4 Mouthwatering Dried Fruit Smoothies

Most of us tend to eat dried fruit atop our oats or snuggled inside a pack of almonds, but they also work wonders as a natural sweetener in smoothie recipes. The chewy fruit is practically nature’s candy, making it a great way to get some natural sugars and antioxidants before a workout or as an afternoon pick-me-up. In fact, A 2005 study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition suggested that dried cranberries, grapes, and plums had twice as many antioxidants than the fresh varieties.

Try these dried fruit smoothies for a delicious spin on a breakfast classic:

Peanut Butter and Jelly Prune Smoothie

Serve up all the familiar flavors of your childhood, minus the white bread.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup almond milk
½ large banana, frozen
½ cup vanilla yogurt (or extra banana if making vegan)
2-3 tbsp of peanut butter
2 tsp vanilla
4 whole pitted prunes
1 cup ice cubes

DIRECTIONS

Add all ingredients to a blender and pulse until smooth. 2 medium servings or one large smoothie

Sunsweet Chai Smoothie

The ultimate autumn treat for sweater weather and lazy days.

INGREDIENTS

1 chai tea bag
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, divided in half
1 cup ice cubes
4 whole pitted prunes
1 tbsp almond butter
1 tsp honey
Cinnamon, to taste

DIRECTIONS

Heat tea bag and 1/2 cup almond milk in microwave-safe mug for 1 minute. Squeeze tea bag into milk and pour milk into blender. Add in remaining almond milk (1/2 cup), ice cubes, prunes, almond butter, and honey. Blend until smooth. Sprinkle with cinnamon. 2 medium servings or one large smoothie

Apricot and Almond Smoothie

The gentle tang of dried apricots pairs well with the smooth flavor of almond, and the frozen banana gives it the texture of ice cream.

INGREDIENTS

1 ¼ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 large banana, sliced and frozen
6 dried apricots
½ cup ice cubes
2 tsp vanilla paste (extract also works)
2 tsp almond extract
Pinch of nutmeg

DIRECTIONS

Add all ingredients to a blender and pulse until smooth.
2 medium servings or one large smoothie

Smart & Light Raspberry Breakfast Smoothie

Like a raspberry milkshake, but with enough protein to be considered “breakfast.”

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup frozen raspberries
2/3 cup prune juice (I used PlumSmart Light Plum Juice for less sugar)
1/3 cup fat free plain Greek yogurt
1 tbsp protein powder
2 tsp honey (or 1 packet sugar substitute)
5 ice cubes

DIRECTIONS

In a blender, purée raspberries, plum juice, yogurt, protein powder, and honey until combined. Add ice and blend until smooth. 2 medium servings or one large smoothie

Tip: You can replace protein powder with 1/4 cup pasteurized egg whites.

Feel free to get creative with any of these recipes. Cinnamon, yogurt, and raisins make another great combination, as do dates and strawberries. Whatever you decide on, dried fruit smoothies are a phenomenal way to get your daily dose of something delicious.

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Written by Amanda Kohr for Sunsweet. Photos by Amanda Kohr.