Wellness Origin HubStrawberry banana smoothie, the classic done right
How to make a thick, creamy strawberry banana smoothie with frozen fruit, plain yoghurt and milk, no ice and no added sugar needed, ready in five minutes.
A good strawberry banana smoothie is frozen banana, strawberries, plain yoghurt and milk, blended until thick and creamy. The banana gives sweetness and body, the strawberries give colour and a bright, slightly sour flavour, and a squeeze of lemon makes the strawberry taste stronger. With ripe fruit it needs no added sugar and no ice, and it takes five minutes for two glasses.
This is the smoothie most people try first. It became a standard of American smoothie bars and health food shops from the 1970s and 1980s, and is now made in kitchens everywhere. Because it is so familiar, it is easy to make it badly: watery from ice, too sweet from juice or sorbet, or thin from too much milk. These small details make the difference.
How to make it
- Pour the milk into the blender first, then add the yoghurt.
- Add the strawberries, frozen banana and lemon juice.
- Blend on high for 40 to 60 seconds, until completely smooth and thick.
- Taste. Add the honey only if your strawberries were not very sweet, and blend for a few seconds more.
- If it is too thick to pour, add a splash of milk and blend again.
- Pour into two tall glasses and drink straight away.
Fresh or frozen fruit?
The most important choice is which fruit is frozen. At least one of the two needs to be frozen to make the smoothie cold and thick.
| Combination | Result | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen banana, fresh strawberries | Thick, creamy, fresh strawberry flavour | Summer, when strawberries are in season |
| Frozen banana, frozen strawberries | Very thick, almost soft-serve | A spoonable smoothie bowl |
| Fresh banana, frozen strawberries | Cold and medium-thick | Winter, using frozen berries |
| Both fresh, plus ice | Thinner and more watery | Only if nothing is frozen |
Tips for the best flavour
- Freeze ripe bananas. Bananas with brown freckles are much sweeter. Peel and slice them before freezing so they blend easily.
- Use plain yoghurt. Flavoured yoghurt adds sugar and an artificial strawberry taste. Plain or Greek yoghurt gives a clean tang and a creamy body.
- Skip the ice. Ice dilutes the flavour as it melts. Frozen fruit makes the smoothie cold without watering it down.
- Add a little lemon. Acidity makes strawberries taste more like strawberries, especially out of season.
- Liquid first. Milk at the bottom of the jug helps the blades turn freely, so there are no frozen lumps.
Variations
- Higher protein: use Greek yoghurt and add a spoon of peanut butter or a handful of oats.
- Dairy-free: use oat or soy milk and a plant-based yoghurt. Soy gives the most protein of the plant milks.
- With greens: add a handful of baby spinach; the colour turns brown, but the taste hardly changes. For a proper green version, see our green smoothie for beginners.
- Tropical: swap half the strawberries for frozen mango. For mango on its own with yoghurt and cardamom, try our mango lassi.
- Breakfast bowl: use frozen strawberries and banana with less milk, pour into a bowl and top with sliced fruit, seeds and oats.
The right blender
Any jug blender handles this smoothie if you put the milk in first. A more powerful model makes it smoother and copes better with very frozen fruit. Our guide to the best blenders for smoothies covers the main choices, and a portable blender works for one glass at a time if you blend smaller amounts.
Make ahead and storage
Use the buttons beside the ingredients to make one glass or a jug for the family. The smoothie is best fresh but keeps for up to 24 hours in a closed jar in the fridge; shake it well before drinking, as it separates. For quick mornings, freeze bags of sliced banana and hulled strawberries, ready to blend with milk and yoghurt. Leftovers also freeze well in ice lolly moulds.
Questions people ask
Is a strawberry banana smoothie healthy?
It is a good source of fruit, and the yoghurt and milk add protein and calcium. Blending releases the fruit's natural sugars, so it is best with a meal. In the UK, the NHS counts a smoothie as one of your five a day at most and suggests keeping fruit juice and smoothies to a combined 150 ml a day, which is about one small glass.
Can I make it without yoghurt?
Yes. Use a little more banana and milk, or half an avocado for creaminess. It will be lighter and less tangy.
Why is my smoothie too thin?
Usually because the fruit was not frozen or there was too much milk. Add a few more frozen strawberries or a few slices of frozen banana and blend again.
Photograph: AI-generated image
