In just 2 minutes you can whip up this plant-based Southern Ambrosia Smoothie for a light and fresh breakfast! The beautiful blend of sweet cherries, bananas, oranges, and pineapples is a thick and creamy treat that you'll want to eat with a spoon!
When the weather starts to heat up, my breakfast routine quickly shifts from toast, pancakes, eggs or oatmeal to a lighter, fresher, and cooler morning meal -- always in the form of a smoothie!
What is it about that warm sunshine that makes our bodies crave fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-rich foods from Mother Earth? A smoothie is the perfect contrast to those long, dark winter months of hibernating indoors with bowls of heavy comfort food!
When I was shopping at Target recently, the baskets of fresh fruits and the huge selection of plant-based milks inspired an entirely new smoothie concoction. I borrowed the flavors from our family's favorite Southern Ambrosia dessert and whipped them into this refreshing breakfast treat!
This Southern Ambrosia Smoothie Is Tasty And Healthy!
Southern Ambrosia salad has been a staple on my family's holiday tables for as long as I can remember. The fluffy combination of cherries, oranges, pineapples, marshmallows, and coconut might not be the healthiest "salad," but it sure tastes delicious alongside an Easter ham or a Thanksgiving turkey.
Fortunately, I was able to combine all of the great flavors from our favorite Southern Ambrosia Salad in a much lighter and healthier smoothie. It's like eating dessert for breakfast!
Silk Unsweetened Coconut Milk forms the liquid base for my smoothie. It's gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free, but it gives the drink a delicious rich, creamy flavor for only 45 calories per cup!
Unsweetened fruit makes up the rest of the ingredients! I use Market Pantry frozen pitted cherries and frozen pineapple chunks from Target, which are an awesome and affordable shortcut. Plus, the frozen fruit gives the smoothie a nice, thick texture that's similar to soft-serve ice cream.
You don't even need to add ice, which would just water-down the drink. With some frozen sliced bananas and freshly-grated orange zest, your Southern Ambrosia smoothie is complete!
Personally, my favorite part of any smoothie is the toppings. You can get creative with your garnish, but my top picks for this recipe include Simply Balanced freeze dried fruit, Simply Balanced Organic Vanilla Bean Granola, and toasted coconut flakes. These ingredients are available at Target as well, so there's no need to run all over town searching for obscure items. I don't have time for that!
This particular smoothie is so thick that you'll probably need to eat it with a spoon. I find the texture far more satisfying than just slurping down a drink, and it's the perfect consistency to support all of the toppings. The thicker the base, the better the garnish floats!
The key to a thick smoothie is using frozen fruit and minimal liquid. I have a very powerful blender, so my recipe calls for just ½ cup of the coconut milk. If you need more of the milk to get the fruit to puree, then just be sure to add it in small amounts until your smoothie reaches the desired thickness.
You can't beat a spoonful of sweet, fresh smoothie combined with crunchy granola and buttery coconut. It's like a party in your mouth!
If you're running late and you want to take the Southern Ambrosia Smoothie to-go, just pour it into a mason jar or a giant glass. I've been known to guzzle down my breakfast in the school drop-off line on more than one occasion!
No matter how busy our lives may be, we all have at least 2 minutes to whip up this fresh fruit blend! A plant-based smoothie is the easiest way to start the day with a nutritious combination of energizing, satisfying, and delicious ingredients. Bonus points when it tastes like your favorite Southern dessert!
Southern Ambrosia Smoothie {Dairy Free & Vegan}
Ingredients
- ½ cup frozen No-Sugar Added Pineapple Chunks
- ½ cup frozen No-Sugar Added Dark Sweet Whole Pitted Cherries
- 1 small banana sliced and frozen
- Zest from 1 orange
- ½ cup unsweetened Silk Coconut Milk or more, as needed for thinning
- Optional Toppings: shredded unsweetened coconut or baked coconut flakes; whole cherries, pineapples, or orange slices; sunflower seeds, chia seeds, or hemp seeds; granola; freeze-dried pineapples, raspberries, or other fruit.
Instructions
- Place frozen pineapple, frozen cherries, frozen banana, orange zest, and coconut milk in a high-speed blender. Puree until smooth.
- If the mixture is too thick to blend, add additional coconut milk in very small increments until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Serve immediately and garnish with toppings of your choice.
Notes
Nutrition
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Silk and So Delicious. The opinions and text are all mine.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
I crave smoothies even more when the weather gets warmer, too! It's just so refreshing in the spring and summer. This ambrosia one sounds delicious, Blair! I love the texture and flavors. This is definitely a smoothie that I need to try!
Blair
Thank you, Gayle! You're right -- the texture and flavors in the smoothie are TO DIE FOR! 🙂
Paulette
WOW just what I wwas looking for. Came here byy searching for
green smoothie detox
Emily Kemp
This is the prettiest smoothie I've ever seen, sounds so delicious!
Blair
Thanks, Emily! 🙂