This Kale Apple Smoothie is SO refreshing! Plus, it's also vegan, gluten-free, & naturally sweetened so it makes a great nutrient-packed breakfast recipe.
Sometimes, knowing what to make for breakfast can be hard. Personally, that's why I stick to smoothies 90% of the time. Once you invest in a good blender, all you really need is a few good smoothie recipes to get you through the week.
My current go-to? This Vegan Kale Apple Smoothie of course. It's the perfect way to fit in greens, fruit, & fiber for breakfast!
Ingredients & substituition ideas:
- Green apple : I prefer using granny smith apples for this vegan apple smoothie because of their tart flavor. However, any apple variety will work.
- Good news- no need to remove the skin. As long as you have a good blender, it blends up nicely and adds some good fiber to your smoothie!
- Curly kale: Make sure the stems are removed and just use the leaves!
- I find other kale varieties (such as lacinato) to be too strong for a kale smoothie, so I really recommend sticking to curly kale which has a more mild flavor.
- Plant-based yogurt : My go-to is Forager Project unsweetened yogurt. It's cashew based and full of probiotics! I use it in many smoothies like my Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie.
- Any yogurt can work as a 1:1 substitution, though I recommend sticking to one with no sugar added.
- If you can't find plant-based yogurt, just sub for more oat milk. The smoothie won't be as thick, but it will still taste delicious.
- Oat milk : Any plant-based milk works 1:1 in this recipe. I prefer oat milk because of it's creamy consistency and the fact that it's nut-free.
- However, soy milk, coconut milk, or even rice milk could be great substitutions. Almond milk could also work and is a lower calorie option.
- Medjool Dates : Make sure the pits are removed!
- Medjool dates should be soft when adding to a smoothie. If they are too hard, just add them to a bowl of warm water to soak for 5 minutes before adding to the smoothie. Otherwise, they won't blend up well.
- Dates can be subbed 1:1 for 2 Tbsp of maple syrup or agave.
- Lemon Juice : I love using lemon juice in this green apple smoothie. It gives the smoothie a nice tart flavor and balances out the bitter kale.
- Bonus: having lemon juice in the morning is also a great way to kickstart your digestion!
- Ginger : This ingredient is totally optional, but I like adding it because it's such a power house ingredient for helping with inflammation. Plus, it actually pairs really nicely with kale & apples.
- Ice : Helps this smoothie get cold & thick!
Steps to make a kale apple smoothie
Making this healthy green smoothie couldn't be easier. Simply add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth!
Compared to some of my smoothie recipes, this recipe does need a little extra blending time to truly break down the medjool dates, kale, & apple and make it nice and creamy. P.S- I used my KitchenAid K400 Blender to make this smoothie and think it is a really amazing affordable blender.
Once it's smooth and thick, simply pour & serve!
Smoothie FAQ:
Can I add additional ingredients to this smoothie?
Of course! While I don't recommend changing the quantities of the ingredients I have listed, feel free to add in anything else you would like.
Here are a few good ideas:
- Ground flaxseed (for more fiber!)
- Cashew butter (added protein & an extra creamy consistency)
- Plant-based protein powder (Ora Organic is one of my favorites)
- Hemp seeds (a great flavorless way to add in more protein- I love Eaton Hemp brand)
Can I store this smoothie as leftovers?
This smoothie can be covered & stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours. It will naturally separate as it is left to sit but just stir it together before drinking.
Also, since the ice will melt you can always add it back to the blender with a few ice cubes to get that cold thick consistency the next day.
I truly hope you enjoy this Kale Apple Smoothie! It's so easy to whip up, makes a great breakfast, and can even be enjoyed as a healthy snack option when you're craving something refreshing. Enjoy!
-TSG
Looking for more smoothie recipes? Check out these SGTO favorites!
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Kale Apple Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 large green apple sliced, about 2 ½ cups
- 1 cup curly kale stems removed
- 1 cup ice
- ½ cup oat milk
- ½ cup vegan yogurt
- 2-3 medjool dates 30-45 grams, pitted
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice juice of about ½ lemon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger optional
Instructions
- Slice the green apple to remove the core and remove the large stems from the curly kale.
- Then, add the green apple, kale, ice, oat milk, vegan yogurt, dates, lemon juice, and optional ginger to a blender.
- Blend at a high speed until all the ingredients have been broken down and the smoothie is thick and smooth.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Leftover smoothies can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. It will naturally separate if it's left to sit so just stir to combine.
- It's totally fine to leave the skins on green apples and adds a lot of nutrients to this smoothie.
- Any plant-based milk can be subbed 1:1 for oat milk in this smoothie.
- Medjool dates should be soft when adding to a smoothie. If they are too hard, just add them to a bowl of warm water to soak for 5 minutes before adding to the smoothie. Otherwise, they won't blend up well. Dates can be subbed 1:1 for 2 Tbsp of maple syrup or agave.
Kathryn says
What could I use instead of dates :)?
Megan says
The blog post has all that information in it under the ingredients & substitutions section!