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A cool and creamy cherry açaí smoothie is the perfect summertime treat. Superfood açaí blends with tart cherries and creamy cashew milk for a nutritious and satisfying breakfast or snack. This vibrant açaí smoothie recipe comes together in minutes and fuels you for hours.
While I’m all about fresh, local ingredients, I love the fact that we have incredibly unique fruit at our fingertips to enjoy every once in a while as well. This special ingredient has a host of benefits and tastes delicious.
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What is Açaí?
Açaí is low in calories and packed with antioxidants. Plus, this Brazilian superfood fruit is brimming with vitamins and fiber.
Açaí is a berry that grows in large clumps on the Açaí palm tree in South America. The berries are tiny, with dark purple flesh. To remove the flesh from the pit, the berries are soaked in water. The resulting purple pulp is then consumed, or in this case, frozen for smoothie packs.
It is tart and earthy, without much sweetness. If you combined a blackberry and chocolate, you’d get a flavor similar to açaí.
Powdered vs Frozen Açaí
While some nutrients are lost when açaí is turned into a powder, it is still beneficial to use! If you want to add a scoop to a smoothie, then feel free to use powdered. If you want it to act as a full fruit ingredient in a smoothie or smoothie bowl, then grab the frozen packs as they add volume to your creations.
Benefits of a Cherry Açaí Smoothie
Cherries
Not only are cherries packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, but cherries have also been associated with reduced muscle pain after exercise as well as improved sleep. We could all use a few extra zzzs!
Banana
This smoothie is naturally sweetened with bananas. Bananas contain pectin and low-glycemic sugars, so they won’t cause your blood sugar to spike. You can use either fresh or frozen bananas for this açaí smoothie recipe.
Cashews
If you’re looking for an alternative to dairy milk, cashew milk is an excellent option. It adds a creamy thickness and irresistible nutty flavor to smoothies. Cashews contain heart-healthy fats, folate and magnesuim.
If you can’t do nuts, then try coconut milk, hemp milk or oat milk.
Açaí Smoothie FAQs
They can be! Just use real, whole food ingredients (no weird additives here!) and let the fruit be your sweetener. My açaí smoothie recipe has banana, cherries, cashew milk and raw cashews blended into a creamy treat.
These powerful berries are high in antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory properties. They promote brain health and can help prevent certain types of cancer.
Either! I use frozen açaí packets in my smoothie recipe, yet you can totally use the powder form as well. Just make sure you read the ingredients to ensure it has no sweetener, additives or other weird things added to it.
How to Use Açai in Smoothies
Açai is totally the star of the recipe below, yet it can be used in a variety of smoothie recipes. It pairs well with chocolate and berries, or easily add it to your next smoothie bowl.
Here are a few recipes you can try boosting with this fun, new ingredient:
- Red Velvet Smoothie
- Cherry Smoothie
- Chocolate Banana Smoothie
- Berry Smoothie Bowl
- Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie
- Mixed Berry Smoothie
- Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl
- Cherry Beet Smoothie
- Meal Replacement Smoothie
- Blackberry Smoothie
- Blueberry Spinach Smoothie
- Chocolate Smoothie Bowl
Have you ever tried açai before? Don’t forget to rate and review this recipe to let me know if you loved it!
Cherry Açaí Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashew milk unsweetened
- 1 tbsp raw cashews
- ½ banana
- ½ cup cherries frozen
- 1 packet açaí puree frozen
- 1 serving homemade protein powder optional
Instructions
- Blend cashews and cashew milk with banana and cherries. Blend until smooth.
- Add açaí packet. Blend until creamy.
Equipment
Notes
- If you can’t find fresh cherries, look for frozen organic cherries in the freezer section of most grocery stores.
- Soak cashews in cashew milk overnight for a creamier smoothie.
- Decrease the liquid to 1/2 cup and top with your favorite fruits and granola, for a delicious breakfast açaí bowl.
- Feel free to swap the frozen açaí packet for dried açaí if that’s easier for you to find.
I had a flare up and could not participate in the challenge. The first day I have felt like I could do a smoothie, I tried this and was not disappointed. It was so good to be able to drink this smoothie. I worked in the yard today and wished I could have had another because it was so refreshing and delicious. There’s alway tomorrow. Great mix.
Delicious. I used coconut water & added a small cucumber.
I have the Navitas Naturals açai powder. How would you switch this up? Thanks!
Thanks for the note on how to make this a smoothie bowl!
Our joy, Olivia!
Super yummy! I threw in a handful of spinach and used almond milk.
That sounds tasty!
This looks so good! What else can I use instead of cherries though? And could I add greens like spinach if I want to? If so, how much would you recommend?
Hey Sandra! You can use any berries instead of cherries. And def add greens if you want to; I’d say you could do 1-2 cups. I think it depends on the types of greens you use and how “green” you mind your smoothie tasting. 🙂
I know everyone loves acai bowls, but they just aren’t for me. Thanks for sharing a smoothie version of this trendy fruit!!
You’re welcome! 🙂