Dessert Smoothies: 8 Quick and Easy Recipes - SilverSneakers (2024)

These four-ingredient treats are packed with vitamins, protein, fiber, and flavor.

Smoothies sure have gotten complicated—especially for a snack meant to be quick, easy, and mess-free. By the time you take your first sip, the kitchen counter usually looks like it lost a fight to a rabid pantry.

Worse, more ingredients doesn’t equal more taste. Usually, it’s quite the opposite.

Luckily, a few tricks can make your smoothies taste like creamy milkshakes, and you don’t need more than four ingredients.

The first trick: frozen bananas, one of the best foods to keep in your freezer. Peel and freeze them when they’re starting to turn brown. This coloring tells you that they’re very ripe—and sweet—but not past their prime. They’ll give you the sweetness you’re craving without having to use added sugar.

The second trick: Greek yogurt. It’s thicker than regular yogurt, so it’ll give you the creamy texture you’re going for. Plus, it delivers high-quality, muscle-building protein, making it a top food for older adults.

The final trick: water. Add small amounts as needed—a tablespoon at a time—to help you reach the desired consistency.

Ready to give these ideas a whirl? Below, top dietitians share their favorite recipes for dessert smoothies.

Get and stay fit with SilverSneakers! Choose from dozens of different Community classes, visit a participating fitness location, or view the current schedule of SilverSneakers LIVE online classes here.

Dessert Smoothie #1: Vanilla and Berry

Frozen mixed berries deliver an impressive mix of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, say Lyssie Lakatos, R.D.N., and Tammy Lakatos Shames, R.D.N., authors of The Nutrition Twins’ Veggie Cure.

You can use any berries you like, but if your combo includes strawberries, know that you’re getting a nice amount of folic acid, which your body uses to help make new cells. Blueberries, meanwhile, are packed with antioxidants that help tame chronic inflammation­—an underlying factor in many health woes, including joint pain and high blood pressure.

You’ll need:

• ⅔ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1⅓ cups plain nonfat Greek yogurt
• ½ cup unsweetened frozen mixed berries
• ½ small banana, frozen and cut into chunks

What to do: In a blender, puree half of each of the almond milk, Greek yogurt, and berries until combined. Add the remaining ingredients, and puree until smooth.

Pro tip: If you don’t have a high-performance blender, let frozen fruit thaw for a few minutes before blending. It also helps to start with a low setting and work up to a high speed.

Dessert Smoothie #2: Orange and Banana

This double-layered smoothie was inspired by a classic summertime frozen goodie, the orange creamsicle, and makes for a fun brunch treat.

“It’s rich in potassium, which helps control blood pressure, and magnesium, which is important for proper muscle function,” says Amy Gorin, R.D.N., owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition in the New York City area.

You’ll need:

• 5 ounces 100% orange juice, divided
• 1½ medium bananas, frozen and cut into chunks
• ½ cup plain 2% Greek yogurt
• 8 strawberries, frozen

What to do: In a blender, puree 3 ounces of the orange juice and bananas until smooth. Pour into freezer-safe cup, cover, and freeze until mixture sets, about 5 minutes.

Rinse blender, then puree remaining ingredients until smooth. Remove cup from freezer, and top banana layer with strawberry layer. Enjoy right away.

Pro tip: Your liquid ingredients—juice or milk—should be the first thing in the blender. As the blade starts to spin, these liquids will draw down the other ingredients for better mixing.