Get your apple a day with this creamy and satisfying Green Apple Smoothie! Made with spinach, apple, and banana, it’s naturally sweet and full of plant-based nutrients. Raw, vegan, gluten-free, and oh so tasty!

It’s October! In Washington State that means it’s apple picking season. Apple trees are so common here that there is probably one tree per resident. My neighbor has a big old tree so weighted down with fruit that the ripe apples drop off and roll right down the alley. Even the deer are apple connoisseurs.

With all this abundance, I take it upon myself to tuck apples in as many recipes as possible. Like plopping an apple into my morning smoothie. It’s a fuss-free way to enjoy this bumper crop while catching up on vitamin C. And who doesn’t love a 5-minute breakfast that’s sweet, creamy, filling, and full of healthy ingredients?

So, if you see that gal drinking a green apple smoothie while eating an apple, don’t worry, she’s from Washington.

Ingredient breakdown

Let’s take a look at what gives this raw vegan smoothie its green color and sweet, creamy flavor.

Spinach- Two whole cups(!) turn the smoothie a glowing green. It’s also a tasty way to sneak dark leafy greens into your diet without giving your jaw a workout.

Green apples- just like its name! Slightly sour apples, like Granny Smith, beautifully balance the sweet bananas and pineapple. Trust me, this smoothie tastes sweet, not sour.

Ripe bananas- are all the sweetener you need. Choose bananas that are dotted with black spots. Those are the sweetest.

Pineapple- for a tangy flavor layer with a sweet tropical twist.

Almond milk- transforms this plant-based green smoothie into a dessert for breakfast shake, without a ton of extra calories.

Hemp hearts- for healthy fats and protein. Their mild nutty flavor adds body and richness while blending up delightfully creamy.

A pinch of salt- helps make the flavors sing. A pinch, which is between 1/16 – 1/8 of a teaspoon, is all you need to add the bright zing that makes food taste so good.

Ingredient substitutions:

I love this spinach apple banana smoothie as is, but here’s a few other ingredient options to explore:

Swap out the pineapple for 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger.
Add 2 tablespoons of flax seed meal and reduce the hemp hearts to 2 tablespoons.
Use coconut water in place of almond milk.
Try frozen bananas and pineapple for a thick, shake-like smoothie.

Expert tips for blending creamy smoothies

Use a powerful blender if you have one. This really helps break up all that fiber into teeny tiny pieces. If you have a less powerful blender, have patience, and stop to scrape the sides of the container as you go. This helps the blade “catch” the food. Adding a splash more almond milk and using thawed fruit will help the blender along.
Use ripe bananas for natural sweetness. Bananas that are covered all over with black spots will make the smoothie sweeter. With so many other flavors, it won’t taste like banana.
Add healthy fat. You might be tempted to skip the hemp hearts to make it fat-free. But I assure you, the smoothie will taste like it’s missing something. Adding healthy fat is what makes a rich, creamy, and satisfying smoothie.

Why You’ll Love This Green Apple Smoothie

I make a smoothie almost every morning and this recipe is in the regular rotation. The magic of tossing fruits and vegetables in a blender and ending up with a healthy drinkable treat just never gets old!

Quick and easy, 5-minute recipe!
Naturally sweet
Creamy and filling
Full of fiber and vitamins
Beautiful green color
Vegan, raw, and gluten-free

Here’s everything you need to get blending

Ingredients / Makes 2 (12 oz) smoothies

2 cups of spinach (about 1 large handful)
1 large green apple, like Granny Smith, cored and quartered
1 large ripe banana
1 cup (8 oz) of almond milk
¼ cup (about 6 chunks) of pineapple (fresh or frozen)
¼ cup (30 g) of hemp hearts (shelled hemp seeds)
1/8 teaspoon of fine sea salt

Recipe can be cut in half for a single 12 oz. serving

Step 1

Step 2

How to make Green Apple Smoothie

1. Plop all of your ingredients into a blender container.

2. Secure the lid and blend, starting at medium speed, and working your way up to high speed. Blend until all the fruit and spinach have turned into a smooth, thick, liquid that is pale green in color. This may take up to a minute or more, depending on what type of blender you’re using and how powerful it is.

3. Pour into a 12 oz. (or bigger) glass and garnish with an apple slice!

Storage Tips

leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. This all-natural smoothie will take on a brownish color, over time, as the apples and banana oxidize, but is still perfectly drinkable.

Related Recipes

Peach Pie Smoothie

Chocolate Avocado Smoothie Bowl

Super Greens Smoothie Bowl

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Yield: 2 Servings

Author: Carol Clayton