There are some things I make because they’re cheaper, some because they taste better, and some simply because I like knowing what’s in them. One of my favorite things to create are homemade smoothie recipes.
These homemade smoothies started out as something I wanted to do for my mom.
My mom loves smoothies, especially banana and strawberry. She had been buying those little packets of smoothie mix where you add a banana or strawberries and some milk, throw everything in the blender, and you’re done.
They certainly are convenient.
The problem was that I started looking at what we were paying for them and thinking, surely I can make something just as good at home for a whole lot less money.
And if I’m going to make it myself, I might as well make it with simple ingredients too.
With these homemade smoothie recipes, you can create refreshing drinks tailored to your taste.
That’s how I ended up experimenting with homemade banana smoothies, strawberry smoothies, strawberry-banana smoothies, freezer smoothie packs, and eventually my own homemade dry smoothie mixes. These homemade smoothie recipes are perfect for anyone looking to enjoy delicious and healthy options.
The goal wasn’t to hand Mom some green concoction that technically qualified as healthy but didn’t taste anything like the smoothie she wanted.
It had to taste good.
So these recipes are creamy, fruity, naturally sweet and easy enough that there’s really not much more work involved than using the packets.
Why I Started Making Smoothies for Mom
Table of Contents
Mom’s favorites have always been the banana and strawberry smoothies, so those were the two I concentrated on first.
One thing I quickly realized was that you don’t need much to make a really good smoothie.
Fruit, milk and yogurt will get you most of the way there.
A little vanilla makes a surprisingly big difference, and if the fruit isn’t quite sweet enough, you can add just a little honey or maple syrup.
There’s also an important distinction between the sugar naturally occurring in fruit and milk and added sugar. The FDA considers sugars naturally present in fruits and milk separately from added sugars such as table sugar, syrups and honey. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
That doesn’t mean I consider a smoothie unlimited health food. Fruit still contains sugar and calories. I’m simply able to control what goes into Mom’s glass when I make it myself.
And that’s exactly what I wanted.
My Basic Smoothie Formula
After playing around with different combinations, I’ve found that a good starting point for one smoothie is:
Fruit + Milk + Yogurt + Vanilla
From there you can adjust it however you like.
Frozen fruit gives you a thicker smoothie without watering it down with a bunch of ice.
That’s particularly useful with bananas.
Whenever bananas on the counter start getting really ripe, don’t throw them away. Peel them, slice them into chunks and freeze them.
Those ugly brown-spotted bananas that nobody wants to eat are actually some of the best smoothie bananas because they’re naturally sweeter.
Mom’s Creamy Banana Smoothie
This was the obvious place for me to start.
I wanted something creamy and banana-forward that would satisfy Mom’s craving for her regular banana smoothie.
Ingredients
- 1 large ripe banana, preferably frozen
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup, optional
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup ice, if using a fresh banana
- Tiny pinch cinnamon, optional
Instructions
Pour the milk into the blender first.
Add the yogurt, banana, vanilla and optional sweetener.
Blend until completely smooth.
If you’re using a fresh banana, add some ice and blend again until you get the consistency you like.
Donnie’s Tip
Use a frozen, very ripe banana and leave out the ice.
That’s the version I like best.
Frozen banana makes the smoothie thick and creamy without diluting the banana flavor.
Taste it before adding honey. A really ripe banana may provide all the sweetness you need.
Homemade Strawberry Smoothie
Strawberries are naturally more tart than ripe bananas, so getting the sweetness right was important with this one.
My little trick is adding half a banana.
It thickens and sweetens the smoothie, but there’s enough strawberry that it still tastes primarily like a strawberry smoothie.
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries
- 1/2 ripe banana
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup, optional
- Ice as needed
Instructions
Add the milk to the blender.
Add yogurt, strawberries, banana and vanilla.
Blend for about 30–45 seconds or until completely smooth.
Taste before adding sweetener.
If the strawberries are tart, add a teaspoon of honey and blend again.
Interestingly, this basic combination isn’t far removed from the USDA MyPlate strawberry-banana smoothie, which combines frozen unsweetened strawberries with milk, banana and yogurt. (MyPlate)
Sometimes simple really is best.
Strawberry-Banana Smoothie
If I had to pick just one recipe to keep in the freezer for Mom, this might be it.
You get the sweetness and creamy texture of banana along with plenty of strawberry flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 ripe frozen banana
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Honey or maple syrup to taste, optional
Instructions
Put the milk into your blender first, followed by the yogurt, frozen fruit and vanilla.
Blend until thick and creamy.
If it’s too thick, add another splash of milk.
If it’s too thin, add a few more frozen strawberries or banana pieces.
That’s it.
A Creamier Banana “Milkshake” Smoothie
Sometimes Mom wants something that feels more like a milkshake.
You can still accomplish that without ice cream.
Ingredients
- 1 large frozen banana
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- Pinch of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon honey, optional
Blend until extremely smooth.
The combination of frozen banana and extra yogurt produces a much thicker consistency.
Serve it with a straw and you’ve got something awfully close to dessert.
Creamy Strawberry “Milkshake” Smoothie
Same idea, different fruit.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- Honey as needed
Blend everything until thick.
If your blender struggles with the frozen strawberries, add another tablespoon or two of milk.
The Cheapest Trick: Make Freezer Smoothie Packs
This is probably the system I’m going to use most often.
Instead of paying for individually packaged smoothie mixes, I can make a whole stack of homemade smoothie freezer packs at once.
When Mom wants one, we grab a bag, dump it in the blender and add milk and yogurt.
That’s pretty darn convenient.
Banana Freezer Smoothie Pack
Into each freezer bag or container put:
- 1 large ripe banana, sliced
When ready to blend, add:
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Strawberry Freezer Smoothie Pack
Add to each freezer bag:
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1/2 banana, sliced
When ready to blend, add:
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Strawberry-Banana Freezer Pack
Add:
- 1 banana, sliced
- 1 cup strawberries
When ready to blend:
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Press as much air as practical from the bags and freeze them flat.
Once frozen, they’ll stack nicely.
I can make 10 or 20 smoothies in one sitting without actually having to blend a single smoothie.
Homemade Dry Smoothie Mix
Now this was the part I really wanted to figure out.
Could I make something that works more like the packets Mom was already accustomed to using?
Yes.
The easiest homemade dry base uses powdered milk.
Rather than trying to manufacture artificial fruit flavor at home, I let the actual banana or strawberries provide the fruit flavor.
That’s exactly what I want anyway.
Homemade Vanilla Smoothie Base Mix
Ingredients
- 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
- 1 cup finely ground quick oats
- 1/2 cup powdered plain milk or additional nonfat dry milk powder
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar, optional
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons vanilla powder, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
Instructions
Put everything into a food processor or blender.
Process until the oats are finely powdered and everything is evenly combined.
Transfer to an airtight jar.
Label it:
HOMEMADE SMOOTHIE MIX
Use approximately 1/3 cup per smoothie.
Why oats?
A small amount of finely ground oats helps thicken the smoothie and gives it more body.
You shouldn’t end up thinking, “I’m drinking oatmeal.”
It simply helps create that thicker smoothie texture.
No-Added-Sugar Dry Smoothie Base
This is the version I’d make first for Mom.
Ingredients
- 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
- 1 cup quick oats, ground very finely
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons vanilla powder, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Process everything into a fine powder.
Store in an airtight jar.
Use 1/3 cup per smoothie.
Let the ripe fruit provide the sweetness.
If Mom decides it isn’t sweet enough, I’d rather put a teaspoon of honey into her smoothie than sweeten the entire jar.
That gives me control over every serving.
Homemade Dry Banana Smoothie Mix
There are two ways to do this.
The easiest and least expensive method is using the basic dry mix with a fresh or frozen banana.
Per Smoothie
- 1/3 cup homemade dry smoothie base
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup cold water or milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, if your dry mix doesn’t contain vanilla
- Ice as desired
Blend until creamy.
Because the dry base contains powdered milk, water actually works. Using regular milk makes it richer.
For Actual Banana Powder Mix
If you want the banana flavor incorporated into the jar, use 100% freeze-dried banana powder.
Mix:
- 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
- 1 cup finely ground oats
- 1 cup freeze-dried banana powder
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix thoroughly and store airtight.
Use roughly 1/2 cup mix per smoothie, then blend with about 1 cup cold milk or water and ice.
You can still throw in half a fresh banana for a stronger banana flavor.
Homemade Dry Strawberry Smoothie Mix
This is where freeze-dried fruit really shines.
Freeze-dried strawberries can be pulverized into a beautiful strawberry powder.
Ingredients
- 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
- 1 cup finely ground quick oats
- 1 1/2 cups freeze-dried strawberries, powdered
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 to 4 tablespoons powdered sugar, optional
Process the ingredients until evenly combined.
Store in an airtight container.
To Make One Strawberry Smoothie
Combine:
- 1/2 cup strawberry smoothie mix
- 1 cup cold milk or water
- 1/2 to 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, optional but recommended
- Ice as needed
Blend until smooth.
I especially like this idea because the strawberry flavor is coming from strawberries.
An Even Simpler Strawberry Smoothie Powder
If you don’t care about making an all-in-one mix, here’s another approach.
Keep two jars:
Jar #1 – Homemade Smoothie Base
Jar #2 – Powdered Freeze-Dried Strawberries
For one smoothie, use:
- 1/3 cup smoothie base
- 2 tablespoons strawberry powder
- 3/4 to 1 cup milk
- Fresh or frozen strawberries as desired
This lets you adjust the strawberry flavor without changing the entire batch.
Making Your Own Strawberry Powder
If you have freeze-dried strawberries, this couldn’t be much easier.
Put them into a blender, spice grinder or food processor and pulverize them.
That’s it.
You have strawberry powder.
Just remember that freeze-dried fruit loves moisture. Keep the powder tightly sealed and always use a dry spoon.
Making Homemade Banana Powder
Freeze-dried bananas can be treated the same way.
Blend completely dry freeze-dried banana slices until they’re powdered.
Then store the powder in an airtight jar.
I wouldn’t try doing this with ordinary dehydrated banana chips. They’re generally chewier and don’t pulverize nearly as nicely.
Freeze-dried fruit is what you want for these dry mixes.
Fresh Fruit vs. Frozen Fruit
I use both.
Fresh fruit is great when it’s available, but frozen fruit has a major advantage in smoothies:
It replaces the ice.
Ice makes a smoothie cold and thick, but it also adds water.
Frozen strawberries and bananas make it cold and thick while adding more fruit.
That’s an easy decision for me.
What Milk Should I Use?
Use whatever your family normally drinks.
These recipes work with:
- Whole milk
- 2% milk
- 1% milk
- Skim milk
- Unsweetened almond milk
- Oat milk
- Soy milk
Whole milk makes a richer smoothie.
Lower-fat milk makes it lighter.
Unsweetened plant milk can work well if dairy isn’t an option, although the flavor and protein content will vary.
Do Smoothies Need Yogurt?
No.
But I really like what yogurt does.
It gives the smoothie creaminess and a little tang while also contributing protein.
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Greek yogurt makes it especially thick.
The USDA’s MyPlate smoothie recipes likewise use combinations of fruit, milk and yogurt, so this is hardly an unusual approach. (MyPlate)
If Mom doesn’t want yogurt one day, I’ll simply leave it out and use a little extra milk or frozen banana.
How I Sweeten Homemade Smoothies
My first choice is:
Don’t sweeten it until you’ve tasted it.
A banana covered in brown freckles can be remarkably sweet.
Strawberries are another story. One batch can be wonderfully sweet and the next surprisingly tart.
If a smoothie needs help, I’ll use a little:
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Sugar
- A very ripe banana
- A pitted date
There’s no reason to turn this into a contest over which sweetener sounds healthiest. Honey and maple syrup still count as added sugars under FDA definitions. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
The advantage of making the smoothie ourselves is simply that we decide how much goes into it.
A Few Easy Add-Ins
Once Mom settles on her favorite basic recipes, there are plenty of things we can sneak—I mean, carefully add—to them.
- Chia seeds: Start with 1 teaspoon.
- Ground flaxseed: About 1 tablespoon.
- Peanut butter: Fantastic with banana.
- Oats: Makes breakfast smoothies more filling.
- Greek yogurt: Adds creaminess and protein.
- Cinnamon: Particularly good with banana.
- Cocoa powder: Banana + cocoa makes a great chocolate-banana smoothie.
- Vanilla: Makes almost every fruit smoothie taste better.
I wouldn’t put everything in there at once.
If Mom likes her banana smoothie, I’m not going to ruin a good thing by turning it into a science experiment.
Chocolate-Banana Smoothie
Since banana and chocolate go together so well, I had to include this one.
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter, optional
- Honey as needed
Blend until smooth.
That’s about as close as I need to get to drinking a chocolate milkshake for breakfast.
Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons oats
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- Pinch cinnamon
Blend until completely smooth.
The oats, yogurt and peanut butter make this considerably more substantial than a plain fruit-and-milk smoothie.
How to Make a Thicker Smoothie
If the smoothie is too thin, don’t automatically add more yogurt.
Try adding:
- Frozen banana
- Frozen strawberries
- A tablespoon of oats
- More Greek yogurt
Frozen banana is my favorite.
How to Fix a Smoothie That’s Too Thick
This one’s easy.
Add milk a tablespoon or two at a time while the blender is running.
Don’t dump another cup in there.
I’ve learned that lesson with plenty of recipes: it’s easy to add more, but considerably harder to take it back out.
My Plan for Keeping Mom Stocked Up
Here’s what I think makes the most sense for us.
I’ll keep ripe bananas from going to waste by freezing them.
When strawberries are reasonably priced, I’ll buy extras and freeze those too.
Then I’ll prepare several freezer packs at a time.
I’ll also keep a jar of my homemade dry smoothie base in the pantry.
That gives us several options.
On a busy morning, grab a freezer bag.
If there’s fresh fruit that needs using, grab the dry mix.
And when Mom wants her banana or strawberry smoothie, I can make one in a couple of minutes without buying another little packet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make smoothies without added sugar?
Absolutely. Start with very ripe bananas and unsweetened frozen fruit and taste the smoothie before adding a sweetener.
Is the sugar in fruit considered added sugar?
No. FDA labeling guidance distinguishes sugars naturally present in fruits and milk from sugars added during processing or preparation. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
Can I freeze bananas with the peel on?
Technically you can, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Peel and slice them before freezing. Future you will be glad you did.
Can I use frozen strawberries?
Yes. In fact, I prefer them for smoothies because they help make the drink cold and thick without as much ice.
How long does homemade dry smoothie mix keep?
Because homemade mixes don’t have the same commercial processing or packaging as store-bought products, I make reasonably small batches. Keep the mix tightly sealed in a cool, dry pantry and use the ingredient with the shortest manufacturer’s best-by/storage guidance as your limit. Discard it if it develops moisture, an off odor or other signs of spoilage.
Can I make the dry mix without powdered milk?
Yes. Make a fruit-and-oat powder and use regular milk when blending. The powdered milk is mainly useful when you want an almost complete “packet-style” mix.
Can I use regular dried strawberries?
Freeze-dried strawberries are much better for powder. They grind easily and contain very little moisture.
What’s the best banana for smoothies?
An ugly one!
Once the peel has plenty of brown spots, the banana is sweeter and excellent for smoothies. Peel, slice and freeze it.
If you enjoy making simple recipes from scratch, there are plenty of other ideas here on Texas Homesteader to try. Use fresh herbs from your garden with my Basil Plant Growing Guide, or learn how to grow another kitchen favorite with my Oregano Plant Guide. If you have extra fruit to preserve, check out How to Make Dehydrated Blueberry Powder. And when you’re in the mood for something a little more indulgent than Mom’s everyday smoothie, try my Boozy Caramelized Banana Milkshake. Making things yourself is often easier than you think, and it’s a great way to know exactly what’s going into the food and drinks you serve your family.
Homemade Smoothie Recipes Won This One
Sometimes convenience food really is convenient.
But every once in a while I look at something we’re buying and realize we’re paying somebody else to put a few basic ingredients into a little package.
That’s pretty much what happened with Mom’s smoothies.
I’m not trying to completely reinvent what she likes. Quite the opposite.
She likes banana smoothies and strawberry smoothies, so that’s what I’m making her.
Only now I can use actual bananas, actual strawberries, milk and yogurt, control how sweet they are, and make a freezer full at once.
And most importantly, Mom still gets the smoothie she likes.
That’s what matters to me.
Homemade Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add milk to blender followed by yogurt, banana, strawberries and vanilla.
- Blend until completely smooth.
- Add additional milk if necessary to reach desired consistency.
- Taste before adding optional sweetener.
- Serve immediately
Nutrition
Notes
- For the thickest smoothie, use frozen banana and strawberries rather than adding ice.
- For a thinner smoothie, gradually add milk
