5-Minute Sour Apple Smoothie
This refreshing and vibrant sour apple smoothie is easy to make with plenty of spinach, green apple, and a hidden veggie for a refreshing, sweet and sour way to start the day. Plus, it’s ready in just 5 minutes, making it the perfect breakfast smoothie to take on the go.

about this sour apple smoothie recipe
I don’t know about you but I love refreshing, green smoothies!
This sour apple smoothie was inspired by Kelly LeVeque’s Fab Four Smoothie formula.
Kelly has been a guest on the Feel Good Effect podcast a number of times talking about about her Fab Four Smoothie method.
Her method involves adding fiber, fat, and protein to a smoothie to keep blood sugar stability stable and keeps you filled up for hours.
So I wanted to create some new smoothie options for you using her formula as a base!

process & tips for making this sour apple smoothie
All you need to do is add all your ingredients to a blender and let it work it’s magic.
Before you know it you’ll be sipping on a delicious, nutrient dense smoothie!
The powerhouse combination of fiber, fat and protein in this smoothie makes it more filling and satiating than a smoothie that’s only fruit-based.
Fiber comes in the form of the apple, cucumber, spinach, flax seed and cashews.
Fat comes in the form of the ground flax seed and cashews.
Protein can be found both in the cashews and ground flax seed, as well as the protein powder.

ingredients & modifications
Green apple: I used a Granny Smith apple for this recipe since it’s a good balance of sweet and tart flavor. But you could use a sweeter apple like Honeycrisp, Gala or Fuji if you prefer.
English cucumber: Persian cucumber also works well in this recipe. If using a regular cucumber, you can peel and remove the seeds to avoid bitterness.
Baby spinach: For smoothies I like to use tender, non-bitter greens. You can use any greens you like that blend easily and work well with these other ingredients. Some baby kale would work well in addition to (or in place of) spinach here too.
Lemon juice: I like how lemon juice pairs with the other ingredients in this smoothie, but you can also use lime juice in its place.
Protein powder: You can use any protein powder you like the taste of. To keep this recipe vegan friendly, be sure to use a plant-based. To keep this recipe paleo friendly, be sure to use a grain-free and dairy-free protein powder.
Raw cashews: Raw cashews add a creaminess to this smoothie, but to make this nut-free try full-fat, unsweetened coconut milk in place of the cashews and water.
Ground flax seed: Ground flax seed adds a bit of fiber and a dose of plant-based protein. I find it easier to use ground flax seed but you could also add whole flax seeds if you have a high speed blender.
Because the natural sugars in this smoothie are low, it’s not very sweet. If you prefer a sweeter option, add ½ banana or 2 pitted dates before blending.

this recipe is…
Dairy FreeGluten FreeNut FreePaleoVeganVegetarian

Sour Apple Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 green apple, such as Granny Smith, cored and chopped
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1 cup chopped English cucumber
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seed
- 2 scoops unflavored protein powder of choice
- 3/4 cup water
- ice, (optional)
Equipment
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a high speed blender and blend on high until very smooth.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
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Yum! A perfect post-Christmas smoothie! Love the sourness and freshness 😋
Stephanie, yay, so happy to hear you enjoyed this one, and I agree, that sour freshness is so great this time of year. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!
This is such an amazing smoothie. I crave it so much and love that it’s not too sweet and just barely tart! Thanks for so many amazing recipes!
Lori, yay, so glad you’re enjoying this one – what a great description of the flavor profile, too. Thanks so much for leaving a review!