Bursting with flavor and color, this smoothie will pick you up and infuse you with vitality. Tart cherries and cranberries are sweetened with a splash of cranberry juice, and a banana makes the texture thick and smooth. With only four ingredients, this smoothie is a breeze to make, yet it tastes like a special treat.
Tart cherries freeze beautifully, and I like to keep a bag or two of Montmorency tart cherries, grown right here in Michigan, in my freezer. Then I can pull them out throughout the year to make a cherry pie, or in today’s case, a smoothie. With the cherries and the cranberries, this smoothie is loaded with antioxidants. There has been a lot of press about the health benefits of tart cherries–that they help with arthritis, sleep, fighting cancer, and many other things. Whether or not all the hype is a little over the top, I still believe cherries are good for us. Just a sip of this smoothie, and I know I am drinking in lots of good nutrients. There is some sugar from the cranberry juice, but otherwise the cherries and cranberries are too tart for most people, and there is not a lot of juice in this smoothie–just enough.
With all the things going on surrounding the holidays, it is good to keep fortified with nutrients. The vibrant flavor and color will lift your spirits. It is not always easy to keep up with all that is going on, and small treats help. Stopping to drink a smoothie. Several deep breaths. A walk with a trusted friend. I hope you all have a great weekend! I will be taking this over to Angie’s Fiesta Friday, co-hosted this week by Sadhna @ Herbs, Spices, and Traditions and Natalie @ Kitchen, uncorked.
Cherry Cranberry Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of frozen tart (preferably Montmorency tart) cherries
- 1/2 cup of cranberries (frozen or refrigerated is fine)
- 1 banana
- 1 and 1/4 cups cranberry juice (I use one that is 27% juice, so it has some sugar in it, but not as much as some do)
Directions:
Place the cherries and cranberries in a blender. Add the sliced banana and cranberry juice. Blend until smooth. Pour into four glasses. Serve with a straw. Enjoy!
Mmm…this sounds so refreshing! And I have frozen sour cherries. Your entire post is so bright and pretty! 🙂
Thank you, Angie! It is really refreshing and rejuvenating–something I needed today! 🙂 Thanks for everything you do for Fiesta Friday!!
What a cheerful smoothie this is! I was just thinking I need to get smoothies back into my regular routine! I tend to forget about smoothies, even though I love to drink them.
Thank you! I am the same way. I had gotten way out of the habit of smoothies, and now I wonder why, because they are so easy and fun. Have a great weekend!
The colors alone make me happy!!
Thank you, Marina–me too. 🙂
This looks delicious. I really like how you used the jelly jars as glasses. What a clever idea!
Thank you, Sheryl–I use jelly jars for lots of things, because they are so pretty, and I have so many of them! 🙂
WOW, This is such a lovely and healthy drink, look at the colour, it is attracting me to come and grab a glass from your website. I also keep cherries in my freezer. Thanks for sharing this smoothie with Fiesta Friday.
Thank you so much, Sadhna! And thank you for co-hosting this week. 🙂
Your photos are lovely and this smoothie sounds really good. 😀
Thank you so much, Jhuls!
I know I’d love these drinks! So perfect for the season and refreshing. I love the color!
Thanks, Amanda! Hope you are having a good week! 🙂