When I want a creamy smoothie, I turn to cashews or bananas. Well, I went a little crazy with this smoothie recipe and added BOTH. Get ready for a super creamy, super protein-charged smoothie that can jumpstart your day.
How to Make a Banana Smoothie Recipe
When making a green smoothie I recommend blending the leafy greens + liquid first. Yet for a non-green smoothie, feel free to blend all your ingredients at once!
If this smoothie is too thick for your blender blades to handle, try adding a bit more liquid, stirring up the ingredients, then blending again. This should help.
If cashew milk isn't your thing, then use the plant based milk of your choice! Oat milk will produce an equally creamy smoothie, while almond milk will make this smoothie a bit thinner.
Health Benefits of Bananas
This easily accessible fruit is incredibly versatile and delicious. Use it to naturally sweeten baked goods, make that smoothie creamier or naturally more sweet-tasting, or as a simple healthy snack dipped in almond butter.
Bananas are great sources of fiber, antioxidants, potassium, vitamin B6, and manganese. Bananas, while sweet, are actually a lower glycemic (low sugar) fruit. Unripe bananas have a GI (glycemic index) score of 30, while ripe bananas have a GI score of around 60. So if you want your banana smoothie to be naturally lower in sugar, use a less ripe banana!
Tips for storing bananas
Living in Florida means my bananas ripen in two days tops. I love having them on hand for a quick snack or easy smoothie ingredient, yet they turn brown too quickly! So I've learned a great trick- freeze them.
I leave bananas on my counter until they are the perfect ripeness for me (which I'm finding is different for everyone). Then I line a baking sheet with parchment, peel the bananas, and line them up on the baking sheet. Freeze for 1-3 hours, then toss those lovely frozen bananas in a freezer safe bag (I like silicone Stasher or Rezip bags).
Now I've got the perfect banana smoothie ingredient ready to go. If you don't have gallon sized freezer bags, then cut your bananas in half before freezing to maximize space. Prepping smoothies ahead also saves produce!
Low Sugar Swaps
While the sugar in this banana smoothie comes from whole food, it might be a little high for some. If you need a lower sugar option, then here are some great swaps:
- Use plain cashew yogurt or swap for ¼ cup cauliflower
- Swap yogurt for in 2 tbs cashews
- Swap banana with ¼ cup cauliflower or ¼ avocado
Make sure the collagen or protein powder you use doesn't have any added sugar. Read the label on the yogurt you use as well! There are many great plant based yogurt brands on the market now, yet lots are loaded with added sugar.
FAQs
Yes, just make sure that smoothie is full of only whole food ingredients. No fillers, chemicals, added sugar, or fake ingredients!
I recommend changing up your daily shake or smoothie, so you can benefit from a variety of fruits and veggies. Bananas are a great regular addition though!
Bananas are a great source of fiber, and often help settle stomach issues naturally.
No! Well... it depends what you put in them. Strawberry banana is a popular smoothie flavor at restaurants, yet those smoothies are usually pre-made mixes full of processed sugar and chemicals. Stick to strawberry banana smoothies with real, whole food ingredients and soak in all the benefits.
Now, let's get blending this banana smoothie!
Creamy Banana Smoothie
Rate this Recipe Print RecipeIngredients
- 2 bananas (frozen)
- ½ cup cashew yogurt (plain or vanilla)
- 1 cup cashew milk
- 1 serving collagen powder (or 1 serving Protein Smoothie Boost)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients until smooth
- Pour into your favorite glass and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- To make this smoothie vegan, swap 1 scoop of collagen powder with 1 serving Protein Smoothie Boost
- To reduce the natural fruit sugars, use ¼ avocado and 1 banana
- You can swap in any kind of yogurt, just choose one that's plain or with limited sugar
- The cashews can be swapped for almonds or oats
- The cashew milk can be swapped out for the plant milk of your choice
Nutrition (estimated)
8 More Healthy Banana Smoothies
I know that bananas are a polarizing fruit. People either love 'em or hate 'em. If you enjoy bananas in your smoothies, then check out some other delicious smoothie recipes below:
Lisa
I liked this but it was a bit sweet for me. I think it’s because I’m used to green smoothies and the only cashew yogurt I found was vanilla bean. I’ll try again with plain yogurt and add some greens.
Dora Suarez
My smoothie tasted great but it was milky/watered down not the smoothie/thick consistency I desired. Maybe my ratio of ingredients was off, not sure, but it is a reason to try again.
Judy
Substituted oat milk (open in fridge) for cashew and protein boost for collagen.
Enjoyed my smoothie today.
Judy
8/10
Substituted oat milk (open in fridge) for cashew and protein boost for collagen. Enjoyed my smoothie today.
Eva McGuire
Creamy deliciousness. I like bananas and know their health benefits but was concern 2 would be overload. I believe adding the yogurt kept the flavor from being too strong. Will make again.
Tracee
Delicious simple smoothie . I live that this smoothie was only a few ingredients and taste delicious.
Tom
So smooth and yummy. Put in protein powder (vanilla replacement) and collagen powder. Went down so fast I didn’t get a picture.
Karyn Feder
Loved this smoothie! So creamy. Hard to believe it’s dairy free!
Sloane Grey
Simple and yummy! My husband preferred adding some strawberries, but a win nonetheless.
Sandra S
I swapped 1/4 cup cauliflower for one banana. The smoothie was thick and creamy. I could still state the banana and the smoothie had fewer carbs.
Amy
So sweet! But I double checked my yogurt package and saw I'd bought sweetened yogurt. Oops. And it was too thin, but once again my problem. Yesterday's Challenge smoothie was too thick, all the ingredients being frozen, so today I subbed a fresh banana since I was using a frozen tub of yogurt and frozen banana. So it was a good smoothie in that it's hard to make a bad one, but I'll need to tweak my execution.
Tina
Loved this one also. Made it exactly as the recipe. First time trying Elmhurst cashew milk. So creamy!
Dale Stadnyk
Interesting! It is good for me to try different ingredients like cashew milk and coconut yogurt (I couldn’t find cashew yogurt). It does taste good but not rated one of my favorites but pleased to have tried it!
Susan
I used almond milk and vanilla yogurt. Really like this one
Kathy S.
Not sure that it's fair to give only four stars since I didn't have the correct ingredients. I was able to find cashew yogurt but not cashew milk. I used oak milk instead. I also added frozen strawberries since my bananas were not frozen. Overall a good smoothie but still prefer a green smoothie every morning. This would be a refreshing snack in the afternoon.
Lauren Hopkins
I was surprised by how much I liked this one. So creamy and delicious!
Beth
Not a fan of bananas I substituted berries and yogurt
Beth
I don’t do bananas so I used mixed berries and yogurt turned out great.
Cynthia
I love banana smoothies and this recipe is delicious, creamy, and perfect!
Elisa
So simple and delicious! I will add a handful of greens next time and try the suggested avo to add some extras nutrients.
Cynthia
Again another delicious smoothie! I used almond milk yogurt since I wasn’t able to find the cashew milk yogurt.
Jimmye
OK, Day #8
First, I’m not a photographer.
Second, my mug is really this morning.
Third, I made my very 1st Cashew Milk today.
Fourth, it was so simple & the taste was WoW
Fifth, the “Creamy Banana Smoothie” was
Cristina Ribeiro
Creamy. Mine wasn’t as sweet, added spinach, only one banana, 1/4 small avocado for second banana.
Stacy
Went off-recipe with bananas, yogurt, almond milk, pineapple, agave, sunflower seeds, chia seeds & flaxseed; good but not our favorite this week.
Jody
Loved this smoothie! Creamy and thick. I used Greek yogurt because I couldn’t find cashew. Will definitely make again!
Lea M
Not my preference since I'm not a big fan of vanilla but this is still good. Reminds me of a thick vanilla shake or egg nog.
Anneliese
Loved the thick creaminess of the smoothie. Feels like a treat! I like bananas, however am not as fond of the tanginess of the yogurt with bananas. I may try to swap out the bananas for oranges and have a creamsicle smoothie.
Janae
Creamy and comforting. I like the mix of banana and vanilla. I opted for the optional collagen. I will see how I feel digestively later on. Thanks for bringing new ideas to my table.
Pamela
#Day8 Banana smoothie - Fantastic! I made two smoothies one without spinach and the other with spinach and they were both awesome. I loved the vanilla. I substituted Almond milk and vanilla, honey yogurt I had on hand. This is a winner! Thank you.
Kimberly Narducci
Super yummy! I did sub some things because I didn’t have cashew yogurt or milk. Used almond milk and coconut yogurt.
Terry
This shake was a nice surprise. It was super creamy and had a mild banana flavor. I just wish the banana flavor was a bit stronger.
Sharyl
How can something this delicious be good for you? Added some fiber and probiotic to this creamy greatness. Would make this for grandchildren as a treat.
LeAnn
Yum! I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this creamy banana smoothie, definitely will make it again. Thank you!
Kathleen
I left out the yogurt because I forgot to buy it. Did use the collagen peptides. Love the vanilla flavor!
Marion
ok, was not expecting this lick the bowl clean flavor! very delicious...will be doing this again. also used my collagen powder which had been waiting for me. TY, TY
Amanda
Delicious, I enjoyed the vanilla!
Stephanie Whitney
I think this was my favorite one yet! I used flax and banana milk instead of cashew milk. One of my bananas was bad so I ended up using less banana. I added a handful of baby romaine because greens. My son refused it but it was so good that I insisted he try it. He took a swallow and said it was OK but he still wouldn't have one. My grandson said it was good. I'm definitely having this again & might stay with the one or one & 1/2 banana instead of 2 because I liked the consistency. I didn't add collagen or protein powder.
Mary Jo
Yummy banana...I substituted with almond milk and oat milk yogurt and was delicious!
Laura O.
This one tasted a lot like the Epic Almond Smoothie-delicious! I did add half a small avocado in place of 1 frozen banana & a touch of cinnamon. Could not taste the avocado at all!! Chocolate protein powder would be a great addition too!
Gail B.
This was creamy and delicious...it reminded me of a banana cake I make !
Joy Baltimore
Absolutely delicious and creamy.
Judy T
No banana in the house so used cauliflower. Think I would like it with banana much better. It is kind of bland in taste. I will try it again but with banana and hope the blandness goes away!
Irene
Yogurt helped tune down the banana flavor. Although the number of bananas probably could be reduced a bit.
Jackie
I used Greek yogurt and almond milk. It was tasty and filling.
Laura Guilbault
Was a little bland for me so I added some greens and strawberries . Perfect now .
June
Truly was satisfied by the natural sugar pop. I love deep dark chocolate even 100%. Sometimes creamy, light colored and vanilla fits the day.
Erin
My daughter said I love this one, Mom! So it's definitely a winner. Made it with your vegan yogurt recipe and it's like a banana milkshake.
Steven Herrmann
The banana smoothie was pretty good. Substituted plain non-fat greek yogurt for the cashew yogurt and used Isolate Whey protien for the collagen.
Kar Tri
It is very delicious
I plan to use avocado and almond milk also with calogen
Might add little of ginger root
And peanut butter for extra creamy
Angie
My least favorite of them all. I am not a yogurt fan though. I had to add cocoa powder to finish it.
Nikki O’Mealley
More banana than I like to have in one serving as I’m working on reducing weight. The favorite of the smoothie is clean and the texture outstanding. Just a little too plain for me. Not my favorite but I have a couple family members that would love it so this is definitely going in the recipe book.
Nicole Singleton
This smoothie is BANANAS! Super smooth and creamy! Definitely a winner
Brie
Not a huge banana smoothie fan but this one was pretty good. I didn't have cashew milk or yogurt so used cows milk and Greek yogurt. My 11 yr old sucked this one down super quick he loved it.
Brenda
I only used one banana and 1/2 cup of cauliflower to cut down on the sugar. Added cinnamon too. Was tasty and not too sweet.
Penny
A very soothing smoothie.
Joan D
So good! I added some leafy greens and watered chia. One fresh and one frozen banana. Plain greek yogurt. So creamy.
Martha Cuellar
Different! I’m not a huge banana lover when all by itself in a smoothie.
Christine
Very satisfying, yum!!
LeiLani Martinez
Love bananas and this smoothie hit all the points. Great banana taste and not to thick. Will be making this one more often.
Simone
Day 8 creamy banana smoothie
I love this one too! It’s thick, creamy and very filling. A great treat! Thank you!
Marla
Another yummy smoothie! Very creamy. I didn’t have yogurt so added cashew cream instead and it was delicious.
KJ
Another great smoothie. I was surprised I'd enjoy it with the cashew yogurt but it is delicious.
Kimberly Hassur
I like banana but decided I needed some veggies. I added a bit of cauliflower and vanilla protein powder. Not a fan of the unsweetened cashew yogurt by itself but with the addition of vanilla and vanilla protein powder it's a good creamy shake.
Dawn
Very good. Very creamy. Very filling. I guess my cashew yogurt didn’t have full flavor. Definitely banana!
Alicia N
Creamy Banana Smoothie was good. My banana (I used 1 instead of 2) was a little green so I added a little maple syrup to sweeten. I used unsweetened almond yogurt since all the coconut ones at the store were flavored. A added greens as well. I started out by make homeade cashew milk which is always a hit in my house.
Alicia N
This was a 5 star
Danna
Banana smoothie just didn’t sound good but was I wrong! It was DELICIOUS!!! One of my favorites. Love this one.
Tina F.
Another winner. Creamy, delicious and filling!
Cheryl
Bananas...yum. Simple.
Suellyn
This smoothie has a subtle nutty flavor. I added avocado since I didn’t have collagen powder, and it is creamy and delicious.
Jessica Spratt
YUM!
Anne Marie
This was not my favorite; I found it to be very sweet but kind of bland.
Deb
My favorite! Tasted tropical!
sheila
creamy , smooth, delicious
Carol
I loved the creaminess of this smoothie! I couldn’t find cashew yogurt so I added plain Greek yogurt. I also added some spinach to mine. So yummy!!
Susan
Smooth and tasty. Wish I had checked the nutrition numbers before making as the sugar count is higher than I prefer. Of course it tastes great.
Lisa
Yummy! Will make again
Mare
Day 8 Creamy Banana Smoothie. Definitely creamy and banana-y! I had to add some cilantro to make it green, though.
Laurel
I couldn’t get my hands on a cashew yogurt so my smoothie had a coconut flavour. It was the texture of this smoothie that was amazing. Thick and creamy.
Cindy Chandler
I really enjoy bananas and the creaminess and sweetness that they add to a smoothie. This one although being rather plain, was still very good and I will definitely be making this one again.
Becky
A definite winner! The cashew mild made it super creamy. Delicious!
Alexandria
It is creamy and enjoyable. I'm not a huge fan of yogurt in my smoothies, so I probably won't make this again.
Meg North
This one is super smooth and refreshing, but it makes me a little sad. I can’t stop drinking it and it’s nearly gone already.
Meg North
I should mention that I skipped the vanilla and added 3 kiwis to brighten it up. This is going on my list of regulars.
Sally
Day 8 Simple Green Smoothie Challenge! Creamy Banana Smoothie.
I did a few swaps & additions on this recipe.
I doubled batch for my husband and I. I used 2 bananas and 1/2 c. cauliflower.
I had Oat Milk, so I used that instead of the cashew milk. I did use collagen powder and the Simple Green protein boost.
I did use plain cashew yogurt and the vanilla.
I thought it tasted wonderfully smooth and rich with great flavor!
Carol
I loved the creaminess of this smoothie! I couldn’t find cashew yogurt so I added plain Greek yogurt. I also added some spinach to mine. So yummy!!
Katie R.
I probably wouldn't have tried this if not for the Smoothie Challenge, but I loved it! Super creamy (as title indicated :)) and had a nice flavor.
Lynnette Clancy
So creamy and delicious
Jamie E
The name says it all !
Maria
Delicious - reminds me of the milkshakes I used to have when I was a kid.
Katie
Not my favorite. If you like vanilla milkshakes, this is for you! I might try by using 1 banana and adding some frozen berries.
Kris M.
I'm sure it's great for people who love bananas, but it was too much banana for my taste. I prefer more layers of flavors. But, I knew what I was getting into by the name of the smoothie.
Kim
Not a huge banana fan, but by adding nut butter I couldn’t taste the banana.
Lexi
Creamy goodness!
Terry
Creamy banana: I didn't have cashew yogurt, so I subbed an avocado. I like the vanilla flavor, and in fact, do add that to other smoothies that I make. This was a sweet, dessert like concoction -- just okay, not my favorite. I prefer more layers of flavor.
Kristi
I love banana so this one was a no brainer for me. The combo was perfect and tasted amazing.
Leigh W.
This has become my go-to smoothie. Sometimes instead of the cashews I put in a scoop of peanut butter and it seriously tastes like a peanut butter shake.
Olivia
Added Protein Smoothie Boost to this for breakfast this morning and it was delicious! I also used Trader Joe's cashew yogurt since I had that on hand.
Nanice
For cauliflower, are you supposed to steam it first? I’m guessing yes, since raw would be too hard? I’ve seen it being used in smoothies but no one ever posts what to do with it first. Thanks!
Laura
This recipe doesn’t call for cauliflower.
Tove
I really liked this one. I didn't make any substitutions. It made so much that I was able to give my husband a glass of it too.
Erin
Note: use ripe bananas when making this! My first attempt was a bit too sour, but after trying again with some spotted bananas, turned out MUCH better.
Kim
Yum! This smoothie is a winner!
Dawn
This was delicious! I used the recipe in the comments below and soaked the cashews. That protein boost made it a meal! Yum!
Debbie A Meshishnek
I have a subscription for the protein smoothie boost witch I love and today there was a surprise gift, a avocado salt and pepper shaker. So cute! Love it!
Thank you
Simple Green Smoothies
So glad you love that fun surprise Debbie! Aren't they sooo cute?!
Rem
A little too strong on the vanilla for me. I think next time I would use 1/2 tsp. Would make a great base for a smoothie bowl with some granola and fresh berries.
Trudy G.
What I love most about this smoothie is the protein in it! I will be using this for a pre AND post run smoothie for sure! Good one Jen.
Simple Green Smoothies
Happy training Trudy!
Cheryl
Would love to try this recipe, but in the Rochester, NY area, you can no longer get cashew milk/yogurt. Apparently there is a shortage of cashews and producers are only supplying cashews and not cashew products. Have you heard this? I've tried (and failed!) to make cashew milk. Won't attempt cashew yogurt. Any suggestions?
Simple Green Smoothies
I haven't heard of a cashew shortage— that's crazy! I'm so sorry! Cashew milk is really easy to make with an Almond Cow. I've been obsessed with it. You could also make it this way:
2 small bananas, frozen
3-4 tbs cashews (soaked in water for 1 hour)
1 cup water (or almond milk)
2 tablespoons collagen powder or 1 serving Protein Smoothie Boost
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
susan
Very good but a little too much banana for me but I’m getting used to eating them. Next time I will swap an avocado for 1 banana.