Today I’m giving you a Red Velvet Smoothie recipe loaded with rich chocolate flavor and just the right amount of sweetness. Plus, it’s got a velvety texture that you want in a creamy dessert. Where does it get that lovely red color, you ask? Why a little bit of beet! (Don’t worry, you can’t even taste it.)
This luscious red smoothie satisfies my sweet tooth, gives me natural energy and provides a festive treat to share with a loved one.
Don’t let the spinach fool you. If you’re looking for a dessert smoothie, then this is a winner!
Table of Contents
Red Velvet Smoothie Recipe
I like blending my smoothies in two steps for the smoothest result:
First, blend spinach and coconut milk (canned or carton, your choice) until smooth. If you’re not using a high-speed blender, then whip the canned coconut milk before adding to the blender to stir the fat into the liquid.
Then add the strawberries (frozen), Medjool dates, beet, cacao powder and vanilla extract to the blender. Blend until smooth.
If you’re serving this as a dessert, feel free to add a dollop of coconut whipped cream to the top and turn it into a festive shake.
Tips for the Best Blend
To ensure the Medjool dates are thoroughly blended, let your blender run on medium speed for a bit, then slowly increase to high. If you’re using a non-high-powered blender, swap the dates with maple syrup for an easier blend.
Canned coconut milk (full-fat or light) gives you a milkshake texture. The beet adds the iconic deep red velvet color. You can also swap it with beet powder.
Using frozen strawberries ensures a refreshingly cool red velvet smoothie, or you can refrigerate before serving (give it a good shake).
Sweetener Swaps for Dessert Smoothies
I love the caramel flavor of Medjool dates, but you could use several natural sweeteners for this low-sugar red smoothie. Here are a few more options:
- Maple Syrup– Use two tablespoons of maple syrup to replace two dates. Maple syrup is a great swap if you’re not using a high-powered blender.
- Date syrup– This newer sweetener is a great option too! Start with one tablespoon, then add more to taste.
- Banana– 1/4 a banana (fresh or frozen) can add creaminess along with sweetness. It’s a great swap if you’re using carton coconut milk.
Red Velvet Smoothie FAQs
It depends on the texture you want. Canned coconut milk gives a thicker, creamier texture. Carton coconut milk is much thinner and offers a tropical taste when paired with other tropical fruits like pineapple and dragon fruit.
I recommend unsweetened cocoa or cacao in smoothies. Both are great options with a slightly different taste. It’s up to you to determine which you like better. Just make sure they are unsweetened; no need to add in extra sugar.
Blend spinach and coconut milk until smooth. Add strawberries, Medjool dates, beet, cacao powder and vanilla extra to the blender and blend again until smooth. Pour into a fancy glass and enjoy!
More Dessert Smoothies
If you’re craving a smoothie and have a sweet tooth, try blending one of these decadent recipes. Perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up or an easy dessert.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
- Banana Smoothie
- Coconut Joy Smoothie Bowl
- Pineapple Smoothie
- Caramel Shake
- Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie
- Raspberry Smoothie
- Strawberry Vegan Milkshake
- Shamrock Shake
- Cinnamon Date Smoothie
- Maple Apple Smoothie Bowl
- Vanilla Fig Smoothie
Who knew plants could be so delicious? Which one of these do you want to blend first? Don’t forget to try this Red Velvet Smoothie recipe as well, then leave a rating to let me know what you think. It truly is like cake in a cup!
Red Velvet Smoothie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup strawberries frozen
- 2 medjool dates pitted
- 2 tbsp beet raw or cooked
- 1 tbsp cacao powder
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Blend spinach and coconut milk until smooth.
- Add remaining ingredients, and blend until smooth.
- Top with a dollop of coconut whipped cream, if desired.
Notes
- Use frozen fruit to make smoothie cold.
- Swap spinach for the leafy greens of your choice.
- Swap Medjool date with the natural sweetener of your choice (maple syrup, honey, etc.)
- Use canned coconut milk for a richer, creamier smoothie.
- Use carton coconut milk for a lighter smoothie.
- Unsweetened cacao powder can be swapped with unsweetened cocoa powder.
I love this smoothie! Sometimes I add another date if I want it a little sweeter.
Adding dates is one of our favorite ways to add in some all natural sweeteners!
At the recommendation of a lady I met while shopping for beets I tried this for the first time tonight. It was delicious!!! Can wait to introduce this recipe to some of my smoothie-loving friends!!!
Hi Cynthia,
YAY!! I love learning about new recipes while hanging out in the beets aisle! 🙂
Hello im allergic to coconut so what should substitute for these?
Hi Nateasa,
Allergic to coconut milk? No worries! Swap in another dairy-free milk you love. One of my favorites is almond milk!
Since I don’t have dates I will use either maple syrup or honey as suggested in the comments. What serving size of the honey or maple syrup should I use for a serving of 1?
Hi Nicole,
I usually swap in 2 tbs, but it’s really up to your taste preferences.
Thank you. I made this before your comment and I ended up doing 1 teaspoon. It was the perfect amount of sweetness. In fact I had this again this morning. Instead of all strawberries, I did half strawberries and half cherries. OMG. So good. I can’t wait to make it again and again. 🙂 It is so creamy and delicious.
I dont know me and my husband dint liked the taste of this smoothie.. i guess i should have used raw beets or i should have not used the almond milk or not used chocolate powder. Not at all yummy.
Hi Iqra,
Oh no! I’m so sorry this wasn’t your favorite. While we love switching up our liquid bases, this recipe really benefits from the coconut milk. It makes it super creamy, sweet + dessert like!
I would love to taste that coconut whipped cream topping! Will whip mine this weekend! Thanks, Jen!
Reach back out + let us know what you think! 🙂
Looks delicious to me!
Hi Chad,
It taste great too! Hope you love it!
Spinach doesn’t like me… for some reason. I suspect it may be a thyroid issue. What green should I replace the spinach with?
Hi Vicki,
Body not a fan of spinach? Swap in another green you + your body love. A few of our favorites are kale, romaine, + chard. Learn more about our favorites here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/leafy-greens
Wow! Love the color of this smoothie. Definitely going to give this one a try. Perfect for a romantic night!
YES! The beets add a major nutrient boost + amazing color!
Hi! So on a whim home from school we stopped by the farmers market and got the ingredients for this smoothie. It’s delicious! My girls loved it. We went with raw beets (we have a Vitamix so it could handle it with frozen fruit) and used unsweetened vanilla almond milk. So just in case anybody is wondering, it’s yummy with almond milk as a substitute!
Hi Rachel,
We love this! What a great way to end the school day with a trip to the farmer’s market to blend one of our favorite recipes! Thank you for sharing that you loved this recipe with almond milk too!
We love bringing our kids to the farmers market too!
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/smoothie-recipes-for-kids
This is very refreshing and delicious! Easy to make and extremely smooth!
Hi Liz!
Thanks so much for reaching out + for your kind words! We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed it!
Cheers :).
Hello –
I’m pre-diabetic and tightly control my sugar intake through diet. How many grams of sugar does 1 serving of this smoothie have? Whenever I have looked at coconut water in the stores, its seems to have a high sugar gram count. I imagine coconut milk is even higher. Any suggested substitutes?
Hi Lisa,
We love switching up our recipes + it’s definitely important to adjust our recipes to meet your diet needs. Some great alternatives to coconut milk are almond + hemp milk. Learn more about our favorite liquid base options here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/dairy-free-smoothies
Coconut water is very high sugar impact, while unsweetened coconut milk is not. The fat makes a difference and is SO healthy for your brain and the rest of your body!
I would probably replace the dates with stevia, monk fruit or xylitol for a no healthy no sugar alternative.
Where can you buy cacao powder?
Hi Mary Ann,
You can often find cacao powder at your local health food store or at grocery stores like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. Unsweetened cocoa powder is the perfect substitute, and can easily be found in your baking aisle!
Cheers 🙂
Cacao powder is also sold at Costco and smart & final
Thanks for sharing TC! We love stores like Costco + Sam’s Club!
Hello,
Do you use cooked or raw beets?
Thanks!
Hi Kelli,
We actually leave that up to you! Both will create a delicious decadent “guilt-free” green smoothie! Learn more about blending with beets here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/anti-inflammatory-smoothie-recipe
Are you using canned coconut milk, or the thinner coconut milk they sell in a carton?
Hi Larissa,
Great question! There are several types of coconut milk available. It can be hard to know which to choose! Coconut cream is the thickest and richest. It has the least amount of water. Then there is full-fat or regular coconut milk. It still has plenty of rich, creamy taste, but has a higher liquid ratio. Light coconut milk has the mildest flavor, highest water content, and least amount of calories compared with the other varieties. Think of these as you would heavy cream, whole milk, and low-fat milk.
You’ll find coconut milk packaged in several ways – cans, cartons (shelf-stable and refrigerated), or frozen.
Can I use coconut water instead of coconut milk?
Hi Jennifer,
Of course!! We love switching up our liquid bases! Check out some of our favorites here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/dairy-free-smoothies