This Orange Creamsicle Protein Shake is the perfect refreshment for any day of the week. Made with fresh oranges, banana, and yogurt for a rich and creamy feel. With no added sweeteners, it tastes exactly like a creamsicle, only healthier!
❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe
Smoothies are easily one of the quickest, most delicious ways to pack in so much nutritional value. This smoothie was born because of a nostalgic craving for a creamsicle ice cream bar (anyone remember those?) so I got to work creating a healthier alternative.
I’m all about not sacrificing taste for the sake of healthy livin’, so trust me when I say: this orange creamsicle protein shake tastes JUST like that orange creamsicle ice cream bar! I’m shocked at how well it turned out so of course I had to share.
This recipe is dairy free, vegan, and seriously so refreshing. Other than the incredible flavor explosion, the best part about this smoothie is it takes less than 5 minutes to make.
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📋 Key Ingredients
Loaded with tons of fruits and veggies that give this smoothie its vibrant color, this one is sure to be a new fan-favorite.
- Oranges – Really any kind of orange will work here! I used Florida navel oranges as they’re abundant here in, well, Florida. But blood oranges, any California orange, or sumo oranges would work great. Whichever you orange you use, be sure to zest and then peel the orange prior to adding it to the blender!
- Banana – This ingredient is truly such a great base for smoothies. Just one frozen banana will help make the smoothie so creamy and give it a bit of sweetness. I recommend using a frozen banana for this recipe rather than a fresh one!
- Yogurt – Any yogurt will work for this recipe, but as I like to keep my recipes dairy-free, I opted for a dairy-free plant-based yogurt that has a bit higher protein content. Greek yogurt, dairy-free or not, would be a great addition to use. Greek yogurt has a higher protein content, so while there’s no “best” yogurt to use, one with higher protein would be most ideal.
- Cauliflower – I know, I know, sounds a little gross, right? I promise you that you won’t taste it one bit! Frozen cauliflower blends so well in smoothies and really, does cauliflower even taste like anything? Nope, it does not. So toss it in there for some extra nutrition that your body is gonna love ya for!
- Carrot – Just one large carrot in this smoothie is going to give you that vibrant orange color AND even more nutritional value! Trust me on this one.
- Protein Powder – What’s a protein smoothie without a little extra protein? I like to use a plant-based vanilla protein powder, as it blends well, tastes so creamy, and keeps things dairy-free. Feel free to use whichever protein powder you have on hand, just keep it to the vanilla flavor if you can.
Helpful Tip: Freezing your bananas when they have brown spots (see photo below for example) are going to result in the BEST tasting smoothies. The more ripe the bananas are, the more natural sweetness will be added to your smoothie.
📖 Instructions
Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend away. A general blender would work just as fine as well, but a high-speed blender is certainly a favorite go-to kitchen tool!
Blend until completely smooth, adding more ice for a slushier smoothie, or more milk is you used primarily frozen fruits and need to thin it out a bit.
Pour into two glasses and enjoy!
🥣 Variations of orange creamsicle protein shake
Make it a smoothie bowl! This smoothie can easily be made into a smoothie bowl, especially if you’re using primarily frozen ingredients as that will create a thicker smoothie mixture.
To ensure the smoothie bowl keeps quite thick, it would be a good idea to toss in another frozen banana and maybe half the amount of milk so it stays thick.
Top the smoothie bowl with extra fruit like banana slices, maybe chunks of mango or pineapple! Granola, coconut flakes, berries, cinnamon, goji berries, really whatever else you like and have readily available.
💭 FAQ
How long will this smoothie keep for?
Generally, smoothies are best enjoyed fresh.
However, if you are looking to get some meal-prep done early in the week for an even quicker smoothie experience throughout the week, then you could distribute the smoothie into an ice-cube tray and freeze. Then whenever you’re ready to enjoy a smoothie, pop out half of the smoothie cubes and blend in the blender. This recipe makes 2, so be mindful of the serving size!
Fresh or frozen fruit?
Both! For this orange creamsicle protein shake recipe, I used a mixture of fresh and frozen fruit and veggies. I like to keep bananas and riced cauliflower in the freezer as quick options to throw a smoothie together. Fresh oranges and some carrots that I had in the fridge all came together brilliantly in the blender!
If you decide to go the all-fresh route, you will need to add a bit more ice to get that nice slushy, creamy texture of smoothies that we all know and love.
If going the all frozen route, be sure to add a bit more milk or water to thin out the icy texture a bit.
More recipes you’ll love!
- Gut Healing Green Smoothie
- Carrot Cake Protein Balls
- Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Apple Crisp Cookie Cups
- Mini Mango Cheesecakes
Lastly, if you want more recipes straight to your inbox, be sure to subscribe to my email list! As always, if you make this recipe, be sure to tag me on instagram so I can see your creation!
Orange Creamsicle Protein Shake
Equipment
- 1 high-speed blender
Ingredients
- 2 oranges fresh, peeled
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 banana frozen
- 1 carrot large
- ½ cup cauliflower frozen, riced
- ½ cup yogurt dairy-free, greek
- ½ cup dairy-free milk of choice (I used almond)
- ½ cup plant-based protein powder vanilla, 2 scoops = ½ cup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 cups ice as needed
- 2 tbsp hemp hearts optional
Instructions
- Zest 1-2 oranges to get 1 tbsp of orange zest, then peel the oranges
- Place all ingredients in high-speed blender. Blend. Optional: top with dairy-free whipped cream and orange zest. Enjoy!
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