This naturally sweet cherry mango smoothie is cold, fruity, and creamy without banana, yogurt, or dairy. Simply blend frozen mango, dark sweet cherries, and a juicy orange for a quick vegan smoothie. It's bright, refreshing, and ready in minutes.
The frozen mango gives the smoothie a thick and creamy texture. The cherries are sweet, flavorful, and give a gorgeous color. Add spinach for an easy boost of greens, or leave it out to keep the smoothie extra vibrant.
For more healthy plant-based smoothie recipes without bananas, try a raspberry and blueberry smoothie, a mango kiwi smoothie, or a pineapple and peach smoothie.
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Recipe features
- Made without banana or yogurt - Frozen mango gives the smoothie a thick and creamy texture without banana, yogurt, or dairy.
- Quick frozen fruit smoothie - Frozen mango and dark sweet cherries make it cold, fruity, and easy to blend.
- Sweet, tart, and refreshing - Cherries are sweet and flavorful, while a peeled navel orange brightens everything up.
- Easy to customize - Swap the liquid, add greens, use lime juice, or make it a smoothie bowl.
- Vegan and dairy-free - This smoothie is plant-based, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
The mango cherry smoothie recipe uses simple ingredients, but please see the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
Mango - I use frozen mango because it's already ripe, cubed, and helps thicken the smoothie. If you use fresh mango, the smoothie may be thinner and less chilled. Reduce the liquid slightly or add a few ice cubes for a thicker and chilled smoothie. For more ways to use frozen mango, try a dragon fruit mango smoothie, a cucumber mango smoothie, or a strawberry mango banana smoothie.
Cherries - Frozen dark sweet cherries work best because they're already pitted, stemmed, and ready to blend. They also help chill and thicken the smoothie. Fresh cherries can be used, but remove the stems and pits first. The smoothie will be thinner and not as cold with fresh cherries. Dark sweet cherries make the smoothie sweeter, while tart cherries give it a brighter and tangier flavor. Frozen cherries can vary in sweetness, so taste and adjust with extra mango or a soft pitted date if needed. For more recipes with frozen cherries, try cherry chia seed pudding, cherry overnight oats, or cherry nice cream.
Navel orange - A peeled navel orange adds brightness, natural sweetness, and a fresh citrus flavor. Remove the peel and as much of the white pith as you can before blending. Instead of an orange, try a ⅓ cup of orange juice.
Water - The recipe uses water to keep the smoothie light and fruit-forward. Coconut water can also be used for a slightly sweeter, tropical flavor. Adding the optional 2 cups of fresh spinach will thicken the smoothie; add an extra ½ cup of water to thin it out if needed.
Spinach - Fresh spinach is optional, but it's an easy way to add greens. It has a mild flavor that blends well with the mango and cherries, but it will change the smoothie from bright pink to brown. The color isn't as pretty, but the fruity flavor still comes through. For more dairy-free smoothies with spinach, try a blueberry pineapple smoothie or a cucumber apple smoothie.
How to make a mango cherry smoothie
1. Add the frozen mango chunks, frozen cherries, water, and an orange to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
2. If you're adding spinach, blend it in with the rest of the ingredients. If you add spinach, the smoothie will turn brown instead of bright pink. The fruity flavor still comes through, but it may be slightly muted. Add up to an extra ½ cup of water, or as needed, to help it blend.
3. Pour into a glass and enjoy right away.
Tips for the best texture and flavor
- Adjust the sweetness: If you prefer the smoothie sweeter, blend in a soft pitted date.
- Too thick? Add 1 or 2 tablespoons at a time of water, coconut water, or dairy-free milk until it blends smoothly.
- Too thin? Blend in more frozen mango, frozen cherries, a ripe banana, or whole chia seeds.
- Using fresh fruit? The smoothie won't be as thick or cold as it is with frozen fruit. Add ice cubes to chill and thicken it, but keep in mind they can dilute the flavor.
- Blender struggling? Add the liquid first, then the frozen fruit. You can also let the frozen fruit sit for a few minutes to soften slightly before blending.
Variations
This cherry and mango smoothie is easy to customize depending on what you have and how sweet, thick, or filling you want to make it.
- Make it more filling: Blend in 1 tablespoon of either ground flaxseed, chia seeds, hemp seeds, almond butter, cashew butter, or a scoop of vegan protein powder.
- Try kale instead of spinach: Remove the tough stems and tear the kale into bite-sized pieces. Kale has a stronger flavor than spinach, so start with a smaller amount if you're unsure. If your blender struggles with kale, blend it with the liquid first. Then add the mango, cherries, and remaining ingredients.
- Make it a smoothie bowl: Use less water so the smoothie blends to be thick and spoonable. Top with chia seeds, fresh fruit, and oil-free granola. For high-speed blenders, use the tamper stick to move the frozen fruit around. If you're still having trouble blending, let the frozen fruit partially thaw for a few minutes to make it easier to blend.
- Swap the mango: Use frozen ripe banana or frozen peaches instead of mango.
- Use different cherries: A mix of sweet and tart cherries works well for a brighter, tangier smoothie.
- Use lime instead of orange: Swap the orange for 1 to 2 tablespoons of lime juice for a tangier smoothie. Since lime juice adds less liquid than an orange, add more water as needed to help it blend. The smoothie will also be less sweet.
Serving suggestions
This frozen cherry mango smoothie is refreshing and fruity, but it's lighter than a full meal. I like it best as an afternoon snack or paired with something more filling for breakfast. To make it more satisfying, serve it with:
Storage
Refrigerator -This cherry smoothie is best served right after blending, but leftovers can be covered and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Stir or shake before serving if it separates.
Freezer - Pour leftover smoothie into an ice cube tray and freeze. Add the smoothie cubes to a future smoothie for extra fruit flavor.
Mango and cherry smoothie FAQs
Start with spinach. It has a milder flavor than kale and blends in more easily with fruit. You can also start with half the amount of greens, then slowly add more over time as you get used to the flavor.
Smoothies are best enjoyed right after blending, but you can make them earlier in the day and store them in the refrigerator. Stir or shake before serving since it may separate as it sits.
Yes, fresh cherries can be used, but remove the stems and pits first. Fresh cherries won't make the smoothie as cold or thick as frozen cherries, so you may want to add ice or use more frozen mango to help thicken it.
Yes, add the frozen mango, frozen cherries, and spinach to a freezer-safe container or bag. When you're ready to make the smoothie, add the frozen ingredients to a blender with the water and an orange, then blend until smooth.
Frozen mango and cherries can vary in sweetness. If your smoothie tastes tart or flat, add more cherries, a splash of maple syrup, a soft pitted date, orange juice, or a squeeze of lime to brighten the flavor.
Related recipes
- Tropical island green smoothie
- Arugula smoothie
- Cucumber and apple smoothie
- Kale and beet smoothie with frozen berries
- Strawberry mango and banana smoothie
I hope you enjoy the dairy-free smoothie! If you did feel free to rate the recipe and leave a comment.
Recipe
Cherry Mango Smoothie
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This naturally sweet cherry mango smoothie is cold, fruity, and creamy without banana, yogurt, or dairy.
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen mango chunks
- 1 cup frozen pitted sweet cherries
- 1 cup water (add an extra ½ cup of water if adding spinach to thin out)
- 1 navel orange, peeled or ⅓ cup orange juice
- 2 cups fresh spinach, optional
Instructions
- Place everything in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy!
Notes
Always use pitted cherries.
If you're using the optional spinach, the color will change, but it will mostly taste the same. If anything, the fruity flavors may be slightly mellowed out since you're adding more ingredients.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: smoothie
- Method: blender
- Cuisine: american
Kim says
One of my favorite smoothies so far!
Allie says
I'm so gald you liked it and thank you for leaving a comment!