Despite my occasional lack of tact, horrible habit of interrupting, and utter failure to control the volume of my voice, I do truly have the best of intentions. Case-in-point: this carrot smoothie. Or, more appropriately, this Carrot Cake Smoothie.
I fully intended to make a wholesome, veggie-ful carrot smoothie. I blended together a saintly quantity of chopped carrots, a touch of pineapple for sweetness, Greek yogurt for protein, and Silk Vanilla Cashew Milk for creaminess. The perfect carrot smoothie. Really, I should receive an award for the amount of veggies I was about to consume before 9 a.m.
Then, just as I was about to pour my lovely orange beverage into a tall glass, I couldn’t help but think how nicely the tropical pineapple would pair with a handful of island-minded coconut and that banana slices (another friend of the islands) would make the carrot pineapple smoothie even thicker and sweeter. Done.
Of course, I do love a bit of nut butter in my smoothies to make them extra rich and filling, and it so happened that I had a few extra toasted walnuts in my cupboard. Perfect! Into the blender the walnuts went.
And really, what are walnuts without cinnamon and nutmeg? Obviously, I needed a little spice.
About This Healthy Carrot Cake Smoothie
I was this close to topping the carrot smoothies with raisins when it hit me: I had turned my carrot smoothie into my favorite recipe for Healthy Carrot Cake. Oops.
My subconscious clearly needed a slice of carrot cake that morning (just as it needed a slice of pie the three consecutive days I made this Blueberry Pie Smoothie), because this carrot smoothie has all of its key ingredients: sweet carrot and pineapple; tropical coconut; and toasty walnuts (I ended up omitting the raisins which are carrot-cake controversial anyway, but if you want to sprinkle a few on top, I support you).
Like a slice of carrot cake, this carrot smoothie is fresh, sweet but not too sweet, and boast layers of complementary flavors. Unlike a slice of carrot cake, however, it is a squeaky-clean healthy choice for breakfast, and you can easily sip one on the run.
With the back-to-school wave washing over the country, recipes like this carrot smoothie (and this Beet Smoothie!) are an easy breezy way to ensure that kids start their mornings powered for a day of learning. You can also prep the carrot smoothie entirely the night before. Simply place all of the ingredients except for the frozen fruit into your blender pitcher, then pop the pitcher into the fridge. In the morning, add the banana and pineapple, blend, and you have a wholesome breakfast ready to serve in fewer than three minutes. That’s faster than I can toast a frozen waffle or pastry, and a much healthier option too!
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes That Taste Like Dessert
- Oatmeal Smoothie
- Apple Smoothie
- Blueberry Pie Smoothie
- Chocolate Malt Oatmeal Smoothie
- Mint Smoothie
Recommended Tools to Make This Recipe
- Blender. This has made all my smoothies perfectly smooth and creamy.
- Stainless Steel Straws. These turn everything into a refreshing, delicious treat.
- Opaque Cup. These will hide any strange-colored smoothies.
Even with their dessert leanings, the wholesome ingredients in these carrot smoothies have made good on my healthy breakfast intentions. My next project: learn to control the volume of my voice in public, 25% of the time. I think I need another carrot smoothie for stamina.
Carrot Cake Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped carrots (steamed and cooled if you do not have a high-power blender or to make extra smooth for kids)
- 1/2 cup frozen sliced banana
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla cashew milk unsweetened vanilla almond milk, or milk of your choice
- 1/4 cup frozen diced pineapple
- 2 tablespoons toasted walnuts
- 1 tablespoon flaked coconut optional
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch nutmeg
- For topping: Shredded carrots coconut, crushed walnuts
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to your blender: carrots, banana, Greek yogurt, cashew milk, pineapple, walnuts, coconut (if using), cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Blend until smooth. Enjoy immediately, topped with additional shredded carrots, coconut, and/or crushed walnuts as desired.
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RegisterHave you tried Silk Vanilla Cashew Milk yet? If not, you’ll love how creamy and lovely in smoothies it is. You can find more cashew milk recipes and sign up to receive a coupon here. For the chocolate lovers, Silk makes a rich chocolate version, which sounds ideal for a Chocolate Malt Oatmeal Smoothie. (Wow—between that today’s Carrot Cake Smoothie, the aforementioned Chocolate Malt Smoothie, and this Blueberry Pie Smoothie, evidence suggest my subconscious really does prefer her smoothies taste like dessert!)
I’m sharing this post in partnership with Silk. As always, all opinions are my own, and thank you for supporting the brands and companies that make it possible for me to continue bringing quality content to you.
