Dairy-Free Mandarin Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

This Dairy-Free Mandarin Orange Creamsicle Smoothie is rich, creamy, and full of citrus and vanilla flavors! Perfect as a quick breakfast or on-the-go snack, you can also make it vegan or paleo!

When I was growing up, I LOVED to eat Popsicle®️ Push-Ups. And, according to Gramps (The Gram’s better half), I called them “push downs.” Go figure. But while I didn’t manage to call them by the right name, I did manage to make a mess of myself each time I slurped my way through one. Every time I think of childhood summers with my grandparents, that citrusy treat comes to mind. And now I’m bringing you a creamy smoothie alternative that is just as delightful, if a little less messy! Even better? You can enjoy it all year round!

Also, apparently I’m not the only one to cherish those push-downs as a child. A quick search of the internet revealed that countless food bloggers have their own versions of an orange creamsicle smoothie. And thanks to Happy Healthy Mama’s Dairy-Free Orange Creamsicle Smoothie recipe, I was inspired to freeze my mandarin oranges first so I could skip adding ice cubes to the smoothie later. Worked like a charm!

So, if you’re in the mood to make your own Dairy-Free Mandarin Orange Creamsicle Smoothie, then keep reading! You’ll have your own bit of summer stirred up and ready to go in a matter of minutes, no matter the season!

DAIRY-FREE MANDARIN ORANGE CREAMSICLE SMOOTHIE INGREDIENTS:

There are several variations to pick from when making Dairy-Free Mandarin Orange Creamsicle Smoothie. Select the ingredients that taste delicious to YOU!

• Mandarin oranges. I love mandarin oranges for this smoothie because they are sweet, juicy, and easy to work with! They also freeze well and are easy to transfer from the baking sheet to the blender while frozen.
• Full-fat coconut milk. Okay, let’s talk milk alternatives here. I use the cream from a can of chilled full-fat coconut milk because it gives this smoothie a scrumptious, rich, creamy flavor and consistency, but without the dairy. And the coconut tastes incredible with the mandarin oranges. But, if you don’t like coconut milk, full-fat or otherwise, you CAN use a different milk choice. However, your smoothie will likely be much thinner. Almond milk tastes scrumptious as would just about any other milk alternative. If you still want a thicker smoothie, try adding a few extra mandarin oranges or reduce the milk by a few tablespoons.
• 100% pure honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup. Any of these sweeteners will do. But they will affect the overall flavor, so pick the one YOU will enjoy the most!
• Vanilla extract and vanilla protein powder. Definitely go for some vanilla in this smoothie, and if you want to thicken up your smoothie, or just add a little bulk to it to stay full, then add vanilla protein powder. So delicious!

HOW TO MAKE DAIRY-FREE MANDARIN ORANGE CREAMSICLE SMOOTHIE:

Dairy-Free Mandarin Orange Creamsicle Smoothie is a cinch to throw together!

• Peel the mandarin oranges, place them on a baking sheet, and freeze them for 30 minutes to an hour. In a high-speed blender, add the cream portion of the full-fat coconut milk, honey or agave nectar, vanilla extract, protein powder, and frozen mandarin oranges. Blend on a low speed for about 1-2 minutes, or until the ingredients have mixed together and the blender is running smoothly. Use the tamper, if your blender comes with one. If your blender does not come with a tamper, you may need to stop blending periodically to unclog the blades, or you can add a little non-dairy milk of your choice to thin out the smoothie slightly.
• Then gradually turn the speed up to medium, continue to use the tamper, and blend until smooth. Store in a glass container for about 2-3 days. The smoothie will thicken as it stands.
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I hope you enjoy your Dairy-Free Mandarin Orange Creamsicle Smoothie! And if you’d like a few other recipes to inspire your smoothie game, then check out Pineapple Mango Smoothie and Peach Mango Smoothie! They are bright, cherry, and super-satisfying!

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