I’d like to share an apple celery smoothie recipe that’s surprisingly delicious. My favorite part of this smoothie is the fennel, a tasty herb that reminds me of black licorice. Yet, I also love that it's low in sugar and insanely energizing as well.
My love for Good & Plenty candy led me down a plant powered path to find a great smoothie recipe with a black licorice flavor. This recipe checks all the boxes: fun new ingredients, fresh flavor, low in sugar, and refreshing to the core.
In fact, I love this recipe so much I've included in our new meal planner called Rawk the Year. Rawk the Year features over 400 recipes, weekly meal plans, personalized shopping lists, access to all of our cleanses and more. Try it free for 14 days and see what you think! Now...what was I going to say about celery? Ah, yes...
Celery Smoothie Health Benefits
I know this smoothie may get a bad rap to start, with celery in the title, yet hear me out. The celery juice fad wasn’t just for fun. Celery is loaded with health benefits, including:
- Antioxidants- Celery has at least 12 different types of antioxidants in just 1 stalk.
- Digestive Aid- This is a great veggie to eat daily as it has 5 grams of soluble fiber in 1 cup, which keeps things moving.
- Helps reduce inflammation- The older I get, the more easily my body can succumb to inflammation. Celery helps fight this, making this celery smoothie a must on the menu when I’m training.
- Alkalizing effects- The minerals in this veggie can help neutralize acidic foods we eat.
- Full of vitamins and minerals- While celery is mostly water, it’s also got vitamins A, C, and K, along with potassium and folate.
Who knew this simple, whole food could be such a force for health and wellness?! I love knowing the benefits my body is getting from this celery smoothie recipe. Scientists have actually studied celery extract as an antibacterial and antimicrobial agent against treating MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus) according to the National Library of Medicine.
Low Sugar Celery Smoothie Recipe
If you’ve ever gone on the hunt for a great low carb/low sugar green smoothie, look no further. A fruit or veggie is considered a low glycemic option (low in sugar) if 1 serving has a glycemic index score of less than 55. Check out the glycemic index of the ingredients in this celery smoothie recipe:
- 1 cup spinach: less than 1
- ¼ fennel bulb: 16
- 1 celery stalk: 15
- 1 green apple: 38
- ¼ inch fresh ginger: 15
- juice from 1 lemon: 20
My blood sugar’s doing a happy dance knowing this celery smoothie won’t raise it! This recipe can be a great afternoon pick-me-up, or even a refreshing evening treat to help stabilize the body's blood sugar for the night.
Apple Celery Smoothie
Rate this Recipe Print RecipeIngredients
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup water
- ¼ fennel bulb (cored and roughly chopped*)
- 1 stalk celery
- 1 apple (green, cored)
- ¼ inch ginger root
- 1 lemon (peeled)
- 1 serving Protein Smoothie Boost (optional)
Instructions
- Blend spinach, water, and lemon juice (or whole lemon) together until juice-like consistency is reached.
- Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
Notes
- Only use the white part of the fennel bulb. The green stalk and sprigs may be used as garnish.
Nutrition (estimated)
Want More Low Sugar Smoothies?
Check out my Veggie Cocktail Smoothie and also my Fat Burning Smoothie for some other great celery options. If you're looking for ways to decrease your sugar consumption, I've got you covered below! Here are a few of my other low sugar smoothie favs:
Cherry Smoothie: I love the balance of flavors in this berry-filled smoothie recipe.
Summer Melon Smoothie: This smoothie tastes like all the best flavors Summer has to offer + fresh health benefits.
Raspberry Smoothie: Guests won't even know this is a green smoothie, it's pretty enough for dessert!
Blackberry Smoothie: The perfect amount of sweetness makes this low sugar smoothie a definite winner.
Fat Burning Smoothie: Don't let the name fool you; this is delicious + nutritious.
Does this celery smoothie recipe excite you or scare you? Leave a comment below letting me know if this is a make it, or pass on it for you, I'd love to know!
Mandy
This sounds so yummy but I cannot find fresh fennel in my grocery store. Could I somehow substitute fennel seeds? Thanks
Simple Green Smoothies
Hi there Mandy, I'm sorry that you're not having luck finding fennel. I've had that experience before - maybe looking at a different store if possible, because it really is a delicious ingredient. Yet, it's not totally necessary for this recipe, so don't stress!
Simple Green Smoothies
Hi there Mandy, I'm sorry that you're not having luck finding fennel. I've had that experience before - maybe looking at a different store if possible, because it really is a delicious ingredient. Yet, it's not totally necessary for this recipe, so don't stress! I wouldn't, however, recommend using fennel seeds as a substitute as I think it would affect the flavor and texture.
Phoenix O
This is a great recipe! The flavours blended together feel confusing for my brain - but in a good way!
The only thing I didn't enjoy was the texture. It feels a bit foamy for my tastes. But i don't imagine that's something crushed ice can't remedy.
Aileen
I'm having my first one now and I agree... what a great idea... crushed ice!
Carol Skorulski
This is a great smoothie. The favors all go so well together!
Melinda F Jackson
I'd like to add the plant based protein to this smoothie and not include the fennel. I'll try it tomorrow.
Simple Green Smoothies
Truth be told, I wasn't thinking I'd be a fennel fan either, Melinda. Yet I totally love it in smoothies. Might be worth the adventure! Let us know if you give it a blend!
Deborah Norvell
Greetings.
I did the 7 day smoothie challenge. All are very good but definitely high in sugar.
So, thank you for this low carb recipe. I tried it without the fennel because I don't like licorice and added a serving of your protein smoothie boost. It was good and sipped on it throughout the day.
However, do you have a suggestion for replacing the fennel? If not, I'll just leave it out.
Thank you.
Simple Green Smoothies
Love this question, Deborah! I hear ya about the fennel, as I wasn't a fan at first either. However, we'd totally encourage you to give it a blend and see. It's amazing how green smoothies have a way of disguising those ingredients that are so good for us, yet we wouldn't eat otherwise. If fennel still isn't your groove, then see if your blender can handle celery, caraway or anise seed as a substitute. The seeds will be strong in flavor, so go easy at first. Also, be sure to check out our Low Sugar Fruits for Smoothies! We think you'll find it really helpful. Happy blending! 🙂
Elle
Hi, what is substitute for fennel ?
Simple Green Smoothies
Hi Elle- you could add extra celery.
Kathy
Celery in a smoothie?! Man, you guys are always keepin it fresh at SGS! LOL. Can't wait to try!
Simple Green Smoothies
It's so good! Def give it a try and let us know what you think!
Kim
Thank you for this low carb/ low sugar smoothie recipe. SO good!
Simple Green Smoothies
You're welcome, Kim!
Dani
Talk about a fiber party! This smoothie was THICK. I wasn't sure i would like it so I added some more water and then tasted it. Pretty good!
Simple Green Smoothies
Glad you loved it, Dani!
Amanda
I love recipes that go big on greens - this is one of them! LOVE!
Simple Green Smoothies
Me too, Amanda!
Heather K
Ok so this thirst quenching yummylicious smoothie takes longer than 5 minutes to prepare but it’s soooo worth it!! You didn’t specify if the celery, apple or ginger needed to be minced/chopped up but I did anyways. I literally could not stop drinking this smoothie, it was gone within 5 minutes! I definitely feel a burst of energy and serotonin kicking in. Thanks so much for the delicious recipe!!!
Simple Green Smoothies
Hey Heather! So glad you loved this smoothie! It is sooo delicious. Depending on the type of blender you have, you really only have to cut your fruits + veggies into large chunks and your blender will do the rest. Keep on rawkin!
Oli
Hi! I’m not 100% sure how much a stalk of celery is. Is it just one “stick”.
Simple Green Smoothies
Hey Oli! You are correct, it's just one "stick." The group of stalks (or sticks) is a bunch. You don't need to put an entire bunch in! Happy blending! 🙂
Angie Angelicchio
Good morning,
I would like if you can answer my questions.
Can celery be frozen when in season? Does celery loose all or any nutritional benefits when frozen?
Thank you very much.
Angie
Simple Green Smoothies
Hey Angie! You can def freeze celery if you have a lot and don't want it to go bad. In general, freezing helps retain the nutrient content of fruits and vegetables. However, some nutrients begin to break down when frozen produce is stored for more than a year. 🙂
Jessica
This smoothie needs to go into my regular rotation. Antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, *and* alkalizing?! You are speaking my language!!
Simple Green Smoothies
Kale yeah!! 😀
Susan Turner
I like celery, so this smoothie sounds right up my alley. I never understood the "juicing celery" because it takes away the fiber— the best part! So blending the celery into the smoothie is def the way to go. Thank you for the weekly smoothie recipes to keep me inspired.
Simple Green Smoothies
We think blending is always the way to go! 😀