Welcome to December. Kind of crazy isn’t it? 2014 is almost over. I still haven’t quite grappled with it all.
But nonetheless, here we are smack dab in the middle of the holiday season and I’m feeling kind of cozy.
Though I normally crave warmer things in colder months, this smoothie makes a shining exception with its rich orange hue, creamy texture and warm, spicy notes. I think I’ve learned to love sweet potato in a whole new way.
I absolutely adore sweet potatoes for breakfast in these oats, for lunch in this salad, and for dinner with roasted chickpeas and garlic sauce.
You really can’t go wrong with their exceptional nutritional content, boasting plenty of beta carotene and vitamin C (great for immunity). Not to mention, one potato provides roughly 4 grams protein and 6 grams of fiber.
This smoothie also contains cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric, all of which act as anti-inflammatory agents in the body, among many other benefits.
This combination also adds a warm, spicy undertone that complements the sweetness of the sweet potato perfectly.
Last but not least, orange juice adds plenty of Vitamin C and extra immune-boosting benefits to help ward off any stubborn colds this winter.
I think you’re going to love this smoothie. It’s:
Creamy
Refreshing
Perfectly sweet
Subtly spiced
Gingery
Nutrient-rich
& Seriously delicious
This smoothie is perfect for days when you want something nourishing and a little sweet. Plus, it’s simple with less than 10 ingredients. That’s my kind of breakfast.
We hope you love this recipe! And if you do, be sure to take a picture and tag it @minimalistbaker on Instagram so we can see. It seriously makes our day. Cheers!
Immune Booster Orange Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup loosely packed sweet potato purée (1 large potato yields ~ 1 cup or 328 g // skin removed // or sub pumpkin purée + extra banana or maple syrup for sweetness)
- 1 medium ripe banana (previously sliced and frozen)
- 1 Tbsp almond butter (optional)
- 1/4 tsp each ground turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger (if using fresh ginger, use 1 tsp chopped per 1/4 tsp dried)
- 1/2 Tbsp flaxseed meal or chia seeds
- 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/4 cup orange juice (optional)
- 1 large handful ice
Instructions
- To bake your sweet potato, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C) and split in half lengthwise. Lightly oil and place face down on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until soft – 25-30 minutes.
- Or, to steam, place in a steamer basket over 2 inches of simmering water and cover to steam for roughly 5-10 minutes or until fork tender. Let cool slightly before adding to blender.
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth, scraping down sides as needed.
- Taste and adjust seasonings/sweetness as needed. Add more banana or orange for added sweetness, and more ice to thicken.
- Split between two small glasses and serve. Garnish with extra cinnamon.
Susan says
My tweaks: Added 1 date and 2 handfuls of spinach. Used 1 whole orange instead of juice. Included the optional almond butter. Used ground flaxseeds. Good and filling smoothie!
Thanks so much for sharing, Susan!
Angelique says
Loved it. Note: fresh ginger requires a smaller quantity than powdered. It packs a punch!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Angelique! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Christina M Davis says
I seriously cannot get over how delicious this smoothie is. Even my non-smoothie-loving husband asks me to make one of these every morning now. Your orange smoothie converted him!
I followed the recipe as written, but ended up adding maybe another 1/2 cup of orange juice for extra sweetness and a little more ginger, because, well, ginger is flippin’ delicious.
This is our new go-to breakfast-on-the-go. Thank you!!!!!
Amazing! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Christina!
Sarah says
Hi, I’m a frequent visitor of your blog and enjoy your recipes including this one, but I do have concerns when I come across a blog post or recipe like this one that make certain claims. It quite concerning that people like you can make claims without having any science, nutritional, or medical background. When using words such as ‘Immune Boosting’ is misleading. I don’t want to be the black sheep but something for you the blog owner to consider with future post. I will end by saying this recipe was delicious but gave me the runs.
Hi Sarah, thanks for the feedback! This is an older recipe, however, we do have a nutritionist on the team now reviewing our content. In regard to the immune-supportive properties of this recipe, sweet potatoes are a rich source of the vitamin A precursor beta carotene, which is known for its role in supporting the immune system. You can learn more here. Turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and vitamin C are also present in this recipe and similarly have been studied for their beneficial roles in immune health.
Jessica says
This smoothie is delicious! The exact recipe is amazing and easy to riff off of when you are out an ingredient or two. Substitutes abound for swaps but the musts include the sweet potato, orange and warm spices. So so so good!!!
Love it! Thanks so much for the review and for sharing your experience, Jessica!
Coby says
I love sweet potatoes, and eat them multiple times a week. This is the first time I’ve ever had them in a smoothie, and it is so dang good! This smoothie almost tastes like pumpkin pie! I omitted the banana because I can’t eat them, and added about a quarter teaspoon of maple syrup. This is such a great fall smoothie!
Yum! Thanks so much for sharing, Coby, so glad you enjoyed!
Nataliya says
Mmm mmm mmm, such a treat
I scoop out the flesh of cooled roasted sweet potatoes (I prepare a bunch in advance when I do all the meal prep for the week)
break up the banana and sometimes instead of oj I’ll add avocado and/or a whole peeled orange
Throw that mix in the freezer while I measure out all the other stuff, wash dishes, munch on the cold sweet potato skins (lol weirdos unite), etc.
Swapped the turmeric for a healthy dollop of cayenne pepper and did up the rest w almond milk, fresh grated ginger, and chia seeds. The combo of hot and sweet is really nice
Smart! We’re so glad you enjoy it. Thanks for sharing, Nataliya! xo
Cecilia L. says
I love this smoothie! I keep coming back to it again and again. So delicious and filling. Sometimes I add a whole peeled orange instead of orange juice. I never use flaxseed meal or bananas. The sweet potatoes make it so thick and creamy. I like to add vanilla protein powder to this smoothie and it will be my entire lunch. Please don’t hesitate to try this recipe!
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Cecilia! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Amanda says
I loved this! I used fresh orange juice, and skipped the ice and the almond butter. It’s delicious and filling and perfect for fall.
Thank you for the wonderful recipe!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Amanda! Thanks for sharing! xo
Michelle says
Thanks for a unique and delicious smoothie recipe! Perfect for early fall when you want to be cozy but it’s still warm!
Thanks for the review, Michelle!
taneisha clemons says
I was trying to avoid ice cream and found this smoothie! Tried it since i has all the ingredients and it was amazing! I added a little honey and sipped away !
xoxo!
Samantha says
This smoothie was amazing!! The only thing that I added was a bit of vanilla extract, gave the sweet potato a nice flavor. Thank you so much !
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Samantha. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Amy A Blowycky says
What is the best alternative for the almond milk…NUT allergy in the house!
Another non-dairy milk such as oat milk should work well. Let us know if you give it a try!
Cecilia L. says
I use vanilla soymilk and I love it! I hope that might be an option for you.
Sarah says
Delicious smoothie! I have never put a sweet potato in a smoothie, but it made for a great fall-esque taste with the still-summer coolness of a smoothie. I did not have any orange juice to add, but it tasted great without it
Lindsay says
Just made this, it was really good! My bananas aren’t yet ripe, so I used 1 date and 1/3 C orange juice to add a hint of sweetness. Otherwise, followed recipe exactly as written. It was really creamy and tasty! I’ll definitely make this one again.
Smart! Thanks for sharing, Lindsay!
Rachel says
I made this last night with a sweet potato I baked the day before and forgot to eat. I used reduced fat cow’s milk (Grassmilk) rather than almond because I didn’t have any on hand. I used Uncle Matt’s OJ as well, and whole flaxseeds (I don’t have a good way yet to grind them). No ice, just frozen banana to make it cold. I’m not sure if I got the measurements quite right. I eyed it for some of the ingredients. Nevertheless, it was SO. GOOD. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It reminded me of pumpkin pie. Only sweetened with fruit, this is a fantastic way to use sweet potatoes, and I really look forward to using this recipe again and again! Thank you so much!
Joanna says
Mmmm I just made this with frozen avocado instead of banana, added two dates to make up for that lost sweetness, and threw in a whole peeled orange instead of juice for more fiber. It is super Christmas-y tasting and definitely fills the belly on a cold Canadian morning!!
Ashley says
I’m excited to try this! I’m wondering if I could make 1 serving (1/2 sweet potato) and then freeze the other half with the banana for another morning…
Reggie says
Delicious! Used leftover canned sweet potatoes, 1/2 orange and protein powder to the recipe. This will be one of my “go to” recipes. Will recommend to others.
Reggie says
Delicious! Used leftover canned sweet potatoes, 1/2 orange and protein powder to the recipe. This will be one of my “go to” recipes. Will recommend to others.
Thank you for sharing.
Malaka says
Very good! I never thought about pairing oranges with the sweet potato. A nice change! Thanks!
Kitty Deschanel says
I just finished making this and it’s quite tasty! I added a heaping scoop of ground cocoa beans for a still-healthy chocolatey kick. Thanks for the recipe. :)
Haleigh says
Perfect!
Baiba says
Dear Dana,
A truly heavenly smoothie! I made it this morning and me and my husband are about to have it for dessert :)
In smoothies I try to include as many veggies as possible, but it’s a challenge… Perhaps you have some bright ideas of making a tasty, healthy no-fruits/veggies-only smoothie? :)
I’ll add that to the list! Carrots and beets are always a great start. See this one for inspiration!
Melissa says
All I can say is YUMMY! The texture was like drinking silk. My husband is slurping away. Haha :D
Megan says
Good smoothie! I had baked sweet potatoes needing to get used. Also, threw in some raw cranberries, I liked how they cut the sweetness and the molasses idea was yummy too. Thanks!
Hillary says
Delicious! Tastes like pumpkin pie filling. Just got a big box of sweet potatoes from the farm share, so this is going to be heavy in the rotation. Thanks-really love your recipes.
Julianna Herring says
Loved it, added fresh ginger :)????
Julianna Horvath says
Look GREAT! I love the color and I am sure it will boost your immunity!
Rachel says
This smoothie is thought-provoking and haunting in a good way!
Mary Ann Lashway says
Made this smoothie for dinner as our third vegetable/dessert combination. It was just great and very filling. I subbed coconut water for the almond milk and needed to avoid the ginger due to dietary restrictions. I will definitely make this again. Thank you .
Ariel says
I recently went on a detox and thought it would be many a month before I enjoyed another smoothie. I saw this recipe and had all the ingredients laying around, so figured I’d give it a try instead of driving to the store. It is amazing! Creamy, tasty, filling… I can’t believe it came out of MY blender! You rock, thank you for turning me back on to smoothies!
Cyd says
I NEVER comment on websites/blogs however…..just made your orange smoothie and it is DELICIOUS – my husband’s comment was “best one ever”, and I have made many!!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes – I will be visiting often!!
So wonderful! thanks for sharing Cyd!
Allison Johnson says
It was pretty yummy!!! However, the recipe called for sweet potatoes when in fact you guys were clearly using yams in the pictures. Since I had bought sweet potatoes the color of the smoothie wasnt a nice orange color but a drab beige.
Karissa says
Not that it really matters, but those are soft sweet potatoes in the picture. You were likely using firm sweet potatoes. http://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-yams-and-sweet-potatoes-word-of-mouth-211176
Paige says
Made mine with whole oranges instead of OJ and didn’t include bananas for solidarity reasons (see the bananas!* movie) and I LOVED IT! Thank you so much! Sipped on this in between massage clients and felt so nourished! Might add cardamom next time.
Susan Gutowsky says
This is so unique and original…can’t wait to try it!
Kristie says
Can’t wait to try this one! Do you add the potato skin too, or just scoop out the flesh?
danile says
The orange smoothie is AMAZING ! I used fresh grated ginger & that had sent this smoothie to a higher level :)
Nicole says
Any suggestions for replacing the banana? (Damn allergies)
Sarah says
i usually never leave reviews/comments on websites but i had to this time. i just recently discovered your website and i love it!!!!! the orange smoothie is amazing and ridiculously delish. i was kind of hesitant about the addition of ginger and turmeric because i would never think of adding those to smoothies but the taste was subtle and yummy. i thought it tasted very pumpkin-y. my 5 year old loved it too and has been asking me to make it again. i usually steam a big batch of sweet potatoes in my instant pot every so often and luckily i had one handy. i made your simple tofu quiche tonight and it was also a winner and tomorrow i’m making the collard green falafel and hummus. keep up the great work and i look forward to more recipes!
Ah yay! SO glad you enjoyed it Sarah and thanks for commenting. We love hearing when readers make and love our recipes. Hope you loved the falafel and hummus!!! -Dana
Kathy Matthews says
I was looking for a delicious and yet healthy alternative to a green smoothie (sometimes I just need to see a different colour!), and while I was skeptical at first (sweet potato in a smoothie?), and was more than pleasantly surprised at the rich texture and fantastic taste of this smoothie. I used freshly squeezed orange juice in mine, my HUSBAND actually liked it (he is typically “allergic” to anything healthy) and can’t wait to have my kids try it. You guys are amazing – thank you for making everything simple but tasty!
Angie says
This smoothie is delish! Made it with pumpkin, home made almond milk, and orange juice. My 9 year old son loves it!
Sarah @ People, Places & Plates says
Just rifled through the whole fridge trying to find a sweet potato….all out :( Time to get to the store!
Annie says
Delish! I subbed apple sauce for the sweet potato and it turned out great!
Love it! Thanks for sharing, Annie!
Heather says
Just made this smoothie but used butternut squash instead of sweet potato. Delicious!
Alex @ get big, go to work says
This smoothie looks amazing Dana!! I absolutely love your site, and I have been on such a smoothie kick lately. I can’t wait to pick up some sweet potatoes at the store this weekend so I can make this smoothie. I’ll be sure to tag you when I take a pic. This is such a perfect smoothie for this time of year. Ever since I stopped working at the hospital, my immune system has weakened a bit, and I’ve gotten sick so many times in the past year. I can’t wait to give this a try to boost my immune system. It looks so tasty. Thanks again.
wendy@chezchloe says
Great smoothie! They are my daily breakfast and one of my fav’s is a chocolate pumpkin- but I love this one with the orange and I skipped the greens for once so it looked a little more appealing- I also used a peeled fresh orange, fresh ginger and fresh turmeric and a dollop of coconut milk/cream as I’m seriously drying out and it’s just the beginning of winter. Happy to have found your site and welcome back to the PNW- I’m way up in the corner in the San Juan Islands. Cheers… wendy
DessertForTwo says
PS sorry I used six thousand exclamation points in my comment. I’m just excited to talk to you!! xo
DessertForTwo says
This sounds absolutely fantastic! I’ve been trying to work in turmeric to my meals a lot lately since I didn’t get the flu shot! I’m paranoid! What a great way to get it into breakfast!
PS if you veganize puff pastry, please let me know! I want to make it, too! I bet you could use earth balance…I used to use that stuff for everything!
Turmeric for the win! I’ve been trying to incorporate into my diet as well but every time I taste it I’m like “bleck.” Smoothies for the win!
If I make the vegan puff pastry, I’ll let you know! Also, I’M EXCITED TO TALK TO YOU!!
Kelsey says
Wow, these photos are stunning…and the smoothie looks pretty good too.
Rams says
Just made it first test in ninja blender… Super awesome and very yummy. I had one tall glass
Gaby says
I can’t believe it is already December!! And I could really use this smoothie right now!
Ellen says
Looks awesome!!! I’m making this tomorrow
Tammy says
This looks amazing…and so smart for this time of year! Pinning it and making it soon!
Kate says
I love this! Orange is my favorite color and I love sweet potatoes. A quick question here though: How do you roast your sweet potatoes and make them look so nice? I usually put mine in the oven, and let them roast for about 40 mins, but they always turn out unappealing and really dry… Yours look really moist and pretty here, do you add anything to them before you roast them? Thanks!
Well first, I have noticed that organic sweet potatoes just taste/look WAY more appealing than non-organic. Second, I slice them in half, rub them in a little olive or coconut oil, and place them face down on a foil-lined baking sheet and roast for 20-30 minutes (depending on size) at 400 degrees. Hope that helps!
Katie says
I’ve never thought to put sweet potatoes in a smoothie, I love this!
Lily @ Life, Love, and Cupcakes says
This sounds so good! I make smoothies every morning and am always trying to think up creative new combos, but never thought to add sweet potato!
Maria G. says
Looks delish! Smoothies are just the best for breakfast, and this one is perfect for the holiday season!
Taylor S. says
I am so excited to try! ;)
lynn says
I made this and it is wonderful! I didn’t use any orange juice, but put a little bit of black strap molasses on top. It was kind of pretty to swirl on top and tasted great too. Thanks for this, I haven’t thought of cooked sweet potatoes in my smoothies, a whole new territory to explore.
Great idea! Glad you liked it!
Taylor S. says
Dana, your great! I love this website. So glad I finally found it!
Mimi says
I just tried this smoothie and really enjoyed it! I threw in some spinach and used some unsweetened protein powder. Very good smoothie especially to use up leftover sweet potatoes.
Thanks a bunch :)
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Mimi. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Heather Mason says
wow! This looks amazing! Totally need an immune boost right now as I have a runny nose!
Yes! Get your fix and feel better soon!
dan says
I’m sure this is delish! Almost all those ingredients go into my morning smoothie, and I’ve been adding sweet potato for at least 10 years, but I don’t cook it. I cube sweet potato and red beets and I freeze them so I can quickly add them when I’m still half asleep—and then I don’t need to add ice. Here are the other items I added this morning…a little of each item…all raw.
Frozen:
Kale, Broccoli, ginger, garlic, chopped celery, cranberries, cubed apple, sweet potato, beet, beet greens, turmeric root, cubed avocado
Refrigerated:
Hemp seeds, almonds & walnuts, steel cut oats, dried plum, macho green tea, lemon and lime slices, parsley, navy beans
Plus:
stick of cinnamon, vegan protein powder, and finally water
Every weekend I prep all the ingredients I’m low on so all week it takes 5 minutes to make the smoothie and clean the BlendTec. My friends call it my “Kitchen Sink Smoothie”, and it’s big so I drink half right away, and the other half after the gym when I get to work.
dan says
clarification—the navy beans are cooked, but that’s it. :)
Love these tips! Thanks for sharing!
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
Love the use of turmeric here! Definitely need to try this one.
Meg @ Noming thru Life says
Yum! Love the idea of using sweet potatoes. Another one of those… why didn’t I think of that? Well thankfully you do/did the thinking for me :)
*cheeky grin* – thanks Meg! Hope you love it.
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy says
This sounds so interesting and tasty!
Millie | Add A Little says
Love the vibrant colour and the addition of tumeric!
Sara says
Hi! This looks great – I always do smoothies for breakfast, they’re so easy and great to bring to school so I don’t have to drink it right away! Plus – I’m getting real good at converting cups to deciliters in my head since I found your page! :D
Happy Holidays!
Sara
Sweden
Ha! Glad I could provide some mathematics along with our recipes. Hope you love this smoothie, Sara!
Candace @ The Wheatless Kitchen says
This combination is so perfect! I can’t wait to try this smoothie!!
Easy, Healthy and Yummy says
OMG! This is my kind of morning kick…
I freaking love oranges and cinnamon. Thanks for sharring!
Lina says
I´ve never thought of putting sweet potatoes in a smoothie but that combination looks delicious. So I´m probably gonna heat it up, cause I just need my breakfast to be hot and comforting :)
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Definitely love the looks of this! I like how thick it looks!