This cherry vanilla smoothie is the perfect amount of sweet and filling for a breakfast smoothie or snack! Frozen cherries are mixed with seeds for a little extra protein. This recipe is completely nut-free and dairy free, and is a great cherry smoothie without bananas.
Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
I posted this cherry vanilla smoothie recipe on instagram and facebook, but thought it deserved its own space on the blog. It’s that good! Smoothies are probably my favorite thing to make in the morning, and I find it’s easy to whip together quickly. It is possible to make great smoothies without the addition of dairy, and this one is proof.
While tart cherries offer wonderful properties as far as soothing muscle soreness and promoting sleep, sweet cherries have greater anti-inflammatory properties.
Mulberries in Smoothies
As you’ve seen in some of my other smoothies, mulberries are my favorite. I really love using them when I’m making recipes without bananas. They add a great butterscotch-type flavor that I think you miss if you’re not using bananas.
I recently found Anthony’s which are sun-dried and look quite good. TerraSoul is my current brand. Although these are dried, you can rest easy knowing they don’t contain sulfites you’d find in other dried fruits. I also order my goji berries on Amazon, but these are really optional for this smoothie. I just use them for the extra superfood properties. Frozen cherries can be found in almost every grocery store. I usually get mine from Trader Joe’s (I know, I know they’re not organic), but one of my lovely readers told me you can get a huge bag of organic ones from Costco. But good luck making it out of there without 50 bins of toilet paper too.
Can’t Find Mulberries?
If you can’t find this or simply don’t want to use them, just leave them out. The smoothie won’t be as sweet, but I find it’s still delicious either way.
Protein Options
If you’re following a migraine diet, it’s important to choose your protein options for smoothies wisely. For this cherry vanilla smoothie, I love using sunflower butter. I think the flavors work really well together. My personal favorite is the Salted Sunflower Spread from Trader Joe’s, but I know many prefer the sweetened kind in the blue bottle. Just add whatever your favorite is! Pumpkin seed butter would be another neutral option.
Some other options you could add are hemp and chia seeds to boost the protein and fiber content, but be careful using too much as hemp as the flavor can be a tad overpowering.
Tips for Making a Cherry Vanilla Smoothie
This recipe works well in all types of blenders, but I find I don’t have to use as much liquid with a high speed blender like Vitamix.
- Start with liquid first, then seeds and/or fruits and vegetables, and finish with ice.
- Add more ice to thicken the smoothie (or frozen fruit) and more water or milk to thin it.
- Seeds add lots of extra protein! Here you can substitute the water for hemp milk if you’re looking for a very filling breakfast.
Cherry Vanilla Smoothie
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup frozen cherries
- 1.5 tbsp sunbutter (sunflower seed butter)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup water or milk of choice
- 1/3-1/2 cup ice
- 1/4 cup dried white mulberries (optional, see post)
- 1 tbsp goji berries (optional, see post)
- hemp seeds and/or chia seeds for garnish or extra protein
Instructions
- Combine goji berries and mulberries (if using), vanilla, sunflower seed butter, and water. Blend to combine. Add frozen cherries and blend. (If you have a high speed blender like a vitamix, just dump everything in and blend it)
- Add desired amount of ice to thicken. Serve immediately...naturally!
Notes
- Start with liquid first, then seeds and/or fruits and vegetables, and finish with ice.
- Add more ice to thicken the smoothie (or frozen fruit) and more water or milk to thin it.
- Seeds add lots of extra protein! Here you can substitute the water for hemp milk if you're looking for a very filling breakfast.
Hi
Sunflower is ok for migraines? thought it had high omega 6 is this ok then ?
Kind Thanks
It would depend on your personal migraine triggers, but for most sunflower seeds are well-tolerated.
Amazing. This is my new fave breakfast. Added oat milk. So good.
Mine too Nikki!!
Hi Alicia,
How can I tell when buying dried fruit if it contains sulfites ? Is it enough if it isn’t listed in the ingredients?
Thanks!
Yes, it will be on the label if it’s added.
What brand of vanilla do you use?
Hey Sharon, I use the alcohol free vanilla at Trader Joes, but really any brand will do.
I love this recipe! Make it regularly and always turns out delicious! My husband and 7 year old daughter always ask me to make extra for them 🙂
Love that it has protein in it along with fruit so I don’t get that sugar spike and crash – thanks Alicia!
Aw thanks, Rebecca!!! It’s one of my favorites of all time.
Holy Toledo this is good! I didn’t have mulberries, so I added some honey. But I’ve ordered the mulberries on Amazon to try next time!
Hi Alicia, where does one get white mulberries???
On Amazon! 🙂
PS, what is the “garnish” on top? Hemp seeds and??
Your friend was right about the Cherries at Costco. They are frozen “Dark Sweet Cherries” (no sugar added) whole cherries in a 4lb bag. They also have a 4lb bag of organic “Wild Blueberries”. Both are flash frozen.