This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Brighten up your morning with this flavorful cranberry orange smoothie! A cranberry smoothie that’s thick, creamy and satisfying.

cranberry orange smoothie

More citrus! I mean, you really can’t blame me, right?! It is citrus season, after all. And it’s just so darn pretty! 

So, if you haven’t already heard me gushing about my new Vitamix, you’re going to hear a little more about it in this post. I LOVE IT!! Honestly, I kind of assumed they were a little overrated. Like, how great can a blender really be? I had my trusty food processor and a mediocre blender. BUT OH, how quickly my opinion on the matter has changed. This thing is AMAZING! Not only does it just chew up anything I put into it, it’s so easy to clean! I’ve been using it daily.

Hubs and I have been making a lot of acai bowls since getting the Vitamix too; the addiction started in Maui! If you’ve never tried making one before, I highly recommend it. And if you’re just in the mood for a simple smoothie, then you’re in the right place!

This cranberry banana smoothie has been on repeat these days, since I can still find fresh cranberries for an excellent price at the grocery store. And what pairs better with cranberry than orange!?

cranberry orange smoothie

How do you make a cranberry orange smoothie?

You can use whatever milk you usually use in your smoothies, or milk that you prefer as the base. I really love full-fat coconut milk for the creamy factor, but it can be pricey if you’re using the canned variety, and definitely higher in calories. Typically I use unsweetened almond milk in my smoothies, since I buy it in bulk from Costco and it doesn’t add any strong flavor to the mix.

So, besides the milk part, you will need:

  • frozen cranberries
  • fresh orange slices
  • 1 large banana, frozen
  • zest of 1/2 orange
  • ice cubes

Blend it all up and devour!

Do you have to use banana in this smoothie?

If you aren’t a fan of banana in your smoothies, you can leave it out and add additional orange slices, but I would then also add a bit of additional sweetener, 2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup should do the trick! 

Can you freeze this smoothie for later?

Yes! When I was testing this smoothie I actually poured the extras into ice cube trays and froze them, then emptied them into a Ziploc bag for later. Just toss in 5-6 cubes into a blender when you’re ready for your smoothie, blend it up and enjoy. You might need to add a bit of extra milk to get things moving in the blender!

Psst – this is a good tip for really any smoothie. It makes mornings easier!

cranberry orange smoothie

So, be sure to pick up a couple of bags of those fresh cranberries when you see them in the grocery store! They won’t be around for long.

PS – I feel weird posting a smoothie when the forecast is taking a giant nosedive into negative temperatures. Ugh! 

Happy weekend!

cranberry orange smoothie

More smoothies! Including:

And try this pina colada smoothie from Flavor The Moments!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
cranberry orange smoothie

Cranberry Orange Smoothie


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 4 reviews

  • Author: Katherine | Love In My Oven
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 serving 1x

Description

Brighten up your morning with this flavorful cranberry orange smoothie! A cranberry smoothie that’s thick, creamy and satisfying.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/4 cups almond milk*
  • 1 cup frozen cranberries
  • 2 cups fresh orange slices (12 oranges)
  • 1 large banana, frozen
  • zest of 1/2 orange
  • 1 cup ice cubes
  • optional: 2 tsp maple syrup or honey**

Instructions

  1. Add all of the smoothie ingredients to a blender, in the order listed. Blend on high until the mixture is smooth and creamy (use a tamper if necessary). If things aren’t blending up nicely, add a bit more milk. Enjoy!

If you want to make extra to freeze for later, pour the leftover smoothie into an ice cube tray, and freeze for 4-5 hours before emptying and saving in a Ziploc freezer bag. To blend up again, throw 5-6 cubes into a blender. You may need to add a bit of extra milk!

Notes

*If you don’t like almond milk, you can use regular dairy milk or coconut milk.

**If you like your smoothies a little sweeter, I would recommend 2 tsp of maple syrup or honey. Also, if you’re skipping the banana, add an extra 1/2 cup of oranges and 2 tsp of sweetener.

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: smoothies
  • Method: blender
Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes

 

Cranberry Orange Smoothie

About Katherine

Heeey! Thank you for stopping by! I like 30-minute dinners and giant peanut butter cups made with only 3 ingredients. I LOVE food! If you do too, you're in the right place.

You Might Also Like:

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

16 Comments

  1. OK, I’m almost positive I’ve never put cranberries in a smoothie, which is cah-razy because I love them so much. I always have cranberries in the freezer so I’m totally whipping this one up soon! Happy almost Friday, Katherine!






    1. That is crazy, Kelsie! They are so good in smoothies. They add so much tartness! The best! Hope you had a great weekend my friend!!

  2. I’m all about the smoothies these days! (Hello, post Christmas detox!) We can still get cranberries around here too, and the cran orange combo is one of my faves! Thanks for the tip on freezing smoothies into ice cubes and then re-blending. That’s a great idea for busy mornings!






    1. Haha yes I hear ya!! I’ve actually been having smoothies a lot for breakfast, and smoothie bowls! So much goodness!! I do love the ice cube trick! It’s perfect for when the kids need a quick snack!

  3. This is definitely a smoothie that would wake me up in the morning. So fresh with flavours I love!






  4. Smoothies are a staple in our home, especially around 3 pm on Saturday after a busy day of doing odds and ends around the house. This cranberry orange version looks like it would be delish! Such a classic combo! And the colour is beautiful! Have to give this one a try soon! Happy weekend, my friend 🙂






    1. Yeees that’s when we like smoothies too, actually! Or first thing in the morning. They’re a great little afternoon snack for the kiddos! Thank you Dawn! I bet you’d love it. Hope you had a great weekend!

  5. I love the contribution of bananas to smoothies – both flavor and texture wise so would definitely not be leaving the banana out. With all the other bright notes at play here this is one great way to start the day.

    1. I’m a big fan of frozen bananas in smoothies, so it always surprises me when I hear that people don’t like it! To each their own, though! Thanks Milena!!

  6. Everything in this smoothie go so well together!! The Vitamix sounds awesome and needs to go on my wish list! Stay warm and cozy. It’s supposed to be a balmy 64°F here on Sunday. Crazy!!

  7. This looks so pretty and refreshing! I also love the tip about saving any extra in ice cube trays!! I’ve been on the hunt for cranberries on my last couple market trips and think I might be out of luck here. Boo. Definitely pinning for when I can find some!!

    1. Thank you Tasia!! The cranberry orange is a pretty combo for sure. Too bad 🙁 You can buy frozen cranberries too and use it here, or just save this for later when they’re back in season!! Happy weekend!

  8. The flavors of this smoothie sound so crisp and refreshing. Perfect way to start my day!