It’s amazing what the right smoothie can do.
This one gives me energy and makes me feel refreshed and revitalized.
Partly because it’s not a super sweet smoothie. I used Montmorency tart cherries, which have a unique sour-sweet taste. The slight tartness wakes up my tastebuds and cuts through the cobwebs in my brain without needing to pour a cup of coffee.
It’s a great smoothie pre- or post-workout, or any time you need a little pick-me-up. It’s vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, and packed with tons of bold flavor.
The tart cherries are rich in vitamin A and for fruits and vegetables, a sour taste is often a cue for more phytonutrient compounds inside. Montmorency tart cherries contain anthocyanins, a ๏ฌavonoid that contributes to the ruby-red color and distinguishing taste.
Tart cherries are available in dried, frozen and juice forms so you can enjoy these superfruits year-round.
The banana is packed with potassium, and coconut water is like nature’s sports drink and naturally balances and replenishes electrolytes.
The cherry flavor is bold yet tempered by the smooth, creamy banana. Bananas are such workhorses in smoothies. I always keep a stash of banana chunks in the freezer so I can toss a few into the blender for smoothies. No need for ice that way, either.
I sweetened it to taste so that it’s sweet-yet-tart like a glass of lemonade should be. It’s refreshing and zingy without having to pucker up.
It’s interesting that expert trend trackers say sour is the new spicy, which will no doubt change the food industry. To learn more about going tart instead, and to ๏ฌnd recipes and serving ideas for tart cherries, visit choosecherries.com
Pin This Recipe
Enjoy AverieCooks.com Without Ads! ๐
Go Ad Free
Cherry Revitalizer Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups Montmorency tart cherries, frozen
- 2 medium/large ripe bananas, previously frozen in chunks is ideal
- 1 cup coconut water, water may be substituted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
- sweetener, to taste (granulated sugar, agave, stevia, zero-calorie sweetener, etc.)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in the canister of a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Serve immediately. Extra portions may be frozen in freezer-safe (plastic) glasses for up to 3 months. Allow to soften at room temp before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
ยฉaveriecooks.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
A Year’s Supply of Dried Tart Cherries and Tart Cherry Juice
A KitchenAid 7-Quart Mixer
Le Creuset 4.5- Quart Dutch Oven
Anthropolgie Apron
Enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Sometimes it’s a bit slow to load so please be patient. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I was asked to participate in the National Cherry Month #GoTart Campaign as a member of the Healthy Aperture Blogger Network. I received free samples of tart cherries mentioned in this post from the Cherry Marketing Institute. I was compensated for my time. Opinions expressed are my own. #GoTart Giveaway
I like adding them to muffins.
I haven’t been a fan of cherries for much of my life, but recently I’ve found that I love them raw and fresh. I’d love to try them in muffins or a pie as well!
cherry cheesecake!
Love them in muffins!
Just started making smoothies. Can’t wait to try the cherry smoothie!
Homemade fresh cherry pies made from scratch
This looks so good and refreshing.
Fantastic recipe, looking forward to trying it! x
In granola and yogurt…and in oatmeal cookies, with chocolate chips! :)
We eat them like candy
I make oatmeal cherry vanilla cookies – they’re so delicious!
I love cherries and would love a cherry red KitchenAid stand mixer!
Up until a year ago I was not a fan of cherries. Then I had a cherry veggie smoothie which changed my mind. I would be thrilled to get picked!
I would love to make my husband a tart cherry pie. And lets not forget Cherry Pie Mock Moonshine
I love making chocolate covered cherries! And putting them in pancakes!
I have actually never tried a dried tart cherry but I think that they would be really good in smoothies or cookies. I use fresh tart cherries in crisps and cobblers. Yum!