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Clementine Sunshine Smoothie

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This delightful clementine smoothie is packed with vitamin C! cookieandkate.com

I’m just not that into smoothies. It’s nothing against fruit (really fruit, it’s me, not you). I just like to eat my food. This smoothie, however, is a different story. I’ve been fighting a head cold for over a week and I’ve been getting desperate for a solution. Every evening, I feel off-balance, like my head is underwater. I’ve had enough of this vertigo!

Since I refuse to go to the doctor for antibiotics, I’ve been spending quality time with this lovely contraption, taking probiotics and trying to consume as much immunity-boosting vitamin C as possible. Which is where this clementine smoothie comes into the picture. I drank at least four of these over the weekend and I am feeling better.

clementines

This smoothie is delicious, light and refreshing—closer to fresh-squeezed orange juice than a thick banana smoothie. It tastes similar to an orange julius or a dreamsicle or those orange Flintstone push-ups from my childhood. I couldn’t decide what to call it, but the sunshine in the photos seemed to match the bright clementine flavor in the glass, so I landed on clementine sunshine smoothie. Let’s go with it.

This four-ingredient smoothie is suuuuuper simple to make. So simple that I hesitated to post it, but then I thought about all the other people out there who are fighting winter colds, or worse. When energy is running low, we need the simplest of solutions, and this is one of them.

how to make clementine smoothies

Each little clementine offers about 60 percent of your daily value of vitamin C. That means that this modestly-sized smoothie, which is made with four clementines, puts you at around 240 percent of fresh, bioavailable vitamin C. That’s twice as much as a glass of Minute Maid and it tastes better, too. Since you just blend up the ingredients in a blender, it’s even easier to make than fresh orange juice.

I offered a few totally optional add-ins in case you want to play around with this smoothie. I honestly love it most in its purest form, with just clementines, yogurt or almond milk and ice. This has become the new orange juice in my house, so I’ll be enjoying it even after I buck this cold! I hope you love it, too.

Super simple and healthy clementine smoothie recipe - cookieandkate.com

Simple and delightful clementine smoothie recipe - cookieandkate.com

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Super simple, vitamin C-packed clementine smoothie! cookieandkate.com

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Clementine Sunshine Smoothie

  • Author:
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Total Time: 5 mins
  • Yield: 1 smoothie
  • Category: Smoothie

★★★★★

4.9 from 12 reviews

Simple, delicious smoothie made with clementines and creamy yogurt or almond milk. This healthy, immunity-boosting smoothie offers around 240 percent of your daily value of vitamin C! Recipe yields one modestly-sized, 10-ounce smoothie.

Ingredients

  • 4 clementines, preferably chilled
  • ½ cup ice
  • ¼ cup yogurt or almond milk (plain or vanilla flavors work)
  • Tiny dash sea salt

Totally optional add-in ideas (I prefer the smoothie as listed above):

  • Chunks of frozen banana for extra creaminess (you can scale back on the ice if using frozen banana)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric for exotic flavor and more immunity-boosting properties
  • Drizzle of honey for extra sweetness
  • One drop of pure vanilla extract for more of a dreamsicle flavor

Instructions

  1. Use your fingers to peel the clementines and pull each one in half. Pull out any excess pith in the center and discard it.
  2. Add the yogurt or almond milk to the blender, followed by the clementines, ice and a tiny dash of salt, which enhances the other flavors. Feel free to add any of the optional add-ins suggested above. Blend well, until the clementines have turned into juice and there are no chunks of ice left.
  3. There will probably still be some bits of pith in the smoothie. If you don’t mind some texture, pour into a glass and enjoy immediately. For a perfectly smooth smoothie, pour it through a metal sieve into your glass.

Notes

Recipe inspired by Gimme Some Oven’s Orange Julius recipe.

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Comments

    Leave a comment below:

    Your comments make my day. Thank you!

    ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

     

    • Different cultures, different beliefs, but I just mention that in Asia ice is a no-no, especially when the body is sick. I added fresh ginger to your lovely (no-ice) smoothie and it worked. Hope you recover soon.

      Reply

  3. I love clementine season – I could eat my weight in those little beauties, but I love this idea for packing in lots of Vitamin C, and sounds so tasty too! Feel better Kate!

    Reply

  8. Try adding Camu Camu, the vitamin C superstar. An average orange has 25OO parts per million of vitamin C and the Camu Camu berry has 5O,OOO. The most common way to get Camu Camu is in powered organic form. It is also known to help with focus, mood, head fog, depression, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

    Reply

  9. I used to make something like this for my kids when they were younger, except I would add an egg (or egg product) and some vanilla. It would end up tasting very similar to an Orange Julius.

    Reply

  11. Hi Kate, hope you feel better soon! This smoothie is beautiful!

    I don’t mean to be nitpicky, but colds are caused by viruses and antibiotics only kill bacteria, so if you have a cold antibiotics wouldn’t help. It is important that people know this because unnecessary antibiotic consumption promotes resistance.

    Reply

    • Ah, sorry about that. I had a cold and it turned into a sinus infection, so that’s why I could/would go to the doctor for antibiotics. Believe me, I took antibiotics for years due to ear infections and acne and would never knowingly encourage anyone to take them if there’s an alternative treatment.

      Reply

  13. Thank you for this! I got sick at work so l bought a bunch of Clementines and orange juice I also bought turmeric root so I’ll be trying this out perfect timing!

    Reply

  14. As a fellow “no thanks to antibiotics” person, this sounds absolutely incredible and healthful. And, please, don’t ever hesitate to post something that seems “too simple” bc there are plenty of women out there like me who are talented in many ways but not so much when it comes to coming up with healthful yummies. Love this! TY!

    Reply

  19. This looks really good. I wish I had checked my email before running to the store today. I look forward to making it. I hope you feel better soon!

    Reply

  21. Perfect timing. I’ve been in bed all day yesterday, and today looks no better. My one energy-draining outing will be to the kitchen to make this. Thank you!

    Reply

  28. I hope you are feeling better soon Kate! I bet Cookie has been taking good care of you :)
    This smoothie would be a perfect recovery beverage after my runs in our hot, humid Southern Hemisphere summer!
    Can’t wait to try it when I next find some clementines at the markets :)

    Reply

  29. Hope you feel better soon! I also would rather eat than drink my food, but sometimes a smoothie is good in the a.m., with some pastries. The Clementines would be different than the usual berry smoothies. This kind of reminds me of an orange Julius!

    Reply

  33. Oh man, yes to clementines in any form! Eat them, drink them, it’s all good. (Note, however, that boiling them, mashing them, and sticking them in a stew is NOT so good. :) ) I love the idea of a super simple clementine and yogurt mix! So full of zing. Hope you are feeling better soon!

    Reply

    • Clementine stew?! I never. I’m convinced that smoothie cured me, because I’m feeling much better after drinking lots of them last weekend.

      Reply

  35. This sounds super delicious and quite timely. I’ve been making smoothies lately with other fruits, while eyeing the clementines on my countertop and wondering how they would fare in the blender. I disregarded the thought because I worried it would end up all ‘pulpy’ (what an awful word). But you make it sound smart. I shall try this.
    PS-For me personally, dairy makes colds harder to get over. Some people are sensitive. I just throw that out there in case you try it ‘vegan’ and find you feel even better.

    Reply

    • Thanks, Lisa! Good point on dairy, it’s not for everyone. I have tried the smoothie with almond milk and it’s delicious either way.

      Reply

  38. Hi Kate, just want to leave my first comment on your blog. I’ve recently tried to adopt a much more plant based diet and discovered your blog. I must tell you I love your frank writing style which at times makes me laugh out loud and your recipes are very inspiring. I’ve spent the last few hours reading over your old entries, I’m currently at August! Anyways keep up the amazing work!

    Reply

  41. I’m not a huge smoothie person either but I absolutely love the sound of this – so bright + refreshing + I’m pretty sure we can all do with some more sunshine (not to mention, vitamin C…) in our lives right now. Hope you’re feeling a bit better now!

    Reply

  45. I was sick over the weekend and I ate a ton of vitamin C which really helped! This smoothie looks really creamy and good. I also recommend getting a hand towel wet with hot water and putting a few drops of eucalyptus oil on it, inhaling and then using a neti pot. Works wonders! Hope you’re feeling all better!

    Reply

    • Glad you’re feeling better, Heather!Thanks for sharing the eucalyptus oil trick, I’m always on the lookout for natural remedies that work!

      Reply

  47. I . Love. Simple. and this hit the spot. Thanks for sharing! I decided to try this after feeling sick from a restaurant dinner the night before. Helped me feel a lot better!

    Reply

  48. Just made this smoothie with goat milk yogurt and it was delicious! Perfect when you need an extra boost.
    Thanks Kate!!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  50. Yum! This looks so good, I’m going to make one right now! Question: what probiotics do you take? Thanks, as always, for the great recipe!

    Reply

  51. I just made this with naval oranges and plain kefir (both what I had on hand) and it is delicious! And pretty :)

    Reply

  52. Just made this with my 3 yr old girl, and we both thought they were YUM! I used cashew milk because it’s what we had, and added the dash of vanilla. Thanks for posting. And P.S. – found your blog a few days ago and am loving it! So many fresh recipes to get excited about :)

    Reply

  53. Hi Kate! Love your blog, just found it! I eat very much like you create, but you take it to 5 stars!!! ;-)
    I make a LOT of smoothies, so I really enjoyed watching your take on this. Please don’t worry about making anything too simple. In my life, the simpler the better, I’m sorry to say, as a working single mom to 2 busy kids!
    Thanks for all your effort and incredible recipes! <3

    Reply

    • Hi Linda! Thank you for saying hello! I’ll try to come up with more simple recipes for you soon. Sounds like you are one busy lady!

      Reply

  54. This is exactly what I was looking for. I feel a cold coming on and was looking for tasty ways to get my Vitamin C. Perfectttt!

    Reply

  55. Thank you for posting this….I have been making a lot of smoothies lately and can’t seem to find one that I like…..I have been wanting a cream-sicle one, sure hope this is what I have been wanting….
    Just made a 3berry one today was ok, and I might make it again….but everyone I make and put banana in it, it still taste like banana smoothies , no matter what else I put in it !!!! I do not like bananas…..need to find some new flavors without bananas in them…..

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • I hope you love this one! Frozen bananas are nice because they lend creaminess to smoothies, but you can skip them most of the time!

      Reply

  56. Love this “creamsicle” smoothie! I added chia seed and a drop of vanilla…..deicious! Looking forard trying more of your recipes. Thanks!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  57. I’ve been making this everyday for the last week! To add a little different twist I’ve added some fresh ginger and a few pieces of frozen pineapple. Unreal!

    Reply

  60. Absolutely delicious! I took out the salt and added a bit of stevia to enhance the flavor and my whole family loved it.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  64. Hi Kate, when you make this for yourself, do you use almond milk or yogurt? And if almond milk, do you use sweetened or unsweetened? Thanks!

    Reply

  66. I broke my ankle 3 weeks ago and have been stuck inside with a constant cold ever since! Figured I could use a vitamin C boost.
    I’ve never thought to put clementines into a smoothie before but it’s so good! Thank you, Kate.

    Reply

  67. I’m always looking for a new smoothie recipe and I love clementines. My local store only sells them in the wooden crate and as much as I love them, that’s just too many for me to eat by myself so this is a perfect way to use them up. I hope you feel better soon.

    Reply

  68. I JUST MADE A DOUBLE BATCH WITH 2 VANILLA GREEK YOGURTS -WHAT A TREAT!! A NEW WINTER FAVORITE – THANK YOU!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • Unfortunately, I don’t have nutritional info available for my recipes just yet. I’m looking for a solution, and will update about it once I find one. Thanks!

      Reply

  71. Love these! There used to be a place in my area that made similar drinks to this and they called them the Fuzzy Orange.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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