Easy Blackberry Smoothie

This easy and creamy blackberry smoothie, bursting with bright berry flavor, is a refreshing treat for busy mornings. It combines the tart taste of blackberries with the sweetness of banana and maple syrup; all blended up with Greek yogurt for added protein. Ready in just 5 minutes, this smoothie is an ideal breakfast choice, offering a delightful balance of flavor and nutrition to kickstart your day.

If the appearance of food influences your desire to eat it, this blackberry smoothie with its striking purple-pink color will be on your list. It’s the same reason I can never pass up a dragonfruit smoothie. The vibrancy draws you in, but the flavor will keep you hooked.

Smoothies (and smoothie bowls) can go one of two ways: super simple like this 3-ingredient mango pineapple smoothie or the kind where you dump all the contents of the fridge and pantry into the blender like this gut healing smoothie.

I often find it hard to keep things simple, wanting to get every nutritious element (this how to make a smoothie guide highlights all the options) I can into the glass, but with this recipe, I decided to let the berries shine and keep it to a minimum with other ingredients.

The result is a healthy blackberry smoothie with just a handful of simple ingredients that’s great for starting any busy day or an easy way to refuel after a workout. It also makes the perfect afternoon snack, especially in the summer when blackberries are abundant. 

Blackberry smoothie ingredients

Blackberries — I love to use fresh blackberries in season, but frozen blackberries work just as well outside of summertime.

Banana — Frozen banana is the secret ingredient in many smoothie recipes. It creates the perfect creamy texture and helps add to the smoothie’s thickness without adding ice.

Greek yogurt — The thickness and high protein content of Greek yogurt makes this smoothie super decadent with a crave-worthy creamy consistency. Greek yogurt is a great way to increase the protein content of any smoothie without needing to use protein powder. 

Unsweetened almond milk — Any milk (even regular dairy milk) will work. I prefer almond milk, and I like to use the plain, unsweetened version and add sweetness or flavor if desired. Oat milk, coconut milk or soy milk are excellent alternatives.

Maple syrup — Just a tablespoon is needed to add some sweetness to the smoothie. If your berries are super sweet, this may not even be required. Adjust to your taste preferences. Honey can also be used in place of maple syrup.

Hemp seeds, chia seeds and flax — I call these three ingredients the smoothie trifecta. Together, they add a nutritious boost of omega-3 fats and protein. Keeping these on hand is a great way to boost the nutrition of any smoothie, yogurt bowl or oatmeal recipe.

Different variations

There are a variety of ways to make this blackberry smoothie your own. A few popular options include:

• Omit the banana — I know many people don’t like bananas. I get this comment all the time on this popular pear smoothie recipe. The blackberry smoothie will be slightly more tart without banana, but it still tastes delicious. You may want additional maple syrup without the banana.
• Add some baby greens — Adding a handful of baby greens like spinach, kale or arugula will alter the color, but you won’t even be able to taste them. This is an easy way to get another serving of veggies in your day!
• Use protein powder — Including protein powder in the smoothie is a simple way to boost the protein content. Combined with the Greek yogurt, you can easily get a whole serving of protein in this drink. I use two high-quality protein powders consistently: Nuzest and Paleo Valley. Both those links will get you 15% off your order.
• Make it dairy-free — Switch out the Greek yogurt for your favorite plant-based vegan yogurt to easily make the blackberry smoothie vegan.
• Nut butter — Adding nut butter to the smoothie adds extra creaminess to the smoothie’s texture, along with healthy fats and calories, to help you stay full longer. Almond butter, cashew butter, macadamia nut butter or even pumpkin seed butter are great choices. I would avoid using peanut butter as the flavor overwhelms the delicate taste of the blackberries.

How to make the smoothie

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. If you’re using Greek yogurt, the smoothie will have a thicker texture than with a plant-based yogurt. Thin out with more milk as needed.

Using a high-powered blender like a Vitamix makes quick work of frozen fruit, and you’ll have a creamy smoothie in seconds. A high-quality blender like this is also the simplest way to pulverize the tiny seeds in blackberries. 

Pour the smoothie into a glass to drink with a straw, or turn it into a smoothie bowl and garnish with your favorite toppings.

How to prep ahead of time

Smoothies are best enjoyed when they’re made, but there are a few ways to prep ahead of time if needed:

• Make the smoothie, then store it in the refrigerator if you plan to drink it within two hours.
• Measure out the blackberries, bananas, chia, hemp and flax and store them in a freezer-safe bag. Stasher bags are great for this. When ready to make the smoothie, add the ingredients to a blender and blend with the milk, Greek yogurt and maple syrup.
• Smoothies can also be poured into large ice cube trays or Souper cubes and frozen. Put them in a glass a couple of hours before you want to drink it, and let them thaw. When half melted, they can be added to a blender to speed up the process. This method is great for storing any leftover blackberry smoothie you may have.

Why you’ll love this smoothie

• Quick and easy —Start to finish, this blackberry smoothie recipe takes just five minutes.
• Healthy and nutritious — Blackberries are high in fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants. With the protein of Greek yogurt and the omega-3s of chia, flaxseeds and hemp, this smoothie is an easy way to amp up your daily nutrition.
• Kid-friendly — Smoothie recipes like this one are super simple ways to encourage kids to eat healthy in a way they’ll be more inclined to eat a plate of vegetables.

More smoothies to try

Prune smoothie
Orange date smoothie
Blood orange smoothie
Pineapple kiwi smoothie