Try this thick and creamy avocado smoothie recipe for breakfast or a healthy snack!
5 ingredient avocado smoothie
Adding avocado to a smoothie might sound unusual, but the results are surprisingly delicious.
This secretly healthy avocado shake is so unbelievably smooth, it honestly tastes like drinking an actual vanilla milkshake.
I do not know how that is even possible, but it really does remind me of a classic vanilla shake, both in taste and texture.
Make one for yourself, and see if you agree!
With only five ingredients and less than a minute of prep time, the recipe is absolutely worth a try at least once, because it might just become your new go to smoothie recipe.
You may also like these Avocado Brownies
Ingredients to make the avocado drink
You will need a ripe avocado, milk of choice, pure vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and sugar or your favorite granular or liquid sweetener.
Avocado – You can tell if the fruit is ripe by squeezing it very gently at the grocery store. It is ripe if it yields slightly to the pressure and feels just a little bit soft but not mushy.
If you buy an avocado that is still hard as a rock, just wait a few days for it to soften. Or place it unpeeled in a brown paper bag for a day or two with another fruit (such as apple, banana, or kiwi) to speed up the ripening process.
Milk – Use any milk in your refrigerator, including oat milk, soy milk, or skim milk.
For a plant based and vegan avocado smoothie, go with your favorite dairy free milk. I like canned coconut milk, almond milk, pistachio milk, or cashew milk.
Sweetener of choice – This can be classic white sugar, brown sugar, unrefined sugar (like coconut or date sugar), honey or pure maple syrup.
Avocados are naturally low in carbs. If you are looking for an added sugar free and keto avocado smoothie, simply use stevia or your favorite sugar alternative to taste. Be sure to choose a keto friendly milk without sugar as well.
Optional add ins – Turn it into a chocolate avocado smoothie by adding a spoonful of cocoa powder. I recommend Dutch cocoa for a rich brownie flavor. Increase the sugar to taste, to counter the bitterness of the cocoa powder.
Or if you want a healthy avocado protein shake, blend in a scoop of your favorite flavored or unsweetened protein powder. Try vanilla, chai, cookies and cream, or pumpkin pie spice protein powder.
Looking for a caffeine boost or love the coffee vanilla flavor profile? Blend in a fourth teaspoon of instant coffee powder for a refreshing post workout pick-me-up.
Feeling adventurous? Make Chickpea Cookie Dough Dip
Healthy avocado smoothie recipe video
Above, watch the step by step recipe video
Frequently asked questions
Avocado adds unbelievable thickness and creaminess, without any noticeable flavor whatsoever for most people.
If you have super tastebuds, you might be able to tell it is in there. But even then, the flavor is only slight and will not detract from the overall tastiness of the shake.
Frozen or fresh avocado will both work here.
Just be sure to peel the avocados first. If you have a high speed blender like a Vitamix, try freezing your milk of choice in an ice cube tray and using that for the avocado drink instead of refrigerated milk.
This is especially good with canned coconut milk or whole milk, because it tastes like an actual avocado milkshake.
You may add fresh or frozen blueberries, cherries, strawberries, apple, cucumber, banana, or pineapple. Play around with different foods that pair well with avocado.
I love adding a ripe frozen banana, which gives even more thickness to the recipe.
I do not recommend adding ice, because this will dilute the flavor at the ice melts into water.
However, you can blend in a few tablespoons of Greek yogurt or a handful of homemade coconut milk ice cubes for a super thick and ice-cream-like shake if desired.
To make your own coconut ice cubes, just freeze canned coconut milk in an ice cube tray. It is that simple.
Avocado smoothie health benefits
Besides the delicious creamy texture, you can also get so many added health benefits from avocados.
Packed with vitamins. The superfood fruit is cholesterol free and contains nearly 20 vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, including potassium, folate, and B vitamins.
High fiber, low sugar. Just one serving of avocado provides eight percent of the daily value for fiber, and they have the least amount of sugar of any fruit.
Healthy fat. Over 75% of the fat in avocados is the unsaturated heart-healthy kind (good fats). For the general population, replacing some of the saturated fat in one’s diet with avocado can possibly help to reduce cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and inflammation.
Of course if you are on a doctor ordered nutrition or weight loss plan, it is always recommended to consult your doctor.
Customizable to fit different lifestyles. Depending on the specific ingredients you use, this smoothie can be low calorie, low in saturated fat, high protein, nondairy, high in calcium, vegan, and gluten free, with no sugar required.
How to make an avocado shake
- Be sure to start with a ripe avocado.
- Peel the fruit, and discard both the pit and peel. Slice the avocado into large pieces.
- Add the sliced avocado, milk of choice, pure vanilla extract, salt, sweetener, and any optional ingredients to a small blender.
- Blend on high until thick and completely smooth, then serve cold.
This healthy blender drink yields a large, single serving shake or two small servings. Feel free to double the recipe!
More healthy avocado recipes
Avocado Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 small avocado (100g flesh)
- 1 1/2 cups milk of choice (360g)
- 3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract (4g)
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup or sweetener of choice to taste (30g)
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 scoop protein powder (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Begin with a ripe avocado. Discard the pit and peel, and chop into large pieces.
- 2. Add all ingredients to a small blender, and process until thick and creamy.
- 3. Pour into a tall glass or two smaller glasses, and serve cold.
Video
Notes
Easy Blender Recipes
Welcome to the dark side katie!
Oh this sounds delish!!! I was the same way… used to never eat avocado. Then one day I had something, don’t even recall what it was, and I was off… couldn’t get enough of it, put it on everything! Even now I’m smacking my head that I didn’t put any on my hamburger for dinner this evening. I might make this yummy smoothie for breakfast in the morning!
It really is like my dad used to tell me: “When you get older, you like the tastes of more foods and can eat less” (without gaining any weight). Life’s little irony. But yes, I have had the same experiences, some out of necessity (beans, for ex.). I HATED beans as a kid. Looking back, I think it was the lack of seasonings (not just the texture). Your post has given me hope that someday soon, my husband (40) may like avocados… Here’s hoping! Thanks for the recipe.
Yes yes yes i agree! Taste buds definitely change. up until the last two years i hated avocado, olives, green tea and mushrooms….but now i love them, erm though i’m still working on the mushrooms! đŸ™‚
I used to hate mushrooms, but now I think they are the most incredible food on the planet đŸ˜€
Funny point – in Australia, we don’t call it cilantro, it’s coriander. It took me so long to figure out that they were the same thing!
Hi Katie! I have always loved avocado, but like you I used to hate cilantro. I recently learned that there is a genetic component to cilantro aversion, but apparently this can change over time. I love it now but the taste used to remind me of soap. Many other cilantro haters describe it this way too. Here’s an article about the phenomenon:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/14/dining/14curious.html?_r=0
I also used to dislike onions but use them in everything now. Although, I can still get a little overwhelmed by too much raw onion.
I’m so intrigued by this. I never thought of making a smoothie from an avocado, but I really want to try this out! Thank you for sharing!
xx
youngmildandfree.com
Katie, I just love your recipes! I mean I am obssessed with chocolate (which is why I was drawned to your blog on the first place) and now you are posting recipes with avocado!! I could not be happier, I eat avocado everyday and this smoothie tastes so good, this is the first time that I have ever tried its´ sweet side and I have a crush on it. Needless to say I found my new breakfast to-go; tried it with half of coconout milk and regular and it was heavenly.
Can’t wait for your book to come out!
I think it’s totally possible for tastes to change! I am almost 31 and I am just now enjoying yellow mustard. I used to HATE it as a kid/teen!!! So weird. The sad thing about avocados is that I love them, but they make my stomach hurt. SO DEPRESSING!!! I also don’t really like cilantro, but I thought I used to like it… so not sure about that one đŸ™‚
Wow how did you get it to look green?? You must have had the perfect avocado!!
I JUST made someone a smoothie with avocado in it today for a customer and she said it was okay…just made it creamier!
I love avocado as well and I love adding it in smoothies! I can just imagine how delicious this is đŸ˜‰
This one actually does not sound appetizing to me, but I am curious about it so will have to give it a try!
When I was young I absolutely detested tomatoes, avocado and cabbage. I started liking tomatoes in my early 20’s, but I only came around to loving avocado and cabbage since becoming vegan about two years ago. Now tomato and avocado is my favourite kind of sandwich!
I will definitely try this recipe, I’ve never had an avocado smoothie without adding either cocoa or other kinds of fruit.
You know, your list of foods at the bottom of the post that you used to dislike would make for a mighty fine pizza…
hahah that made me laugh đŸ™‚
mmmmm.. vegie pizza!
I did follow the recipe 100%, but I didn’t love it entirely. My taste buds were missing something… Then it hit me and I added one heaped teaspoon of natural cocoa powder, blended again for a few seconds, and there it was. It tasted like liquid chocolate. Mmmm. Thank you for the recipe. <3
I think tastebuds do actually change/develop as we get older. Like the stereotypical kid, I didn’t like broccoli much when I was younger. I don’t remember there being any foods I absolutely hated, but I certainly had my preferences (still do! But different).