Try a Vegan Cranberry Orange Smoothie this winter - it's full of festive flavors and ready in just a few minutes! There are options to make it without banana and many customizations as well.
It's the season for cranberries in, well, everything! These are some of my favorite fruits and they are best enjoyed during winter months. I always pick up a few bags for the freezer as soon as they hit grocery stores.
15-Minute Cranberry Sauce is of course on my Thanksgiving menu every year, but there is so much more we can do with this delicious fruit. While this Gin Cranberry Cocktail is one of the most popular holiday recipes on the site, let's mix things up today with a perfect morning smoothie, evoking so many of the same flavors.
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Why This Recipe Works
Smoothies are a convenient and delicious meal or snack any time of year. You'll love this one as it uses two popular winter ingredients (cranberry and orange) in a way that's unique and extremely delicious. When blended with banana, there is a perfect balance of tart and sweet seasonal flavors.
Cranberry Orange Smoothie Ingredients
I wanted to choose ingredients that most people have access to this time of year, while also offering a number of substitutions that do not compromise the integrity of this delicious cranberry orange smoothie. Leftover cranberry sauce is common during the holiday season, but we also have variations if you don't have this already prepared (be sure to read the entire recipe card for details).
- Cranberry sauce forms the base of our flavor. Frozen whole cranberries and a splash of maple syrup date can be substituted here!
- Rolled oats help to make this smoothie more satisfying.
- A ripe banana adds sweetness and texture. If you want a banana-free option, â…“ cup of yogurt or pumpkin puree both work.
- A spice mixture of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg helps evoke festive flavors.
Be sure to review the recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions
There are a number of ways to modify this recipe based on personal preference and what you have access to.
- Banana - Instead of banana, yogurt is a nice substitute as it provides a creamy texture. It also provides sweetness, so to make up for that, add a splash of maple syrup or two Medjool dates. A splash of vanilla will also improve the perceived sweetness of this smoothie.
- Cranberry sauce - If you do not have any cranberry sauce on hand, substitute â…“ cup fresh cranberries and 3 TBS maple syrup or 2 Medool dates.
- Orange - If you do not have a fresh orange or clementine, feel free to substitute ÂĽ cup of orange juice.
- Spices - Most of the spices here can be omitted if you do not have them on hand. Fresh versions can also be substituted (ginger room, fresh nutmeg).
- Oats - Oatmeal provides heft and texture. If you do not have this, substitute ground flaxseeds.
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender.
- Blend on high, adding more liquid to achieve the desired texture.
- Pour into two cups, adding fresh cranberries on top for a garnish.
- Swirl in more cranberry sauce for a "tie-dye" effect (this is optional).
Hint: This cranberry orange smoothie is best enjoyed right away, and depending on the temperature of your ingredients, may be warmer than you'd like. An easy solution: Add some ice cubes right before blending, for a creamy and cool texture!
Variations
The main two flavors here are cranberry and orange but feel free to get creative.
- Cran-Apple - A bit of applesauce can be used alongside or in place of banana for an even more festive take.
- Popsicle - If you live in a warm climate, try freezing this smoothie in a popsicle mold for a refreshing treat!
- Add some nuts - Almonds and pistachios both accent the ingredients here nicely!
- See this recipe for Vegan Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti as an example of how well these flavors go together.
Equipment
Years ago, my husband got lucky and purchased us a refurbished Vitamix blender. It's been well worth the investment, as we cook and prepare foods from home often. The power of it is unmatched. I know that this price point is not the most accessible, so any decent blender will get the job done here.
In theory this could be made in a food processor, but that is a lot to clean so I don't recommend it.
Cranberry Orange Smoothie Storage
This smoothie can be prepared a few hours in advance and stored in the fridge. I do not recommend making it more than a day ahead, as it's best enjoyed right away.
Feel free to prep the ingredients in advance though - I like storing pieces of frozen fruit in packets in my freezer for ease of preparation!
Top Tip
Make sure your banana is ripe! The sweetness from this recipe largely comes from this fruit - if it's not fully ripe, the bitter cranberries will overpower everything else. If you're not using a banana, be sure to add a few dates to make up for this.
Cranberry Orange Smoothie FAQ
Yes! Frozen cranberries are a great addition to smoothies, but are very tart so you likely will want to offset this with something sweet.
Apples and oranges are both excellent pairs with cranberries. The saying "what grows together, goes together" rings well here - these are both popular fruits in late fall and winter, when cranberries often show up in stores. Cranberries are fairly bitter, so banana is another great option for mixing as it balances the flavors well.
More Smoothies
Looking for other satisfying vegan smoothie recipes? Try one of these:
I hope you love this recipe! Please be sure to leave a rating + review if you give it a try, I enjoy hearing what you think. Instagram is another fun place to connect!
Cranberry Orange Smoothie
Equipment
- blender
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana medium size, peeled, see substitutions in notes
- 1 orange medium size, peeled
- 1 ÂĽ cups nondairy milk soy, almond, or coconut work
- â…“ cup cranberry sauce Plus more for garnishing, see substitutions in notes
- ÂĽ cup rolled oats
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ÂĽ teaspoon ground ginger optional but recommended
- ÂĽ teaspoon ground nutmeg optional but recommended
- 2 ice cubes optional
Instructions
- Add banana, orange, milk, cranberry sauce, rolled oats, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg to a blender.
- Blend on high until smooth. If desired, add a couple ice cubes for a frothier, cooler texture.
- Pour into two glasses. Feel free to garnish with fresh cranberries if you have them!
- Optionally, swirl a TBS of cranberry sauce into each glass for a tie-dye effect. Enjoy right away.
Video
Notes
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- Banana - Instead of banana, yogurt is a nice substitute as it provides a creamy texture. It also provides sweetness, so to make u for that, add a splash of maple syrup or two Medjool dates. A splash of vanilla will also improve the perceived sweetness of this smoothie.
-
- Cranberry sauce - If you do not have any cranberry sauce on hand, substitute â…“ cup fresh cranberries and 3 TBS maple syrup or 2 Medjool dates.
-
- Orange - If you do not have a fresh orange or clementine, feel free to substitute ÂĽ cup of orange juice.
-
- Spices - Most of the spices here can be omitted if you do not have them on hand. Fresh versions can also be substituted (ginger room, fresh nutmeg).
-
- Oats - Oatmeal provides heft and texture. If you do not have this, substitute ground flaxseeds.
Trisha says
I made a big batch of this for the day after Thanksgiving and my family loved it!
Emily says
So glad it worked for you, Trisha!
Emily says
This recipe comes together very quickly and is extremely customizable!
Emily says
Thank you for rating, Emily!