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Today I’m sharing the secret sauce, er… liquid, that is dairy-free smoothies. Your smoothie doesn’t need dairy to be creamy, delicious, smooth or drinkable. Don’t believe me? Give one of these dairy-free smoothie recipes a blend n’ sip, then try to tell me I’m wrong!
I’m prepared to shock you with creamy Caramel Protein Shakes and thick Cinnamon Date Smoothies with no dairy in sight.
While this recipe list includes smoothies already made without dairy, I’m also giving you all the swaps to turn any smoothie into a dairy-free one with just an ingredient or two. You might even find a new favorite option!
And I threw in a mix of healthy protein shakes, green smoothies and fruit smoothies so you can blend exactly what you want.
Table of Contents
What’s Wrong with Dairy?
Nothing, if you’re one of the 30% of the world’s population that doesn’t have a dairy intolerance. If you’re like me, dairy often gives you issues with digestion. Instead of suffering through the painful side effects of consuming dairy, I started searching for non-dairy options.
Discover the incredible world of plant-based milk and dairy-free smoothies along with me!
The Best Dairy-Free Smoothie Recipes
These recipes are all delicious, whole-food options that can be blended in minutes and enjoyed as a snack, meal or dessert. They are so easy to make and enjoy. Let’s get blending!
A quick note: Just because a smoothie is dairy-free doesn’t make it vegan. Make sure you read the ingredient list to ensure these don’t use honey, collagen powder or another ingredient that’s not what you’re looking for.
What Can You Use Instead of Milk in a Smoothie?
So. Many. Things. I’m not kidding. Once you start exploring the world of dairy-free smoothies, you’ll find a vast amount of liquid bases. A smoothie with dairy milk no longer sounds appetizing to me (or my stomach). I’d much rather reach for lighter nut milk or coconut water.
Nut Milk Options
With the explosion of non-dairy milk brands on the market, it’s no surprise that nut milk is a popular base for dairy-free smoothies. Almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, pecan milk, walnut milk, macadamia milk and more can all be used in smoothies.
Use store-bought or learn how to make your own almond milk (or any other milk) for a creamy texture and to know exactly what ingredients are in it.
Nut-Free, Dairy-Free Milk Bases
If nut milk isn’t an option for you, no sweat. Check out oat milk, hemp milk, flax milk, rice milk or soy milk. The possibilities are endless.
I tend to choose my dairy-free smoothie recipes based on what my body needs that day. If I’m looking for a fiber and healthy fat boost, I’ll make some hemp or flax milk. Rice milk is super thin and great for a tasteless option so that the other smoothie ingredients can shine.
Tea
This unique liquid base totally takes that smoothie to the next level. Choose a caffeinated tea like green tea for a natural energy boost as well as a metabolism mover. Herbal teas work great to soothe the stomach and calm the body. Try a smoothie like my Green Tea Smoothie for a boost of energy without the crash.
Use tea to your advantage by incorporating the one that will help you the most. I believe ingredients should work for us instead of against us, so I typically gauge what my body needs before deciding on the right liquid base for my smoothie.
If using matcha powder, then combine it with water or cashew milk for smoothies. Matcha typically comes in powder form instead of in a tea bag, so I view it more as a supplement instead of a true liquid base. It creates a creamy, light base for smoothies.
Water or Coconut Water
The number one, Best Green Smoothie in the whole wide world uses *gasp* WATER. It’s 100% dairy-free and proud to be and people can’t get enough of it. I know a lot of you hesitate to use water in a smoothie, but trust me, when you’ve got the right formula, water is a great smoothie base.
Coconut water is a unique beverage that has been touted as nature’s Gatorade. It’s loaded with electrolytes and is a must in workout recovery. It can be an acquired taste, so if you’re new to coconut water, try doing half coconut water and half regular water in your first Coconut Water Smoothie, then increase your ratio as you fall in love.
More Dairy-Free Liquids
While the above liquids are more popular, I like to get creative with my liquid bases. Here are a few more super fun and delicious options.
Kombucha– I’m not kidding! This is a great probiotic option, and the sky’s the limit on flavors. My Probiotic Smoothie is equal parts delicious and unique.
Fresh squeezed juice– While 100% juice has natural sugar, it is still a higher sugar option. Remember that when adding it to your smoothie. My Pineapple Smoothie uses both whole pineapple and pineapple juice for the best flavor.
Coffee– This base works great in smoothies including cocoa or cacao, nut butter, vanilla, you name it. I love blending my Coffee Smoothie to combine my morning beverage with my morning breakfast of choice. Need a caffeine-free option? Just use strongly brewed decaf coffee to enjoy the flavor without the buzz.
As you can see, dairy milk is far from the only liquid base for smoothies. Don’t be afraid to get creative. Mix and match any of these bases until you find your favorite.
How to Thicken a Smoothie
A lot of people use dairy milk or yogurt because it naturally thickens whatever beverage is in your blender. You can make an epically thick smoothie with a super creamy texture without the dairy. Here are my go-to thickeners:
- Vegan yogurt: There are several dairy-free yogurts that produce the same level of creaminess as regular, yet without dairy.
- Frozen fruit: This not only chills your smoothie, but it can also help thicken it more than fresh fruit.
- Hemp seeds, chia seeds or flaxseed: These superfoods are great additions to smoothies for extra omega-3s, protein, fiber and can be used to thicken a smoothie that’s on the thinner side.
- Nut butter: Peanut butter, almond butter and more can be used to thicken your drink. Plus, they taste delicious!
- Protein powder: I love turning smoothies into meals using my homemade protein powder. It can be added to any smoothie you make and helps to thicken as well as provide extra protein.
Dairy-Free Smoothies FAQs
Dairy is often used to make beverages creamy, yet it’s not necessary for a smoothie. If I’m looking for an extra creamy base that’s dairy-free, then cashew milk, oat milk, or full-fat coconut milk are all great options. Avocado, coconut cream, banana and dairy-free yogurt as well as hemp hearts and chia seeds are also great smoothie thickeners.
My go-to milk option is currently cashew. It is virtually tasteless, yet adds protein, healthy fat and a creamy texture to smoothies. Although, as you can see from the list above, you can use any dairy-free milk you want!
Honestly, it depends on the smoothie. I like water better in green smoothies and milk better in protein shakes. Everyone’s preferences are different, so there’s no right or wrong answer. Just get in that daily smoothie!
So, which one of the above dairy-free smoothies are you ready to make? Drop a comment and let me know your fav!
Filtered water, coconut water, homemade almond or hazelnut milk are my liquids of choice for my green smoothies. I use the milks when I want a super creamy smoothie. I use coconut water when I need to up my potassium (bananas are not my favorite). I use filtered water by itself and in conjunction with the others to thin out consistency.
Hello Simple Green Smoothies
Thank you for sharing your green smoothies and for including green tea as liquid bases. My daughter shared your site and her children are enjoying the smoothies. Just a note regarding green tea. If your green tea is bitter, it just means you are letting the tea brew too long. When brewing loose-leaf or tea bags don’t boil the water, should the water boil let it sit for about a minute. On an average, brew 1 teaspoon per 8oz cup. If you want the tea stronger increase the amount of tea. I suggest for smoothies try 1 ½ teaspoons. Pour the hot water over the leaves or tea bag and brew you green tea for 2-3 minutes. Brewing time depends upon the type of green tea. Strain or remove the tea bags. Pour into a heatproof container to cool. Your green tea is ready for a smoothie. If you brew in advance, only keep brewed green tea for two day in refrigerator.
Visit Vermarje.com for reasonable priced loose-leaf green tea.
Thanks MAry— I just learned some new and very valuable. I appreciate you sharing this with our community and have a feeling you saved quite a few bitter green teas — can’t wait to check out your store.
I thought of doing that also but when I read medical research articles from pubmed, I found that it seems to revere up the intestinal mucosa called hyperplasia. Too much stimulation.
Rob, that study referred to “nondecolorized whole leaf aloe vera extract taken internally.” Most commercial aloe vera juice, as far as I have experienced, is “decolorized whole leaf (DCWL) aloe vera.” The study “found this DCWL aloe vera juice to be nongenotoxic in histidine reversion and DNA repair assays.”
What about using aloe vera juice as a base? I’ve heard great things nutritionally about it, and think it would be optimal to use in a smoothie. However, would you limit it to a few tablespoons rather than using a couple of cups per smoothie? Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!
Hi Miranda, I think using aloe vera is a very interesting idea and I would think that one dose would be a great addition. It seems like that is 2 T or a little more. I don’t see how it could hurt to add it, but I am not a smoothie expert. lol.
I use water and milk kefir as my base. 2 cups water in the beginning to grind the solids and thin out the mix. Milk kefir, 1-2 cups, blended at the end for a few seconds to add probiotics. If you add a prebiotic like dandelions then I think you are really maximizing the benefit of the probiotic. I make about 50 oz for 2 breakfast servings.
I find this makes the drink creamier and richer. My bowel problems disappeared rapidly after instituting this and have 13 pounds and a couple of inches in girth over the year without even trying.
I received green tea from Nuts.com this week. There weren’t any instructions at all. I made some with hot water and it tasted…green and gross primarily. I drank the whole cup but didn’t like it much. I ordered some Do Matcha from Amazon and was reading some buyer comments. Is it necessary to use the whisk type thing to make any green tea properly? I really want to use the best brand since I have a terribly case of fibromyalgia and for a long time I have heard green tea is good for this. Now I find out all the “green” teas I was buying in the stores apparently was just a name or something. Hope you can inform me a bit more on this.
Deb, these are all great questions! We recommend green tea from Trader Joe’s if you have one— yet we know not everyone is as lucky as us. Plain green tea, to many, will not taste great by itself. It has a slightly bitter, dry taste to it. Yet when you add it as a base, the fruit enhances the flavor and it actually really good. When it comes to matcha, it is usually in the form of a powder. It is still from a green tea leaf and you can totally add it as a boost to your smoothie when you have water as your liquid base. I hope this helps! Keep up the good work!
Deb- I purchased the green tea from nuts.com too(it’s a great deal!). I use 1/2-1 tsp per 8oz of water. I add just a tiny bit of water and whisk it into a paste, then add the rest of my water to the cup. I’m successful in dissolving it all this way. It is very bitter alone because it’s the pure matcha and unsweetened. I add turbinado sugar or my guilty pleasure, Coffeemate Vanilla.
As far as for my green smoothies, I add 1/2 tsp of the powder to my blender.
Hi Deb,
here’s my recommendation for the matcha green tea (if u drink it pure with water, not in your smoothie): if you use tea leaves, you don’t need the whisk thing, but if you use matcha powder (I do) I strongly recommend the whisk thingy because by just pouring water (don’t use boiling water, let it sit for like 10 mins after boiling) on, the powder will stay mostly at the bottom of your cup and might get chunks of it, which is gross, I agree. With the whisk thing it gets kinda foamy & creamy, and I use hot almond milk or rice milk to make matcha latte, which is waaay more delish than pure matcha (in my opinion 🙂 ). Matcha is green tea in its best form, and it contains the most antioxidants. If you add matcha powder to your smoothiue you don’t have to whisk it before – your blender will do the job! 🙂
I brew kombucha made with a blend of green, black and white teas, all organic and fair trade. I’ve been using this as my liquid base this week and I really like how it enhances the taste. Are there any issues doing this I need to know about? Thanks!
You might just want to be careful of caffeine with this combination of mixed tea leaves— we try to limit caffeine in our smoothies (and in life in general). Green tea and white tea have less caffeine content that black tea— so it might be good to nix the black tea in it. Yet I am not one to talk much, since I am still cutting back my coffee and haven’t been able to say adios for good yet. 🙂 —Jen
Hi Jen! Thanks for the reply! I will definitely try TJ’s Green Tea…I suppose Trop 50 does have some preservatives:(…Could you suggest a fruit juice that’s low in sugar that’s additive-free? Otherwise I’ll probably just skip the juice for coconut wtaer instead:) Thanks again!!!
Hey Ebony— I really recommend using raw fruits for your juice. So for ornage juice, why not just peel 2-3 naval oranges plus 1/2 – 1cup water and blend them up first. Next add your leafy greens and blend until creamy. Then add the remaining ingredients. You can do this approach with oranges, grapes and melon. This is as close to nature as you can get, cheap and really yummy!
My husband and I started drinking green smoothies about a month before your 30 day challenge–using recipes from your website of course! I am addicted. Normally I used to drink about two cups of tea or coffee a day and now haven’t had the need to drink caffeine at all. Only thing is now I wake up wanting a green smoothy. My daughters have been been sampling as well and depending on the type, they also drink a serving! I was wondering about your thoughts on aloe vera juice. I have it in my pantry but afraid to try it…
Thanks for all your efforts in creating health:))
I also have a juicer, so sometimes I’ll make my go-to juice base (beets, cucumbers, lime, carrots, apples, and ginger) then blend this liquid with my greens and fruits of choice.
This is awesome! I am excited about using the different liquids next week. I actually tried one today not knowing the challenge would be like this next week. I ran out of all liquid, but tend to keep gallons of water with hibiscus leaves floating on the bottom. I bought the hibiscus tea bags from tea republic. Usually keep a stash at home since we are totally addicted to the springy taste and the beautiful color. Used it today as a base in my smoothie and WOW. Vitamin C power at virtually no cost with a lovely subtle smooth flavor. If you add blueberries and kale, your drink will be sorta purple! Neat!
HI Joanie, I am very new to smoothies and have not reviewed many recipes yet on this site, but the ones I’ve seen so far, say to use spinach for the greens. I am intrigued that you mentioned kale. I think it is a nutrition powerhouse and I use it every week in soup. So, I ask you if the flavor is very strong when you add it to smoothies and do you use it with other greens in your smoothies with fruit? Can you tell me a bit about how you use it in smoothies?
Trying coconut water for the first time this week! Any favorite recipies that are especially good with this base??
I really like Peach Coconut Dream, Erin. Lately, I have changed it up a bit and do2 cups peaches a 1 cup grapes with it and it’s so good.
I noticed unsweetened soymilk wasn’t on your top 7 liquids list. Why? I prefer to use Eden Soy Unsweetened b/c it doesn’t contain careenegen (sp?) – almond milk has it. Can’t say it (or spell it) don’t want to ingest it.
I really want to know as well if we can use unsweetened low fat soy milk as I am intolerant to almond milk. Thanks!
Hey Sunny— it depends on what brand of almond milk you buy (I get Silk unsweetened and it doesn’t contain it.) Some of us actually make it from raw almonds in our blenders, which tastes amazing. But yes, carrageenans are not a good ingredient and should be avoided. As for soy— it’s a low mineral food that many people are allergic to. And the majority of soy in the USA is genetically modified— which is also no bueno. That’s just a few of the reasons we avoid soy milk… I will eventually write an article sharing more. 🙂
Hi Sunny, You may want to do some research into soy milk. It is a very unhealthy choice right now because of the way it is grown and processed. Sorry I don’t have a link for you. Maybe someone else could post one or more links for you so you can read about it.
I don’t know what these ladies suggest, and I haven’t tried it yet, but Steaz just came out with an organic green tea made with coconut water! I bought it at Whole Foods yesterday 😉
Would you suggest using Trop 50 as a fruit juice base? Or would it be better to get some fresh oranges and juice them myself? Also, can you suggest a good brand of organic green tea?
Hey Ebony— get my green tea from Trader Joes— it’s their own brand and it’s organic. I have never used Trop50, but I would think it would have some additives to preserve the shelf life…right?
I also use a raw milk home made kefir for my base. Tons of wonderful probiotics from kefir. I wouldn’t use regular or even organic milk, but the RAW milk is so good for you!
You guys are great. I am enjoying rotating my greens and on my trip out of town last week I used almond milk since it is shelf stable and travels nicely 🙂
Enjoying this very much!
Thanks Melisa for letting us know— we feel the love and appreciate it!!!