yes!  When smoothies are made at home they are incredibly healthy for you.  The majority of a smoothie is made from antioxidant-packed fruit, protein-loaded milk and yogurt, and any other nutritious add-ins.  They are relatively high in sugar and carbs, so they may not be suited for diabetics or those on a low-carb diet.

Do you put ice in a smoothie?

It’s not necessary to add ice to a smoothie.  In fact, the ice will end up making the smoothie more chunky than smooth, and will also dull down the flavor of the fruits.  Instead, use frozen fruit in place of ice to get that slushy consistency.

What’s the best liquid for making smoothies?

Unsweetened milk is the best liquid to add to smoothies.  It adds a nice creaminess while also helping to balance out the natural sweetness of the fruit.

How can I make my smoothie healthier?

There are so many add-ins you can mix into your smoothies to make them healthier.  Nuts, seeds, oils, spices, oats, and protein powders are all wonderful additions.

What can I use instead of bananas in smoothies?

If you’re not a fan of bananas in smoothies, you can always substitute them with additional yogurt or an avocado.  You’ll need to add a little extra sweetener in order to make up for the banana’s naturally sweet flavor.

How can I make smoothies vegan?

Making vegan smoothies is easy simple to do!  Simply use a plant-based milk alternative, such as oat, cashew, or soy milk, and a nut-based yogurt alternative along with the fresh and frozen fruits.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Skip the bananas.  An avocado can be substituted for a banana along with a tablespoon or two of sweetener.
• Go for the goat yogurt.  If you’re slightly lactose intolerant, goat’s milk yogurt is a wonderful alternative that tastes very similar to cow’s milk yogurt.
• Add and adjust.  Start by adding a little bit of optional ingredients and then taste after each addition to make sure you still like the flavor!
• Sweeten it last.  You’d be surprised how sweet fruit can be!  Wait until the end to stir in any additional sweeteners.
• Pay attention to the blade.  You want to add your softer ingredients closer to the blade and the harder (frozen) ingredients further away from the blade for easier blending.

Fruit Smoothie Recipes

Now that you’ve got the basic formula for making fruit smoothies, here are a few flavor combinations you can try:

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

• ½ cup milk oat, coconut, or nut-based
• ¼ cup yogurt regular, Greek, or plant-based
• 1 cup fresh fruit or avocado
• 2 cups frozen fruit thawed for 5-10 minutes
• 1-2 Tbsp. sweetener optional
• Optional add-ins Nuts, seeds, oils, spices, oats, and protein powder

1. Pour liquid into a blender along with yogurt, fresh fruit, frozen fruit, sweetener, and any optional add-ins. (In this order if using a traditional blender or in the reverse order if using a personal blender.)

2. Blend ingredients together until smooth and well combined.

• One serving equals 8 ounces of smoothie.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Skip the bananas.  An avocado can be substituted for a banana along with a tablespoon or two of sweetener.
• Go for the goat yogurt.  If you're slightly lactose intolerant, goat's milk yogurt is a wonderful alternative that tastes very similar to cow's milk yogurt.
• Add and adjust.  Start by adding a little bit of optional ingredients and then taste after each addition to make sure you still like the flavor!
• Sweeten it last.  You'd be surprised how sweet fruit can be!  Wait until the end to stir in any additional sweeteners.
• Pay attention to the blade.  You want to add your softer ingredients closer to the blade and the harder (frozen) ingredients further away from the blade for easier blending.