Apple Cherry Smoothie Bowl

Dark cherries are paired with sweet apple for a smoothie that’s refreshing and filling – the perfect breakfast choice that’s easy to make and customize! Gluten free, dairy free, paleo and vegan.

January is the month where everyone and their mother tries dieting, eating healthier, working out more, and generally trying to better themselves. I have absolutely nothing against that because it’s a noble effort, but for me… well, I prefer balance.

And in my case, balance means eating chocolate cake whenever I want and then running a bit extra to work it off. Or that I eat a gigantic helping of mac and cheese, but then eat salads for the next couple days (speaking of which, I really can’t get enough of this salad right now). 

It also means that some mornings I eat cinnamon rolls, and others I have something healthier, like this apple cherry smoothie bowl. 

The best part of smoothie bowls? How easy they are! Just throw it all in a blender (aff link) or food processor and pulse to combine. Frankly, the hardest part is figuring out what toppings with which to garnish it.

How to add apple to your smoothie bowl

In the case of this smoothie, you will need to core the apple to get rid of the seeds, but aside from that just chuck it all in there together.

I tend to slice my apple into chunks before I blend it just because it’s easier on my particular food processor, but if you’ve got a high powered one with good performance, just throw the apple in whole – skin and all.

I always eat my apple skins, whether I’m snacking or baking because that’s where most of the fiber and vitamins are. So don’t deprive yourself of those! You know, “an apple a day…” and whatnot.

Sometimes the apple skin is the best part!

In the case of Autumn Glory Apples, the skin might be my favorite part. It’s so flavorful it would be a total waste to discard it. You’ve heard me gush about these apples before, but they’re seriously incredible.

The smell alone makes it worth stocking up and filling a bowl on your kitchen table. They’re crisp with hints of cinnamon and caramel, making them a sweet addition to any dish (or just to eat as a snack, which I do frequently).

What to include in your smoothie bowl

For this particular smoothie bowl, I like to include:

• 1 apple
• 1 cup of frozen cherries, pitted
• ½ cup apple juice, cherry juice or water
• ½ frozen banana (optional)
• ¼ cup oats (optional)
• 2-3 ice cubes
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon almond extract

And then garnish the crap out of it with:

• another thinly sliced apple
• a handful of sliced cherries
• homemade granola
• sliced almonds

You can see about half of the sliced apple in these pictures, and I actually diced the other half and stirred it into the rest of the bowl.

I don’t like banana – do I have to include it?

Nope! I add half of a frozen banana to thicken the smoothie, but you don’t have to if you don’t care for the taste (since banana flavor can be pretty prominent).

I also add ¼ cup oats to mine to give it a little texture, but you could omit that if you wanted (or use gluten free oats, if necessary for your dietary needs).

Is the almond extract essential?

One thing I highly recommend not omitting is the almond extract – it gives it a really delightful flavor. I just love the combination of cherries and almonds together, so it works really well. .

This makes 2 cups worth of smoothie, so depending on how hungry you are you could always divide this into two servings – one for you, and one to share. 

Ehhh, sharing’s overrated. Just toss it in the fridge or freezer to save for yourself for later.

Added bonus: no added sweeteners!

You’ll probably notice that I don’t add any sweetener – no sugar, no honey, no agave, nothin’. The apples are sweet enough to give you all the sweetness you need!

If you use a different kind that’s more tart than sweet, you may need to add a little sweetener of your choice depending on your personal taste.

Get to blending, my friends! And if you’re looking for more uses for these gorgeous Autumn Glory Apples, checkout my recipe for homemade apple cinnamon toaster strudels or this collection of fall-inspired recipes over on Hunger Thirst Play.

After you’ve made this recipe, please consider coming back to share your experience with others by leaving a comment below with a star rating!

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This post is sponsored by Autumn Glory Apples, but – as always – all opinions are my own!