Whether you’re trying to bulk up for aesthetic reasons or to regain the weight lost after an illness, high calorie fruit smoothies are an incredible tool for adding extra calories and protein to your diet.
They’re also a great way to eat more fruit. Fruit smoothies are easily customizable, allowing you to mix and match your favorite nutrient-dense foods for endless flavor combinations.
That said, making smoothies from fruit alone won’t be very effective for weight gain since fruit is relatively low in calories. To bump up the calories, you’ll need to add some protein and fat. This will give your smoothies a slightly thicker consistency, like something between a smoothie and a shake, but they’ll still taste delicious.
To get you started, I’ve created three high calorie fruit smoothie recipes using a variety of protein sources and fruit flavors.
3 High Calorie Fruit Smoothies
1. Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
This peanut butter banana smoothie is perfect for peanut butter lovers! Peanut is the primary flavor, so feel free to add more banana if you like.
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 medium banana sliced and frozen
- 3 Tbsp creamy peanut butter
- 4 Tbsp powdered peanut butter
- 1 cup soy milk unsweetened and chilled
- 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp maple syrup optional
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on medium speed until smooth.
Notes
- I used natural, unsweetened peanut butter. You can use regular (not natural) creamy peanut butter if you want a smoother consistency.
- 602 calories
- 30g protein
- 33g fat
- 52g carbs
2. Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
This is, by far, one of my favorite high calorie fruit smoothies! The intense, sweet flavor of frozen cherries is a perfect complement to chocolate. Try chilling this smoothie in the fridge for a couple of hours to transform it into a luxurious pudding-like dessert!
Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1/2 medium avocado
- 1 cup frozen pitted cherries
- 6 Tbsp water
- 1 serving chocolate pea protein powder
- 1 cup chocolate soy milk or pea milk
- 1 tsp cocoa powder (optional)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on medium speed until smooth.
Notes
- If you want a dark chocolate flavor, add 1 tsp cocoa powder.
- 520 kcal
- 32g protein
- 19g fat
- 68g carbs
3. Mango Pineapple Coconut Smoothie
This tropical smoothie is fruitier than the others, while still packing a lot of calories. Hemp seeds provide a boost of protein and anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats!
Mango Pineapple Coconut Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen mango chunks
- 1 cup pineapple chunks fresh or frozen
- 4 Tbsp hemp hearts
- 3/4 cup coconut milk yogurt
- 1 cup almond milk, protein-fortified
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on medium speed until smooth.
Notes
- I used Silk Original Protein Almondmilk.
- If you want an even stronger fruit flavor, add a splash of mango nectar or pineapple juice.
- 611 kcal
- 24 g protein
- 32g fat
- 68g carbs
RELATED: The Benefits of Coconut Yogurt, Explained by a Dietitian
How to make your own high calorie fruit smoothies
Don’t be afraid to create your own! You can easily customize your own fruit smoothies by following the guidelines below. Some of these will overlap, which is okay. You just want to make sure that all components are included in your smoothie.
1. Choose your liquid
When trying to boost the calorie and protein content of your smoothie, I recommend choosing high-protein plant-based milks. These include:
- Soy milk
- Pea milk (such as Ripple brand)
- Other non-dairy milks like almond or oat that have been fortified with additional protein
These types of dairy-free milk alternatives provide about 7-10 grams of protein per cup, compared with 0-2 grams in regular almond, rice, and oat milk.
You can also add fruit juice for a brighter, fresher flavor.
Since high-calorie smoothies tend to have a thick consistency, you may need to add water to help it blend and make it easier to drink through a straw. Avoid making it too thin, however, as you may not be able to finish the whole thing especially when dealing with a decreased appetite.
2. Choose your fruit
This is where you’ll want to think about the flavor profile that sounds best to you. Some of the best fruits for smoothies include:
- Bananas: add creaminess and calories; mild taste that goes with variety of flavor profiles
- Mixed berries
- Strawberries
- Stone fruits (cherries, peaches, apricots)
- Mango
- Pineapple
You’ll likely want to include some frozen fruit to make your smoothie cold enough. Since we’re going for high-calorie recipes, we don’t want to dilute the smoothie with too much ice or water.
3. Choose your protein source
Some of the best vegan protein sources make excellent smoothie add-ins. Choose from:
- High-protein non-dairy milk
- Plant protein powders
- Hemp seeds
- Chia seeds
- Nut butter
- Silken tofu
4. Choose your calorie add-in
Since fat is higher in calories than protein or carbs, you’ll likely need to include a source of fat in your smoothie to bump up the amount of calories it provides. A few examples of calorie-rich ingredients include:
- Avocado
- Nut butter
- Hemp seeds
- Chia seeds
- Flaxseed oil
- Avocado oil
- Higher-fat vegan yogurt, like coconut yogurt
- Canned coconut milk
- Vegan ice cream
Looking for other ways to get more calories? Check out my Ultimate List of Vegan High-Calorie Foods.
5. Choose flavor add-ins
If you aren’t quite happy with your smoothie as-is, try some of the following flavor-boosters:
- Cinnamon
- Cocoa powder
- Maple syrup
- Agave nectar
- Jam
- Instant coffee
- Chocolate sauce
- Dairy-free hazelnut spread
- Fruit juice
