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Berry Smoothies

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 22, 2007

Time

20 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 (Makes 4 1/2 cups)

Berry Smoothies

Ingredients

1 medium banana (ripe, about 4 ounces), peeled and cut crosswise into eight pieces3 ½ cups berries (about 16 ounces)½ cup whole milk ½ cup white cranberry juice or apple juicepinch table salt 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, plus extra for desired sweetness1 teaspoon lemon juice, plus extra as desired3 ice cubes (about 1 ½ ounces total)

Before You Begin

Vary the amounts of sugar and lemon juice depending on the ripeness of the fruit.

Instructions

  1. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; arrange banana and berries in single layer on baking sheet. Freeze fruit until very cold, but not frozen, about 10 minutes. In blender, puree cold fruit, milk, juice, salt, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and ice until uniformly smooth, 10 to 15 seconds. Taste for sugar and lemon; if desired, add more sugar or lemon and blend until combined, about 2 seconds longer. Serve immediately.
Berry Smoothies

Berry Smoothies

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

20 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 (Makes 4 1/2 cups)

Ingredients

1 medium banana (ripe, about 4 ounces), peeled and cut crosswise into eight pieces
3 ½ cups berries (about 16 ounces)
½ cup whole milk
½ cup white cranberry juice or apple juice
pinch table salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar, plus extra for desired sweetness
1 teaspoon lemon juice, plus extra as desired
3 ice cubes (about 1 ½ ounces total)

Ingredients

1 medium banana (ripe, about 4 ounces), peeled and cut crosswise into eight pieces
3 ½ cups berries (about 16 ounces)
½ cup whole milk
½ cup white cranberry juice or apple juice
pinch table salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar, plus extra for desired sweetness
1 teaspoon lemon juice, plus extra as desired
3 ice cubes (about 1 ½ ounces total)

Ingredients

1 medium banana (ripe, about 4 ounces), peeled and cut crosswise into eight pieces
3 ½ cups berries (about 16 ounces)
½ cup whole milk
½ cup white cranberry juice or apple juice
pinch table salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar, plus extra for desired sweetness
1 teaspoon lemon juice, plus extra as desired
3 ice cubes (about 1 ½ ounces total)

Why This Recipe Works

We wanted the ideal smoothie recipe, for an icy, fruity, slightly sweet shake that would be lightly creamy and thick but straw-friendly. We simply filled the blender with plenty of fruit and added just a touch of whole milk for a drink that was chock full of fruity goodness. A few spoonfuls of sugar and a squeeze of lemon balanced out the flavor. Three ice cubes were enough to make a cold but not overly icy drink.

Before You Begin

Vary the amounts of sugar and lemon juice depending on the ripeness of the fruit.

Instructions

  1. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; arrange banana and berries in single layer on baking sheet. Freeze fruit until very cold, but not frozen, about 10 minutes. In blender, puree cold fruit, milk, juice, salt, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and ice until uniformly smooth, 10 to 15 seconds. Taste for sugar and lemon; if desired, add more sugar or lemon and blend until combined, about 2 seconds longer. Serve immediately.

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