This Cherry Smoothie is so sweet and delicious. It is made with just three ingredients which makes it a great healthy treat for you and your family!
This smoothie is made up of frozen cherries and fresh pineapple. When it is cherry season around here we like to buy them from the farmer's market and stock up on them. We freeze the cherries so we can use them in smoothies during the winter months.
For this smoothie, I like to use tart cherries. They are the bright red ones also known as sour cherries. A tart cherry smoothie has such a unique and delicious flavor.
I recently found out I have arthritis in my neck and am looking for anti-inflammatory foods to help with that. There is research that tart cherries are good for helping with arthritis, so I am trying to increase cherries and other anti-inflammatory foods into my diet.
Pineapple is the other fruit in this smoothie and is also an anti-inflammatory food. The flavors of the cherries and pineapples blend so well! This has become one of my favorite smoothies that we make - for the health benefits and for the delicious flavor! If you are looking for a good healthy cherry smoothie to try out, this is a great one to try out.
Cherry Smoothie Ingredients
This is a cherry smoothie without yogurt. It is a tropical, fruity smoothie and is really light and delicious. If you want to make a cherry smoothie with yogurt, see the variations below.
- Frozen Cherries, Pitted
- Fresh Pineapple, Diced
- Water - As a substitute, you can use coconut water or unsweetened almond milk. For a completely different flavor, you can use vanilla almond milk or add protein powder.
How to Make a Cherry Smoothie:
Slice up your pineapple. Here is a great post on how to slice pineapple.
Measure out the cherries and pineapple. Use "heaping" cups of each. By heaping, I mean a rounded top of fruit in the measuring cup. Be generous with the fruit.
Add the water, pineapple, and cherries into your blender.
Blend until smooth. Serve immediately.
If pitting cherries keeps you from buying them, pick up a cherry pitter! We have one and using it makes the job a whole lot easier! Worth every penny!
If you don't have any in your freezer, you can find already pitted cherries in the frozen department of most grocery stores.
To add protein to a smoothie, you can add in a tablespoon or two of flaxseed or chia seeds, or dissolve some protein powder in unsweetened almond milk and blend that in.
Variations
- To make a cherry “green smoothie” you can add a handful of spinach or kale to the smoothie. If you add too much, it will alter the taste, so a handful will be plenty.
- Add protein and flavor by adding a tablespoon of almond butter or peanut butter. It seems strange, but the cherry/almond butter combo kind of reminds me of pie or toaster strudel.
- Add frozen bananas. Frozen bananas will make the consistency of the smoothie a little thicker, but it adds a really great flavor!
- Add Greek yogurt. Half a cup of Greek yogurt will add some protein and a nice tang and consistency to this smoothie.
How to Freeze Cherries:
Wash the cherries by running them under warm water. Pit the cherries and discard the pits.
Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the cherries in a single layer on the covered baking sheet and place them in the freezer.
Once frozen, put them in a freezer-safe bag or container.
By freezing them this way, the cherries won’t stick together and it will be easier to take out how many you need when using them later for smoothies, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Using frozen fruit makes the smoothie nice and thick. It also chills it so you don't need to add ice to the smoothie.
I like to use tart cherries for cherry smoothies. However, you can use either tart or sweet cherries.
Yes, whichever fruit you have frozen and ready to go will work. I like to use one frozen and one fresh fruit. If you use all frozen fruit, it might be a little too thick.
This recipe makes just about 4, 1 cup smoothies. If you want to make more to share, it is really easy to double this recipe.
Place the smoothie in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. It will most likely settle at the bottom so you should stir it a little before serving.
Want another delicious cherry recipe?
Try this delicious cherry pie recipe. It is delicious and I add a little something special to the top to make it unique and also pretty to look at!
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Did you make this recipe? If so, please leave a comment and rating below. I love hearing from you.
Cherry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 heaping cups frozen cherries pitted
- 1 ½ heaping cups fresh pineapple diced
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- In a blender, combine all the ingredients.
- Blend until smooth.
Notes
Update Note: This recipe was originally posted earlier in 2016, but was published again in 2022 to include step-by-step directions and new photos.
Jessica
This smoothie is so delicious and great for a hot day😋
Jeannie Z
I agree Jessica! Thanks!
Linda
I never would have thought that cherry and pineapple together would taste this good. It is so simple to throw together but the flavor just pops. It is now my favorite smoothie. I just frozen a bunch a sour cherries from my farmers market and should be set for fall and winter.
Jeannie Z
I agree Linda! I also have a bunch in my freezer for the winter months!
Gwen
They did not have any sweet cherries at my farmers market so I had to settle for the sour variety. I added some kiwi to sweeten it up a little. Thanks for these smoothie recipes.... a summertime favorite.
Jeannie Z
Great Gwen! Your welcome!