01.19.2021
7 Spices to Add to Your Smoothies
Boost flavor and health with 7 smoothie spices. Get pairings, serving tips, and simple blending advice for better morning smoothies.
- A small pinch of bold spices transforms simple fruit smoothies into bright, layered flavors.
- Match spice type to fruit: vanilla and cinnamon for berries and bananas, turmeric and ginger for tropical and carrot blends, cayenne for a sweet-heat kick.
- Use fresh roots for bright zing, ground spices for convenience, and pair turmeric with fat and black pepper for better absorption.
Smoothies are the perfect no-recipe food to start the day. Plug in the blender, toss in your favorite fruits, add a splash of milk, and a spot of honey before grabbing your favorite cup. Let spices become a part of your smoothie routine as they bring out the best in a fruit’s flavor and add little excitement to your morning. These are the most popular spices for upgrading your smoothies at home. If your favorite smoothie spice didn’t make our list, or you have a smoothie recipe to share, tell us in the comments below.
Vanilla
Fruit tastes fruitier when you pair it with real vanilla. For easy morning additions, we like using our premium Madagascar vanilla extract. A few drops of extract in a 12 oz smoothie makes a world of difference. For extra vanilla sweetness, try a teaspoon or two of our handcrafted vanilla bean sugars, available in original vanilla bean sugar, lavender vanilla bean sugar, and spiced vanilla bean sugar—made with cinnamon and cardamom.
Apple Pie Spice
We wish we could have pie for breakfast every day, and this blend lets us do that. Add a peeled apple to the blender with oat milk and honey for an innocent, but seemingly indulgent, apple pie smoothie. For extra credit, toast some rolled oats and sprinkle on top for garnish. Apples are just the beginning. This blend of cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and clove is life-changing with strawberries and yogurt.
Cinnamon
Fresh cinnamon adds a fiery sweetness to breakfast foods like French toast and granola, but don’t stop there. We love cinnamon just as much in a smoothie, too. One type of cinnamon wasn’t enough for us either. Try bold Saigon cinnamon for orange and banana smoothies, sweet Korintje cinnamon with blueberries, or fresh figs, and subtle Ceylon cinnamon for stone fruits like apricots, nectarines, and white cherries.
Turmeric
This golden root is a known smoothie spice favorite for its anti-inflammatory properties. We like using turmeric root because it has a gentle, earthy flavor that pairs well with smoothie favorites like baby carrots, oranges, tangerines, and peaches. Turmeric root is a member of the ginger family, so it’s no surprise we often pair turmeric’s mellow flavor with zesty ground ginger root in a mango-peach smoothie.
Cayenne Pepper
Nothing wakes you up like a bit of chile pepper heat. Cayenne pepper is most loved in recipes for Cajun shrimp and Buffalo chicken wings, but a pinch of heat brings fresh fruit to life. Strawberries, red raspberries, and mangoes taste even sweeter when you add the perfect pinch of cayenne pepper. You can balance the chile pepper’s heat with creamy flavors like banana or splash of coconut milk.
Ginger
Ginger root is popular in smoothie recipes for its ability to aid digestion, but we love ginger for the lemony zing it adds to our breakfast. Ground ginger root’s bright, tangy flavor goes well with smoothie ingredients like mango, pineapple, banana, carrot, and peaches. We like doubling the brightness with fresh lemon or lime juice before adding ginger to a frozen peach-pineapple smoothie.
Cacao Nibs
Roasted cacao nibs add intense dark chocolate flavor and nutty bittersweetness to all your smoothie creations. We like to pair these with strawberries, black cherries, bananas, vanilla yogurt, and even fresh mint leaves. Cacao nibs add a nice crunchy texture to smoothies when they aren't fully blended into the drink. You can blend them right into your smoothie, or sprinkle them on top for a garnish.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much spice should I add to a smoothie?
Start small. For a 12 oz smoothie use a few drops of vanilla extract, 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of ground spices, a 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger or turmeric, a tiny pinch of cayenne, or 1 tablespoon of cacao nibs. Taste and add more slowly.
Which spices go best with common fruits?
Vanilla and cinnamon work with berries, bananas, and yogurt. Apple pie spice is great with apples and strawberries. Turmeric and ginger pair well with mango, peach, carrot, and citrus. Cayenne brightens strawberries, raspberries, and mango. Cacao nibs match cherries, bananas, and mint.
Should I use fresh ginger and turmeric or ground?
Fresh root gives a brighter, fresher bite. Use a small knob, about 1/2 to 1 inch, for a 12 oz smoothie. Ground is more concentrated and shelf stable, so use 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon. Choose fresh for texture and zing, ground for convenience.
How do I get the most health benefit from turmeric?
Turmeric’s key compound absorbs better with a little black pepper and some fat. Add a pinch of black pepper and include coconut milk, yogurt, or nut butter in the smoothie to improve absorption.
Is cayenne safe in smoothies and how much should I use?
Yes, in small amounts. A tiny pinch adds sweet-heat without overwhelming the drink. If you are sensitive to spice, start with 1/16 teaspoon or less. Balance the heat with banana, yogurt, or coconut milk.
How do cacao nibs change a smoothie?
Cacao nibs add dark chocolate flavor, nutty bitterness, and crunchy texture. Blend them in for a smoother drink or sprinkle on top for a crunchy garnish. Use about 1 tablespoon per serving.
Can I use spice blends like apple pie spice instead of single spices?
Yes. Blends save time and give complex flavor quickly. Adjust the amount to taste and check labels for added sugar or salt before using.
How should I store spices and how long do they last?
Keep spices in a cool, dark, dry place in airtight containers. Ground spices lose potency faster than whole spices. Most ground spices stay flavorful 6 to 12 months, while vanilla extract and cacao nibs last longer.
How much spice should I add to a smoothie?
Start small. For a 12 oz smoothie use a few drops of vanilla extract, 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of ground spices, a 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger or turmeric, a tiny pinch of cayenne, or 1 tablespoon of cacao nibs. Taste and add more slowly.
Which spices go best with common fruits?
Vanilla and cinnamon work with berries, bananas, and yogurt. Apple pie spice is great with apples and strawberries. Turmeric and ginger pair well with mango, peach, carrot, and citrus. Cayenne brightens strawberries, raspberries, and mango. Cacao nibs match cherries, bananas, and mint.
Should I use fresh ginger and turmeric or ground?
Fresh root gives a brighter, fresher bite. Use a small knob, about 1/2 to 1 inch, for a 12 oz smoothie. Ground is more concentrated and shelf stable, so use 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon. Choose fresh for texture and zing, ground for convenience.
How do I get the most health benefit from turmeric?
Turmeric’s key compound absorbs better with a little black pepper and some fat. Add a pinch of black pepper and include coconut milk, yogurt, or nut butter in the smoothie to improve absorption.
Is cayenne safe in smoothies and how much should I use?
Yes, in small amounts. A tiny pinch adds sweet-heat without overwhelming the drink. If you are sensitive to spice, start with 1/16 teaspoon or less. Balance the heat with banana, yogurt, or coconut milk.
How do cacao nibs change a smoothie?
Cacao nibs add dark chocolate flavor, nutty bitterness, and crunchy texture. Blend them in for a smoother drink or sprinkle on top for a crunchy garnish. Use about 1 tablespoon per serving.
Can I use spice blends like apple pie spice instead of single spices?
Yes. Blends save time and give complex flavor quickly. Adjust the amount to taste and check labels for added sugar or salt before using.
How should I store spices and how long do they last?
Keep spices in a cool, dark, dry place in airtight containers. Ground spices lose potency faster than whole spices. Most ground spices stay flavorful 6 to 12 months, while vanilla extract and cacao nibs last longer.
Is it ok to put all kinds of spices into one smoothie with fruit And almond milk and spinach I also put some seeds in
I add nutmeg and cinnamon
I tried the Saigon cinnamon in a smoothie with an orange, a banana, apple juice, and milk. The flavor was good, but next time I will use orange juice, not an actual orange. I peeled the orange, of course, but the membranes gave the smoothie an unappealing texture. But the orange-cinnamon combination was quite good and I will try it again.