In the mood for a festive winter drink? Try this sweet & tart cranberry pomegranate smoothie!
Ever since I was able to jump into the cranberry bogs on a press trip a few years back, I’ve had a special place in my heart for cranberries. Seeing all the hard work that Massachusetts families put into the growing and harvesting process was humbling.
While most of my cranberry culinary treats have centered around baked goods and my favorite cranberry holiday dip – it was time to get creative and make a cranberry smoothie!
Ingredients & Nutrition Benefits
This smoothie is packed with five health-promoting ingredients:
Cranberries – Obviously you’ll find cranberries in here, or the recipe name wouldn’t be very accurate! 😉 Fresh cranberries are rich in polyphenols, which are thought to have a whole host of health benefits. For example, they may promote a healthy heart and support digestive health. In addition, cranberries are thought to help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections.
Banana – Frozen bananas add that perfect creamy texture to a smoothie – not to mention they pack a punch of potassium. Using a sweet banana helps to balance out the tart flavor profile of the fresh cranberries.
Vanilla Greek yogurt – Aside from adding additional flavor, Greek or Icelandic yogurt (both quite similar to each other as far as texture and flavor) offer an added boost of calcium and protein. Siggi’s is a nice option as it’s lower in sugar than many other yogurts, but you can use whatever you like best.
Pomegranate Juice – Rich in antioxidants and delicious flavor, pomegranate juice is an obvious winner in this smoothie. Did you know the antioxidants in pomegranate juice may help muscle soreness and inflammation after exercise?
Unsweetened Almond Coconut Milk Blend – Adding the unsweetened almond and coconut milk blend helps to thin out the smoothie without adding a ton of calories. I love the blend because of the flavor. That said, you can use almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, or regular dairy milk – whatever floats your boat.
When to Drink This
This cranberry smoothie is ideal for three situations:
- Post workout – This smoothie is ideal after a long workout. Carbohydrates from the fruit and juice will help to replenish your energy stores, while protein in the yogurt will start the muscle repair and recovery process. Drink this within 30-60 minutes of finishing your long sessions for optimal benefits.
- Breakfast – Try this smoothie as a breakfast treat! The entire recipe is just 332 calories with more than 17 grams of protein. Plus, it’s a fun way to switch things up from your go-to breakfast meals. (If you want to boost the protein further, you can add a half scoop of protein powder too, which would bring it closer to a 30-gram of protein breakfast).
- Snack time – If you’re just looking for a snack, split this in half and share with a pal. With half the recipe clocking in at just 165 calories and more than 8 grams of protein, it’s a perfect mid-day treat.
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes
Here are some of my other favorite dietitian-developed healthy smoothie recipes:
- Banana berry granola smoothie
- Mango pear smoothie
- Cinnamon roll smoothie
- Beet green smoothie
- Pumpkin coffee smoothie
If you get a chance to try this smoothie, please leave a recipe rating or comment below!
Cranberry Pomegranate Smoothie
Ingredients
For the smoothie:
- ¾ cup whole cranberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1 medium frozen banana
- 5.3 ounce container Siggi’s vanilla yogurt (or another Greek/Icelandic yogurt)
- ⅓ cup pomegranate juice
- ⅔ cup unsweetened almond & coconut milk blend (or whatever milk/milk alternative you prefer)
Optional for topping:
- Pomegranate arils
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender cup and blend until smooth. Garnish with pomegranate arils if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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