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
My husband and I fell in love with avocado smoothies when we lived in Indonesia. There, they often blend in chocolate or coconut (chocolate in the sweetened condensed form). It brings back memories of surfing and enjoying great (and super spicy) food.
I craved olives during pregnancy (I couldn’t stand them before), and now really enjoy (not crave, but appreciate) a flavourful Kalamata any day. Both of my small kiddies love them too. đŸ™‚
Katie,
This was delicious! I added half a frozen banana to mine and reduced the maple syrup by 1tbsp, so glad to have this recipe to add to my smoothie rotation! Can’t wait to try the frozen yogurt, too!!
Ooh, this is so good! I was bracing myself going into it, but the smoothie tastes a lot like a milk shake! Note: I only used 3/4 cup of regular milk with the 1/2 avocado. Though I think my avocado was smaller.
I think you can learn to like most things if you very slowly try to acquire a taste. I hated olives, but then I started with eating one Kalamata olive off my Greek salad, then two, then all of them, plus the ones off my husband’s. Also put sliced black olives on pizza… Now i can eat green olives straight from the jar?
This is exactly how I make a healthy milk punch, exact I add 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, 1/4 silken tofu (learned this from you!), 1 date, and 3 shots of Brandy. Add milk to desired consistency. Pour over ice. Top with nutmeg. Yum.
Just made this but added 2 cups spinach and my husband loves it!!!
1 cup if you dont double the recipe.
This sounds yummy! I craved avacado when my iron levels were low– avacado is a good source of iron. Now I still like them but don’t crave them.
Added a touch of cocoa powder at the end for a chocolate milkshake – wow…delicious!! I loved the vanilla as well but my hubby is a chocolate fan so I thought it was worth a try. Thanks for the great recipe! đŸ™‚
I am so trying this soon. I have a huge avocado tree in my backyard.
Thank you for sharing x
Shari x | Sharinelsonx.blogspot.com
Definitely going to try this recipe soon! At age 30, after 2 kids, I suddenly discovered I LOVE avocado after feeding it to my baby girl, who also loves it!
This smoothie became one of our favorite breakfasts. It is really unbelievable what a nice, creamy and silky texture gives the avocado to this drink. Thank you so much for posting this so-easy-to- make and delicious recipe.
I make variations of this all the time. I often cut back on the avocado to 1/4 and add 1/2 a banana instead. I almost always add 1 date, vanilla protein powder, and either almond extract or almond butter as well. And if I want to use this to create a healthy Sunday Brunch Brandy Milk Punch, I always add a little nutmeg and brandy too. đŸ™‚
Thanks for the recipe! I’m excited to try an avocado smoothie to get some healthy fat in me in the morning.
I used to HATE avocados, guacamole, cheesecake, broccoli and brussel sprouts. They are are now delicious! After drinking a lot of green juice, food started to taste better and I fell in love with veggies. The only thing I really still hate is eggs.
Just made this for my momma and I, let me just tell you that we were blown away with the taste and texture! Before vegan, we used to get avocado smoothies with boba in downtown and I can easily say this tasted WAY better! Better than any avo smoothie we’ve ever had! AND we saved $10 total by just making it at home! Thank you Katie for this beautiful recipe!
I don’t like Avocados, but the fats they contain are good for you. Thank you for this recipe. It’s easy, good for you, and tastes great. đŸ™‚
I feel so good about this drink. It is easy to make and I save money having a delicious smoothie at home.