Mornings. Wow. I know I am not the only one that struggles in the morning. Between getting up, getting ready, and being to work on time… There is not much room to make a gourmet, healthy breakfast. Most opt for a simple granola bar on the go or even take out McDonald’s, but let’s face it, none of these would be nears as healthy as a nice homemade breakfast. In this case, a breakfast smoothie.
This is a yummy apple pie inspired smoothie. The cinnamon and apple combo turn a classic dessert into a healthy, balanced breakfast. A cheat without the guilt, for breakfast? Better yet, one without the hassle? Count me in!
The cool thing about this smoothie is it is a treat without any added sugar. On top of that, the cinnamon in the smoothie helps curb that oh so powerful sweet tooth we all know we have. Is that a win-win or what? Of course you could add a teaspoon or two of honey, or better yet, 1 date. Make sure your date is pitted and nice and soft if you want a really smooth, silky smoothie.
If the date is a little bit hard, you should soak it in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Usually, medjool dates are extremely soft, but if you have a brand of dates like Dole, you will need to soak them. This will soften the date and ensure you have the perfect texture for your smoothie. If you add a hard date, there will be a lot of small chunks through-out the smoothie, and some of the dates will probably sink to the bottom of the glass.
This is an overnight smoothie, so it will be prepared the night before you plan to drink it. Of course if you have time in the morning, you could make this smoothie the day of. If you are making it in the morning, I would recommend blending a few ice cubes in the smoothie so that it is nice and cold. I mean what beats a refreshing smoothie in the morning?
Enjoy!
Also Read: Best Hand Held Electric Mixers
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces cold coconut water or nut milk of choice
- 4 almonds, raw & unsalted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- Also need 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped apple (about 1 medium apple)
- 1/2 scoop unsweetened protein powder (optional)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (or ground flaxseed)
Optional:
1 pitted medjool date or 2 dates soaked in boiling hot water for at least 5 minutes (this is for some added natural sweetness if you find the flavor lacking)
1 handful of ice cubes ONLY if you plan to drink it right after you make it
Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Only put the ice cubes if you plan to drink it right away. Blend until all ingredients are a nice homogeneous mixture, the smoothie should be very smooth.
2. Enjoy right away, or place in the fridge overnight for a healthy grab-and-go meal in the morning