Have you ever put celery and cucumber in a smoothie with cranberries? It sounds like health food punishment, but the apple and honey smooth everything into a tart, clean drink that tastes more like juice than a vegetable shake. The cranberries are sharp and bright. The celery and cucumber fade into the background and add body without flavour. The apple sweetens it all naturally.
Peel the apple and cucumber first. Blend everything with water or ice. The result is thin and drinkable, more like a pressed juice than a thick smoothie. If you want it colder, use ice cubes instead of water.
How to Make Cranberry Apple Smoothie
Peel, Then Blend
Peel the apple and the cucumber. The skins, especially cucumber skin, add a bitter edge and green colour that fight the cranberry. Peeled, everything blends cleaner. I keep making this one on repeat for mornings when I want something sharp and actually refreshing. 
Add cranberries, celery, apple, and cucumber to the blender. Start on low, then increase to high. Add water or ice cubes to get the blades moving and to reach the consistency you want.
Sweeten After Tasting
Add honey after blending, not before. Taste the smoothie first. Depending on how sweet your apple is and how tart your cranberries are, you may need more or less.
Start with one tablespoon. Cranberries are aggressive and some batches need more honey than others. You can always add more. You cannot take it out.
Cranberry Apple Smoothie
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: Serves 1
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A sweet and tart smoothie perfect for fall.
Cranberries and apples blend beautifully for a refreshing treat.
Ingredients
- 1 cups (237 ml) fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 stalk celery
- 1 medium sweet apple (skinned)
- 3 inches of medium-sized cucumber (skinned)
- 1 tbsp honey of choice
- 0.25 cups (60 ml) water or several ice cubes
Instructions
- Peel the apple and cucumber.
- Add cranberries, celery, apple, and cucumber to the blender.
- Blend on low, then increase to high.
- Add water to facilitate blending or add ice cubes to chill if using fresh cranberries.
- Add honey and blend until smooth.
- If necessary, add more water to thin the smoothie.
Notes
- For a thicker smoothie, use frozen cranberries and omit the added water.
- To reduce sweetness, use less honey or substitute with maple syrup.
- Store leftover smoothie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 25
- Sodium: 5
- Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 2
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen cranberries?
Yes. Frozen cranberries blend well and make the smoothie colder without diluting it. No need to thaw them. Fresh and frozen are interchangeable here.
Can I skip the celery?
You can, but the smoothie will be thinner and lose some body. Celery does not add strong flavour when blended with fruit, but it adds fibre and substance.
Is this good for meal prep?
Blend and store in a sealed jar for up to 24 hours. The colour may darken slightly. Shake or stir before drinking. After 24 hours the celery flavour becomes more noticeable.
I’ve never seen a cranberry smoothie recipe before. Thanks for posting this, because I’m sick of my usual banana/mango/spinach concoction. Looking forward to trying this tomorrow morning!