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Thank you so much for this recipe! After trying this smoothie, I’ve branched out quite a bit to all kinds of kale smoothies. I have never enjoyed kale very much before this, but now I drink it every day. Thanks! š
You won’t even believe this right now: IT’S SNOWING.
I’m sitting on the couch and looking out at the world of white as the sun starts to come up in our little Yum Sweet Home neighborhood, watching the cutest kiddos run out to their bus stops with ridiculous hats and boots and mittens and disproportionately huge backpacks, whiiich has nothing to do with winter but is important for the supercuteness factor nonetheless. And I can see Honey, our neighborly golden retriever, walking down the unplowed street while trying to lick at the snow landing on her face and making the whole world an infinitely better place with a bouncy-waggy tail and her biggest ever dog smile.
If you couldn’t tell, I’m sort of loving this whole scene.
When we lived in the Philippines – I think that’s when I realized that I have this deep sense of Home buried in the fabric of my soul. Dramatic much? I’m just bringing it. Some people can come and go and be awesomely adaptable and feel comfy and settled wherever they land. You who are like that – I envy you. I especially envied you when I lived in another climate halfway across the world and had a really hard time making it feel anything like home. Then on the flip side, some people are less adaptable have really clearly defined things that make a place feel like Home. That’s me, and I think that might just be Minnesotans in general.
*cue comment flood from Minnesotans who hate winter* okay okay fine! I take it back.
Maybe it’s because the Minnesota weather is so extreme, and by riding the roller coasted of the emotional ups and downs of the Minnesota seasons (negative forty! I HATE THIS PLACE) a person comes out of the dark times being more bonded with their home and better able to appreciate its wildness. Maybe? That’s sort of how it feels for me.
Either way, Minnesota has always been my home, and snow around the holidays – especially that magical first snow that’s happening right now! squeee! – just quenches some sort of inner thirst I have for the feeling of homey-ness. Really, that’s how I feel – like something warming and wonderful is pouring out onto a sponge in my heart or soul or something in me, and we (myself and my soul and the sponge) are just soaking it up like there is no tomorrow.
Full disclosure –> somewhere in there, I think there’s this tiny bit of another sort of feeling that I’m sensing. Dread? Panic? Doom? Like, already, winter? ALREADY?
But ignoring.
So this smoothie! I didn’t even talk about the smoothie yet.
This smoothie is what I’ve been making over the last few days in between the few holiday-ish recipes that I’ve been trying out, which are coming to you soon and they are really delicious LIKE WHOA. But I just need one or two more days to get them ready.
As I’ve been trying these recipes out, my eating schedule has been something like this:
- Pumpkin pancakes
- Green Apple Smoothie
- Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
- Green Apple Smoothie
- More Potatoes in a Creamy Sauce with lots and lots of CHEESE
- Green Apple Smoothie
- Easiest Turkey with more Gravy
- Green Apple Smoothie
- Sage Stuffing with the most delicious Spicy Sausage
- Green Apple Smoothie
Yeah.
I have this dilemma where it’s the holidays and I want to eat all the really good food all the time but I can’t because I’m too full from the last awesomely huge meal. It’s a little embarrassing to type that out. Any relaters? Please?
So my idea with this smoothie was to make something that would give me the healthy stuff I wanted (I SEE YOU KALE) while still tasting ultra-festive and leaving me room for the next holiday feast.
Pay close attention now, kids: the secret ingredient here is apple cider. Ohhhhhh man, that is yummy stuff. We bought a bunch of it this year from a local orchard, and after doing the sugar free thing for 60 days, it’s honestly just a little too sweetly potent for me, so after blending it with a handful of big, power-packed kale leaves and a half or full banana for good texture, I water the whole thing down a bit with either just, uhmmm, water, or else a handful of ice to make more of a chilled smoothie-esque thing.
It seriously tastes like a delightfully juicy green apple, sipped through a straw. I love it so much.
In previous versions I’ve added nuts, flaxmeal, nut butter, cinnamon, pumpkin, pomegranate seeds… all the festive things are welcome at this party.
So. I think it might be time for me to make one of these, seeing as to the fact that the snow is falling, and the fact that I’m in need of healthy breakfast after last night’s comforting chicken wild rice soup, and the fact my holiday hormones are currently on overdrive with this snow making magic right outside my window.
To healthier, glowier holidays! Or something.
Holiday Detox Green Apple Smoothie
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 1 big smoothie 1x
Description
This Holiday Detox Green Apple Smoothie is festive, nutritious, and perfect for snacking on between those decadent holiday meals.
Ingredients
- 1 banana (or half is plenty if you’re watching sugar)
- 1–2 cups kale, stems removed
- 1 cup apple cider (no sugar added – just the real stuff)
- 1 cup water or ice
- optional extras: flaxmeal, nuts (I used pecans), nut butter
- dash of cinnamon
- pomegranate seeds for topping
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients together until smooth. Use water for a juice-like texture and ice for a smoothie-like texture. Add in any extras you want for extra protein, fiber, or healthy fats.
- Stir in a dash of cinnamon, top with pomegranate seeds, and enjoy!
Notes
The smoothie naturally separates a bit after it rests, so you may find that there is a layer of foam and kale-textured-stuff on the top. You can either stir to reincorporate it, eat it, or skim off the top to remove. I would also suggest eating the pom seeds before sipping up the drink since because they will get stuck in the straw which can drive some people *points to self* completely crazy.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 2 mins
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: detox smoothie, apple smoothie, green smoothie
Is it really 1 CUP of apple cider vinegar? Seems like it would be a bit strong with that much. But I do love apple cider vinegar!
When I lived in South Florida in Broward County back in the day, there were Smoothie King smoothie drink shops all over Fort Lauderdale, Hialeah, Hollywood, and surrounding areas. I frequented Smoothie Kings often back in the day. I wish there were Smooth King stores where I live at now.
Thanks Lindsay for the good memories in this blog! š
Can you use Apple juice instead of cider
Yep, should be fine!
Hi! I’m new and loving the site the recipes the writing everything! One question – is apple cider apple cider vinegar? Or a totally different thing? I’m wondering if it’s amUK vs US thing? Anyway I’m holding off making a vinegar smoothie until I hear back!! Thanks a million X
Apple Cider is not Apple Cider Vinegar – it’s more like apple juice if you’re able to find that!
there is no way in hell i would ingest a 286caloriesmoothie! are you kidding me ! thats dinner for me!! these recipies are not useful at all
Sorry to hear that, Claudia. Thanks for the feedback.
Does the recipe call for Apple cider or apple cider vinegar? Description I saw said vinegar and I want to be sure, thanks
Plain apple cider, no sugar added.
It’s not the holidays, but I’m sipping this right now and it’s delicious!
Awesome, glad you like it!
Thanks for this version of the green smoothie. Love the idea of apple cider.
My recipe calls for spinach instead of kale, apple , 1/2 orange, 1/2 c yogurt, 5 strawberries and 1/2 a banana. Filling and delicious.
Thank you so much for this recipe! After trying this smoothie, I’ve branched out quite a bit to all kinds of kale smoothies. I have never enjoyed kale very much before this, but now I drink it every day. Thanks! š
I love hearing that! Thanks for the comment Michelle!
This recipe sounds so awesome, I am especially overdue for a detox and should really get one under way the next few days before the holiday hoopla starts this week. I’m in Michigan and we haven’t had a lot of snow, but we are headed north after Christmas to ski and am really hoping for lots of snow then. Have a great holiday and thanks for the great detox recipe. The cider has to make this delicious. I haven’t really used much cider in smoothies, but hey, this is Michigan and we have tons of apple orchards. I’m going to play around with some cider recipes too. Wonderful inspiration, thank you!
You had me at the pomegranate seeds! I’m ready to dive in. Thanks!
Smoothie looks amazing. I am very excited to try this recipe . And I am sure my daughter and my hubby would love this too.
What lense did you shoot with here?!
100mm 2.8! š
Do you use any type of filters?! These photos are blow my mind gorgeous!
Pumpkin Pancakes? That sounds delightfully delicious. Recipe please!
Here you go! https://pinchofyum.com/simple-cinnamon-pumpkin-pancakes
Lindsay, this smoothie sounds so refreshing. I will tell my daughter to check it out since she loves smoothies.
Lindsay, this smoothie sounds like something my daughter would love. I will be sure to send her the link. It actually sounds really refreshing, and I am going to give it a try.
Awesome! I hope you like it Analida!
I am not sure that you want my comment. When I go to see a recipe I want a photo of the finished product and the recipe. I do not want or need to see each step in photos or long drawn out site. I just want to have the basic information. I do not mind some information as I do get that from other sites but I do think that you do go on way too long and include way too much for the person who has less time to sit in front of the computer.
Hi Earleen! Sounds like this might not be the right blog for you. Take care!
Just made this for breakfast this morning! Loved it!
As a Brazilian who moved to the UK 4 years ago (I had never seen snow!), I like to think of myself as highly adaptable, and I even love the cold up until Christmas…but then January comes and all of a sudden I get this almighty longing for home…or anywhere with sun and hot weather really š
Brazil! What a great place to call home!
Carolina, I know what you mean. I am from Panama and live in northwestern Pennsylvania. We have about 5 months of snow, not to mention very little sun during the winter months. I also long for a warm sunny place. To me snow is good one day of the year-Christmas! š
This looks amazing!!!
So excited to try this recipe when we get back home from our camping trip. I LOVE to go camping with my family, but seriously – the food we eat when we go is… packaged. refined. carb loaded. Kinda gross. Sigh. They would just think I was a total loon if I brought my vitamix with me! LOL! Maybe I will get up the courage to do that, someday. But I digress. YUMMY, this smoothie just sounds amazing! Thanks so much!!!
We are getting the same snow here in Calgary, I am so not ready for winter! I love how simple this smoothie is! I may have to stray from my regular mango matcha green smoothie to try this one out š
Mango Matcha? Don’t stray too far – that sounds amazing!
I lived in Faribault and then Minneapolis for 6 years from 1976 to 1982 and loved, loved, loved!! the snow. As a Georgia girl it was a novelty that never wore off. I’ve been living South again for many years, but now mostly just yearn for snow all winter, sometimes getting a brief white treat. There’s no coziness that compares to that first snow day, especially at home. Your picture brought back many great memories, thanks.
How fun! Love hearing that Cindy! š
Ugh…. why didn’t I read this BEFORE I made my green smoothie of the day?! I never would have thought of adding apple cider to a smoothie but that’s genius! I think I’m going to have to use spinach, though. Even with my Vitamix I just prefer spinach instead of kale in smoothies!
ps Lindsay. Have you ever been to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan?Our snow is INSANE. In fact, it’s a snow day today so no school for me!!
No I haven’t! I would love to visit though!
This is pure perfection! Heading into summer here in Australia, this will go down a holiday treat!
Pinned!!!!!