This cherry banana smoothie is cool, refreshing, and perfect for hot summer days. A simple blend of cherries, banana, almond milk and a dollop of whipped cream makes for a delicious, nutritious treat — and this recipe comes from my nine-year-old chef-in-training.
My kids love to watch me cook, and making food together is one of our favorite ways to spend time. We often make simple summer treats like strawberry popsicles and berry trifles. Cooking together relaxes us and builds memories — and this smoothie is a perfect example of how something small can become special.
Lately my oldest has been asking to help more in the kitchen. We watch Chopped Junior and other cooking shows, and she wonders why she can’t take over the kitchen like the kids on TV. I’ll admit I worry about the mess and safety, but when she confidently asked for the blender this weekend I decided to trust her judgment.
She had a plan. She’s been playing a cooking app on her tablet that gives recipes after each game, and she adapted one of those smoothie recipes for real life. The ingredients were straightforward, so I let her go for it — and she nailed it.
After blending the smoothie, she insisted on photographing it for the recipe post. She arranged props, used stemless wine glasses, topped each drink with whipped cream and a cherry, and even trimmed straws so the proportions looked right. Her styling was all her idea, and it was charming and creative. She tried to use my DSLR on manual focus, then decided I should take the photos — a reminder that there are always new skills to teach and learn together.
These little moments create lasting memories. If you have children, consider teaching them basic kitchen skills this summer — mixing, measuring, and simple recipes are great places to start. A friend of mine even took time off this summer specifically to teach her kids to cook. It’s a wonderful idea.
Smoothies are especially useful in hot climates because they’re quick, cooling and can be made with nutritious ingredients. I recently found a book with many simple smoothie recipes that inspired us, but this cherry banana smoothie is so easy you don’t need anything fancy to make it work.
Enjoy the simplicity of this recipe. Sometimes the best treats are the easiest to make, and getting kids involved makes them even better. My daughter wanted everyone to know that the ingredients, directions and photography layout came from her — so cheers to her creativity!
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- 1 cup frozen pitted cherries
- 1 cup almond milk
- 3 ice cubes
- Whipped cream, for topping
Directions
- Place the banana, frozen cherries, almond milk and ice in a blender.
- Puree until completely smooth and there are no chunks remaining.
- Pour the smoothie into a glass.
- Top with whipped cream.
- Garnish with a cherry and add a straw.
- Enjoy immediately before it melts.
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Cherry Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- 1 cup frozen pitted cherries
- 1 cup almond milk
- 3 cubes of ice
- Whipped cream, for topping
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender.
- Puree until smooth and there are no more chunks.
- Pour smoothie into a glass.
- Top with whipped cream.
- Place a cherry on top and add a straw.
- Drink before it melts.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 25 g |
Protein: 2 g |
Fat: 2 g |
Sodium: 163 mg |
Potassium: 364 mg |
Fiber: 3 g |
Sugar: 16 g