Kale Berry Smoothie That Doesn’t Look Green

The No Way This Is Green Smoothie is packed with fresh kale, yet it doesn’t look or taste green at all. Frozen mixed berries turn it a deep berry purple, and sweet green grapes and a tart green apple hide the greens completely.

Just five ingredients and coconut milk blend in under a minute into a thick, sweet kale smoothie for breakfast or a snack.

The Best Kale Berry Smoothie (That Doesn’t Look Green)

Green smoothies can be a hard sell. The bright color makes people expect a grassy, vegetable taste, even when the drink is full of fruit. This smoothie solves that problem with color. Two cups of frozen mixed berries are dark enough to cover two whole cups of fresh kale, so the finished smoothie is a rich purple instead of green.

The flavor follows right along. Green grapes are juicy and very sweet, and they bring most of the liquid along with the coconut milk. A green apple adds a crisp, tart edge that keeps the smoothie from tasting too sugary. The berries bring jammy sweetness, a little tartness and a thick, frosty texture. Kale has a mild, slightly earthy flavor when it is raw, and next to all that fruit, it simply disappears.

Coconut milk ties it together with a light creaminess, and it keeps the smoothie dairy free. There is no added sugar, no juice and no yogurt, just whole fruit, leafy greens and milk.

This is a great smoothie for anyone who is new to green smoothies, or for picky eaters who will only drink something that looks like a berry smoothie. There should be enough for 2 large servings, so it is easy to share. If you ever have extra, you can freeze it in ice cube trays and use it in your next smoothie.

Why You’ll Love This Kale Smoothie

• It doesn’t look green. Mixed berries turn it a deep purple, so nobody has to know about the kale.
• Two cups of kale. That is a lot of leafy greens hidden in one blender.
• No added sugar. Grapes, apple and berries supply all the sweetness.
• Only five ingredients. Coconut milk, grapes, apple, kale and frozen berries.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.

• Coconut milk: The liquid base. It adds a light, creamy body and a hint of coconut that tastes great with berries. Use the drinkable carton coconut milk, not the thick canned kind, which would make the smoothie very rich. Almond milk, oat milk or regular milk all work as a swap, though each changes the flavor slightly.
• Green grapes: Two cups of seedless green grapes add a lot of sweetness and juice, which helps the kale break down. Choose plump grapes that are firmly attached to the stem. Frozen grapes make the smoothie even colder and thicker.
• Green apple: One green apple, cut into quarters. A tart variety like Granny Smith adds a crisp, bright flavor that balances the sweet grapes and berries. Leave the skin on for fiber, but cut out the core and seeds before blending.
• Fresh kale: Two cups of fresh kale. Curly kale and Lacinato (also called dinosaur kale) both work. Strip the leaves off the thick, woody stems, which are tough and fibrous, and tear the leaves into pieces. Baby kale is tender and needs no trimming. Spinach works too and has an even milder flavor. Pre washed bagged kale is the easiest option on busy mornings.
• Frozen mixed berries: Two cups of frozen berries chill and thicken the smoothie and give it that deep purple color. A blend of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries is perfect. The darker the berries, the better they hide the green. Because they are frozen, you usually don’t need ice, and the smoothie won’t taste watered down.

Wash the grapes, apple and kale well under cool running water before blending, since everything goes into the smoothie raw.

How to Make the No Way This Is Green Smoothie

1. Prep the produce. Wash the grapes, apple and kale. Cut the apple into quarters and remove the core and seeds. Strip the kale leaves from the thick stems and tear them into pieces.
2. Add the coconut milk. Pour the coconut milk into the blender first. Liquid on the bottom helps the blades spin freely so the frozen fruit doesn’t jam.
3. Layer the rest in order. Add the grapes, apple, kale and frozen berries in the order listed. The juicy grapes release liquid as they blend, which helps break down the kale, and the heavy frozen berries on top press everything down toward the blades.
4. Blend on high. Blend on the highest setting for 30 to 45 seconds until completely smooth. Stop when the smoothie is an even, deep purple with no green flecks of kale or bits of apple skin. A high speed blender like a Vitamix makes this quick. With a regular blender, it may take a minute or more, and you may need to stop and stir once.
5. Adjust the thickness. For a thicker consistency, add more frozen berries or a handful of ice and blend again. If it is too thick to pour, add a splash more coconut milk.
6. Serve. Pour into two large glasses and enjoy right away while it is cold and thick.

Ways to Customize This Smoothie

• Add protein. Blend in a scoop of vanilla protein powder or a spoonful of Greek yogurt.
• Make it creamier. Add half a frozen banana or a few slices of avocado.
• Swap the greens. Use spinach or a mix of spinach and kale.
• Change the berries. All blueberries give the darkest color, and all strawberries make it pinker.

Kale Smoothie FAQs

• Can you taste the kale? Not really. The grapes, apple and berries are sweet enough to cover its mild flavor, and the berries hide the color too.
• How many servings does this make? There should be enough for 2 large servings.
• What do I do with leftovers? Freeze them in ice cube trays and use them in your next smoothie.
• Do I need to remove the kale stems? Yes, for curly or Lacinato kale. The stems are tough and can leave stringy bits. Baby kale can go in whole.
• Can I use spinach instead of kale? Yes. Spinach is even milder and blends more easily.
• Do I need a high speed blender? It helps, but a regular blender works. Blend the milk, grapes and kale first until smooth, then add the apple and berries.
• Can I use fresh berries? Yes. Add a cup of ice so it stays cold and thick.
• Can I use a red or yellow apple? Yes. A sweeter apple makes a sweeter smoothie. The green apple adds a nice tart balance, so you may want a squeeze of lemon if you swap.
• Is this smoothie dairy free? Yes, when you use coconut milk or another plant based milk.
• Can I prep it ahead? Yes. Pack the grapes, apple, kale and berries in a freezer bag. In the morning, add the milk and the bag to the blender.

Kale Smoothie with Mixed Berries

Kale smoothie made with fresh kale, green grapes, a green apple and frozen mixed berries blended with coconut milk. The berries turn it purple and hide the greens.

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Ingredients

  

• 1 cup coconut milk
• 2 cups green grapes
• 1 green apple with core and cut into quarters
• 2 cups fresh kale
• 2 cups frozen mixed berries

Instructions

 

• Add ingredients in Vitamix blender according to order listed. Blend on highest option for 30 to 45 seconds until smooth.
• For thicker consistency, add more frozen berries or ice.

Made this smoothie? Leave a star rating in the recipe card and tell me how it turned out in the comments below. Let me know if anyone guessed there was kale inside.

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