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One of the best things we can do as we age is consistently eat foods rich in antioxidants. I know “forever young” isn’t realistic—but supporting our bodies as we move through life absolutely is. Antioxidant-rich foods help fight oxidative stress, which plays a role in things like premature aging, fine lines, wrinkles, and overall cellular wear and tear.
That’s why I love these Antioxidant Smoothie Cubes so much. If tossing a few frozen cubes into my daily smoothie can help protect my skin, support long-term health, and keep me feeling vibrant, you better believe I’m stocking my freezer. It’s a small habit, but one that adds up in the best way.
Table of Contents
Ingredients You’ll Need
These antioxidant smoothie cubes are made with some of the most vibrant, antioxidant-rich foods you can find:
- Pomegranate juice: Deep red and slightly tangy, this juice ties everything together while delivering powerful polyphenols.
- Cherries: Sweet or tart, cherries add deep flavor and antioxidants that help fight oxidative stress.
- Strawberries: Bright and juicy, they bring natural sweetness and vitamin C.
- Beet: Earthy and vibrant, beets add color and plant compounds that support circulation and cellular health.
- Cranberries: Tart and bold, cranberries are packed with antioxidants that support immune and urinary health.
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How to Use Antioxidant Smoothie Cubes
These cubes are designed to make smoothies easier, not more complicated. Add 4 cubes to any of my smoothie recipes in place of ½ to 1 cup of fruit. They pair especially well with leafy greens, banana, citrus, and non-dairy milk or water.
Because they’re frozen, they also help create a thick, frosty texture—no extra ice needed.
Ingredient Swaps
This smoothie cube recipe is flexible and forgiving. Use what you have and adjust to taste:
- Swap cherries for blueberries or blackberries.
- Replace strawberries with raspberries if preferred.
- Use beet powder in place of fresh beet if needed.
- Substitute pomegranate juice with unsweetened cranberry juice or cherry juice.
The goal is progress over perfection—any combination of colorful plants still delivers antioxidant benefits.
While these are a great starting point to boosting your health, I’ve gone even deeper to bring you some supercharged smoothie cubes that are loaded with antioxidant foods.
More Smoothie Cube Recipes
Once you get the hang of smoothie cubes, it’s easy to use them strategically based on what your body needs most. I keep a variety in my freezer so I can boost things like:
- Fiber cubes for digestion
- Frozen immunity cubes for immune support
- Healthy fats cubes for staying power
- Electrolyte cubes for hydration
- Anti-inflammatory blender bombs for recovery
If you make this antioxidant smoothie cubes recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.
Antioxidant Smoothie Cubes
Jen HansardIngredients
- 1 cup cherries sweet or tart
- 1 cup strawberries hulled and sliced
- 1 beet peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 cup cranberries
- 8 ounce pomegranate juice
Instructions
- Add the cherries, strawberries, beet, cranberries and pomegranate juice to a blender in the order listed. Blend until smooth.
- Pour into two standard 16-well ice cube trays and freeze until solid.
- Transfer the cubes to an airtight, freezer-safe container and store for up to several months.
- To use, add the cubes to your favorite smoothie in place of some of the fruit.
Recipe Notes
- Fruit Tip: Fresh or frozen fruit both work; pit fresh cherries first. Let frozen fruit thaw slightly before blending so it’s easier on your blender.
- Beet Tip: There’s no need to cook the beet; raw works well. Chop it small so it blends smooth.
- Juice Swap: Use 1/2 cup 100% unsweetened cranberry juice in place of the pomegranate juice, adding a splash of water if the blender struggles.
- Freezing: Store the cubes in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Add them to the blender straight from frozen.
Nutrition
Foods highest in antioxidants are typically colorful, plant-based foods like berries, cherries, pomegranate, beets, leafy greens, citrus fruits, and brightly colored vegetables. These foods contain compounds such as anthocyanins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and vitamin C that help protect cells from oxidative stress and support healthy aging. Blending a variety of these foods into smoothies is an easy way to consistently increase antioxidant intake.
Drinks high in antioxidants are usually made from deeply colored plants, teas, or minimally processed fruits. Some of the best options include berry smoothies (especially with blueberries, cherries, cranberries, or elderberries), pomegranate juice, and tart cherry juice, all rich in polyphenols and anthocyanins. Green tea and matcha are standout choices thanks to their catechins, while herbal teas like hibiscus and rooibos also deliver antioxidants without caffeine. Cacao drinks made with unsweetened cacao powder and vegetable-forward smoothies with greens, beets, and citrus round out the list. Rotating these drinks helps you get a wider range of antioxidant compounds with very little effort.
Antioxidant smoothie cubes help fight oxidative stress, support skin health, and make it easier to consistently enjoy antioxidant-rich foods. Because they’re prepped and frozen, you can boost the nutrient density of any smoothie without extra effort, helping protect cells and support healthy aging with a simple daily habit.
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This is going to be one of my favorites………….for sure. As for blue….how about white cauliflower, blue berries, cucumber peeled, pineapple, coconut water, flax seeds (ground or whole). It comes out blue, not really a deep blue, but blue !
P.S. I like the popsicle idea !
Hey Stepha,
Ooo that sounds like a great option! Thank you for sharing 🙂
The photography for this recipe is beautiful! I’m going to try these as healthy frozen popsicles.
Thank you Christy! We really do have an amazing photographer. Cannot wait for you to try these out.
These look AMAZING. So useful and practical. Gonna whip up a batch this weekend. Thanks Jen!
Thanks Olivia! Cannot wait for you to give them a try 🙂
So glad you’re digging the smoothie cubes Dani! I have a few more coming up since they’ve been such a hit! As for swapping these for the cranberries in the Cranberry Kale Smoothie, that’s the perfect way to do it! you’ll be supercharging that smoothie with waaaay more antioxidants and the flavor will still be delicious. I would say any recipe that has cherries, cranberries, pomegranate, beets and strawberries will work really well to swap these cubes in. Thanks for rawkin’ out with us!
I’m not a big fan of beets, but after reading all those health benefits I think I’m gonna give this one a go. I love all the other ingredients, especially pomegranate juice. I’ve been on a kick with that lately. Do you think these would taste better in a certain smoothie? Like I’m thinking I could take the Cranberry Kale Smoothie https://simplegreensmoothies.com/cranberry-smoothie and swap out the cranberries for a few smoothie cubes. Would that work?
Hey Dani,
Yes that would totally work! This would definitely be great to use in a smoothie that has berries in it. That way it will be a super easy swap!