This Vegan Salted Caramel Smoothie is already going to be my go-to for this fall, I just know it. It's filled with warm vanilla, decadent caramel, sweet dates, and plant-based protein thanks to Sprouts vegan protein powder and almonds! This smoothie is refined sugar-free, paleo, dairy-free and it even offers a hidden veggie too!
You probably know by now just how much I love a smoothie that tastes like dessert. Mornings are not my favorite time of day, so knowing that I have something delicious to make in the blender helps get me moving! I also love them as snacks and even desserts. Smoothies are one of the easiest ways to get so many nutritious ingredients into a dish that tastes like a treat! This Vegan Salted Caramel Smoothie is my current favorite treat to blend up. It's sweet, comforting, filling, and filled with enough protein that it's perfect for after a workout!
I love shopping at grocery stores that specialize in plant-based and organic diets, so you can imagine how excited I get to browse the seasonal goodies at Sprouts! Every fall they have the best selection of seasonal flavors...all things pumpkin, chai, apple, and maple! This year they have Sprouts Brand Vegan Protein Powders in Salted Caramel and Apple Pie flavors, and I was immediately dreaming of the perfect autumnal smoothies. My sweet tooth demanded I create a Salted Caramel one, and I'm so excited about this protein-filled smoothie that tastes like dessert!
Vegan Salted Caramel Smoothie Ingredients
Get ready for SO MUCH caramel flavor, you'll be doing a happy dance after the first taste!
- Plant-based milk - I use unsweetened and plain almond milk! You can make your own or grab your favorite brand at the store.
- Frozen riced cauliflower - Most grocery stores have this with the frozen veggies! Just make sure the only ingredient is cauliflower so you don't have any unexpected flavors added in.
- Almonds - Look for raw, blanched, and slivered almonds for the best results.
- Sprouts Brand Salted Caramel Vegan Protein Powder - This is where all that caramelly goodness comes from! I do provide an alternative if you do not live near a Sprouts.
- Medjool dates - Large, soft, and pitted! If your dates aren't super fresh and have started to harden, you can soak them in hot water for 30-60 minutes to soften them up. Just drain and rinse before throwing them in the blender!
- Vanilla extract - I love how vanilla perfectly pairs with the caramel flavor!
- Chia seeds - These are optional but add a really great boost of fiber to your smoothie.
Frozen Riced Cauliflower in Smoothies
I always have a bag (or five!) of riced cauliflower in my freezer. A lot of people think it's the strangest smoothie ingredient, but I promise you don't taste any cauliflower AT ALL. It adds surprisingly creamy texture, and you're getting a whole host of health benefits added in such as dietary fiber, vitamin C, and folic acid. It’s also really low in calories! Cauliflower is also great for digestion and iron absorption as well.
All About Dates
This smoothie is sweetened with Medjool dates. As someone who avoids refined sugar, dates are my little BFFs! They have a naturally sweet and caramel-like flavor that is a must-use in a vegan caramel smoothie. From a health perspective, dates contain loads of fiber which aids in weight loss, digestion, and heart health. Dates are fat-free, sodium-free, and cholesterol-free while also containing nutritious vitamins and minerals including zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese, vitamin B6, niacin, calcium, iron, and vitamin K. They even have more potassium (weight for weight) than bananas! Potassium is so important as it builds muscle, controls fluid balances, and helps your body break down carbohydrates.
Vegan Salted Caramel Smoothie Toppings
If you're going to make a smoothie that tastes like dessert, let's make it look like dessert, too! I love adding a little garnish to make my smoothie feel extra special. Both my Easy Coconut Whipped Cream and Instant Vegan Caramel Sauce are free of refined sugar and totally vegan!
If you love smoothies that taste like dessert (I know I do!), you'll love my cookbook Rock Your Blender. It's filled with plant-based smoothies that are delicious AND exclusive to the cookbook! You can buy it as an instant download or order a physical copy on Amazon.
This no-fruit Vegan Salted Caramel Smoothie is totally vegan (no eggs or dairy!) and made without soy or refined sugar. It is also paleo. I love plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes that everyone can enjoy! If you love this smoothie as much as I do, please drop a review below and don't forget to tag me on Instagram!
More Smoothie Recipes
Easy No-Nut Vegan Protein Smoothie
The Best Vegan Key Lime Pie Smoothie Bowl
Vegan Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Creamy Vegan Cranberry Smoothie
Vegan Salted Tahini Date Chocolate Smoothie
Dye-Free Vegan Candy Corn Smoothie
Vegan Apple Pie Smoothie
Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie Bowl
Creamy Mint Chocolate Smoothie
Creamy Vegan Peppermint Patty Smoothie
Vegan Wild Blueberry and Almond Butter Smoothie
Vegan Salted Caramel Smoothie
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 28 ounces 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
For the salted caramel smoothie:
- 1 ¼ cup unsweetened, plain almond milk (or any non-dairy milk)
- ¾ cup frozen riced cauliflower
- ½ cup raw blanched slivered almonds
- 1 scoop Sprouts salted caramel vegan protein powder*
- 4 large soft pitted Medjool dates
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
- 2 cups ice cubes
Garnish:
- Coconut whipped cream
- Homemade Date Caramel Drizzle
Instructions
- Add almond milk, frozen cauliflower, almonds, protein powder, dates, vanilla and chia seeds (if using) to a high speed blender. Blend from low to the highest speed gradually and leave on the highest speed for at least 30 seconds until the smoothie is perfectly creamy. Use your blender's tamper/plunger if needed.
- Add one cup of ice and blend until smooth and creamy. Add the second cup of ice and blend again until smooth and creamy.
- Immediately pour into two to three glasses and garnish with coconut whipped cream and Homemade Date Caramel Drizzle. Enjoy immediately with a spoon or straw.
Notes
* If you do not have this particular protein powder, you can add 1 tablespoon of my homemade vegan caramel sauce, 1 tablespoon raw, creamy almond butter and 1 tablespoon hemp seeds. This achieves a very similar flavor. You can even blend in more of the caramel sauce for a stronger caramel flavor if desired (even if you do have the protein powder!).
- Prep Time: 5
- Category: Smoothie
- Method: Blender
Keywords: vegan caramel smoothie
This post is sponsored by Sprouts Farmers Market. All writing and opinions are my own.
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