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Just in case you haven’t picked up on the fad, smoothies are ev-ery-thing.
Maybe that’s just coming from someone who has been drinking them nonstop for my weekday breakfasts since I started working the 9-to-5 grind. But I feel like I am not alone when I say that smoothies are a major part of life.
I have gone through all the smoothie trends from copycat recipes to ones with tons of greens, recipes with chia seeds to tropical flavors, and so much more.
It’s time to go back to the original smoothie, though. You know, the one that doesn’t have greens snuck in, and actually uses somewhat traditional ingredients.
Don’t worry, there’s still a twist here, but more on that later.
Smoothies are a killer way to start the day. They are super easy to make and only require cleaning one blender bowl, a major bonus in my opinion. You can also easily take them with you when you’re on the go.
Simple Modern 16-oz Stainless Steel Classic Tumbler with Straw & Flip Lid
I am all about having a couple dedicated smoothie to-go cups in my cupboard just for this purpose, like these which are available from Amazon. When I’m not sitting at my desk at home first thing in the morning, it’s nice to have the option to throw it in a to-go cup, and hustle out the door on the way to the gym or a meeting with my breakfast in tow.
This berry date recipe is really hitting the spot for me lately. The different types of fruit have a ton of flavor, and the natural sweetness really comes through in every single mouthful.
You don’t even need any extra sweetener to add to this smoothie. The dates and fruit are all you need to pack a little tangy-tartness and sweetness into every sip. And the cocoa powder comes in to smooth all of that out with a little chocolate hit that makes the smoothie a little more indulgent.
Then you have the raw goat’s milk or, if you prefer, a milk of your choice. However, you should really consider raw goat’s milk because the health benefits are fantastic.
Raw goat’s milk helps with digestion and has lots of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients including vitamin A and C, B-complex vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, zinc, calcium, and more. Not to mention, goat’s milk is generally less allergenic than cow’s milk.
The ginger also brings in some health benefits. Ginger has been proven to help ease nausea and stomachaches, it’s a natural anti-inflammatory, and it has also been used to relieve heartburn.
With all this natural goodness, you probably wouldn’t think things could get much better, am I right?
The best part of this recipe is the kick at the end. What’s the reason for that kick?
It’s all about one of my favorite ingredients: cayenne pepper.
When you take a sip, the smoothie starts of sweet and a little tart, with a surprise punch of heat at the end that hits you right in the back of your throat.
It’s not the kind of kick that will have you reaching for a glass of water. It’s the kind of heat that says, “Good morning!” and then begs you to come back for another sip so you can say howdy again.
The complex flavors are really intense, compared to more sweet and simple recipes like our mixed berry smoothie, and make for an amazing way to start the day. In addition, you can use this recipe as a great post-workout recovery option.
That’s actually when I have been enjoying it lately, since I started working out in the afternoon. I need something to fill me up after putting all that work in, but that won’t fill me up to the point that I won’t want to eat dinner.
No matter when you indulge in this healthy beverage, you’ll enjoy the sweet heat, balanced by tart freshness. And you can use frozen berries when the fresh fruit is not in season.
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Berry Date Smoothie with a Kick
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 large smoothies 1x
Description
Want to spice up your morning? Try this creamy berry date smoothie with a kick. Tart berries, sweet dates, and a spicy cayenne finish.
Ingredients
- 4 cups raw goat’s milk, cow’s milk, nondairy substitute, or 2 cups kefir + 2 cups milk
- 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger (or ⅛ tsp freshly grated ginger)
- 1/8–1/4 tsp cayenne
- 6 large or 9 small pitted dates
- 3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 3/4 cup fresh or frozen whole strawberries
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in the order they are listed in the ingredients list in a high-speed blender, like a Vitamix.
- Taste and adjust to your liking before serving.
Notes
Nutritional information below includes protein content for goat’s milk.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Smoothies
- Method: No-Cook, Blender
- Cuisine: Breakfast
Keywords: berry, goat's milk, breakfast, smoothie, cayenne
Cooking By the Numbers…
Step 1 – Measure Ingredients
Measure out all of the ingredients as listed in the ingredients list.
If you don’t want to use raw goat’s milk, you can substitute 2 cups kefir and 2 cups cow’s milk, or the milk of your choice, including nondairy if preferred.
Step 2 – Blend
Layer the ingredients in a high-speed blender starting with the milk, followed by the cocoa powder, ginger, cayenne, dates, blueberries, and strawberries.
Layering the ingredients like this will ensure that the blender processes the mixture properly. Adding the heavier ingredients last, or furthest from the blade, will push down the mixture as it blends, giving you a perfectly smooth result.
For more blender tips, check out our article on smoothie solutions.
Use this layering process whether you’re using fresh or frozen fruit.
Blend until combined. Taste and adjust as desired, and serve.
How Much Cayenne Should I Use?
When it comes to getting that kick at the end of the smoothie, you can always adjust according to your heat tolerance.
I love spicy things, so I go for the full 1/4 teaspoon. If you are unsure as to how much is too much, start with 1/8 teaspoon. Give it a taste and add more, 1/8 teaspoon at a time, until you reach the heat level you prefer.
For more delicious ways to enjoy smoothies, here are some of our favorite recipes:
What’s your favorite type of smoothie, and are you a fan of adding leafy greens? Tell us in the comments below. And be sure to rate the recipe once you try it for yourself!
Photos by Meghan Yager, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photo via Simple Modern. Originally published by Shanna Mallon on August 23, 2013. Last updated: January 16, 2023 at 18:16 pm.
Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.
About Meghan Yager
Meghan Yager is a food addict turned food and travel writer with a love for creating uncomplicated, gourmet recipes and devouring anything the world serves up. As the author of the food and travel blog Cake 'n Knife, Meghan focuses on unique foodie experiences from around the world to right at home in your own kitchen.
yum yum yum, love goat kefir!
My fav smoothie has spinach, blueberries, banana, almond milk and vegan vanilla protein powder
Banana date with cardamon and honey!
Just the kind of smoothie I needed to spark up my mornings. My old green smoothies were getting …. Boring. Sadly. Anyway, can’t wait to try this one! Also, that cup… I’ve been lusting after one of those for a while!
I’m with you. I do green smoothies too. Let me know how it tastes.
I love a good chocolate banana smoothie with tons of spinach. Sadly, I don’t have a good blender and globs of spinach are not that appetizer! Where do I get a good deal on vitamix?
You can read our Vitamix reviews here!
strawberries, blueberries, pomegranate juice
I’m a traditionalist with smoothies: variety of berries, yogurt, bananas, and a squeeze of honey.
The smoothie looks wonderful too!
Loved that you used goat’s milk for this! I recently tried goat’s milk caramel, which was delicious!
I love this post. And I love smoothies. I make my favorite with almond milk, flax seed, spinach, mango & pineapple. I’ll have to try this one, think I would like the kick.
I love your blog! My favorite smoothie has brazil nut milk, avocado, lime juice, tumeric, romaine lettuce and frozen pineapple.
I love breakfast smoothies made with lots of fresh fruit and almond milk!
I like the idea of a kick!!! I love making smoothies, they get me through the day sometimes!!!
I can’t wait to try a smoothie with a cayenne kick–Yum!
Do you do a herd share to get your raw goat’s milk? There is a lovely farm about 45 min from my house that does milk shares, and I went out to visit a few months ago, but haven’t fully committed yet… your mention of raw goats milk has me thinking I should!
Hi Lindsey,
Sorry for the delayed response! We get our goats milk from a farmer we know. It is not technically a herd share, although we have done those in the past and they are a great way to structure things. We just worked out a private agreement. : )
My favorite smoothie is a green smoothie!
How wonderful! My Favorite sweet smoothie is:
1 Mango, Juice from 1 Lime and 1 cup Coconut water
As for my favorite green smoothie, it would have to be:
3 Romaine Leaves, 2 Kale Leaves, 1/2 Pineapple, 1/2 Mango, 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley and 1/2 inch Fresh Ginger
I want to make more homemade smoothies, my fave is island green from Tropical Smoothie
Always love your posts. My favorite smoothie is beets, 3 types of ginger, almond milk, and a bit of banana. My husband calls it devil juice but since he doesn’t appreciate it, I wouldn’t share with him anyway.
My fav smoothie is frozen pineapple, frozen peaches, and orange juice. So good!
Great post! Just tried and I love it 🙂
I don’t have a blender at the moment, but my favorite smoothie to get at the best grocery store in the world (Good Food Store) is a chocolate, banana, peanut butter smoothie!
I like making a green smoothie with spinach, almond butter, banana, yogurt and ice
I don’t believe I have ever had a smoothie but so many people seem enamored by them perhaps I should give one a try.
Oh boy. This is so sad. I can’t tell you my favorite smoothie because I don’t even have one! Steve and I have been discussing the need for a juicer/blender. We have our eye on a Vitamix, though, and I’m dreaming about how much more healthy we could become with such a thing 🙂
This smoothie sounds wonderful, I can’t wait to try it!