Freezer Smoothies for Quick Snacks & Breakfasts

Build a stash of freezer smoothies so that you can enjoy quick snacks and breakfasts without having to clean the blender every day!

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Do you love the sweet taste of smoothies?

Do you love how smoothies lend themselves to life on-the-go?

— and how you can hide vegetables in them without the kids freaking out?

Smoothies are, indeed, one of a mom’s secret weapons.

In fact, I’ve had more than one mom friend tell me she often feeds her family smoothies and popcorn for dinner on Sunday nights. Smoothies can be easy, filling, and nutritious, depending on how you mix them up.

A smoothie, however, requires using the blender. And using the blender requires washing the blender. And sometimes? Well, sometimes you just don’t want to wash the blender.

Am I right?

What if I told you that you could enjoy a daily smoothie without washing out the blender every day?

No, this is not some weird fermentation trend.

It’s taking the versatility of your freezer and using it to your advantage. Stockpiling your family’s favorite smoothies in the freezer allows you to take a break from crazy mornings and still enjoy quick on-the-go meals.

Smoothie making can be really simple. Just blend different combinations of fruits, juices, and ice. To make dairy-based smoothies, try adding some plain yogurt and milk. I even used homemade fruit jam to flavor the latest batches of smoothies.

If you have frozen milk on hand or frozen almond milk, this is a great way to use it up.

You’ll find that different kids like different flavors and ingredients. Some prefer just juice and berries. Others enjoy all kinds of combinations, including spinach and kale.

Test out some of your favorites fruits and see what combinations you like best. And then keep your freezer stocked for all sorts of cool snacking and quick breakfasts.

You can even store your smoothies in bowls and add toppings prior to serving for fun smoothie bowls.

How to Make Freezer Smoothies

While blending a smoothie really doesn’t take that long, sometimes you want a quick, cold snack to hand to the kids before you send them outside to play. Freezer Smoothies are just the ticket!

If you’ve got favorite smoothie recipes already, then this process should be quick and easy.

1. Blend up a big batch of your favorite smoothie or follow the recipe below.

2. Divide it into freezer-safe, serving-size containers, cups or bowls.

3. Freeze immediately.

To serve: simply allow the smoothie to thaw on the counter for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir and serve. If serving as a smoothie bowl, add desired toppings.

Tips for Making Freezer Smoothies

Use a good quality blender.

Bargain blenders just aren’t reliable for smoothie making. Too many chunks and too much frustration in the preparation process.

I’ve had a Ninja blender for four years and it continues to work well. The party cups are particularly convenient when making single-serve smoothies. Read my review here.

Let the kids help.

Kids are more likely to enjoy foods that they helped make. Include them in the process, either with a DIY Smoothie Bar or simply consulting them on their preferences.

Make sure your containers are freezer-safe.

As cute as glass canning jars are, they are sometimes finicky when placed in the freezer. For quick, fool-proof assembly of freezer smoothies.

Ball freezer jars are 8- and 16-ounce plastic cups with snap-on lids. They are specially designed for freezing, yet are also dishwasher and microwave safe. Plus they’ve got cute green lids.

Use frozen fruit whenever possible.

Reduce the risk of freezer burn by freezing your smoothies quickly. You can do this by using frozen fruit. It’s not absolutely necessary, but it helps.

When you’re making smoothies to serve right away, it aids in keeping a slushy texture without having to add ice.

A great way to save money on frozen fruit is to freeze in-season produce when you find it on sale. Here’s an easy method for freezing berries and cherries and here are tips for freezing bananas.

Setting up a permanent smoothie station in your freezer is also a great way to facilitate smoothie making.

Blend spinach and kale with liquid first.

If you’re going to add spinach or kale to your smoothies, blend them first with some liquid to get a really smooth texture, then add the other ingredients.

Offer some toppings at serving.

Smoothie bowls have seem a surge in popularity over the years. Making Freezer Smoothie Bowls is a great way to enjoy this fun treat without a lot of work. Whether you store your freezer smoothies in bowls or cups, offer some fun toppings to make your freezer smoothies a little more substantial.

Favorite Freezer Smoothie Flavor Combinations

There’s really no end to the flavor combinations you can dream up in your freezer smoothies. Play around with different flavors and see what your family likes best.

When my kids and I were developing the recipes for this book, we devoted a whole chapter to smoothies. Here are some favorite flavor combinations we discovered:

• strawberry, pineapple, coconut milk
• banana, pineapple juice, orange juice, dry milk powder
• banana, cherries, pomegranate juice
• blueberries, bananas, coconut milk
• peaches, yogurt, milk, vanilla extract
• banana, yogurt, coconut milk, honey, cinnamon, and cardamom
• pumpkin puree, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger
• strawberries, blueberries, yogurt, and orange juice
• spinach, blueberries, coconut milk
• banana, cocoa powder, coconut milk
• banana, cocoa powder, nut or seed butter, milk

After you’ve tried out this recipe for freezer smoothies, I’d love for you to come back and leave a starred review. Your feedback helps me develop recipes and share tips that are most helpful to you! Thanks in advance.

Level up your meal planning and prep.

Have you considered creating a kitchen survival kit to help you WIN in the kitchen? I’d love for you to join me for the upcoming Mom’s Kitchen Survival Workshop.

You’ll create a plan to help you get dinner on the table every night, fill your freezer with wholesome snacks and breakfasts, finesse your lunch-packing skills, and even make sure you get a daily dose of MOM food.

Learn more here.