Copycat Costco Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1.5 cup Frozen strawberries (Frozen is key for texture; do not use fresh)
• 1 Very ripe banana (Large; look for brown spots for maximum sweetness)
• 0.75 cup Ice cubes (Start with less and add more if needed for thickness)
• 0.75 cup Cold milk (Dairy, oat, or almond milk)
• 1 tsp Honey (Optional; use 1-2 teaspoons or simple syrup if needed for sweetness)

Steps

1. 1

   Add the frozen strawberries and the peeled, ripe banana to the blender.

2. 2

   Pour in the cold milk. Adding the liquid last helps the blender process the frozen fruit more evenly.

3. 3

   Add the ice cubes and a drizzle of honey if using.

4. 4

   Blend on a low setting initially to break up the large chunks of frozen fruit and ice.

5. 5

   Increase the blender speed to high and blend for about one minute until the mixture is completely smooth, creamy, and bright pink. Scrape down the sides of the blender if necessary.

6. 6

   Taste the smoothie. If it needs more sweetness, add another teaspoon of honey; if it is too thick, add a splash more milk; if it is too thin, add a few more frozen strawberries or ice cubes.

7. 7

   Pour into tall glasses and serve immediately while cold and frosty.

Notes

For a creamier, milkshake-like version, add a scoop of vanilla yogurt or a splash of half-and-half. If you want to add greens, a handful of fresh spinach can be added without changing the flavor profile. Leftovers can be frozen in popsicle molds for a healthy frozen treat.

Nutrition per serving

• smoothie
• beverage
• breakfast
• snack
• copycat
• vegetarian
• gluten-free
• no-cook