Have you ever wondered how to make a luscious, energy boosting and good for you Tropical smoothie? I’ve got a video showing you the tricks to make a delicious two layer tropical smoothie recipe that you’ll be making over and over!
A cherry smoothie layer and a mango banana smoothie later. So much Goodness in a cup!!
If you love smoothies, this is like not one but TWO fabulous smoothies that blend together to make a Tropical Smoothie recipe that will BLOW YOUR MIND! We make this more often than you think and it’s always a HIT!
I know January is smoothie month, but the truth is, smoothies are perfect every month of the year! If you get into making them often, they become a good habit.
There’s so much to cover with this tropical smoothie recipe. First of all we’ve got the video, the smoothie facts, the layers, the how to and more!
TROPICAL SMOOTHIE
How bright and delicious does this look? The beauty of making smoothies regularly is that you don’t really need to stick to a certain list of ingredients. Eventually you’ll make it with what you have on hand.
One thing you can’t skimp on is the Great Lakes Gelatin Collagen Endurance Plus here! It not only adds flavor to the cherry layer, it also thickens up the smoothie. More on that below!
What I love about adding Collagen
- It’s boosted with Vitamin B’s. Forget taking supplements and collagen separately, this way you get both at the same time!
- It’s of course collagen—great for supporting joint health, promoting healthy skin, supporting strong hair and nails
- There’s small load of caffeine from green tea, so it’s great for endurance.
- Pre or post work out treat!
- It tastes so GOOD!! Just mix it with water if you’re rushed, or your favorite type of milk.
- It thickens smoothies and adds plenty of flavor!
Now here are more tricks to make this fabulous smoothie!
HOW TO MAKE A SMOOTHIE THICKER?
One of the most common questions you guys ask because we certainly all love a nice thick and hearty smoothie.
There are a few tricks to a thicker smoothie and you can probably experiment with smoothie bowls as well.
- Collagen – As I mentioned above, Collagen thickens my cherry smoothie layer.
- Oatmeal – Another fabulous thickener! If you have ground oatmeal and add it to your smoothies. It’s an extra load of fibre and thickness to your smoothies.
- Use Frozen Fruits/Veggies. Using frozen ingredients in your smoothies will result in thicker smoothies for you. In today’s recipes I’ve used a combo of frozen and fresh fruits because I didn’t want my smoothie to be any thicker than that. However it’s a personal taste, so feel free to experiment.
- Thickeners like avocados and bananas. Both add a layer of thickness and creaminess to your smoothies. For today’s tropical smoothie, I only used banana as it was the most fitting. However I do love avocados in smoothies.
- Greek Yogurt: Another common thickener in smoothies, but it will have a creamy dairy taste to your smoothie.
- Ice cream: Who can resist ice cream in smoothies? Sorbets also work great if you don’t want the dairy taste.
- Silken Tofu: Tofu is completely tasteless so you won’t’ really taste it in your smoothie, and yet it adds a silky thick texture you can’t beat!
- Chia Seeds: they thicken so beautifully! Those seeds are super gelatinous, and if you have a quality blender, you won’t feel the tiny bits of chia seeds in your mouth. This is what most people dislike about using chia seeds.
Now let’s get into the layers.
CHERRY SMOOTHIE
Cherries are packed with nutrients, and we probably don’t get enough of them especially if you’re only eating them fresh.
Since they’re a super seasonal fruit, it’s best to have frozen cherries when you can’t find fresh. Frozen cherries are great for baking and even greater for smoothies!
Cherry smoothies are sweet because the fruit is naturally sweetened. Cherry smoothies also have a thick and hearty texture with a vibrant dark pink color.
To enhance the flavor and texture of my cherry smoothie layer here, I’ve added the Collagen . Since it’s Black Cherry Flavored, it paired so beautifully.
Also, since this is a tropical smoothie recipe, I’ve thinned the smoothie out using coconut water.
Blend all of those together and your cherry smoothie is ready. Keep it aside (preferably in the fridge) until you make the next layer.
MANGO BANANA SMOOTHIE or PINEAPPLE BANANA SMOOTHIE
The reason why this could be either a mango banana smoothie or a pineapple banana smoothie is because either works well in this recipe.
So if you only have mangoes, then make it a mango banana smoothie. Likewise if you only have pineapple, then make it a pineapple banana smoothie. Luckily today I had both!
As I mentioned the banana is awesome for thickening the smoothie and adding a creamy texture without the cream. The mangos and pineapple are both super tropical and refreshing.
Other ingredients for this layer are of course the coconut water again because we’re making a tropical smoothie.
Oranges and lemon since we need a tangy contrast to the sweetness of mangos and pineapple.
For this layer, I’ve used frozen mangos. Again, you could use frozen pineapple as well and frozen bananas, however you’ll end up with a super thick layer.
The layer will be too thick to integrate into the cherry smoothie as I’ve shown in the video. So in this case you’ll have layered smoothies with the different colors in each layer.
Something like those Rainbow Smoothies Recipe.
COCONUT WATER SMOOTHIE
While you can certainly use regular water to thin out your tropical smoothie. You can even use orange juice. I absolutely love coconut water instead.
Not only does coconut water add a burst of tropical to the tropical smoothie, it also adds a bunch of electrolytes.
Coconut water smoothies are extra hydrating and naturally sweetened compared to those with juice added.
If you’re not a fan of plain coconut water, try flavored ones. Pineapple coconut water is a favorite of mine and makes this coconut smoothie even more tropical then it is!
And if you absolutely don’t like coconut water, in this case use regular water as a substitute or orange juice.
TROPICAL SMOOTHIE TIPS
- Highlight Tropical Fruits such as mangos, pineapple, papaya, kiwi, banana, passionfruit and guava.
- Make two or more layers of smoothie for color contrast and extra nutritional benefit to your smoothie.
- Infuse the cherry layer with extra cherry flavor using collagen
- Always make a combo of frozen and fresh fruits to play with the thickness of layers in your smoothie.
- If you’re looking for separate distinct layers of smoothies, then use mainly frozen fruits for the recipe.
- However if you’re looking to disintegrate layers and colors so vibrantly in the smoothie as I’ve done here, then make a layer thicker than the other.
- To blend the colors and layers as I’ve done here, start by the thickets smoothie later at the bottom. In this case it’s the cherry smoothie.
- Use a ladle to gradually add the second layer, in this case the Mango banana smoothie or Pineapple banana smoothie. Add that in ladles and watch the layers blend so beautifully.
- Use coconut water for an extra boost of electrolytes and hydration to your smoothie. Also coconut water adds a tropical feel to the tropical smoothie.
- Make this a Pre-work out or Post-work out smoothie since the GLG Collagen Endurance Plus is boosted with Caffeine and Vitamin B’s.
- Make extra smoothie cups and keep them in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- You can double or triple this recipe for a crowd, or even halve it for two servings.
- You can freeze the smoothie layers separately in ice cubes. Defrost them and assemble the smoothie or pop them frozen as a refreshing treat.
- ENJOY!!
PS – So many amazing recipes to sneak in collagen into include my popular Whipped Coffee (Dalgona Coffee) made three ways. A regular Dalgona, a Matcha Dalgona and a Mocha Dalgona–SO GOOD! And this no machine, super refreshing Watermelon Sorbet : Summer’s favorite treat!!
SMOOTHIE RECIPES
Espresso Brownie Chocolate Smoothie
Rainbow Fruit Smoothie Recipes
Hemp Matcha Kale Power Boosting Smoothie
Banana Berry Avocado Chia Smoothie
Although not a smoothie, it’s another must try drink – This Blackberry Mojito ; A Virgin Mojito Recipe is so good!
Tropical Smoothie
Ingredients
Cherry Smoothie
- 1 1/2 cups frozen cherries
- 4 Tablespoons Great Lakes Gelatin Collagen Endurance Plus black Cherry Flavor
- 1 cup Coconut Water
Mango Banana Smoothie
- 1 cup pineapple chunks fresh or frozen
- 1 cup Mango chunks fresh or frozen
- 1 banana
- 1 orange peeled
- 1 slice of lemon
- 1 cup Coconut Water
Instructions
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In a high speed blender, blend all ingredients for the cherry smoothie layer until smooth. Pour that into a glass jar and store it in the fridge while you prepare the second layer.
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For the Mango Layer: Blend all ingredients in a high spend blender until smooth.
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Assemble the smoothie.
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Pour the thick cherry layer to fill out half your glass.
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Use a ladle and gradually add ladle fulls of the mango smoothie one at a time over the cherry smoothie layer to fill the cup.
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You’ll see the layers slowly disintegrate and swirl into a beautiful blend of both layers.
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Serve and enjoy right away!
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To freeze the smoothie, it’s best to freeze each layer separately in an ice cube tray.
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Defrost and blend them together for the smoothie, or enjoy them frozen for a quick treat!
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Enjoy!!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
TROPICAL SMOOTHIE TIPS
- Highlight Tropical Fruits such as mangos, pineapple, papaya, kiwi, banana, passionfruit and guava.
- Make two or more layers of smoothie for color contrast and extra nutritional benefit to your smoothie.
- Use GLG Collagen Endurance Plus as a thickener, a vitamin B booster and collagen supplement to the smoothie!
- Infuse the cherry layer with extra cherry flavor using the black cherry flavored GLG Collagen Endurance Plus.
- Always make a combo of frozen and fresh fruits to play with the thickness of layers in your smoothie.
- If you’re looking for separate distinct layers of smoothies, then use mainly frozen fruits for the recipe.
- However if you’re looking to disintegrate layers and colors so vibrantly in the smoothie as I’ve done here, then make a layer thicker than the other.
- To blend the colors and layers as I’ve done here, start by the thickets smoothie later at the bottom. In this case it’s the cherry smoothie.
- Use a ladle to gradually add the second layer, in this case the Mango banana smoothie or Pineapple banana smoothie. Add that in ladles and watch the layers blend so beautifully.
- Use coconut water for an extra boost of electrolytes and hydration to your smoothie. Also coconut water adds a tropical feel to the tropical smoothie.
- Make this a Pre-work out or Post-work out smoothie since the GLG Collagen Endurance Plus is boosted with Caffeine and Vitamin B’s.
- Make extra smoothie cups and keep them in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- You can double or triple this recipe for a crowd, or even halve it for two servings.
- You can freeze the smoothie layers separately in ice cubes. Defrost them and assemble the smoothie or pop them frozen as a refreshing treat.
- ENJOY!!
Gave this a try for breakfast this morning and it did not disappoint! Easily, my new favorite way to start my day! Delish!
Thanks for making and sharing!
One of the best smoothies that I’ve ever seen! And so healthy, too. Can’t wait to make it at home and enjoy like it is nobody’s business!
Go for it!!!
I love everything about this delicious smoothie! The color combo and flavors are so good!
Thank you Emily! So glad you enjoyed it too!
This smoothie is as tasty as it is pretty to look at! I’m allergic to mango so I just used pineapple and banana, but it turned out so refreshing. Thanks for the great recipe!
Thanks for sharing Kelli! So happy you made those changes, it’s a really versatile recipe and happy you enjoyed it!
Yum! I love how smoothies are a quick way to get in some extra nutritious goodies. This recipe is delicious and I’ll be making it over and over again.
Totally! Thanks you for making it!