Non-Alcoholic
2013-07-14-259230-cherry-almond-vanilla-smoothie-vegan.jpg

[Photograph: Carolyn Cope]

This sweet, summery, and simple vegan smoothie is packed with fruit, nuts, and not much else, but it could definitely pass for dessert. My nine-year-old taste tester said, "I could drink this all day." And I might just let her.

Note: I'm no proponent of single-purpose kitchen tools, but a decent cherry pitter will really make your life easier if you decide to pit and freeze your own summer bounty. Stem and pit cherries, then freeze on a rimmed baking sheet for at least 12 hours. Frozen cherries from the store with nothing funky added are fine, too. For a good homemade almond milk, I like this recipe—just skip the flavorings and sweetener.

About the author: Carolyn Cope is the voice behind the popular food and lifestyle blog Umami Girl, where she'll soon be releasing a free e-book filled with easy ways to incorporate more healthy, plant-based foods into your life. She is equal parts live-to-eat and eat-to-live and currently does both from London.

Every recipe we publish is tested, tasted, and Serious Eats-approved by our staff. Never miss a recipe again by following @SeriousRecipes on Twitter!

About This Recipe

Yield: Serves 2
Active time: 10 minutes
Total time: 12 hours (if freezing your own cherries)
Special equipment: Blender or high-speed blender

Ingredients

  • 2 cups frozen pitted cherries
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 pitted Medjool date
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Procedures

  1. Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until completely smooth. Serve immediately.