Cherries and chocolate come together in this rich and creamy smoothie that is naturally sweetened with ripe bananas. My Chocolate Cherry Berry Smoothie is ideal for a breakfast, a snack or dessert!
Cherry season is in full swing here in Michigan and I am loving every bite! Ripe, juicy and sweet – every summer I am reminded just how lucky I am to live in the nation’s largest cherry producing state!
While these cherries are perfect for cobblers, pies, crisps and more, I must admit that I love eating them raw. To be honest, adding sugar to these naturally sweet berries at their ripest stage is unnecessary in my opinion. Plus, I need to save every calorie I can for my carb-craving, ice-cream-loving, 6 1/2 month pregnant self.
Speaking of calories, this Chocolate Cherry Berry Smoothie tastes more like dessert than a healthy breakfast but it is packed with protein, vitamins and nutrients. Here are a few of the many health benefits of cherries that you’ll get from this smoothie:
Cherries Help Improve Memory: Cherries contain anthocyanin, a type of antioxidant, shown to reduce the effects of aging and improve memory function according to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Cherries Can Lower Blood Sugar Levels: The anthocyanin found in cherries have been shown to increase insulin production which helps stabilize and lower blood sugar levels which is important for people with diabetes or those trying to prevent diabetes.
Cherries Fight Cancer: Cherries contain quite a few cancer-fighting agents including fiber, vitamin C, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and other antioxidants. Cyanidins, specifically, have been shown to fight free radical cell growth which has been linked to a reduction in cancer.
Above all, aren’t they pretty?
Your straw is waiting.
Chocolate Cherry Berry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- 2/3 cup Greek yogurt – 0%
- 1/2 cup cherries pitted
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons flax seed meal
- 1 inch piece ginger root quartered
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 scoops ice
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except for the ice in a high speed blender and puree for 30-45 seconds.
- Add ice and puree until smooth, about 45 additional seconds.
- Serve in two glasses and enjoy.
Anna Powell
Yum. saw this on a smoothie recipe list and have to look. What a great combination(chocolate and cherries)
Liz DellaCroce
Let me know what you think!