Making smoothie cubes as ice cube concentrates is the key to making homemade smoothies quickly and easily. Just add a few cubes to a refrigerated glass the night before, stir in some liquid, and your grab-and-go smoothie is ready!
Smoothie cubes are an easy meal-prep method to make smoothies ahead of time. Blend them up, freeze them in ice cube trays, thaw overnight and your smoothie is ready. It is the key to making smoothies at home and conveniently.
If you want to commit to a smoothie a day, this might be the method for you. I provide you with six flavors of smoothie recipes below, but any smoothie can be made into a smoothie cube, including my favorites, my strawberry smoothie, my chocolate peanut butter smoothie, and my delicious chocolate smoothie.
Why You'll Love These
Easy to Make. Blend up ingredients - adding customizations as you wish - and pour into a ice cube tray, and freeze.
Convenience. The frozen cubes are waiting for you in the freezer. Toss the cubes in a glass the prior night, the next morning stir and add liquid - your smoothie is ready to go!
Bursting with nutrition. The recipes as is are full of fiber and protein and nutrients that you probably wouldn't eat today otherwise. And I also provide you with a list of add-ins to increase protein or fiber or gut healthy, whatever your need. All ingredients are plant-based and dairy-free.
Steps to Make
This method will provide you with slightly concentrated frozen smoothie cubes that you can let thaw, and then stir or shake or even blend with your favorite liquid into a fresh healthy clean smoothie. Here are general steps - for the six recipe ingredients and measurements, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Prep: Make sure as many of your ingredients are frozen if possible, not for taste but because it's easier to get the right proportions. Also be sure to use organic for zucchini and berries which tend to absorb more pesticides.
Step 1: Blend the smoothie ingredients listed in one of the six recipes in the recipe card below. Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend for one minute. Do not add ice. You can add a few tablespoons of water or milk if your blender needs it to blend. Or just stop the blender and stir it up a bit with a spoon and try again. It's okay if the texture is slushy because you are just refreezing.
Step 2: Pour the mixture into two ice cube trays. Each flavor should produce 2 cups of smoothie mixture. Add a touch more of the recipe's liquid if you need to to bring the mixture up to 2 cups - it will vary slightly depending on the fruit and veggies size and moisture levels. Ice cube trays tend to hold about 1 cup so I usually make two ice cube trays per flavor. .
Step 3: Freeze the cubes overnight and then transfer the cubes into bags or freezer containers for storage in the freezer. They keep for three months without losing nutritional value.
Making Smoothies With Smoothie Cubes
Step 1: Make a grab-and-go smoothie by adding 4 smoothie cubes to a glass the prior night, refrigerate it overnight.
Step 2: The next day, stir up the thawed smoothie with ½ glass of water or milk or coconut water. Your grab-and-go smoothie is ready to go!
Pro-tip: For a larger or more concentrated smoothie, thaw more cubes. You'll get to know how many makes a good smoothie for you by making them.
Recipe Tips
When to make your cubes. I regard making the cubes as meal prep, and usually make enough on Sunday to give me smoothies every day of the week.
Dietary needs. These recipes are easy to customize and adjust. As they stand, they are vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
When to buy organic. Remember to use organic fruits and veggies based on the "Clean Dirty" lists by the EWG.com. For instance, berries, zucchini and apples are all test high in pesticide absorption so should be bought organic or peeled. For more detail on the finer points of smoothie making, check out my post "how to make a healthy smoothie" for other tips.
Smoothie Additions
To thicken your smoothie. Add chopped raw zucchini or a small banana or ½ an avocado, chia seeds or a handful of rolled oats.
To increase your protein. Add almonds, cashews and raw or cooked quinoa, or buckwheat groats.
Other additions to consider. Add a ¼ cup of berries, a tablespoon of butter or a teaspoon of powders or seeds per recipe.
- Pea Protein Powder
- Coconut Butter
- Goji Berries
- Flax seeds
- Camu Camu Powder
- Wheatgrass Powder
- Ceremonial Grade Matcha Tea
FAQS
What are smoothie cubes?
Smoothie cubes are an easy meal-prep method to make smoothies ahead of time. They are concentrated cubes of frozen smoothie mixture.
Do ice cubes make smoothies thicker?
Ice cubes temporarily make smoothies thicker, but they soon melt and render your smoothie watery. It's best to use frozen fruit instead.
How to make your own smoothie cubes
Mix up your favorite smoothie and reduce the liquid. Freeze the mixture in ice cube trays, then thaw as needed in a refrigerated glass the prior night, add liquid, stir or shake and enjoy.
More Smoothie Recipes
- Creamy Chocolate Smoothie
- Strawberry Smoothie
- Cauliflower Smoothie
- Peanut Butter Smoothie
- Tropical Jackfruit Recipe
- Raspberry Smoothie
- Mango Smoothie
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📖 Recipe
Making Smoothie Cubes (6 Easy Recipes)
Ingredients
PINK Pitaya Berry Smoothie
- ½ cup strawberries
- 1 cup peeled dark pink pitayas (dragonfruits) or 2 packets frozen found in Whole Foods or ½ cup freeze dried pitaya found here
- ½ cup dairy-free milk
- 1 teaspoon baobab powder
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
YELLOW Mango Cream Smoothie
- 1 cup mango
- 1 banana or 2 pears (not peeled), or 1 peeled organic zucchini
- ½ cup dairy-free milk
- 1 teaspoon baobab powder
PURPLE Acai Blackberry Smoothie
- 1 cup blackberries
- 1 banana or 2 pears (not peeled), or 1 peeled organic zucchini
- ½ cup water
- 1 tablespoon acai powder
BLUE Spirulina Protein Smoothie
- 1 cup dairy-free yogurt
- ½ cup water
- 3 tablespoon coconut butter
- 1 teaspoon blue spirulina
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup or 2 pears (not peeled)
ORANGE Carrot Citrus Smoothie
- 1 cup carrots
- 1 medium zucchini, peeled and chopped
- ½ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup coconut water
GREEN Sweet Leafy Smoothie
- 1 cup spinach
- ½ cup chopped apple
- ½ cup white grapes
- ½ cup water
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
Useful Equipment
- Covered Ice Cube Tray I like this brand because each tray holds 1 cup of concentrate and has a cover so the ice cubes do not take on freezer scents and tastes. I typically fill two trays per flavor.
- High Speed Blender OR a..
- Food Processor Here is my favorite.
Instructions
To Make Cubes
- Blend up the ingredients for the flavor of your choices.
- Each flavor should produce 2 cups of mixture. Add a touch more of the recipe's liquid if you need to to bring the mixture up to 2 cups - it will vary slightly depending on the fruit and veggies size and moisture levels.
- Pour that flavor into two (1-cup) ice cube trays, either mine or your own choice.
- Freeze them overnight
- Store in the freezer for three months.
To Use Cubes to Make a Smoothie
- The night before, put 4 cubes in a glass. Refrigerate it overnight.
- The next morning, add a liquid, stir and drink your grab and go smoothie.
- Liquids to choose to add:--coconut water will sweeten it, --plain water will dilute it perfectly (remember, the cubes are concentrated)--milk will make it more creamy.
Storage Time
- Smoothie cubes will retain nutritional value frozen for at least three months.
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