This blackberry smoothie recipe is the perfect way to start your day. Low in sugar, so you won't feel any sugar crash, and yet also perfectly light + sweet.
One of my favorite memories with my kids is picking blackberries along Spring Lake Highway. A handmade sign scrawled "Blackberries" called to us and we immediately pulled in. Todd Blackberry gave us a tour and buckets then we got to work. The large, juicy berries were calling to us and we did our best to avoid the thorns. I had no clue that blackberries grew on thorny bushes until I picked them that day.
We definitely ate more than we took home that day! I still think of our blackberry picking day whenever I eat these beautiful summer berries.
How to Make a Blackberry Smoothie
I'm keepin' it simple with this smoothie recipe. Only 4 ingredients to a super creamy and delicious creation. If you want a refreshingly cold smoothie, then either the blackberries or the bananas should be frozen.
To boost the protein and turn your blackberry smoothie into a filling breakfast, add in a scoop of plant based protein powder like Protein Smoothie Boost. This adds in 10 grams of protein as well as 4 grams of healthy fat which will help your body break down the natural sugar + fiber.
How to Pick the Right Coconut Milk for Smoothies
Did you know there are a few different kinds of coconut milk AND they all can be used in different ways? Let's break them down:
Canned coconut milk: comes in full fat and low fat versions that usually have the least amount of additives.
Shelf stable coconut milk: these typically have the most amount of additives, yet are super convenient.
Refrigerated coconut milk: The newest player in the world of coconut milk, also may contain a lot of additives and sweeteners to be wary of. Just make sure to read the labels and pick an option that doesn't have added sugars or a bunch of strange ingredients.
No matter what option you go with for this blackberry smoothie, you'll be okay. Don't stress out about messing up — the fact that you're giving this a shot is a great step! If you want a new challenge, then try making your own coconut milk! It would be a delicious addition to this blackberry smoothie.
Fresh vs Frozen Blackberries
I like using fresh blackberries in smoothies. Since they have seeds and can be a little gritty, they do seem to blend better when fresh. It's also pretty hard to find frozen blackberries!
You can always freeze them yourself to make sure your smoothie will be cold when blended. To freeze your own berries, start by picking them at the peak of their growing season. Then flash freeze on a cookie sheet lined with parchment. Once frozen, toss the berries in a freezer safe bag until you're ready to blend a blackberry smoothie.
FAQs
Yes! Berry smoothies are a great low sugar smoothie ingredient. Just make sure you use whole foods and real ingredients in your smoothies. Fruit can naturally sweeten + cream and thicken smoothies without any extras needed.
If you've got a high powered blender like a Vitamix, then just blend away. Still have seeds? Then you probably need to blend a bit longer. If you're blending this smoothie in a non high powered blender, then you might not get all the seeds, yet blending in stages like the recipe below helps more of your ingredients blend smoothly.
Avoid added sugar, as fruit is sweet enough on its own! Also avoid 'smoothie packs' with additives, thickeners, etc as these are not 100% whole foods. Stick to fruits, veggies, and leafy greens and you're smoothie will be great.
Low Sugar Smoothie Recipes
If you're looking for more low sugar smoothie options like this blackberry smoothie recipe, then I've got you covered:
- Apple celery smoothie
- Banana peach smoothie
- Pumpkin fertility smoothie
- Healthy cherry smoothie
- Banana oatmeal smoothie
- Berry smoothie
- Melon smoothie
- Raspberry smoothie
Please let me know how this blackberry smoothie recipe turns out for you, in the comments. I love hearing from you, and hope this smoothie becomes one of your new favorites.
Creamy Blackberry Smoothie
Rate this Recipe Print RecipeIngredients
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup blackberries
- ½ banana
- 1 serving Protein Smoothie Boost (optional)
Instructions
- Add the spinach and coconut milk to blender and blend until smooth.
- Add remaining ingredients and blend again.
Notes
- Use frozen blackberries or banana to chill the smoothie down.
- Swap spinach with the leafy green of your choice.
- For a thicker smoothie use canned coconut milk. For a thinner smoothie use carton coconut milk.
William
Excellent recipe, I've shared it with my family and friends. Thanks!
Megan
I made with water and not coconut milk, but it was still good!!
Simple Green Smoothies
Way to rawk a swap Megan! Using water as a base instead can help to control calories and fat in any smoothie recipe.
Kim
I love how creamy this smoothie is. So, so good!
Simple Green Smoothies
For sure! Thanks Kim! Glad you love it as much as we do.
Kat
This smoothie tastes as good as it looks. Feeling very grateful I have a Vitamix to handle those seeds!
Simple Green Smoothies
Hooray for high powered blenders!!! So glad you loved the recipe.
D.J.
I have made some similar to this, I don't use any milk only water for my base and I added blue errors to it in addition to blackberries, substitute the spinach with , dandelion greens or kale to change up the greens, and most def add chia, flax seeds, I even added 1/4 cup oatmeal with the ingredients, it is delicious!
Lisa
This sounded so good, but was disappointing. I used frozen blackberries and followed the recipe. It was creamy, though not sweet enough for me. The flavor was bland.
Erica
So delicious and creamy! If you don’t like they blackberry seeds then a good swap is raspberries.
Jennifer Leinhos
I love this smoothie. It was simple, yet tasty. I did use coconut water instead of coconut milk, but it’s my personal preference as I prefer it to be a little less rich. Great, easy recipe.
Alissabeth Taylor
Has to sub strawberries. Used spinach. Feel the berry flavor doesn’t come through over the banana, but that could be because when I froze them they were way ripe. I’d do it again though because the creaminess is nice.
Amanda J
I used raspberries since that's what I had. I like the banana and coconut milk creaminess, wish is was a little sweeter (my raspberries were extra tart so I can imagine with blackberries it would be the same) and need a high quality blender so it isn't too seedy. Cannot taste the spinach though and super healthy!
April R Eckert
This was delicious! I accidentally grabbed a berry blend of rasberries, blackberries, and blueberries. They were so good I made a few and shared them. I grabbed the blackberries to see which I liked better. They were both delicious but just slightly different. I'm glad to now know. It'll be easier when shopping. I can grab what's available.