Last Updated on December 15, 2023 by Christin Gillespie

All the flavor that you love in a classic gingerbread cookie blended up into a smoothie. This high-protein Gingerbread Smoothie recipe embodies all the components of gingerbread in a glass, but made with wholesome ingredients. It’s full of cozy flavor, while being packed with nutrients, making it perfect for a healthy holiday smoothie.

Gingerbread protein smoothie recipe sitting on a cutting board with a straw in it.

Rich, creamy, & full of gingerbread spice. That’s what this holiday smoothie is all about.

Unlike traditional gingerbread recipes, this high-protein smoothie is nutrient-dense and very filling, so you don’t have to consume 10 gingerbread treats to feel satisfied. Lol. Moreover, you don’t have to fuss with the whole baking process with this Gingerbread Smoothie recipe either. All you need to do is grab your high-speed blender, and blend away.

Even though this is a Gingerbread Smoothie recipe, it’s loaded with cozy spices, so it doesn’t chill the body too much. And if you have cold feet about it, you can winter-enize your Gingerbread Smoothie by using a fresh organic ripe banana, as opposed to frozen.

Either way, this cozy holiday smoothie recipe will spice up your mood at first sip.

Why You’ll Love This Smoothie

Perfect Protein Smoothie: Whether you’re making it post workout or breakfast, this smoothie will have you fully satisfied.
Tastes like a Gingerbread Cookie: The flavor is that of homemade gingerbread cookie, but in a nutritious holiday smoothie form.
Loaded with Nutrition: This gingerbread protein smoothie features over 25 grams of plant based protein, is packed with anti-inflammatory properties, & is full of healthy fats.
Fully Customizable: Add even more wholesome ingredients to elevate your gingerbread protein smoothie. I’ve listed some options below!

Ginger Health Benefits

To make any gingerbread recipe, it requires ginger. So let’s get into the details. The root of ginger consists of hundreds of chemical compounds including minerals and vitamins. Ginger has been used for thousands of years all over the world, being used as a food additive, as well as medicine. This warming spice offers a number of health benefits.

Boosts Immunity
Reduces Muscle Pain
Improve Digestive Health
Decreases Inflammation
Promotes Healthy Blood Circulation

Gingerbread smoothie recipe sitting on a cutting board with a straw in it.

Ingredients

Organic Unsweetened Oat Milk: Any non-dairy milk works in this Gingerbread Smoothie recipe, but I love oat milk! Just be sure to use trusted brands – I like MALK Organics or Three Trees.
Organic Vanilla Plant Protein: Adding a scoop of protein powder helps to keep you full and satisfied longer. I love Four Sigmatic’s Sweet Vanilla Plant Protein for this recipe. It’s made with real organic vanilla with no grains, gums or fillers. Oh & it’s super delicious. Nevertheless, if you have yet to try Four Sigmatic’s Sweet Vanilla Plant Protein, add your favorite vanilla plant protein.
Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Organic ground flax seeds adds a great little boost of fiber & minerals to this gingerbread protein smoothie.
Organic Raw Almond Butter: For some additional healthy fats + a hint of nutty sweetness, I love adding organic raw almond butter.
Organic Gingerbread Spice: It wouldn’t be a gingerbread protein smoothie without it. Using a combination of ceylon cinnamon, ground ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves, to achieve that authentic gingerbread spice.
Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals and beautifully enhances the flavor of this Gingerbread Smoothie recipe.
Organic Medjool Date: Adding just one date to this holiday smoothie adds the perfect amount of sweetness.
Organic Frozen Banana: To make the smoothie extra thick & creamy, it’s best to use a frozen banana.

How To Make

Blend Liquids & Powders: First, add the non-dairy milk, plant protein, seeds, nut butter, and spices, to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
Blend the Medjool Date: Add the soft medjool date to the blender and blend until smooth.
Blend Frozen Banana: Next, add in the frozen banana. Blend until smooth and creamy. If needed, you can pause the blender, remove the lid, and scrape down the sides so that everything is fully incorporated. You may need to add a little more non-dairy milk depending on how thick/thin you like your smoothies
Serve: Pour into a chilled glass and enjoy immediately.

Optional Smoothie Add-Ins

Organic Chia Seeds: Add a scoop of organic chia seeds for some omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, etc. + it helps thicken this Gingerbread Smoothie recipe.
Organic Hemp Seeds: Add a tablespoon of hemp seeds to boost healthy fats, protein, omegas, & minerals, to this smoothie.
Organic Cacao Powder: Wanting a chocolate gingerbread smoothie? Add a tablespoon of organic cacao powder!
Organic Cold Brew: If you’re in need of a boost, replace the organic oat milk with organic cold brew to create a gingerbread latte smoothie.
Organic Greens: You can get your greens in too in this protein smoothie. They blend easily & you can’t taste them. Plus, greens are packed with so many minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Spinach, kale, swiss chard, mustard greens, collard greens, or mixed greens all work. WARNING: it will change the color of the smoothie!

Tips for Making the Perfect Smoothie

Interested in how to make the absolute perfect smoothie? As someone who makes smoothies daily, here are my TOP tips for creating the perfect smoothies:

Use Frozen Fruit: Adding a frozen to this smoothie is the only way to go! The ice from the frozen fruits adds thickness to the smoothie.
Soak Medjool Date: If your dates aren’t soft, you will need to soak your pitted dates in very warm water for 5 minutes. This will help them soften up, so that they can blend nicely.
Adjust Liquid Amount: If you find that your smoothie is too thick to blend, not to worry! Just add a bit more milk, blend, open the cover, scrape down the sides if needed, and blend again. And when possible, always use a larger high-speed blender instead, as it will blend the ingredients much better.
How To Make: Add your liquid first & blend your powders first, then the medjool date, before adding your frozen ingredients. This is my personal favorite way of preparing my smoothies. By blending the liquid & powders first, it ensures that your powders blend completely.
Smoothie Blending Tip: Start your blender on low to medium speed. If you blend the smoothie too quickly from the beginning, it’s really hard for the blender to properly blend the frozen ingredients – so start lower and then gradually increase the speed.
Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold smoothie, in this case, a gingerbread milkshake. Put your serving glass in the fridge or freezer while you’re making your smoothie to ensure a chilled smoothie with every sip!

Healthy Breakfast Smoothie FAQ’s

Do I have to use a frozen banana?

The frozen banana in this recipe gives the smoothie a thick & creamy texture. If using a fresh banana, be to add a handful of ice cubes to achieve a cold, thick smoothie. However, if you’re looking to remove the banana altogether, because you’re allergic or simply don’t like them, you can replace it with ½ cup of frozen zucchini, frozen cauliflower, or frozen avocado chunks. If you elect to make this a banana free smoothie, I recommend keeping the organic medjool date to maintain its sweetness.

Is it healthy to have a smoothie?

Duh! I wouldn’t post something that was unhealthy. Having a smoothie full of protein, healthy fats, & superfoods for a post workout breakfast is great because you’ll be getting essential vitamins, nutrients, & protein, first thing in the morning. However, some smoothies on the market or on the web can be loaded with tons of fruit, added sugar, & nonsense, making them a less healthy option.

What is the best protein powder to use?

For this particular protein smoothie, I love using Four Sigmatic’s Sweet Vanilla Plant Protein. It’s made with real organic ingredients with no grains, gums, or fillers. If you don’t have Four Sigmatic’s Sweet Vanilla Plant Protein on hand, you can use your favorite vanilla protein powder. When selecting a plant protein, it’s crucial to look at the protein content and most importantly, the ingredients.

How can I add protein without using protein powder?

If you don’t have protein powder on hand, no worries! To increase the protein content, you can add another tablespoon of organic raw almond butter, a tablespoon of organic chia seeds, and/or a tablespoon of organic hemp seeds, without changing the taste too much.

Can I make this protein smoothie recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make the smoothie as is or double it for later. Check out this “How to Prepare Smoothies in Advance” post to achieve the best results.

Gingerbread smoothie sitting on a cutting board with a straw in it.

More Holiday Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love

If you make this recipe, please leave a review & rating below! I love hearing from you and it helps others learn more about the recipe too. Lastly, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, & TikTok for even more deliciousness & wellness tips!

Xoxo.

Christin.