WATERMELON BERRY SMOOTHIE
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Keep it frosty this summer with a watermelon berry smoothie. This frozen drink is thick and creamy, healthy and refreshing. Pull out your high-speed blender. Whip up this frosty drink in 5 minutes with 5 ingredients plus ice.
With skyrocketing prices of eating out, we’ve all had to cut back on some of our favorite indulgences. Like frozen beverages from the smoothie shop. But now, with this easy recipe, you can still enjoy a delicious frosty drink. For a more official vibe, pour watermelon berry smoothie into a reusable cup from your favorite smoothie shop brand. Take a sip. Feel the joy!
Years ago, my youngest daughter worked at Jamba Juice. At home we were treated to the fruits of her smoothie expertise. On request, she’d pull out the Vitamix blender and whip up a variety of professional-style smoothies.
With our Jamba Juice expert, we began some custom drink development. This recipe for watermelon berry smoothie began at the market with fruit selection. We looked for great pairings for balanced flavors. We chose watermelon and mixed berries (blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries) for their summer vibe. We sliced and froze them in advance.
For an extra touch of sweetness, we added some honey. But you can leave it out, or use agave nectar instead. For the base we had a lot of options. A fruit juice blend, a frozen dessert (like sherbet), soy milk, Greek yogurt, etc. We decided on a common refrigerator staple: Greek yogurt.
What we blended up in the kitchen was a spectacular frozen drink. The refreshing watermelon berry smoothie! It boasts the ideal flavor, thickness and mouthfeel. It’s a healthy beverage to make and enjoy all summer long.
To fuel activities, adults can add a “protein powder boost” to the smoothie. Look for an organic plant-based product at a health food store. Select an unflavored mix so the natural fruit flavors of the smoothie can shine through. It’s an easy way to add more nutrients to your drink.
Straight from the blender, pour luscious watermelon berry smoothies into chilled (or un-chilled) glasses. If desired, garnish with fresh mint and watermelon wedges. For on-the-go enjoyment, pour the frozen beverage into insulated mugs. For a touch of fun, add colorful reusable straws.
RECIPE TIP: Customize this watermelon berry smoothie according to the ingredients you have on hand. No mixed berries? No problem. Watermelon also pairs well with strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and pineapples.
INGREDIENTS
- Ripe Watermelon: Look for a melon with a dull dark color. Locate the field patch on one side. It should be a deep yellow color. If that spot is white, the melon is not ripe. It was picked too early. Cut the melon in quarters. Slice off the green rind and the white flesh and discard them. Cut the red flesh into cubes. Freeze on a lined baking tray.
- Mixed Berries: You can use one or more types of berries: blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or strawberries. For convenience, buy a bag of frozen berries. Look for it in the freezer section of your local market. Or if you have fresh berries on hand, freeze them on a lined metal tray.
- Greek Yogurt: Adds lush creaminess to the smoothie with a touch of tang. For this watermelon berry smoothie, I use plain unsweetened Greek yogurt. But you can use honey or honey vanilla Greek yogurt.
- Honey or Agave Nectar: Either one of these yummy ingredients will provide a little extra sweetening. If you don’t have either on hand, use maple syrup or a bit of granulated sugar. Or leave just leave it out.
- Milk: Helps thin out the smoothie to a desired consistency. Use 2% milk (or whole milk) for a creamy texture. Or use a non-dairy option, like almond milk or soy milk.
RECIPE STEPS
STEP 1: Add smoothie ingredients to the container of a high-speed blender: watermelon, mixed berries, honey, Greek yogurt and milk. Then add some crushed ice. (It’s important to add the ice last.)
STEP 2: Blend 1 minute or until the mixture is completely smooth. Don’t over-blend the ingredients or the smoothie will be thin, not thick.
STEP 3: Divide the watermelon berry smoothie between 2 glasses. If desired, garnish with fresh mint and wedges of watermelon. Enjoy immediately.
RECIPE FAQ
These are the most commonly-asked questions for making the BEST watermelon berry smoothie, and helpful answers for recipe success.
Most smoothie shops use Vitamix blenders or Blendtec blenders. But you can use other high-speed blenders like the Ninja Professional or Wolf Gourmet. These specific blenders can grind small hard particles.
Yes, it’s highly recommended for that thick frosty texture of Jamba Juice drinks. Blending fresh (unfrozen) fruit will result in a thin-textured juicy drink that you can try to offset with a lot of ice.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange sliced fruit on the tray leaving space between pieces so they don’t freeze into a giant chunk. Freeze 3 hours or until fully frozen. If not using immediately, transfer frozen fruit to a zip-top freezer bag and return to the freezer.
Instead of prepping and freezing fresh fruit, use bags of frozen fruit. You can find these products in the frozen section of the supermarket. A great place to buy them (larger bags with better pricing) is Costco or Sam’s Club. During the summer, these stores also sell watermelons.
Yes, many supermarkets stock frozen watermelon bites or balls in the frozen food section. You can often find them at Walmart.
Always add crushed ice (not whole ice cubes) to the blender container last, after the other ingredients. If added first, the ice will grind up quickly and start melting down. The smoothie will have a thin texture.
Add more frozen fruit. Drink-store smoothies are extra thick because they add 5 scoops of fruit to every frozen drink. For a thicker berry watermelon smoothie, add more frozen berries and a bit of ice.
To thin out a smoothie that’s already been blended, add more Greek yogurt or a bit more milk (dairy or non-dairy). If you prefer making a thinner smoothie, don’t use ice.
Tamp down the sweetness with a tiny pinch of salt.
Yes. It’s surprising but true. Watermelon is a berry. To be classified as a berry the fruit must be fleshy, have 2 or more seeds, and develop from a flower with one ovary. Watermelon meets these criteria.
MORE COOL REFRESHING DRINKS
If you savored the cool refreshing taste of this watermelon berry smoothie, you’ll also love these delicious summer drinks. They’re perfect for everyday enjoyment. Save your favorite recipes for later, pin them to Pinterest.
- Watermelon Slushie
- Iced Vanilla Latte
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Horchata
- Maple Whipped Coffee
- Hibiscus Tea
- Pineapple Fruit Punch
RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Flavor experts rated this the BEST watermelon berry smoothie. The texture is smooth, thick and luxurious. The taste is perfectly balanced. Not too sweet. Not too tart. This frozen drink has a cool, light, creamy mouthfeel.
If you agree this frozen drink recipe is worth saving, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with a friend.
WATERMELON BERRY SMOOTHIE
- Total Time: 5 Minutes
- Yield: 2 Small Smoothies 1x
Description
This watermelon berry smoothie is thick, frosty and delicious. It has a smooth luscious texture that’s super refreshing. Pull out your high-speed blender. Make this healthy frozen drink in just 5 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups diced frozen watermelon
- 2 1/2 (rounded) cups frozen mixed berries
- 1/4 cup plain unsweetened Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup crushed ice (not large ice cubes)
Instructions
- Add smoothie ingredients to the container of a high-speed blender: watermelon, mixed berries, honey, Greek yogurt and milk. Then add crushed ice (it’s important to add the ice last).
- Blend 1 minute or until the mixture is completely smooth. Don’t over-blend the ingredients, or the smoothie will be thin not thick.
- Divide the smoothie between 2 glasses. If desired, garnish with fresh mint and wedges of watermelon. Enjoy immediately.
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
WHEN TO ADD ICE WHEN MAKING A SMOOTHIE: Always add crushed ice (not whole ice cubes) to the blender container last, after the other ingredients. If added first, the ice will grind up quickly and start melting down. The smoothie will have a thin texture.
FOR A THICKER SMOOTHIE: Add more crushed ice and/or an extra (rounded) cup of frozen berries. Banana is also a great thickener for smoothies.
FOR A THINNER SMOOTHIE: To thin out a super thick smoothie, add extra Greek yogurt or a bit more milk. If you know in advance you want a thin smoothie, don’t use ice.
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 0 Minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
WATERMELON BERRY SMOOTHIE > JOIN THE CONVERSATION
What are your favorite smoothie bars? Is it Jamba Juice or someplace else? Have you ever ordered and enjoyed a berry watermelon smoothie? Share your thoughts on this frozen drink in the comments below.
Easy and delicious! My girlfriend loved it too. Way better (and less expensive) than Jamba Juice. We’re trying to cut back on dining out by prepping more things at home. Next time I’ll add some banana in there to make it even healthier.