Are you ready to start blending? My Creamy Avocado Vanilla Smoothie has hidden veggies, plant-based protein, and the most delightfully sweet flavor you've ever sipped! You'll get a well-rounded breakfast that will make you feel incredible all day long.
I recently started thinking about my favorite smoothie "hacks." I'm talking about the ways I keep my smoothies packed full of nutrition while still tasting great! They should include veggies you can't taste, all-natural sweetener, plant-based protein, and ingredients to help you feel full longer and have the energy to be an active participant in your day.
Once I started tossing ingredients into the blender, and this Creamy Avocado Vanilla Smoothie was born! I make it without banana or protein powders, just produce, plant-based milk, and optional almonds for creaminess. The result is a nutty and sweet vanilla-flavored wonder smoothie that will make your body thank you!
Avocado Vanilla Smoothie Ingredients
This smoothie is absolutely filled with my favorite ingredients. It's like all of my tips and secrets for the perfect smoothie in one place! This recipe is already dairy-free, soy-free, refined sugar-free, and gluten-free, but I included suggestions to make it nut-free as well.
- Baby spinach - Pro tip: store your spinach with an (unbleached) paper towel tucked into the bag or container. It will soak up extra moisture and keep your spinach fresh and mush-free longer!
- Avocado - It should be ripe with the skin and pit removed. You can slice and freeze avocados to keep them on hand for smoothies!
- Frozen riced cauliflower - You can find this in most grocery stores with the frozen veggies. Frozen zucchini would also work in this recipe!
- Almond milk - Use unsweetened, plan almond milk. I have a recipe for The Best Homemade Almond Milk, or you can use Homemade Oat Milk if you're nut-free!
- Medjool dates - Pitted dates stored at room temperature will stay soft longer. If your dates have hardened, you can soak them in boiling water for a bit to help soften them.
- Almonds - I always use raw, blanched, slivered almonds in smoothies. You can just omit these if you're nut-free!
- Vanilla extract - This splash of vanilla pairs with the dates and avocado to make the dreamiest flavor!
All About Avocado
Avocados are delicious in Chipotle Guacamole and Protein-Packed Avocado Toast, but their subtle nutty, fresh flavor makes them incredible in sweeter recipes, too! I love using avocados to add creaminess to dessert recipes like my Dark Chocolate Avocado Truffles, Vegan Chocolate Pudding, and Key Lime Bars. They're absolutely perfect in this Avocado Vanilla Smoothie! Avocados offer healthy fats, dietary fiber and nearly 20 vitamins and minerals such as potassium, folate, vitamin E, C and B6.
My Favorite Secret Ingredient for an Avocado Vanilla Smoothie
One of my go-to ways to add vegetables into a smoothie is with frozen riced cauliflower. I always have a couple bags in my freezer for this reason! The frozen rice texture adds a perfect, frosty creaminess into smoothies, and it blends in so perfectly that you can't detect a taste of cauliflower...but you're getting all the health benefits! Cauliflower is nutrient-rich and low in calories while offering dietary fiber, vitamin C, and folic acid. Blend it into your Avocado Vanilla Smoothie for a great way to start your morning!
Are Dates Healthy?
Dates are an all-natural, healthy way to sweeten your smoothies. They're naturally juicy and sweet with a caramelly flavor that I love to use in many recipes. Dates contain tons of fiber, which is great for digestion and weight loss, along with being fat-free, sodium-free and cholesterol-free. They have nutritious vitamins and minerals including zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese, vitamin B6, niacin, calcium, iron, vitamin K, and loads of potassium!
Easy At-Home Smoothie Boosters
One of my favorite things about smoothies is that you can customize them for exactly what your body needs! I love to keep "boosters" on hand to up the nutrition in my favorite smoothie recipes. Here are a couple I might add into this smoothie:
- Chia seeds - Chia seeds are low in calories and rich in fiber with important nutrients including essential fatty acids omega-3 and 6, antioxidants, and minerals such as calcium, iron and magnesium.
- Hemp seeds - Hemp seeds add plant-based protein and essential fatty acids. They also contain vitamin E, potassium, iron, calcium, and dietary fiber, making them good for your digestive health.
- Baby spinach - This recipe already calls for a little bit, but you can really pack it in there! Spinach is low in calories while containing dietary fiber, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C and folate. It is also a good source of magnesium!
Did you know that smoothies are my specialty?! I am OBSESSED with making smoothies that are filled with the nutrients your body is craving while tasting like a treat. I love smoothies so much, I wrote a whole cookbook full of them! Rock Your Blender is filled with incredible smoothie recipes that you won't find on the blog, and it's available as an e-book (instant download!) or a physical copy through Amazon.
This Avocado Vanilla Smoothie is totally vegan (no dairy or eggs), gluten-free, soy-free, and can be easily made without nuts. I love this flavor combination so much! If you blend it up, I hope you'll tag me on Instagram so I can cheer you on in your smoothie-making adventures. You can also make my day by leaving a review below!
More Smoothies You'll Love to Blend
- 5-Ingredient Mango Avocado Smoothie
- Vegan Salted Caramel Smoothie
- Vegan Apple Pie Smoothie
- Healthy Chocolate Smoothie
- Mint Cacao Nib Smoothie
- Vegan Healthy Birthday Cake Smoothie
- Easy No-Nut Vegan Protein Smoothie
- Strawberries & Cream Veggie-Filled Smoothie
- Minty Kale Smoothie
- Salted Tahini & Date Vegan Chocolate Smoothie
- Healthy Chocolate Mocha Smoothie
Creamy Avocado Vanilla Smoothie with Hidden Veggies (vegan + paleo)
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2-3
- Diet: Vegan
Description
My Creamy Avocado Vanilla Smoothie has hidden veggies, plant-based protein, and the most delightfully sweet flavor you've ever sipped!
Ingredients
For the smoothie
- 1 large handful fresh baby spinach
- 1 ripe avocado, skin and pit removed (chilled in advance if possible)
- 1 cup frozen riced cauliflower (or frozen zucchini)
- 1 cup unsweetened, plain almond milk (or oat milk)
- 5 large pitted, Medjool dates (stored at room temperature and soft)
- ¼ cup raw, blanched slivered almonds (omit if nut-free)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2.5 cups ice cubes (added in batches - see directions)
Optional smoothie boosters
- a second handful of raw baby spinach
- 1-2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1-2 tablespoons hemp seeds
Instructions
- Add spinach, avocado, cauliflower (or zucchini), milk of choice, dates, almonds, vanilla and any optional smoothie boosters to a high speed blender and blend on the highest speed until smooth and creamy (about 60 seconds).
- Add one cup of ice and blend for 30 seconds on the highest speed. Add one cup of ice and blend again for 30 seconds. Add the last bit of ice and blend again until smooth and creamy. I like to add the ice slowly to ensure it is easy to blend in. If you want to add it all at once you can and then just use your blender's plunger/tamper to push the ice into the blades. Either way works great.
- Pour into 2-3 glasses and enjoy immediately.
Equipment
Buy Now → - Prep Time: 5
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Blender
Jen says
So good! Don’t be fooled by the vibrant green color....this tastes smooth and creamy like a vanilla milkshake!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you, Jen! Thank you so much! My kids said the exact same thing! It tastes like a vanilla milkshake somehow! I'm glad you feel the same way. Thank you so much for the five star rating! Best, Elaine
Bridget says
Husband loved this one. It was extra creamy and he’s obsessed with avocado so this was a winner.
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Bridget! So happy to hear you all enjoyed this one! I love to put avocado in my chocolate smoothies as well (especially when I have a leftover half). Here is that recipe: https://www.eatingbyelaine.com/healthy-creamy-chocolate-smoothie/
I also love to use avocado in key lime pie smoothies: https://www.eatingbyelaine.com/the-best-vegan-key-lime-pie-smoothie-bowl/
I also lvoe to use avocado in chocolate pudding: https://www.eatingbyelaine.com/vegan-chocolate-mousse-2/ (this is one of our favorite recipes).
I hope this is helpful 🙂
Best,
Elaine
Dee says
This has become my go-to smoothie. It's so delicious. And I love that it's primarily veggie based.
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Dee! I'm so happy to hear you have been enjoying this one so much! Best, Elaine