This Frozen Orange Cream Smoothie Bowl is thick, bright, and made for spooning, with a sunny orange-and-vanilla flavor that tastes like a creamy frozen treat. It is a refreshing breakfast bowl or warm-day snack that comes together fast with simple fruit, yogurt, and a splash of vanilla.
Ingredients
- 1 large navel orange, peeled, segmented, and frozen
- 1 medium frozen banana, sliced
- 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup milk or orange juice, plus more only if needed
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup, optional
- 2 tablespoons granola, for topping, optional
- 1 tablespoon shredded coconut or orange zest, for topping, optional
How To Make It
Start with frozen fruit for the best spoonable texture. Peel and segment the orange ahead of time, then freeze the pieces on a small parchment-lined plate or tray so they do not stick together. A frozen banana adds natural sweetness and helps make the bowl creamy and thick.
Add the vanilla yogurt, Greek yogurt, milk or orange juice, vanilla extract, frozen orange, and frozen banana to a high-speed blender. Blend on low at first, then increase the speed as the fruit starts to break down. Use the tamper if your blender has one, or stop and scrape down the sides as needed.
Keep the liquid light. This bowl should be thicker than a drinkable smoothie, so add extra milk or orange juice just 1 tablespoon at a time. Once the mixture looks smooth, creamy, and soft-serve-like, scoop it into a bowl.
Top with granola for crunch, a little shredded coconut for a creamsicle-style finish, or a pinch of fresh orange zest for extra citrus sparkle. Serve right away while it is frosty and thick.
Tips
For the brightest flavor, use a sweet navel, cara cara, or mandarin-style orange. If your orange is extra juicy, you may need less added liquid, so start small and blend patiently.
If you want an even thicker bowl, use a frozen banana that is fully ripe before freezing. Slice it before it goes into the freezer so it blends more easily. You can also chill your serving bowl for a few minutes before adding the smoothie to help it stay cold longer.
For a sweeter bowl, add the optional honey or maple syrup after tasting. Vanilla yogurt and ripe banana usually add plenty of sweetness, but the extra drizzle is nice if your orange is tart.
To keep the orange cream flavor front and center, choose simple toppings instead of anything too strong. Granola, coconut, sliced banana, orange segments, or a tiny sprinkle of vanilla protein granola all work well.
Spoon it up while it is frosty, creamy, and sunshine-bright!