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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!
Do you recommend using aloe vera juice? Why or why not? I read that there are great health benefits. What interested me was the reduction in internal inflammation. I use 1 cup in a half gallon blend. However, the jury is still out for prolonged use and I haven’t done any additional research.Thanks!
Hi KJR.
Thanks for reaching out. I personally don’t use aloe vera juice, no particular reason, (I have only tried it once). I will look into some studies on it, thanks for bringing it to our attention. 🙂
Good afternoon! May I ask if it is OK to put a tablespoon or so of cider vinegar into a green smoothie (as I have been drinking a tablespoon of cider vinegar in water each morning before breakfast)? Love your website. I’m so excited to wake up to a green smoothie tomorrow morning!
Go for it, Martine. 🙂 Happy Blending!
je suis très heureuse d’avoir trouver votre site,,merci a vous de nous aider,,avez vous un lien pour une liste d’épicerie,,sa erait très apprécier,,et un grand MERCI,xxx
Bonjour! Merci de vérifier notre site ! Nous sommes très heureux de vous mélanger recettes de smoothie vert avec vous ! Je espère que vous vous joindrez à nous pour notre Défi Avril .
As far as the liquid bases are concerned, I prefer water in my smoothies. However, if I do use almond or coconut milk, I don’t use the unsweetened versions, I just don’t care for the taste. I usually use the vanilla flavored version of either one. Is that a problem when making these smoothies and or recipes?
Go for it, Kim. 🙂
Thanks 🙂
Cheers!
Hello! I am a big fan of your website, very helpful and ascetically pleasing. I have low blood sugar issues and have incorporated green smoothies into my morning routine, so far with great results! I definitely focus on a lower carb/higher protein and fiber levels to help keep my blood sugar consistent throughout the morning.
I know many people use soy milk as their liquid base, but you all do not seem to endorse soy milk; is there a reason for this? Almond milk scared me off because it looks to have a lot of sodium. Am I over thinking this? (note: which is entirely possible) I like the protein from a milk opposed to coconut water or green tea as a base. I would love to hear/read your opinion on soy milk, which I can’t help but notice is missing from the list above.
Thanks ladies 🙂
Hi there,
We don’t use soy milk in our green smoothies but feel free to sub in any milk you like. We are just trying to stay away from anything that might cause any issues on our hormonal balance. But definitely use what you like and what works with your body! 🙂
everyone is saying to drink plenty of water during the day, I was wondering if can substitute green tea for the water and kill two birds with one stone.
Totally Bridget! But I would recommend drinking a ton of water, too, because there’s no caffeine in pure plain water. LOL 🙂
I find it much easier to get my fluids from tea. Since it’s tasty I want to drink it, and since it goes cold there is urgency. Herbal teas are great for later in the day, when I don’t want any caffeine.
I also get loose leaf teas that you can brew multiple times, and I feel bad if I waste it.
I often make green tea the night before and allow my dried fruits to rehydrate in it then use them in my morning smoothie. One of my favourite bases, I do often us almond and or coconut milk unsweetened
Sounds great. 🙂 Try soaking your dried fruit in you coconut milk overnight. 🙂 Yum!
Boa noite,
posso usar espinafre congelado?
Hola, no sé pero con gusto traduzco a inglés tu pregunta…
Luciano asks if one can use frozen spinach.
Muchas gracias. Sí, puedes usar espinacas y frutas congeladas . 🙂
if I’m not a fan of coconut (milk or water) what else could I use? I don’t want to mess too much with the flavor, but I’m just not a fan of coconut.
Thanks!
Hi I have never tried green smoothies yet, but my sister and I are looking into it. Can we also use greek yogurt for extra creaminess?
Hi Carmel.
Welcome! So glad you are blending with us. Great question! We’ve talked with a lot of nutritionists and milk isn’t all that it’s been hyped up to be. Dairy is one of the highest diet allergies (and often goes undiagnosed), yet can cause inflammation and infections. And if you aren’t buying organic milk, you’re also getting doses of antibiotics, hormones, etc that can tip your own body out of whack. So we just avoid milk for our family (and opt for almond milk). We get our calcium from plant-based sources mainly— broccoli, spinach and kale.
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/
So excited to be a part of this group. I’ve noticed we can use frozen or fresh fruit my question is can we freeze fresh veggies for latter use?
Hi –
i just signed up for the 30 day challenge. Is it preferable to drink the green smoothie on a empty stomach ?? Also, does this smoothie replace an actual meal – ??
Thank you
Hey Violeta.
Our smoothie recipes make about 4-5 cups (32oz – 40oz). Jadah drinks at least 2 cups (16 oz) everyday in the morning as a breakfast meal replacement. Jen drinks hers for lunch or sometimes as a mid morning snack Since green smoothies are full of fiber, they keep us both full for a while. If either of us needs afternoon pick-me-ups, we have been known to make another green smoothie later in the day instead of drinking a caffeinated beverage.This is not a fast or a restrictive diet, so you can eat regular meals during this challenge. We are making healthy lifestyle changes that will last a lifetime! Our goal for you is to drink at least one 2-cup serving green smoothie a day in addition to your regular diet. If you would like, you can replace 1 or 2 meals with green smoothies. If you drink green smoothies as meal replacements, make sure to add a protein boost (plant-based protein powder, nut milk, nut butter), or snack on some nuts or a hard-boiled egg 30-60 minutes after you drink your green smoothie.
Hope that helps.
Can you please suggest some different brands of green tea that are particularly good and “safe” and that are great to use in the green smoothies. Some are too strong for my taste…I have been sticking to the tetley brand….any other suggestions would be great!
Thank you!
Good morning Fatimah.
Since you enjoy the brand Tetley, I am guessing you are UK based. Whilst living in London, I personally enjoyed TeaPigs the brand. Teapigs mao feng green 15 tea bags 37.5g or Clippers is a nice brand too. 🙂
I’m sorry I should have mentioned that I live in Canada! Any other types of brands you can think of?
Thx 🙂
Hey Fatimah.
My mom lives in Alberta and enjoys Davids Tea:
How about Roiboos Tea
Hey Rene.
You are more than welcome to use Roiboos , I am a big fan of drinking a cup of Roiboos too. It doesn’t have the same antioxidants as green tea, but go for it. 🙂
May I sujest you buy a good tea ,make sure it a good sizes tea leafs and not ground down to much ,, my grandmother pointed this out to me ,she would never use a tea bag ,,,,,insisted it was not real tea , ,
Thanks for the tip, Jane. 🙂
Hello there, I’ve just signed up for the 30 day challenge and am keen to get started! I’ve been drinking lemon juice + water every morning – can I use this as a base?
Hey Cat.
Thanks for reaching out to us. Our 30-Day Green Smoothie Challenges are LIVE emails, in the months of January, April, July and October. Looks like you are all set to receive the January Recipes, but in the mean time you can use our free website recipes: https://simplegreensmoothies.com/recipes. You can totally use lemon juice + water! :)Cheers!