Make Ahead Smoothies (and How to Store Them)

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Smoothies are a fantastic make ahead breakfast or healthy snack idea. Pre-made smoothies are delicious, made with wholesome ingredients. As a bonus I add an incredibly easy to make recipe!

Can you Make Fruit Smoothies the Night Before and Keep them in the Fridge? //

Yes, you can. If you make your smoothies the night before, and keep them in the fridge overnight, they will be perfectly good to drink the next day. You can keep them for up to 48 hours but we recommend drinking them before 24 hours if you want to keep maximum nutrition and taste!

My husband became hooked on almond milk make ahead smoothies last year, after we bought a high-speed blender. He drinks one every single morning. I am thrilled about this because there was a time not so long ago when he would never dream of eating fruits or vegetables. He has graduated from straight fruit to fruits and vegetables. Now, I can even get him to drink chia seed in his smoothies. We have come a long way.

Can you Freeze Smoothies? //

Yes, you can freeze the smoothies in any type of freezer-safe container that you like. I use 2 cup mason jars. If you want to use glass containers, just be sure that they are made of tempered glass. Otherwise, it may crack as it goes from the freezer to room temperature.

Also, when you pour the smoothie into the jars, leave some room at the top. Otherwise, when the frozen smoothies expand, the glass can break.

How long can a smoothie last in the freezer? Smoothies can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Make Ahead Smoothies //

One day, I got the idea to make a big batch of smoothies and then individually freeze them. I didn’t know if it would work, or if they would still be good after they thawed, but they are.

Wes pulls one out of the freezer when he wakes up, leaves it on the counter, goes for a run, gets dressed, and hops into the car for a good DC commute. By that time, it has begun to thaw, and he drinks it on his way to work. The pre-made smoothies make our mornings just a little easier. There is less to clean up. Plus, they are easy to grab and go.

These smoothies are also great to pack in your child’s lunchbox. By lunchtime, the smoothie should be thawed enough for them to drink. A nice change from the normal peanut butter and jelly.

Now my delicious almond milk smoothie recipe //

This is the basic formula that we use for our pre-made smoothies. You can change out the fruit and make different flavor variations.

• 1 cup almond milk
• scoop of protein powder
• 1 Tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 cup frozen berries
• handful of spinach

We have yet to find a protein powder that tastes really good, so I buy a different kind every time we run out. Also, I will occasionally add nut butter, coconut oil, a touch of honey, yogurt, or flaxseed.

You don’t have to make an almond milk smoothie; you can use any type of milk or nut milk in your smoothie that you prefer. I’ve really been into pea protein milk lately. Using unsweetened almond milk just ensures that the smoothies are dairy-free and low carb.

How to make smoothies //

I like to make a batch of 3 or 4 almond milk smoothies at a time. If I make 5, it is too much for the blender.

Keep your make ahead almond milk smoothies in the freezer until you need a quick breakfast on the go. The consistency is best if you allow them to thaw at room temperature. I don’t recommend thawing them in the refrigerator unless you prefer very loose (runny) smoothies.

Other easy smoothie recipes to make: //

• Berry Coconut Smoothie
• Eggnog Smoothies
• Creamsicle Smoothies

Originally published on September 10, 2012, updated with new images and copy on February 24, 2020.

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