Holiday Market Protein Smoothie (Printable)

Nutrient-dense blend of apple, cranberries, banana, and protein—ideal for winter mornings or post-workout fuel.

# List of ingredients:

→ Fruit & Flavor

01 - 1 small apple, cored and chopped
02 - 1/2 cup frozen cranberries
03 - 1 medium ripe banana
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

→ Protein

06 - 1 scoop (about 30 g) vanilla or unflavored protein powder (whey or plant-based)

→ Liquid & Creaminess

07 - 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
08 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (or plant-based yogurt)

→ Sweetener & Boost

09 - 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup or honey (optional)
10 - 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)

→ Ice

11 - 1/2 cup ice cubes

# Steps:

01 - Place apple, cranberries, banana, cinnamon, nutmeg, protein powder, almond milk, Greek yogurt, and maple syrup if using into a blender.
02 - Blend all ingredients until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
03 - Add chia seeds and ice cubes to the blender and blend again until well combined and frothy.
04 - Taste the smoothie and adjust sweetness if desired by adding more maple syrup or honey.
05 - Pour into glasses and serve immediately for best freshness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like the holidays but fuels you like a real meal, no sugar crash an hour later.
  • You can throw in whatever milk or yogurt you have without ruining the balance.
  • The cranberries give it this bright, unexpected edge that wakes up your taste buds.
  • It blends in under two minutes and dirties exactly one thing.
02 -
  • Frozen cranberries are not the same as dried, dried ones are too sweet and chewy and will clog your blender.
  • If you skip the banana the smoothie loses its body and turns thin and icy, not creamy.
  • Blend the chia seeds in at the end or they swell up and make the smoothie gummy before you even pour it.
  • Taste before adding sweetener, I wasted honey twice before realizing ripe fruit does the job.
03 -
  • Use a high-speed blender if you have one, cranberries are tough and a weak blender leaves little chunks that feel weird to drink.
  • Add the ice last and blend it separately, it keeps the smoothie from getting watery and gives you control over the thickness.
  • If the smoothie is too thick to pour, add almond milk one tablespoon at a time instead of dumping it in, you can always thin it but you cant un-thin it.

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