Healthy Lavender Berry Smoothie with Yogurt and Coconut Milk
Indulge your senses with the enchanting Lavender Berry Smoothie. This unique blend combines fresh berries, lavender syrup, and yogurt for a refreshing and aromatic experience. The soft purple hue is visually pleasing and truly enticing. Berries are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, while lavender adds a calming effect, making this smoothie perfect for a relaxing day.
Equipment
- high speed blender
- Small saucepan (for lavender infusion)
- Fine-mesh strainer or tea strainer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Citrus zester or fine grater (for lemon zest)
- Cutting board and knife (for lemon / optional banana)
- Serving glasses or smoothie bowls
Instructions
Step 1 – Make the lavender milk (infusion)
- Pour ½ cup (120 ml) of the plant milk into a small saucepan. Add the dried culinary lavender buds.
- Warm gently over low heat just until steaming (do not boil), stirring once or twice. Turn off the heat, cover, and let steep for 5–10 minutes.
- Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a jug or bowl, pressing lightly on the lavender to extract flavor.
- Cool to room temperature; for best flavor and texture, chill in the fridge or briefly over an ice bath.
Step 2 – Load the blender
- Into a high-speed blender, add in this order: Lavender-infused milk, ½ cup (120 ml) plant milk, vegan yogurt, maple/agave/date, vanilla, lemon zest/juice, and pinch of salt, chia/flax and oats (if using), frozen mixed berries on top, ice cubes, if using,
- Putting liquids at the bottom helps blades catch the frozen fruit and seeds cleanly.
Step 3 – Blend to a silky purple
- Start on low speed and gradually increase to high.
- Blend for about 45–60 seconds, or until completely smooth and creamy. If the mixture is too thick to blend, add more plant milk a tablespoon at a time. Taste and adjust:
- Too tart? Add a little more maple/agave/date. Too floral? Dilute with extra berries and plant milk. Not lavender enough? Next time, increase lavender slightly (by just ⅛–¼ teaspoon).
Step 4 – Serve
- Pour into 2 chilled glasses for smoothies, or pour into shallow bowls, top with extra berries, chia seeds, and coconut flakes for a lavender berry smoothie bowl.
Notes
- Use culinary lavender only: Make sure you’re using food-grade culinary lavender (usually English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia), not decorative lavender or essential oil. A little goes a long way, so stick to the amounts listed and adjust slowly to taste.
- Control the lavender strength: If you’re sensitive to floral flavors, start with ¼ teaspoon dried lavender for the infusion. You can always increase next time, but it’s hard to fix if the smoothie tastes “perfumey.”
- Why infuse the milk? Steeping lavender in warm plant milk and then straining gives a soft, rounded flavor without bits of dried flowers in the smoothie. It also reduces the risk of bitterness.
- Plant milk options: The base recipe uses unsweetened coconut milk beverage for a creamy texture and gentle coconut flavor. For a lighter smoothie, swap some or all of the coconut milk with unsweetened almond milk or another neutral plant milk.
- Yogurt swaps: Any unsweetened vegan yogurt works here—coconut, almond, cashew, or oat. Sweeter or flavored yogurts will increase the total sugars and change the flavor, so taste before adding extra sweetener.
- Sweetness adjustments: The smoothie is lightly sweetened with maple syrup and fruit. If your berries are very tart, add extra maple syrup or a soft date. If your berries are very sweet (peak-season or very ripe), you may not need any added sweetener at all.
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Texture + thickness:
- For a thicker smoothie or smoothie bowl, use less plant milk and/or add a bit more oats and frozen fruit.
- For a thinner, sippable smoothie, add extra plant milk a splash at a time until it reaches your preferred consistency.
- Banana or no banana: The base recipe is banana-free. For extra creaminess and sweetness, you can add ½ small frozen banana without changing the overall method.
- Make it more filling: For a more substantial breakfast or post-workout option, add a scoop of your favorite vegan protein powder and an extra teaspoon of chia or ground flax.
- Gluten-free option: Use certified gluten-free oats if you need this recipe to be fully gluten-free.
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Make-ahead tips: This smoothie is best enjoyed right away (chia and oats will continue to thicken it over time). If you need to prep ahead, you can:
- Pre-measure the dry ingredients into a jar (oats, chia, lavender in a tea infuser) and keep them at room temperature.
- Keep frozen berries and plant milk ready, then blend everything fresh in the morning.