red, white, and blueberry smoothie

What could be better for the fourth of July than a red, white, and blueberry smoothie?  Not the easiest smoothie to make, but it looks great for 4th of July festivities.  On other days blending all the ingredients together at once saves a lot of time and makes less dirty dishes.

the layers run together more in a slightly thinner smoothie

The key to having separate layers is to make each layer as thick as possible.  You want just enough liquid for the blender to work.  Adjust the portions of liquid and solid as necessary.  If it won’t blend add a bit more liquid and if it comes out too thin add more frozen fruit or yogurt depending on the layer.  If you want the layers to run into each other a bit you can make it a little thinner, but if it is too thin it will all just run together completely and there will be no layers at all.

People can stir the layers together with their straw when they drink it if they want to.

freeze vanilla yogurt in blobs or ice cube trays

This smoothie uses no ice cubes, so the fruit and yogurt need to be frozen and the liquids refrigerator cold.  The yogurt that comes as frozen yogurt is more like ice cream, and regular yogurt works better for the smoothie.  Buy regular vanilla yogurt and either freeze it in an ice cube tray or line a pan with a piece of parchment paper and drop spoonfuls of yogurt in blobs to freeze.  Don’t make them too big or they will not be easy to cut or blender friendly.  Greek yogurt gives the smoothie an odd texture so I would not recommend using it.

magic bullet blender

The Magic Bullet blender is ideal for this if you have one because it mixes things in small separate cups.

Red, White, and Blueberry Smoothie Recipe

3-4 large frozen strawberries, chopped into small pieces (2/3 cup chopped frozen strawberries)

1/4 cup cold red colored juice (I used cranberry)

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/3 cup plus 1/2 tablespoon cold bluish colored juice (I used blueberry pomegranate)

2/3 cup regular vanilla yogurt, frozen and chopped into small pieces (Coconut milk yogurt works for those who don’t eat dairy.)

2 tablespoons cold milk (Does not have to be cow’s milk, alternatives such as plant-based milk are fine.)

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Agave or honey or your favorite sweetener if desired

For the red layer blend strawberries, red juice, and if desired sweetener to your taste.

For the blueberry layer blend blueberries, bluish juice, and if desired sweetener to your taste.

For the white layer blend yogurt, milk, and vanilla.

If you have a magic bullet so you can mix each batch in a separate cup, measure out the liquid portions into each of three cups.  Add in the blueberries and strawberries.  Let those sit in the juice while chopping the yogurt.  Set yogurt aside and don’t put it in the milk until the last minute.  The berries blend better if they sit in the juice a few minutes first, but you don’t want the yogurt to get too soft.

Make each layer as thick as your blender allows.  Add liquid or solid as needed to each layer to get the consistency right.

Pour strawberry layer into bottom of a clean glass.  All layers are too thin if they pour out freely and you don’t have to help them along with a spoon.

Spoon yogurt layer on top of strawberry layer.  This layer should pretty much totally be spooned onto the next layer and not really pour at all.  It will sink partially into the strawberry layer, but if both layers are thick enough some of it will leave a separate white layer.

Pour blueberry layer over the top of the yogurt layer, again it should be thick enough that you have to help it out with a spoon so it stays somewhat separate from the yogurt layer.

Add a straw and serve quickly before the layers start melting together.

Makes one 2-cup smoothie.

Copyright My Cruise Stories 2014