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I’ve got the perfect use for those leftover cranberries this holiday season: a cranberry smoothie recipe! If you’ve never tried cranberry in a smoothie, you need to blend this healthy smoothie recipe. It’s tart, creamy, tangy, and has that classic orange and cranberry pairing.
It’s also a no-banana smoothie that’s dairy-free and can easily turn into a healthy breakfast smoothie or a meal replacement smoothie. Once you’ve finished prepping for your vegan Thanksgiving recipes or next holiday party, freeze leftover cranberries to enjoy this pink frozen fruit smoothie anytime, especially if you need something to balance out that pan of gluten-free brownies.
Why This Smoothie Rawks
This smoothie is packed with ingredients that support digestive health and overall wellness. There’s a reason why I’ve added cranberries to my top 10 Superfoods List. Cranberries support heart health, boost immunity, and may help to prevent stomach cancer. They also are known to help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Pineapple provides bromelain, an enzyme that aids in digestion and reduces inflammation.
Orange juice, with its high pulp and no added sugar, delivers a dose of vitamin C to support your immune system. Frozen peaches add fiber and natural sweetness, contributing to a smooth, satisfying texture. Together, they create a tangy, refreshing blend that’s as good for your gut as it is delicious.
Chia seeds add a nutritional boost with protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber to keep you full and energized. These tiny seeds also promote heart health and support healthy digestion. With its vibrant flavors and nutrient-packed ingredients, this smoothie is a perfect way to start your day or recharge after a workout.
Orange Cranberry Smoothie Ingredients
This cranberry smoothie is a party of flavors and hits just right for those of us who like a bit of sharpness. Here’s what I’m putting in the blender:
- Cranberries: When these tart berries start showing up in my grocery store, I often grab more than one bag and freeze them to use in my smoothies, Steel Cut Oats, and more. Their vibrant color and bold flavor make them a versatile addition to both sweet and savory recipes.
- Orange Juice: Use high-pulp orange juice with no added sugar to keep the taste bright and natural. Look for fresh-squeezed options in the refrigerated section for the best quality.
- Frozen Pineapple: This is a staple in my freezer drawer since it goes in so many smoothies. It not only adds natural sweetness but also a refreshing tropical flavor that pairs beautifully with tart and citrusy ingredients.
- Frozen Peaches: I’m adding peaches for added creaminess, which balances the tartness of cranberries. Frozen ones work best for a consistent texture and are easy to find year-round in the freezer section.
- Chia Seeds: Since this fruit smoothie is high in natural sugar and a little on the thin side, I’m tossing in chia seeds right from the get-go. Their mild, nutty flavor complements the fruit while creating a gel-like texture that makes the smoothie satisfyingly thick.
- Garnish: A fresh rosemary sprig, sliced cranberries, or sliced pineapple makes a beautiful finishing touch. These garnishes not only enhance presentation, but also add an extra layer of flavor to your cranberry smoothie.
How to Make a Cranberry Smoothie
This smoothie is super simple to make since it doesn’t have leafy greens, making it quick and easy.
- Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
- Stop and scrape down the sides of the blender as needed to ensure everything is fully pureed. Depending on your blender, you may not need to stop and scrape down the sides. However, if some ingredients aren’t fully blended, feel free to take this step to ensure a smooth, chunk-free texture.
- Serve the smoothie in your favorite glass and enjoy! For a festive touch, top with fresh cranberries, a sprig of rosemary, or a slice of pineapple or orange.
Easy Swaps and Add-Ins
Smoothies are great because you can customize them depending on your taste preferences and the time of day you’re blending. Here are a few easy swaps for this fun recipe to make it fit your nutritional needs:
Swaps
- Swap orange juice: Use 1 peeled orange + 1/4 cup water for a fresh alternative.
- Swap peaches: Use frozen mango.
- Swap cranberries: Use fresh or frozen cranberries. If you’ve got a cup of leftover cranberry sauce then you can use that, too!
Add-Ins
- Add a different flavor profile: Try unsweetened cranberry juice with one peeled orange to balance the sweetness while still enjoying a tart smoothie.
- Add leafy greens: For more vitamins and minerals, add a cup of leafy greens to this smoothie.
- Add protein powder: Boost the smoothie into a meal replacement by adding Greek yogurt, the best vegan yogurt, or homemade protein powder—opt for low-sugar varieties.
Balancing The Cranberry Flavor
If your cranberries are super tart, sweeten your smoothie with honey, maple syrup, or any one of the best natural sweeteners of your choice. If your cranberries are on the sweet side, you can swap orange juice with 1 whole peeled orange or mix 1/2 cup orange juice + 1/2 cup dairy-free milk or water to even it.
Common Questions
Raw cranberries are great in smoothies! Since they are pretty tart, pair them with sweeter fruits like oranges or bananas to help balance out the sharpness. I like to freeze leftover cranberries and then toss them in by the handful into any mixed berry smoothie I’m making.
Cranberries are loaded with antioxidants and plant compounds that can help fight cancer, UTIs and heart disease. Adding some to your next smoothie will benefit your body in a wide variety of ways. Plus if you want to enjoy them during their fresh season, they are an inexpensive fruit to buy!
Yes, cranberries are a great source of fiber, vitamin C, manganese and vitamin E, among other vitamins and minerals. Adding cranberries to your smoothie provides a natural way to boost your overall health and immunity.
More Holiday Smoothie Recipes
Using seasonal produce means leaning into what is already available. If you haven’t noticed, it’s hard to find cranberries outside of Autumn/Winter! Here are some more warm smoothies and other cozy drinks for your healthy winter.
If you make this Orange Cranberry Smoothie, 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.
Orange Cranberry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup orange juice high pulp, no added sugar
- 1 cup cranberries frozen
- ½ cup pineapple frozen
- ½ cup peaches frozen
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
For Garnish:
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- cranberries sliced
- pineapple sliced
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Stop and scrape down the sides of the blender as needed.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy! Top with any ingredients you want for a more elevated finish.
Equipment
Notes
- For lower natural sugar, use 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/2 cup water or sparkling water.
- Swap peaches with nectarines or mango.
- Use at least 1 frozen fruit for a refreshingly cool smoothie.
- Feel free to add 1 cup of leafy greens per serving.
- Swap chia seeds with hemp hearts or homemade protein powder.
First time I’ve tried the Cranberry Smoothie.
I am hooked, the taste was so fresh & crisp, perfect for Fall weather.
I subbed Mango for the Pineappke.
This recipe is a Winner. It will be in my weekly rotation.
Thanks JEN.
Great idea with the substitute, Jimmye! I’ll have to try your version sometime.
This is so festive! Tangy yet not too sour.
Loved this. It may not be the most appetizing color, but it tastes great. I used fresh oranges off my tree and this was excellent. I loved it because it is not too sweet. Great immunity booster.
Hi Susan- I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Fresh oranges are amazing to use and how great that you get to use your own! You’ll have to try the Orange Julius Smoothie as well!
This is tasty, I actually changed it up a bit, and I used 2 antioxidant smoothie cubes and 2 vitamin c cubes, half of a banana and spinach with coconut water, oh and a scoop of protein powder. It’s yummy. I do usually have fresh cranberries but we like to just eat those by the handful!
Delicious idea Tracy!
Day 7 smoothie challenge I switched to this smoothie. I love cranberries. It’s not too sweet n not too tart just the right balance. I did use a whole banana. Love this smoothie n cranberries so good for you❤️
Really enjoyed this smoothie. I only had dried cranberries and it worked really well. My fruit was ripe so no sugar was necessary.
I used 2 small mandarine oranges.
Delicious!
I’m so glad it tasted great with the dried cranberries— I like that idea!
First time smoothie maker. Actually liked the recipe. Mine was little bland because I used 1 1/2 clementines instead of an orange and the banana was not ripe enough. Added a little bit of salt and freshly ground black pepper, all the ingredients came together. Definitely a keeper.
This was a little watery when I made it (I think my orange had a LOT of water in it), so I added in 2 scoops of homemade protein powder, and it blended up + thickened nicely. Good smoothie!
I love this smoothie! I had it for breakfast so added whey protein powder, oats soaked overnight in almond milk and for my healthy fats I added 18g almonds. This made it super creamy and filling!
This one is interesting, I think cranberries will take some getting used to but it not bad.
Hey Nicole,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this smoothie recipe. If it was too tart you can always add in some extra all natural sweeteners, like dates, honey, or maple syrup!
My cranberry skins didn’t all blend so well, but i was surprised how good it was. Next fall I will for sure buy extra fresh cranberries to freeze for smoothies!!!
Hey Jessica,
If your cranberries didn’t blend so well, I would try blending that first with your liquid and then add the other ingredients in.
Hi Jen
Can I use dried cranberries and how much,pls?
Thanks in advance, Sam
Hey Sam,
You can totally add some dried cranberries instead. I would probably add a couple teaspoons of water since they do not have any liquid in them.
Enjoy!
I saw that it’s okay to use dried cranberries you advised a couple teaspoons of water but the recipe calls for 1 cup of water so if we are using dried do you suggest 1/2 Cup of cranberries and 2 tsp of water of 1 cup of water +2tsp pls advise!
Yes I would add the 2 tsp of water in addition to the 1 cup of water. That way your smoothie is not too thick with the dried cranberries.
While I was excited about the orange-cranberry combo, I was also a little hesitant about it being in smoothie form. I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was! It was quite tart, and I considered adding some agave nectar or honey, but really didn’t want to add the sugar and made it through just fine. haha I actually had cranberries and an orange leftover from Christmas, so this was a perfect way to use them up!
Hey Dawn,
I am so happy that you still gave this recipe a try and enjoyed it! Don’t ever feel guilty about adding in some extra sweeteners. Sometimes the fruits we use are not fully ripe so they are not as sweet which will make your smoothie not as enjoyable. So feel free to add in some dates, honey, or maple syrup!
We loved this one! We added a tbsp of chia seeds and a scoop of vegan protein powder. It was great! My kids loved it too!
Hey Kim,
That sounds so delicious! Way to make it into a meal!!
Day 5. Made this with a small change. Couldn’t find cranberries so I used “lingonberries” instead. So good! #simplegreensmoothies #simplegreensmoothies30daychallenge
Hey Anette,
That is a really great substitute! So glad you were able to make this smoothie work for you.