Blueberry Muffin Smoothie
A blueberry-sweetened smoothie - with tips on how to thicken a smoothie with budget-friendly oatmeal ~Â by Serena Ball, MS, RD
Disclosure: I have done recipe development and project work for Quaker Oats. I was not compensated to write this post and have been eating oatmeal since I was a kid.Â
We have arrived.
We made it to blueberry season. Remember the snow up to our eyeballs this winter? I do. And I specifically remember pouring another cup of hot tea and thinking, "I seriously will not make it to blueberry season."
Unfortunately a lot of the blueberry bushes at the U-Pick Blueberry Patch we visited last year did not make it. With record cold and HEAVY snow in Illinois, the bushes didn't yield as they did last year.
So our Blueberry Pie dreams evaporated when we came home with only ONE PINT after two kids and I picked four an hour. But I've been making oatmeal-thickened smoothies for breakfast and after-school snacks over the past several months and a Blueberry Muffin Smoothie sounded divine. It was: Just like it's muffin inspiration it was sweetened by cinnamon, honey and blueberries.
And my dietitian brain finds it's pretty interesting that some scientists actually did research to discover that thicker smoothies were more satisfying: Here's the source.
So here are a few tips on making oatmeal-thickened smoothies:
- Soak the dry oats in milk in the blender pitcher overnight so they plump - or just use leftover cold oatmeal.
- For an even thicker smoothie, use frozen fruit if you have it - if you don't (I didn't, because the blueberries were just-picked!) just pop fruit in the freezer for a few minutes to chill while you assemble other ingredients.
- Any fruit can work - even raisins - with cinnamon for an "Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie."
- Use cinnamon to help sweeten naturally - and here - it's reminiscent of cinnamon streusel muffin topping!
Blueberry Muffin Smoothie
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups 1% milk
- 1 cup dry oats (or cooked oatmeal)
- ÂĽ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Instructions
- THE NIGHT BEFORE, in a blender pitcher, pour in the milk and oats and soak overnight in the refrigerator. (Or assemble ALL the ingredients - to speed breakfast prep the next morning.)
- In the morning, add the remaining ingredients to the blender pitcher. Blend until smooth. Add a few ice cubes if desired.
What do you plan to make with fresh blueberries this summer?
Great idea! I have yet to start putting oats in my smoothies, but maybe this will get me in gear. It looks and sounds yummy!!
I just made an Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie on my blog last week - I definitely think that it is more satisfying and lets me have less since I get so full! Love this blueberry muffin idea 🙂
I'm so sad that I finished off all the greek yogurt/frozen blueberries/milk at home this morning! (I guess that's what my weekend grocery trip will entail. :] )
Oh Serena, this looks so incredible!! I love this idea so much; I am trying it today because I have all the ingredients in my house - woohoo!
Genius. Pinned onto my smoothies board. Will be testing tomorrow morning on Norah!
Yum! This is a fantastic summer breakfast!
I put oats in my smoothies all the time! Love this!
For some reason I get a hankering for smoothies as an afternoon snack and what's even better is I have ALL these ingredients in my kitchen right now! Can't wait to try - this Blueberry Muffin Smoothie looks delish 🙂
I haven't tried a smoothie with oatmeal in yet but I feel really inspired to try it now. I love blueberry muffins and would love to feel I was getting those flavours in a smoothie!
The oatmeal really thickens up the smoothie. And in my book, a thick smoothie is extra satisfying and delish! (: LMK if you make it!