This creamy banana apple smoothie tastes incredibly delicious, spicy and is creamy with milk ice cubes, and filling with oats and peanut butter. The spicy cinnamon apple flavor of this 5-minute smoothie will give you all the fall apple pie vibes.
This banana apple smoothie contains an entire apple as well as a frozen milk ice cubes, banana and oats, making it thick as a creamy apple milkshake.
Apples can give smoothies a grainy texture, but the addition of peanut butter in this recipe tempers any grainy tendency and adds protein but doesn't overwhelm the apple cinnamon flavor.
This smoothie is the perfect way to use up fresh apples this season. Just grab one, core and chop it, and add it to the blender. You only need one frozen ingredient to make this smoothie frosty in texture. I usually keep frozen milk ice cubes in my freezer, or I use half a frozen banana or ice.
If you are interested in more banana drinks, you might like my 2-ingredient banana milk. And like my other smoothies, including my banana smoothie without yogurt, chocolate smoothie, strawberry smoothie, peanut butter oatmeal smoothie, this apple smoothie is ready in minutes and will help you feel full for hours.
Why You'll Love This
A quick and easy apple smoothie. This smoothie is made with a handful of wholesome ingredients and can be prepped and blended in under 5 minutes. If you don't have any frozen fruit, use ice.
Nutritious smoothie. Apples are full of nutrition and this smoothie has one entire apple. Apples provide a healthy amount of vitamin C, soluble fiber, and pectin which acts as a prebiotic supporting your gut health.
Perfect smoothie to help with weight loss. This smoothie in particular supports weight loss efforts because in general it makes you feel full for hours, allowing you to forgo snacks, and apples specifically support weight loss.
An apple smoothie for all diets. This smoothie is refined sugar free, naturally gluten free, dairy free, vegan, paleo and can be nut free by using a sunflower seed nut butter.
Ingredients
Apples. Cored and not peeled. The best apples to prevent a grainy texture are sweet and crispy, such as Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp and even green Granny smith. Avoid mealy apples that seem bruised or over ripe.
Banana. Use a half of frozen banana that is peeled and unbruised.
Rolled oats. Quick oats are also fine; don't use steel cut.
Milk & milk ice cubes. I used coconut milk frozen in ice cube trays and oat milk as the liquid addition. You can choose your favorite. Coconut milk does not add a coconut flavor to this smoothie, but does add a smooth creamy texture and healthy fats.
Peanut butter. Just a tablespoon will increase the protein levels.
Cinnamon. Important to help temper the sweetness of the apple.
See the recipe card at the bottom for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions
Apples. Don't use frozen apples or overripe ones or your smoothie will be grainy.
Banana. You can use yogurt instead.
Rolled oats. Use quick oats instead, or your favorite apple cinnamon granola or flaxseeds or hemp hearts.
Milk. You can use frozen milk ice cubes or choose any milk type.
Peanut butter. Any nut butter works, or leave it off and use yogurt instead.
Cinnamon. Apple pie spice mixture would also work well. Or pumpkin pie spice, or even gingerbread spice. Use store bought or visit my post on homemade holiday spices.
Step by Step Instructions
For more detail, visit the complete and printable recipe at the bottom of this post, but here are general steps.
Preparations: Start by making sure your banana and milk or at one of those are frozen the prior night. Wash, core and chop the apple. Remove seeds as they aren't great for the digestive system.
Step 1: Add all ingredients to a blender. This smoothie makes about 8 ounces, enough for one person. Double it for two people or for a larger smoothie.
Step 2: Process until smooth, typically about 30-45 seconds in a high-speed blender. Taste and add sweetener if you want it sweeter, or additional milk if you want it less thick. Pour into a glass and enjoy!
Variations
Leafy greens. It will change the color but not the flavor if you add a small handful of raw spinach, kale or just spring mix.
You can add ½ a pitted and peeled raw avocado for nutrition and a creamy texture. It will add a green hue to your smoothie but won't change the flavor.
Intensify the apple flavor by adding ¼ cup of apple cider or apple juice.
Add 2 dates or date paste to add a caramel apple flavor to your smoothie.
FAQS
Yes, they blend well in regular blender, but best in a high speed blender. Just be sure to core and chop them first.
Apple and banana complement each other perfectly, with apples adding a crisp sweet flavor, and banana providing a creamy sweet element.
No, the core is too rough for a smoothie, and you should not add apple seeds as they contain trace elements of amygdalin, a substance that can form a poison when it comes in contact with stomach acids.
Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji and Granny smith are the best apples for an apple smoothie because they are crisp, and combined with creamy banana, are less likely to lead to a grainy smoothie texture.
More Fall Recipes
📖 Recipe
Banana Apple Smoothie with Milk
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 apple (6-8 oz.) with skin, chopped Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Granny Smith
- ½ banana, frozen
- 4 frozen milk ice cubes
- ¼ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Freeze the banana and/or milk in ice cube trays, or both.
- Cut the apple. Wash the apple, cut off four sides and discard the core. Chop the four chunks into roughly 1-inch chunks.
- Add all ingredients to a blender. Process for about 45 seconds or enough to be sure the rolled oats are broken down.1 apple (6-8 oz.) with skin, chopped, ½ banana, frozen, 4 frozen milk ice cubes, ¼ cup rolled oats, ½ cup milk, 1 tablespoon peanut butter, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Taste the smoothie and if you need a sweetener, add a date and blend again, or add 1-2 tablespoon of maple syrup. Add more milk if you need it less thick.
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