How to Make a Thick, Creamy Smoothie

Who doesn’t love a good smoothie? Especially one that’s got a velvety, luscious texture. I incorporate these tips in this berry white bean smoothie (try it, it’s phenomenal).

Well, I won’t make you wait any longer — let’s dive in!

1. Use frozen fruit

Using frozen fruit does wonders for your smoothies. It helps chill down the overall temperature, and doesn’t dilute the flavor like ice does! 

When the frozen fruit is broken down, it bulks up your smoothie. Plus, you get a creamy texture. Bananas are my favorite frozen fruit to use (bonus: you can make nice cream with it!) 

If you don’t like bananas, use any frozen fruit you like or even use avocado! It’s super creamy and blends beautifully.

You can buy frozen fruit at the store for convenience, or freeze fruit at home. 

2. Use frozen veggies 

Yup! You can use veggies in your smoothies. 

My favorite ones to use are cauliflower, zucchini, and sweet potato. When frozen, they can thicken up your smoothies and add a creamy texture, all while packing in some nutrients. (And don’t worry, you won’t be able to taste them!)

3. Use creamy ingredients

If you want a creamy smoothie, it makes sense to use creamy ingredients! Adding fruits with a smooth texture (like bananas or mangos) will enhance the texture. You can also use coconut cream or vegan yogurt for some richness.

On the other hand, adding too much protein powder or fruits with seeds will result in a grainy consistency. 

4. Add in thickening agents

Oats, nut butter, chia, flax, or hemp seeds can help thicken up your smoothie. Not only that, but they’ve got fiber and healthy fats! It’s good to diversify the ingredients in your smoothie, so it’s not only fruit and milk. 

5. Use less liquid

Always start with less liquid than you think you need! You can always add more later — it’s impossible to take away liquid once you’ve blended. Even if you have a recipe, it doesn’t hurt to measure a little less. 

If you have to add more, use small increments. Take it slow, and you’ll get a perfectly thick smoothie!

6. Blend protein powder and greens first

Protein powder and greens tend to be the toughest to blend smoothly. So, I recommend blending them first if you have them in your recipe! 

Add a bit of liquid and blend until smooth. Then, add in the rest of your ingredients. This ensures you get a creamy consistency.

7. Freeze your liquids

Grab an ice cube tray and fill it with your non-dairy milk of choice! Once frozen, you can pop a few cubes into your smoothie and blend. Coconut milk is nice and creamy, as well as soy and oat milk. 

I recommend using non-dairy milks instead of water to blend your smoothies. It’ll result in a smoother texture and better taste!

8. Stop and scrape (or use a high-speed blender)

The blending process is important too! If you’re using a smaller or less powerful blender, I recommend “stopping and scraping”. 

At some point, your blade might get stuck on the frozen fruit. 

• Instead of adding more liquid, remove your blender from the base (or unplug). You wanna make sure the blender cannot turn on.
• Then, use a spoon to mix the ingredients around.
• Remove the spoon. Replace the blender lid and put the blender back on its base.
• Start blending again! Keep repeating the process until you’re sure you have to add more liquid.

If you have a high-speed blender, like a Vitamix, you can use the special tamper tool that comes with it as you’re blending.

9. How to make a smoothie bowl

If you want to make a thick smoothie bowl, use all the mentioned tips! You just have to adjust the ingredient ratios a bit: use more frozen fruit and less liquid. The “stop and scrape” method is key to making sure you get the right consistency. 

Then, feel free to top with fresh fruit, granola, hemp seeds, and whatever you like!

Conclusion

Well, that’s it! Here are the tips in a nutshell:

• Use frozen fruit and veggies
• Add in creamy & thick ingredients
• Use less liquid
• Use a powerful blender or “stop & scrape”

Now that you’re a smoothie expert…

Here are smoothie recipes to try

• Creamy Broccoli Smoothie
• Chocolate Mango Smoothie 
• Sweet Potato Smoothie Bowl 
• 25 Plant-Based Smoothies