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I love when a smoothie recipe can play double duty and this decadent raspberry smoothie is no exception. You won’t even notice the leafy greens in this dessert-like beverage, and you can top it with coconut whipped cream for a lovely finish.
What’s not to love about raspberries? Their color! Their cool bumpy shape! The taste – oooh that delicious taste!
And did I mention how good for you those tiny deep pink berries are? They contain vitamins C + E, omega 3 fatty acids, potassium and antioxidants. Honestly, I can’t wait to get blending this raspberry smoothie! Let’s go!
Table of Contents
Recipe Ingredients
Blending a tasty smoothie takes the right ingredients as well as the right formula to turn out well. Over the years, I’ve learned what works best when it comes to taste, texture and nutrients. That is to say, using yummy fruits to help hide the extra healthy greens within is a huge win for your health. Take a look at what makes up this raspberry smoothie recipe…
Bright, tart raspberries
I used fresh ones for the photo, yet normally I use frozen raspberries. Consequently, they chill the smoothie and are almost always more affordable. Lower in calories and sugar, high in antioxidants and fiber – the raspberries in this smoothie are a powerhouse ingredient. Those antioxidants (signaled by the rich red color) can help prevent cancer and other diseases. In addition, vibrant colored raspberries make this particular concoction such lovely color and taste like summer relaxation in a glass!
Raspberries ::
Naturally lower in sugar than many fruits + higher in fiber and nutrients. That’s a total win-win!
Creamy coconut milk
Coconut milk makes this raspberry smoothie creamy + satisfying. If you give it a blend, then you’ll see that it turns this ordinary fruit smoothie into a decadent dessert drink. In addition, the healthy fats from the plant-based coconut milk will help curb your appetite and assist your body in absorbing the nutrients of the fruit and veg you’re consuming.
On the other hand, using my coconut milk smoothie cubes in this raspberry smoothie recipe is another great option. The cashew nuts and MCT oil in these cubes provide an additional bump in healthy fats, making for an even more filling icy cold drink.
Iron-Rich Spinach
Spinach is the hero in this raspberry smoothie recipe! I mean, if you think about it those little green leaves kinda look like plant version of tiny superhero capes. Just me? Okay, but seriously – you won’t taste this leafy green at all!
With spinach you reap all the benefits of phytonutrients, but none of the strong taste of greens. Phytonutrients are (glad you asked!) powerful antioxidants that help fight damage at the cellular level in your body. Spinach also helps slow the absorption of the fruit sugars into your blood stream because it’s high in fiber.
Heart-healthy flaxseed
Lastly, I tossed in a spoonful of flax seed to boost your omega 3’s and healthy fats, which are lignans. It’s important to include lignans in your diet, and flaxseeds are an excellent source. Lignans may reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes.
Also, flaxseeds are just the thing to include for a bit of protein when you’re craving something fruity, sweet + healthy. They can be added to all kinds of smoothies – not just this raspberry recipe!
Another quick, easy way to add protein containing flaxseed to this raspberry smoothie is with a serving of my homemade protein powder.
All of the nutrition, none of the fillers or artificial sweeteners – this powder adds 10g of clean protein to any smoothie. That’s thanks to the organic hemp, chia and flaxseed it contains in my perfectly proportioned and smooth blending formula. I made this with you in mind, smoothie lover!
Which Liquid Base is Best?
This raspberry smoothie recipe features a coconut milk base. Just as I mention above, this is to add healthy fat to keep you fuller longer. As a result, your raspberry smoothie will be creamier too.
However, what if you’re looking to reduce the calories and aren’t needing as much healthy fat? You can totally swap out the 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk for 1 cup water or other plant-based milk of your choice instead. Oat milk is another creamy option.
More Summer Berry Recipes
Looking for more ways to rawk berries in your daily life? Have fun exploring these yummy summer berry combos while you relax poolside. And don’t forget to invite me! #friendswithpools
Strawberry vegan milkshake
Blueberry spinach smoothie
Smoothie bowl recipes
Strawberry banana smoothie
Fresh blackberry smoothie
FAQs
We say a big kale yeah to that question! Berries are rich good for you things like antioxidants, fiber and vitamin C. Adding berries to your smoothies is a great way to get a lower sugar nutritional boost for your day.
Many raspberries are imported, driving up the cost to you, the end user. A great way to save on raspberries is to buy them frozen out of season, look for them in farmers markets, grow your own, or buy from a discount organic delivery service like Misfits Market. Since raspberries are not on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list, you can also get away with purchasing non-organic for a savings too!
From fruit-infused water, to popsicles, muffins, salads and of course our fav smoothies – raspberries are great for so many things. Fresh or frozen, you can easily incorporate raspberries in tons of recipes.
Good things. Many good things! Though you def want to mix up your berry game to get the most benefit, eating raspberries daily would provide you with extra water and fiber, which makes your digestive system happily move along. That, coupled with the antioxidants found in raspberries in turn helps rid your body of toxins. A total win!
Before you blend this raspberry smoothie
Not sure if your blender can handle the greens? I already did the research for you! Check out The Ultimate Blender Guide for details on countless blenders. Most importantly, I looked for the best ones to blend quickly, get rid of leafy chunks and provide tons of value for the price.
Happy blending! Be sure to hit us up with a comment below and let us know what you thought!
Raspberry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 ½ cups raspberries frozen
- ½ cup spinach
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Smoothie Boosts
- 1 serving homemade protein powder
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed ground
- 1 tbsp raw coconut flakes sprinkle on top
Instructions
- Blend spinach and coconut milk until smooth.
- Add remaining ingredients, and blend until smooth.
Equipment
Notes
- Use frozen raspberries to make smoothie cold.
- Coconut milk comes in a variety of options. Pick the one that best meets your health goals. I suggest an organic canned lite coconut milk in this smoothie.
- Swap coconut milk with the dairy-free milk of your choice.
- Use the leafy greens of your choice.
Day 2 of my smoothie challenge. My smoothie did not have the gorgeous colour that yours had. In fact, it doesn’t have a very appetising colour at all…but still drinking it.
Cheers! 🙂
This was the first one I tried and it really isn’t bad. I didn’t have any coconut water so I added a little extra coconut milk. Would be better with fresh raspberries rather than frozen. Overall: not bad and look forward to making the different recipes and creating my own too.
Hey Diamond.
I prefer fresh, I find that berries loose a lot of their flavor when frozen.
That being said I do enjoy frozen pineapple, frozen banana, frozen mangos and frozen blueberries. 🙂
Really frustrated – so far all smoothies were great. I’m having trouble swallowing this one. Really don’t want to throw out the rest what can I do to salvage it? First time using coconut milk. It was from the can.
Hey Allie.
Thanks for the comment. We prefer using carton coconut milk or DIY coconut free of additives, stabilizers, and gums. We like adding bananas to save our smoothies. 🙂
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/how-to-make-coconut-milk
switched the raspberries with mixed berries! awesome!
Great idea! Yum!
How many calories do these smoothies have? or how can you tell instead of doing the obvious and counting each ingredient.
Hey Christie.
We personally don’t count calories, so we don’t include them in our recipes at this time. You’ll find that when you consume more nourishing whole fruits and veggies, you will not only feel full longer, but you’ll also have lessened cravings for high-calorie, nutritionally empty foods. So in the end it balances out. But we know many people would like to have calorie info. Three great resources for tracking calories are Self Nutrition Data and the phone apps My Fitness Pal and Lose It.
This was a good one, I replaced the raspberries with frozen berries that I already had. So far my favorite has been the pineapple upside down cake. My kids are only 4 and 2 and this has been great for them too. They are eating a smoothie every morning for breakfast and loving it.
Hey Rebecca!
Thanks for the comment, we are so happy to hear your kids are loving this one! Cheers to you and your littles. 🙂
Hi! THe recipes say they “Serve 2” so doesn’t that mean we’re not getting the two cups of spinach like hoped for in the 30 day challenge? I’m splitting them with my husband. Thanks!
Hey Heather.
Great question, 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. That means each 16oz would have 1 cup of leafy greens! You are more than welcome to add more to your green smoothies! 🙂 Cheers!
So, when you say Jadah drinks at least 2 cups in the morning, do you mean 2 cups, 16 oz. EACH or 16 oz. total, as her meal replacement? If each recipe makes about 40 oz., what do you typically do with the leftover smoothie? I’ve been drinking one for breakfast and one for lunch, so, finishing one whole recipe myself, each day… is that okay? Still eating a balanced meal and healthy snacks of nuts or veggies with hummus, etc…
Hey Megan.
Thanks for the reply. When I say two cups, I mean 16oz total. (sorry for the confusion) 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.
hola! recien voy a comenzar y estoy un poco perdida!! no se exactamente de donde sacar las recetas pero vi por ejemplo esta con frambuesas y no las consigo pueden reemplazarse? gracias!!
¡Hola! Gracias por acompañarnos. Estos son los ingredientes que se necesitan para este batido . no dude en utilizar cualquier baya en lugar de las frambuesas . 🙂
2 tazas de espinaca
Leche de coco 1 taza
1 taza de agua de coco
3 tazas de frambuesas
1 cucharada de semillas de lino molidas
De extracto de vainilla 1 cucharadita
OPCIONAL : decorar con copos de coco , semillas de lino
I have issues with my bowel. If I take fiber as a way to get past this I bloat and end up in pain. Will the high fiber in smoothies act the same way as the fiber supplements like Metamucil?
Hey Linda.
This can be a common symptom if your body is not used to drinking or eating lots of fiber. Green smoothies are high in fiber which is great for digestion, but for newbies, the high fiber can shock your body. Make sure you drink lots of water to help flush things out. And if you’re new to green smoothies one serving a day is enough, which is 2 cups (16 ounces).
Make sure you drink lots of water to help flush everything out as well. Sometimes when you make sudden changes in your regular diet, or you add more fiber into your diet, your body needs to adjust. Every body reacts to food differently. If you feel bloated, you may have some personal allergies to certain fruit combinations, that is something you would have to consult with a health care provider about. Also, make sure you don’t eat any other foods 30-60 minutes before after you drink your green smoothies to give your body time to digest the fruits.
I don’t ever see the calorie/carb/protein count for the smoothies. I’m a counter. How can I find out what the cal/carb/protein count is the smoothies?
Hey Harriet! 🙂
Totally hear you. We personally don’t count calories, so we don’t include them in our recipes. You’ll find that when you consume more nourishing whole fruits and veggies, you will not only feel full longer, but you’ll also have lessened cravings for high-calorie, nutritionally empty foods. So in the end it balances out. But we know many people would like to have calorie info. Three great resources for tracking calories are Self Nutrition Data and the phone apps My Fitness Pal and Lose It. Hope that helps. 🙂
Hi! This looks delicious! I’m just wondering if you are using canned coconut milk that is creamier or the coconut milk that comes in the 1 and 2 litre cartons just like regular/almond/and soy milk. Thank you!
Hey Leslie,
We make our own coconut milk or we buy the carton coconut milk. 🙂
DIY Coconut Milk:
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/how-to-make-coconut-milk
Day 2 – Sorry, couldn’t stomach this one. I think I like Almond milk better than coconut water.
Hey Dina,
Feel free to use the liquids you enjoy most. https://simplegreensmoothies.com/dairy-free-smoothies
Does the smoothie end up red or is it more greeny? Normally when I put spinach it turns this browny/red colour and doesn’t look to appetising
Hey Amy,
Thanks for the comment. The raspberries turn it a beautiful red, but don’t worry about the color, it will be yummy and great for you. 🙂 Enjoy!
Even if it doesn’t look appetizing, it can be! 🙂
Very light and refreshing, not very sweet.
🙂 Thank Tammy for the feedback. 🙂
Hi, is it ok if I will use low fat milk instead of the coconut milk?
Hey Connie.
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.
It’s definitely a personal choice, and you just have to decide what works best for you and your family.
Hi,
My son is 19 months do you recommend switching his full fat cows milk to almond milk? I don’t like the idea of hormones, antibotics etc and I am about to start the challenge 🙂 xx
Hey Roxi.
What does your son’s pediatrician say?
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.
It’s definitely a personal choice, and you just have to decide what works best for you and your family.
Hi, I am new to all this so unsure about quantities. Your picture of the ingredients, is that the exact amount to use for 2 serving? It doesn’t look a lot!
Hey Yvonne! 🙂
Our smoothie recipes make about 4-5 cups (32oz – 40oz) but the photo might only show 1 serving. 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.
Hi Yvonne! Sometimes the pictures only show one of the servings. This is just half of the recipe for one person. Hope that helps!