Before you spend anymore of your hard-earned money on an overpriced bottled smoothie, consider making your own nourishing Green Apple Smoothie.
This four-ingredient green smoothie is quick and easy to make at home and is packed with nutrients, including antioxidants. It’s a vibrant green juice that awakens your senses and kick starts your body so you’re ready to conquer the day.
Why You’ll Love This Green Apple Smoothie
The possibilities are endless when it comes to smoothie recipes with apple. In addition to mega health benefits, here’s why I think you’ll enjoy this one.
- Green apple, spinach, lemon juice and ginger are the only ingredients in this smoothie (except water and a few ice cubes, of course).
- It’s quick and easy to make. Just toss the ingredients into a high-powered blender and let the machine do the rest. No straining necessary!
- It’s delicious and versatile. See the list of smoothie add-ins I’ve prepared for you below.
- This apple spinach smoothie is gluten free, dairy free, nut free and contains no artificial ingredients and no added sugar, making it great for those with food allergies or those following a whole foods, plant based diet (WFPB).
- Unlike pre-made/store-bought bottled options, this Green Apple Smoothie is free of preservatives and unnecessary additives.
- It freezes well and can be made in larger batches for meal-prep (more details below.)
The Ingredients
Smoothies with spinach are incredibly versatile. Green apple makes the perfect partner for a vibrant and fiber-filled green smoothie. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Green apple
- Fresh spinach
- Juice of one lemon
- Fresh ginger
- Water
Wait, there’s no milk in this smoothie?
Correct. Smoothies often have dairy or non-dairy milk or yogurt, which gives them a creamy flavor and texture. While this recipe doesn’t include milk or yogurt, it does retain the fiber of the fruits and vegetables. Thus, it has a thicker consistency than traditional green juice from which the fiber is removed via the straining/extraction process.
Substitutions
- Red apple – The green apple really makes this green smoothie recipe tart and sweet, but you can sub red apple or yellow apple in a pinch … just don’t call it a green apple smoothie!
- Greens – Replace the spinach with whatever greens you have on hand. Keep in mind that spinach greens work well here because of their mild flavor. Bitter greens like collard or mustard greens may require additional apple or an all-natural sweetener to make the taste more palatable (especially if you’re new to green smoothies).
- Juice of two limes – No lemons? No problem. Substitute the fresh juice of two limes.
- Coconut water, aloe water or apple juice – Replace the water with coconut water or aloe water, or make a combination of half-water/half no-added-sugar apple juice. These are great options if you want to give your smoothie a little boost.
How to Make a Green Apple Smoothie
Step 1. Prepare the ingredients.
Scrub, peel (optional) and dice the green apple. Wash the spinach greens and lemon, and use a hand juicer to extract the lemon juice. Scrub the ginger and peel it (optional).
Step 2. Blend the smoothie ingredients.
Add the smoothie ingredients to the blender: water, lemon juice, apple, ginger and spinach. Feel free to add a few ice cubes. Blend until smooth.
Step 3. Enjoy!
This smoothie recipe makes two servings. It’s important that you store the smoothie properly if you don’t intend to drink it immediately. More details below.
Quick Tip
Have extra water on hand in case the smoothie is too thick for your liking. Alternatively, you can replace the water with coconut water or aloe water.
Make Ahead + Storage
This Green Apple Smoothie can be prepared in advance.
If you plan to drink the smoothie within 48 hours, store it in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to consume.
To enjoy at a later date, freeze individual smoothies in airtight mason jars or glass juice jars – fill about ¾ of the jars full to allow for expansion – for up to three months.
To thaw, move the smoothie from the freezer to the fridge for about 24 hours. Alternatively, place the frozen spinach apple smoothie in a bowl of cool water and allow to thaw for 45 minutes to an hour.
Do not heat the smoothie or let it sit out unrefrigerated for long periods. You want to retain the nutrients as best as possible.
Helpful Tips
Everyone’s taste buds are different. Here are a few tips for making this Green Apple Smoothie perfect for your palate.
- For a sweeter smoothie – Add an extra green apple, just remember to increase the amount of water by 8 ounces.
- If your smoothie tastes bitter – The freshness of your spinach could impact how it tastes when blended. Add 1/2 cup of fresh or frozen pineapple chunks for balance if it tastes a bit too bitter.
- For a smoothie that’s too thick – Add extra water 1/4 cup at a time until your smoothie consistency is to your liking.
- For extra flavor – Add a few sprigs of fresh mint, or see the list of smoothie add-ins below.
Best Add-ins for Smoothies
Looking to give the spinach apple smoothie a boost? Here’s a list of extras that pair well with this recipe.
- Microgreens
- Seeds – chia, flax or hemp
- Spirulina powder
- Collagen peptides
- Dairy-free milk or yogurt
- Plant-based protein powder
- Fresh herbs – mint or basil
- Cinnamon
- Turmeric
- Fresh aloe or aloe water
- All-natural sweetener – pure maple syrup, raw, unfiltered honey or agave nectar
Green Apple Smoothie FAQs
Are smoothies healthy?
Smoothies can be as healthy as you want to make them. This smoothie contains all-natural ingredients with no added sugar or dairy, making it a lower calorie smoothie. What’s more, it’s blended so it’s filled with good-for-your-gut fiber, which is extracted during the juicing process.
What are the best greens for smoothies?
The best greens for smoothies are those that you enjoy. Many people like to include baby spinach to their smoothies due to its mild flavor and high nutrient density.
Can I use frozen spinach in green smoothies?
I don’t recommend it, but that’s my personal preference. It’s a flavor issue for me. Technically, frozen spinach can be used in smoothies, and a quick search of the internet shows that people do, indeed, use frozen spinach in their green smoothies.
Is this spinach smoothie organic?
Organic produce is always recommended if you have access to it; however, it’s not required in order to make a healthy, tasty green smoothie. Organic or not, always wash your produce well.
What is the best blender for smoothies?
Any high-powered blender should work well, as long as it’s capable of emulsifying the ingredients into smoothie consistency. If your smoothie leaves large pieces of greens or apple, there’s no harm in using a mesh strainer to filter the chunks. Personally, I love my Vitamix for its ability to blending exceptionally smooth … well, smoothies.
Green Apple Smoothie
Sweet green apple, tender spinach, bright lemon and zesty ginger come together for a powerhouse Green Apple Smoothie that’s bursting with flavor, fiber and antioxidants. This nutrient-dense green smoothie recipe is gluten free, dairy free, nut free and contains no artificial ingredients and no added sugar.
- Total Time: 5 mins.
- Yield: 2 1x
Ingredients
- 8–12 ounces of water
- 1 lemon, juiced with seeds removed
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 large green apple, diced
- 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled (optional)
Instructions
- Scrub, peel (optional) and dice the green apple. Wash the spinach greens and lemon, and use a hand juicer to extract the lemon juice. Scrub the ginger and peel it (optional).
- Add the smoothie ingredients to the blender: water, lemon juice, apple, ginger and spinach. Feel free to add a few ice cubes. Blend until smooth.
- Divide between two glasses and enjoy immediately.
- Prep Time: 5 mins.
- Cook Time: 0 mins.
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Blender
- Diet: Vegan