Festive Cranberry Chocolate Smoothie

by Valerie on December 6, 2011 · 9 comments

cranberry chocolate smoothie

The day after Thanksgiving, I had a scant quarter cup leftover from making two batches of Kim’s Apple Cranberry Sauce and my Grain-Free Cranberry Sage Dressing so I decided to try a cranberry chocolate smoothie that morning, before heading to the office.  It turned out wonderfully refreshing yet complex.  Also, for a smoothie, it had a very festive, special taste. Perfect for the holidays!

Cranberry Chocolate Smoothie (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Soy-Free) – Serves 1 to 2 people

  • 1 cup unsweetened So Delicious Coconut Milk or other non-dairy milk
  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I used Sunwarrior Warrior Blend)
  • 2 tablespoons raw cacao 
  • 1-2 cups raw spinach
  • 3/4 cup frozen blueberries (I really like the wild organic frozen blueberries from Trader Joe’s)
  • 1/4 cup cranberries, frozen or fresh
  • 4-6 ice cubes
  • Stevia or other sweetener to taste (I skipped using any as the Warrior Blend has stevia in it)
  • Shredded coconut (or coconut flakes) and/or dried cranberries, for topping

Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth (note, if using an non-high-speed blender, you may want to first blend the spinach with the non-dairy milk before adding the remaining ingredients).

I am submitting this recipe to several blog events:

  • Diets, Desserts and Dogs’ Wellness Weekend – cranberries, blueberries, spinach and raw cacao makes this chock-full of vitamins and antioxidants
  • Flip Cookbook’s Sugar Free Sunday
  • Simply Sugar- and Gluten-Free’s Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays
  • Gluten-Free Wednesday over at the Gluten-Free Homemaker
  • Week 5 of Gluten-Free Holiday, created by Amy of Simply Sugar and Gluten Free and hosted by Ricki of Diets, Desserts and Dogs – the theme for Week 5 is Breakfast and Brunch. I was planning to reprise my efforts from earlier this year to make vegan almond flour muffins with juice pulp and nutritional yeast, but this smoothie has such a festive cranberry chocolate flavor, that it earns its place as a fruity brunch drink.   
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    { 6 comments… read them below or add one }

    1 Victoria (District Chocoholic) December 6, 2011 at 2:58 am

    Cranberries and chocolate are delicious together. Another Valerie smoothie to add to the “must try” list.

    Reply

    2 Valerie December 6, 2011 at 3:16 am

    Awww, thanks Victoria. I am always so happy to hear you enjoy my recipes :)

    Reply

    3 Ricki December 6, 2011 at 3:12 am

    How I love this recipe!! Believe it or not, my hubby and I had cranberry-chocolate crunch ice cream for dessert tonight, which is very similar to this–fantastic. I think that cranberry and chocolate is a brilliant combination, and the protein powder addition is such a great idea. Thanks so much for submitting this to WW this week!

    Reply

    4 Valerie December 6, 2011 at 3:16 am

    You are so welcome. Cranberry chocolate crunch ice cream sounds *amazing*.

    Reply

    5 Ricki December 6, 2011 at 3:28 am

    Thanks, Valerie! It was a coconut milk-based cranberry ice cream with cacao nibs, which I blended with equal parts chocolate ice cream that didn’t quite come out the way I wanted it to. . .but together, they were heaven! I’m going to see if I can recreate it on purpose and if so will post on the blog. :)

    Reply

    6 Valerie December 7, 2011 at 3:44 am

    I will so be making that ASAP if you do post it :)

    Reply

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