Start your morning with the comforting flavours of apple pie, no pastry required! This Apple Pie Smoothie blends a crisp apple, creamy soy beverage, hearty oats, naturally sweet dates, cinnamon and a splash of lemon juice into a quick breakfast or satisfying snack.
Choose a Canadian apple variety such as Cortland, Empire or Honeycrisp for a delicious balance of sweetness and tartness. Apples are typically harvested in Canada from late summer through fall, and careful storage means Canadian-grown apples can often be enjoyed for months afterward. Learn more about selecting and storing this versatile fruit in What’s in Season? Apples.
The recipe comes together in just four minutes, making it ideal for busy mornings. Simply add all the ingredients to a blender and process until smooth. For the best texture, core and slice the apple first; peeling is optional. The oats add satisfying body, while dates provide gentle sweetness and cinnamon delivers the warm, familiar flavour of homemade apple pie.
For an extra-refreshing smoothie, chill it in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes before serving. You can also prepare it up to 12 hours ahead, making it a convenient grab-and-go breakfast. Pour it into a chilled glass and enjoy, or turn it into a spoonable smoothie bowl by adding an extra tablespoon of oats and letting the mixture rest overnight. Top with sliced fruit, chopped nuts or a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Looking for more ways to enjoy this Canadian favourite? Explore these apple recipes for sweet and savoury inspiration, including pancakes, baked treats and dinner ideas. You can also find more wholesome breakfast inspiration in the Canadian Food Focus recipe collection.
With simple ingredients, minimal preparation and classic fall flavour, this Apple Pie Smoothie is an easy way to make breakfast feel special any day of the year.
Recipe developed by Erin MacGregor.
Apple Pie Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 medium apple (such as Cortland, Empire or Honeycrisp)
- 1 cup unsweetened soy beverage (substitute milk or other alternatives as desired)
- 1/3 cup ice cubes (about 4-5)
- 1/4 cup large flake oats
- 2 pitted dates
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp lemon juice, or more to taste
Instructions
- Process ingredients in a blender until smooth. Cool in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes and up to 12 hours. Enjoy in a chilled glass.
Apples: From Farm to Table
We all know the saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ but what protects the apples? Apples are susceptible to attacks from insects, weeds and diseases that can wipe out a crop. For example, apple scab is the number one fungal disease in apples in Canada. It attacks both tree leaves and the fruit, making the apples completely unsellable and damaging the health of the trees. Fungicides allow farmers to control apple scab and grow a viable crop.
Ontario apple grower Brett Schuyler talks about the importance of pesticides on his farm: “Why do we use pesticides? Because we have to if we want to grow a crop… Without pesticides today we certainly couldn’t function the way we do, produce the quantity and quality of crop we do.”
Recently, science has given the apple another boost. Scientists have developed a non-browning apple through modern biotechnology. This apple can be sliced without the off-putting browning that typically soon follows and leads to a significant amount of waste. Health Canada has deemed this non-browning apple just as safe as its traditional counterpart and it offers a solution to food waste and convenience issues for this healthy snack.
Craving More Apples?
What is a Combine and How Does it Work?
