Remember my beautiful best ever cherry pie recipe? Well after making it for the first time a few years back, I just so happened to have leftover cherries lurking in my freezer that needed to be used. This gorgeous almond cherry smoothie was the result.
I have to say that this cherry smoothie has become one of my absolute favorite smoothie recipes on the blog. Even Tony, my husband who isn’t the biggest fan of smoothies, said that this was the best smoothie he’s ever had! If that doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will.
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Reasons to love cherries
I’ve been a huge fan of tart cherries for as long as I can remember. Not only do they taste amazing (and look beautiful) in recipes, but they also have a wide range of health benefits.
- They help reduce inflammation & may help with muscle recovery (post-workout perfection)
- They naturally have melatonin, which can help with sleep
- They’re heart-healthy and packed with antioxidants & vitamin C
What you’ll need to make this almond cherry smoothie
The best part about this vegan cherry smoothie recipe is that you need minimal ingredients to get a smoothie that’s bursting with flavor. Plus, it’s perfect for customizing with your fav mix-ins! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Banana: you’ll need one ripe banana to thicken and naturally sweeten the smoothie. A frozen banana works best!
- Frozen cherries: the star of this smoothie. I love using frozen tart cherries but regular frozen cherries or a cherry & berry mix would be perfect.
- Almond butter: add a touch of creaminess & healthy fat with a little almond butter. Peanut butter works too, but almond butter tastes so much better in this!
- Vanilla + almond extracts: I use both vanilla and almond extracts in this smoothie and it makes the flavors next-level delicious. Trust me! The almond extract makes this smoothie taste like cherry garcia ice cream. YUM!
- Milk: I use unsweetened almond milk in this smoothie, but feel free to use any milk (dairy free or non) that you like.
- Optional: add a boost of veggies with some fresh spinach! It will change the color of the smoothie but you won’t be able to taste it at all.
Optional cherry smoothie add-ins
Have fun with some delicious add-ins to really make this cherry smoothie your own! Here are some suggestions:
- Flaxseed meal: this is one of my favorite ingredients to add to shakes and smoothies for a little boost of fiber and minerals. It’s especially great for nursing mamas as flaxseed can help increase milk supply. Usually a tablespoon is plenty! Here’s a brand I love.
- Chia or hemp seeds: add in a tablespoon of chia seeds or hemp seeds for a boost of healthy fats, fiber & omega-3s.
- Greek yogurt: add a boost of protein with a scoop of Greek yogurt (or your favorite dairy free yogurt). You may have to reduce the almond milk to 1/4 cup in this recipe when adding yogurt.
- Protein powder or collagen peptides: another great way to add some protein. A plain, vanilla or even chocolate flavored protein powder in this recipe. Here is a great plant-based option.
- Cocoa or cacao powder: turn this into an amazing chocolate cherry smoothie while adding a great source of antioxidants. I recommend 1 tablespoon of cocoa or cacao powder.
How to make the best cherry smoothie
It couldn’t be easier! Simply add all of your ingredients (and any optional mix-ins) to a high powered blender and blend it until it’s smooth and creamy. Feel free to add some fun toppings, too, like coconut flakes, slivered almonds, more frozen cherries or even cacao nibs.
Tips for making a super creamy smoothie
- Use frozen fruit. this will help to keep the smoothie cold and thick. Sometimes ice doesn’t blend as well (or can make your smoothie watery), so it’s best not to skip unless absolutely necessary.
- Add more liquid. Don’t be afraid to add more liquid if your smoothie is too thick or won’t fully blend. High powered blenders tend to blend frozen ingredients much better, so if you have a regular or personal size blender, you may need to add more milk.
- Start low, go high. Start the blender on low speed, then gradually increase the speed to high to help blend all ingredients. End with the blender on low speed.
Meal prep this cherry smoothie
Make this tart cherry smoothie ahead of time to enjoy later! I have three amazing methods for prepping and storing smoothies right in your freezer. You’ll learn the ice cube tray method, the mason jar method and the freezer pack method.
More smoothies you’ll love
- Get Your Greens in Smoothie (the best green smoothie!)
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
- Vitamin C Packed Strawberry Orange Banana Smoothie
- Peanut Butter Blueberry Banana Smoothie
- Good Morning Coffee Lover’s Smoothie
Get all of my smoothie recipes here!
I hope you love this delicious & easy almond cherry smoothie recipe! If you make it, be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Almond Cherry Smoothie (my favorite smoothie ever!)
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana, preferably frozen
- 1 cup frozen cherries (or a cherry and berry mix is great!)
- 2 cups organic spinach (note that this will change the color of the smoothie, but not the flavor)
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- ½ cup almond milk (or dairy free milk of choice)
- Optional add-ins:
- 1 scoop your favorite protein powder
- 1 tablespoon cocoa or cacao powder
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a high powered blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Add more milk if necessary. Serves 1. Feel free to double the recipe to serve 2!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on January 8th, 2021, republished on January 10th, 2023, and republished on July 18th, 2025.
Delicious? Absolutely!!
But…so thick with the mere 1/2 cup of almond milk, needed to keep adding milk and still thick and chunky even in my Vitamix. Just eating it with a spoon and not minding the chunks.
Also, will probably cut back on the fruit because it made so much volume of smoothie that I am only getting half of my protein powder. 😔
I’m glad it was delicious! I like my smoothies on the thicker side, but you can absolutely reduce the fruit a bit and add milk to your preferred consistency 🙂
This smoothie is my favorite! I crave it almost every day c:
Mine, too!!
The absolute BEST smoothie recipies are from Ambitious Kitchen, and while I love every one I’ve tried, this one is my latest obsession. Love it so much!!!
So happy to hear that!!
I made smoothie and it was delicious!!! I love the cherry and almond flavor!!!
My fav! Glad you loved it!
The most amazing smoothie ever!!! I love to add chia seeds, flax seeds and cauliflower rice to this for extra fiber!
Love it!!
My go-to smoothie! SO GOOD!
Yay mine too!!
The best smoothie ever. I make this year round with a scoop of cacao powder for that rich chocolate taste. Can’t get enough of it!
Truly, the best smoothie!!!
So glad you love it, too!!
My kids think I’ve put chocolate in it because it turned brown from the spinach and my daughter says it tastes like chocolate covered cherries. I didnt even add cocoa powder!
Love that!!
Absolutely spectacular. I did have to add more milk though for everything to blend.
Glad you enjoyed!
I just made this – it was so good! Thank you for sharing
This was delicious, but hard to blend at first with spinach and so little liquid. Next time I will probably bump it to 3/4 cup almond milk.
I added 2 scoops collagen peptides and divided this into 2 servings for my daughter and i because it seemed like a lot of sugar and calories for with a whole banana and a cup of cherries.
The spinach did turn it quite green, and yes you can taste it, it’s subtle, but you can definitely taste it. I may try this with frozen cauliflower next time!
All other smoothies are ruined for me now. This is the one.
The best!!
I haven’t made this yet, but wondering you can substitute for banana? I do not like bananas
You can try 2 pitted medjool dates and then add 1/2 cup of ice to make up for the frozen banana!
Soo yummy! I added cacao powder for the chocolate cherry flavor, and omg it tastes like cherry garcia ice cream, topped it with cacao nibs and almond butter 🙂
So good!! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
I was impressed. Seems like it’s hard to find healthy protein shakes that actually taste good.
Glad you enjoyed!
I’ve made this several times using 1/2 c. almond flour instead of almond butter and oat milk, since that’s what we have on hand. I leave out the extracts (pure laziness). It’s delicious, so thank you!
I’m not a huge fan of cherry flavoured things because they often are full of fake cherry flavouring. But I decided to take a chance on this one and it was delish!!! The only recommendation I have is don’t add more almond extract than it calls for. I always measure vanilla with my heart and I did similarly with the almond extract – oops! Regardless, it’s delicious and I’m so glad I bought a bag of frozen cherries so I can make this more often.
So glad you gave this one a try! And YES great reminder — I’m all about “measure with your heart” for vanilla but almond extract is intense haha.
If you want to add veggies but not change the color try frozen cauliflower!
Yes love adding frozen cauliflower to smoothies!
I wish I had more words to describe how amazing this was, but I’m too busy licking the last of it out of my blender. Unplugged, of course.
So glad you loved it! It’s my favorite for a reason!
Sooo good ,and such a good base for inspiration .
I left out the spinach ,added one date ,flaxseed,chia ,my collagen powder ,0%greek yogurt, no sugar oat milk ,and sprinkled pistachios on top ,perfection and a great breakfast after my walk
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed!
Delicious! My 4 year old and I loved it!
So happy to hear that!
Taste like cherry Garcia ice cream in a cup! So delicious! I added vanilla protein and it complemented it great.
Absolutely! That’s why it’s my favorite 🙂
I LOVE this smoothie 😋 I love the added protein from the almond butter. Delicious!
I think this is my favorite smoothie ever also!!! I’ve started doing the almond butter/cherry combo all the time (on yogurt, toast, oatmeal) and I love it.
Such a good combo!! Glad you love this one 🙂
Super delicious. Used PB instead of almond butter, regular skim milk, and split it with my husband for a snack. We both loved it, will make definitely make it again.
Perfect! Glad you both enjoyed!
Love this smoothie!! I used frozen zucchini & frozen cauliflower instead of a banana because that’s what I had, and it still tasted like dessert! 😋
Perfect! Glad you loved it!
Also my family’s favorite smoothie! We make this every Saturday morning.
Love that!!
This was the best smoothie I’ve had! I had to add more almond milk. It makes a lot – enough for 2. Delicious 😋
My fav, too!!
Just made this smoothie in my new Vitamix! So tasty! I used sweet cherries and peanut butter I added blueberries, a tsp of dried Gogi berries, and two tsp of chia seeds! I’m feeling the peanut butter under flavor!!
This smoothie makes the little people in my house so happy. Everyone loves it!
Aww this is amazing, Kamila. Glad everyone is enjoying this smoothie ❤️
I’ve been on a miserable elimination diet for my acne and this has been the most delicious thing I’ve eaten/drank in months! Thank you so much for this, I can’t wait to try your other smoothie recipes!
YUM! I am so glad you found this recipe and are loving it ❤️
Can you suggest a vanilla protein powder that’s reasonable to purchase and taste good. Nothing gritty.
Hi Sharon – I recently have been loving Aloha Protein Powder, you can purchase it HERE.
This is seriously the best smoothie I’ve had in a really long time. The flavor is incredible (especially if you love almond!) I haven’t made it with spinach yet, and this is mostly because I love the color! I’m going to try spinach today though!
Hope you LOVE it with those added greens. Thanks so much for your comment – Appreciate it ❤️
Very good smoothie! I thought I would need to sweeten it for my tastes but it was just right. It turned out a light brown color- I’m guessing from the spinach but it didn’t deter me. I used 3/4 c almond milk to blend better. Thank you
Amazing! Sounds delicious and I am so glad you’re loving this smoothie. Yes, the spinach will change the color a bit!
This was delicious! How did your pic not end up looking dark?
Haha I left out the spinach in these photos!! So glad you loved it, though 🙂
Delicious! The almond flavor really makes it better than all the other fruit and veg smoothies. I doubled the almond butter and added chia and hemp seeds. I also used a 10oz package of frozen spinach. Since it was watery, I didn’t add the almond milk. Last time I made it I accidentally added 1 tsp of almond extract. This time I followed the recipe, but I think I’ll use 1/2 tsp to get more almond flavor.I may add some yoghurt for extra protein.
Perfect! This one’s great for customizing with your fav nutritional boosters 🙂
Mmmmmmm….SOOOOO GOOD!
Thank you Monique!
Of course! Glad you are loving this smoothie 🙂