This berry protein smoothie is the perfect way to kick off your morning or recharge after a workout. It's loaded with berries for natural sweetness and antioxidants, plus a mix of different protein sources that add up to a whooping 20 grams of protein per serving.
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I love having this smoothie after a morning workout (if I actually manage to squeeze one in before the day starts ;-)). Morning exercise is my favorite way to wake up- nothing too crazy, just moving my body a bit makes such a difference.
And this smoothie is perfect afterwards because it's filling without being heavy, and it never upsets my tummy first thing. The main protein boost comes from peanut butter, protein powder, and soy yogurt, but you can totally customize it with whatever nut butter, yogurt, and protein powder you like best.
Ingredients & substitution notes
- Frozen raspberries. I went with raspberries because they pair so well with peanut butter, but you can totally swap in blueberries, blackberries (just know they'll be a bit tart), or any berry you've got. You could also go for a frozen berry mix.
- Banana. Use a super ripe one for optimal sweetness. Not a banana fan? Sweeten it with dates instead (or try my No Banana Choc Peanut Butter Protein Shake).
- Milk of choice. I used unsweetened soy milk because it's dairy-free and has the highest protein content of the plant milks. That said, almond or oat milk also work or just whole milk if you don't need this to be dairy-free.
- Yogurt. I went with a vegan vanilla soy yogurt here, but Greek yogurt works just as well.
- Protein powder. I recommend an unsweetened vanilla one. I usually use a vegan protein blend with all the essential amino acids, but whey works too if you're not dairy-free.
- Peanut butter. If you can't do peanuts, cashew or homemade roasted almond butter are great swaps. As a nut-free option try sunflower butter or tahini instead but note that tahini will have a very distinct flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
Step-by-step photo instructions
Step 1: Put all the ingredients to a food (fairly strong) blender.
Step 2: Blend until smooth. Adjust sweetness and consistency.
Top tips
- Strong blender: The stronger your blender, the smoother your smoothie will turn out- especially when you're working with frozen fruit. If your blender struggles, just let the berries sit out for a few minutes to soften before blending.
- The overall taste of this smoothie really depends on the yogurt and protein powder you use. A sweetened vanilla soy yogurt will make it sweeter and more dessert-like, while plain Greek yogurt or unsweetened vegan yogurt gives it a tangier vibe. The same goes for protein powder- vanilla adds a nice flavor boost, but some vegan blends can be quite strong and definitely leave their mark on the smoothie.
FAQ
Not really- frozen berries are what give this smoothie its creamy texture. You could use fresh berries if you swap in a frozen banana instead. I don't recommend adding ice though, as it tends to water down the flavor.
Related recipes
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đź“– Recipe
Berry Protein Smoothie
Equipment
- 1 (high speed) blender
Ingredients
- 1 cups (115 g) frozen raspberries
- 1 cup (240 g) milk of choice (I used unsweetened soy) *see notes
- 1 very ripe banana
- 3 tablespoon Greek or soy yogurt *see notes
- 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter *unsweetened
- 1 scoop protein powder of choice *see notes
Optional add-ins
- 1-2 Medjool dates *for added sweetness
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Adjust consistency with more milk (thinner) or frozen berries (thicker). This smoothie is lightly sweetened with raspberries and banana, if you prefer it sweeter, add 1-2 soft dates.
Video
Notes
- Type of milk: I used unsweetened soy for extra protein, but almond, oat, or regular whole milk work too.
- Protein powder: I recommend unsweetened, preferably vanilla. I used a vegan vanilla blend.
- Taste: The flavor of this smoothie really depends on the protein powder and yogurt you use. A sweetened vanilla soy yogurt will taste very different from plain Greek yogurt, and protein powders vary a lot too. Vegan blends especially can have a strong flavor that comes through in the smoothie.
- Protein amount: This is an estimated value and will vary depending on the milk, yogurt, and protein powder you use. For example, soy milk pack in more protein than almond milk.
- Can I use fresh berries? Not ideal- frozen berries are what give this smoothie its creamy texture. You could use fresh berries if you swap in a frozen banana instead. I don't recommend adding ice though, as it tends to water down the flavor.Â
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