I've made this Strawberry Banana Smoothie (Without Milk) more times than I can count, and my kids never even notice it's dairy free. Thanks to frozen banana, it's just as thick and creamy as the classic, and it's our go-to snack all summer long!
Be sure to check out a bunch of smoothie recipes in my 50+ smoothie recipes! There's something for everyone!
I've always found that homemade smoothies are the best way to get my kids (and myself) to eat or drink fruit. Smoothies are perfectly sweetened with natural sugar and loaded with all the good things we all need in our diets! They are full of fresh ingredients the whole family loves!
In the Summer, we always go strawberry picking at a local farm here in New England. The thing about strawberry picking though, is that the strawberries don't last very long. So after we pick them, I'll often bring them home and make this smoothie or a strawberry smoothie with almond milk. They use a lot of those delicious gems of fruit while also being delicious!
Can You Make A Smoothie without Milk?
Yes! The great thing about smoothies is that you can make them however you like! If you like milk, use that! If you don't or you can't drink milk, use orange juice like we did in this recipe. It adds a tang to balance out the sweetness of the strawberries. If you don't have milk, here's what you can use instead:
- Orange juice (what this recipe uses): bright and sweet
- Apple juice: milder and sweeter
- Coconut water: light and refreshing
- Water: works fine if your fruit is frozen
- No liquid at all: use very ripe frozen fruit and a high-powered blender
How to Make a Smoothie Creamy Without Milk or Yogurt
You don't need milk or yogurt to get that thick, creamy smoothie texture! A few simple ingredients do all the work, and chances are you already have most of them in your kitchen. Here are my favorites:
- Frozen banana. This is my number one trick. Frozen banana blends up super smooth and gives your smoothie an almost soft serve texture. I always keep a bag of sliced ripe bananas in the freezer just for this.
- Nut butter. A spoonful of peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter adds richness and a little protein, too. It makes the smoothie taste more filling and satisfying.
- Avocado. I know it sounds a little strange, but a quarter of an avocado makes smoothies incredibly silky, and you won't even taste it. Frozen avocado chunks work great, too.
- Oats. A couple tablespoons of rolled oats thicken things up and make your smoothie more filling. For the smoothest texture, blend the oats with your liquid first before adding everything else.
Since you're skipping the milk, use water, juice, or coconut water as your liquid, and start with a small amount. You can always add more to get it just right.
Ingredients to Gather
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this delicious dairy-free strawberry banana smoothie recipe!
- Strawberries. If the season is right, use fresh strawberries! When it's not season, feel free to use frozen strawberries instead.
- Banana. One ripe banana. Fresh bananas are great, but you can also use frozen bananas if you have some. You'll want about 1 cup of frozen banana.
- Orange Juice. Since we aren't using milk, we need a liquid in the smoothie. The orange juice makes the smoothie more liquid.
- Maple Syrup. This adds a little sweetness to the smoothie. You'll need a sweetener especially if your strawberries are a little bit tart.
Be sure to check out the printable recipe card for full recipe information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Change the juice! Orange juice adds a great tang to this smoothie, but you can use oat milk, cashew milk, unsweetened almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, your favorite dairy-free milk, or even fruit juices. If you don't mind dairy, you can use whole milk or regular milk. The great thing about this simple smoothie is that it can be made to your liking!
- Add some protein! Smoothies are a great way to get some extra protein into your diet, especially if you are enjoying this smoothie as a quick breakfast or a meal replacement. You can add a scoop of your favorite protein powder, ½ cup of your favorite Greek yogurt, or even a nut butter such as almond butter or peanut butter.
- Add some mix ins! I love adding chia seeds, flax seeds, and hemp seeds to smoothies. They don't add any taste, but they add a lot of nutrition and good fiber and good fats.
- Add some greens! For an even healthier smoothie, add some greens! Spinach or kale is common in smoothies, make sure to use a high-powered blender to blend the smoothie. No one wants pieces of leaves in their smoothies!
How To Make A Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Step 1: In a high powered blender, add the bananas. Remove the stems from the strawberries and cut the strawberries in half. Add the strawberries to the blender.
Step 2: Pour the orange juice into the blender.
Step 3: Add the maple syrup to the blender. Cover the blender with the lid.
Step 4: Blend for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until a creamy texture forms.
Tips and Tricks
- Using only fresh fruit? Add a handful of ice cubes if you aren't using any frozen fruit.
- To make this a thicker smoothie, perfect for a smoothie bowl, add more ice cubes. To make this a thinner, more pourable smoothie, add more orange juice.
- Add some more fresh fruit to the smoothie if you would like! You can add raspberries like in my raspberry smoothie. Peaches, mangos, and pineapple are also great options. This is a great smoothie to make your own!
Make Ahead Tips
Like all my smoothies, this delicious smoothie is best served immediately after blending it. If you want to make it in advance, blend the smoothie and store leftover smoothies in an airtight container or a large mason jar. Cover it and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. As the smoothie sits in the refrigerator, it will separate. Shake the smoothie well before you serve it, or add it back to the blender to refresh it a little bit.
Smoothies are great to freeze too! I love freezing them as popsicles! That's right, you can make these into popsicles, I promise the kids will love it! Pour the smoothie into your favorite popsicle mold and freeze for at least 4 hours.
To freeze this in advance to make a smoothie, you can pour the smoothie into ice cube trays. When you are ready to serve the smoothie, add the smoothie ice cubes to a blender with a little more orange juice. Blend until the smoothie is creamy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Fruit juice, coconut water, or even plain water all work great in place of milk. Frozen fruit, especially frozen banana, gives the smoothie a thick, creamy texture so you won't miss the dairy at all.
Orange juice, apple juice, and coconut water are the easiest swaps for the liquid. For creaminess without yogurt, add a frozen banana, a spoonful of peanut butter, or a few tablespoons of rolled oats.
Yes, and it will be extra thick! Use frozen strawberries and a frozen banana and skip the ice. You may need a splash more juice to help the blender get going.
Strawberry Banana Smoothie (Without Milk, Without Yogurt!)
Equipment
- High Speed Blender
Ingredients
- 2 cups Strawberries Fresh or Frozen
- 1 large Banana Fresh or Frozen
- ½ cup Orange Juice
- 1 tablespoon Maple Syrup
- 1 cup Ice Cubes Less for a thinner smoothie, more for a thicker smoothie.
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to the blender and blend for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until the smoothie is a creamy texture.
Notes
- This recipe makes 1 large smoothie or two small smoothies. You can double or triple this recipe if you are feeding a crowd.
- Using only fresh fruit? Add a handful of ice cubes if you aren't using any frozen fruit.
- To make this a thicker smoothie, perfect for a smoothie bowl, add more ice cubes. To make this a thinner, more pourable smoothie, add more orange juice.
Lynn Polito
I love making this for my kids as an afterschool snack or freezing it to give them on hot Summer days!