Shakes & Smoothies

This delicious Carrot Smoothie is the perfect way to channel your cravings for Carrot Cake without having to bake anything. This protein-packed, nutritious, and filling smoothie is healthful, but somehow tastes almost as indulgent as a cake!

Try some of our other nutritious smoothie recipes next like this four-ingredient Blueberry Smoothie, our favorite Green Smoothie Recipe, or this vanilla Chai Smoothie.

Our Favorite Carrot Smoothie Recipe

Adding carrot to smoothies might make you raise your eyebrow at me, but don’t leave just yet. I mean, it’s a little less weird than adding cauliflower to a smoothie, right? And…we already went there (remember this Cauliflower Smoothie?). Adding veggies to smoothies can not only work, but it can also be downright delicious!

You don’t need to just take my word for it; Katie shared, “I made this smoothie this morning and it was SO yummy–definitely one that will become a breakfast staple…YUM.”

But today we aren’t just adding veggies to a smoothie, we are channeling my favorite spring dessert to bring you a smoothie that tastes like carrot cake. This Carrot Smoothie combination is definitely the next best thing to a big slice of carrot cake!

Process shots-- images of the cashew, shredded carrots, and milk being added to the blender and it all being blended together

Carrot Smoothie FAQs

1Can you put carrots in a smoothie?

Just watch me! (Seriously. You can watch a video of how I make this Carrrot Smoothie. Just click on it in the full post.)  Not only do carrots boast many health benefits, they also add a great flavor and subtle sweetness to this smoothie.

2Can you freeze carrots for smoothies?

You can freeze the carrots beforehand (after shredding), but we don’t find it necessary as long as the banana is frozen.

3Can raw carrots be blended?

Yes! That said, you will need a high-powered blender to really blend them up. If you don’t have a high-powered blender, I recommend steaming the carrots first.

4Can you blend whole carrots?

We don’t recommend blending whole carrots. In order for the blender to fully break down the whole carrots, it will end up over-blending (and over-thinning) the rest of the smoothie.

5What are the benefits of a Carrot Smoothie?

The Vitamin C in carrots has healing properties that are linked to reducing inflammation, speeding up the healing process, and helping to clear up breakouts on the skin.

6Should I boil carrots before blending?

We only recommend steaming the carrots if you don’t have a high-powered blender. If this is the case, you’ll also want to soften the cashews first by soaking them. (Check out this Blueberry Ice Cream recipe for ways to soak cashews.)

7Does carrot juice clear skin?

The beta carotene in carrots has been linked to supporting the health of your skin; one study found a carotenoid-rich diet helps improve the skin’s appearance and provides protection against UV damage.

How To Make A Carrot Smoothie

This recipe is quick, easy, and simple to make, but you do need a good, powerful blender (think Blendtec® or Vitamix®) to break down the cashews and carrots.

  1. Peel and shred: Peel whole (large) carrots and then grate on the large holes of a cheese grater.
  2. First blend: Blend the milk, carrots, and cashews until smooth.
  3. Second blend: Add everything else and blend until smooth.

Process shots of carrot smoothie-- images of the banana, spices, and honey being added and it all being blended together and poured into a glass to enjoy

Carrot Smoothie Ingredients

  • Milk: Any milk works, but we prefer plant-based milk in this smoothie. 
  • Cashews: We love dry-roasted cashews best — more flavor without any extra effort on your part. 
  • Grated carrots: Read more about this ingredient under the “tips” section below!
  • Frozen banana: The banana sweetens and thickens the smoothie beautifully. It also ensures the smoothie is filling! Make sure to freeze a fully ripe banana or grab already frozen ripe bananas!
  • Flavor enhancers: Vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and a tiny pinch of salt add loads of flavor and emphasize the “carrot cake” taste of this smoothie. Why salt? It helps intensify and balance all the ingredients in this smoothie — a little goes a long way!
  • Honey: The honey pulls everything together and perfectly sweetens the smoothie. The smoothie is definitely lacking without it!
  • Ice: The ice ensures a super cold and thick smoothie.

QUICK TIP

Pre-frozen bananas? You read that right! Many grocery stores now sell sliced and frozen bananas, ready to add to this smoothie recipe. Talk about convenient for the days you forget to slice up a banana the night before! You’ll find frozen bananas, as you might guess, in the freezer section. They come in plastic pouches and you can scoop out as many as you need. But how many slices make a whole banana? Bananas vary in since but a good guide is to figure that one cup of slices equals one banana.

Overhead image of the smoothie ready to be enjoyed

Carrot Smoothie Recipe Tips

  • Number one tip: Use whole carrots and grate them yourself. Avoid packaged pre-shredded carrots; they are hard, dry, and less flavorful. When you grate your own carrots you’ll notice how much more moisture the carrots have. Use a grating attachment on a food processor to grate carrots in bulk. Measure and store the grated carrots in separate bags in the fridge so you can quickly throw this smoothie together on busy days!
  • Measure: While it is much easier to just eyeball a smoothie and blend it all together, I highly recommend measuring ingredients the first few times, so you get proportions/quantities right. Tossing random quantities in a blender can often end up giving you way too much smoothie or tasting, well, nasty.
  • Blend. Before transferring this Carrot Smoothie from blender to glass, give it a quick stir to make sure everything is integrated and smooth. If you’ve got any chunks, blend them again. (And on the flip side, don’t over-blend or the smoothie won’t be as thick!)

Side shot of a Carrot Smoothie ready to be enjoyed

STORAGE

This simple Carrot Smoothie is best enjoyed right after blending. It doesn’t sit, store, or re-freeze well. If you won’t finish the whole smoothie in one sitting, I recommend halving the recipe!

Use Leftover Carrots In One Of These Recipes:

Carrot Smoothie

This delicious Carrot Smoothie is the perfect way to channel your cravings for Carrot Cake without having to bake anything. This protein-packed, nutritious, and filling smoothie is healthful, but somehow tastes almost as indulgent as a cake!

Carrot Smoothie

This delicious Carrot Smoothie is the perfect way to channel your cravings for Carrot Cake without having to bake anything. This protein-packed, nutritious, and filling smoothie is healthful, but somehow tastes almost as indulgent as a cake!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (240g) unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or any milk of choice)
  • 1/4 cup (35g) roasted and lightly salted cashews (Note 2)
  • 1 cup (50g) grated carrots (Note 3)
  • 1 cup (150g) frozen banana coins (Note 4)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon each ground ginger, ground nutmeg
  • Very tiny pinch of fine sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon honey (Note 5)
  • 8-10 large ice cubes (~1 cup)

Instructions

  • SHRED CARROTS: Use the large holes of a cheese grater to grate peeled carrots. Measure and set aside.

  • FIRST BLEND: Combine cashews, shredded carrots, and milk in a high-powered blender. Blend until completely smooth, about 90 seconds.

  • SECOND BLEND: Add remaining ingredients and blend again until smooth, about 60 seconds. If needed, stop the blender and stir around with a spoon and begin blending again. Taste and add additional spices or add sweetener if desired. Enjoy immediately! This shake doesn’t sit/store well.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Blender: You’ll need a good, powerful blender (like Blendtec or Vitamix) to break down the cashews and carrots. If you don’t have a high-powered blender, I recommend soaking the cashews first (check out this Cashew Ice Cream recipe for 3 ways to soak cashews) and steaming carrots. (Let steamed carrots fully cool before adding to blender).
Note 2: Cashews: We love dry-roasted cashews best — they’re more flavor without any extra effort on your part. 
Note 3: Carrots: Use whole carrots and grate them yourself. Avoid packaged pre-shredded carrots; they are hard, dry, and much less flavorful. When you grate your own carrots you’ll notice how much more moisture the carrots have. Use a grating attachment on a food processor to grate carrots in bulk. Measure out and store the grated carrots in separate bags in the fridge so you can quickly throw together this smoothie on busy days!
Note 4: Frozen banana: The banana sweetens and thickens the smoothie beautifully. It also ensures the smoothie is filling! Make sure to freeze a fully ripe banana or grab already frozen ripe bananas!
Note 5: Honey: The honey pulls everything together and perfectly sweetens the smoothie. The smoothie is definitely lacking without it!

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 47.6g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 10.1g | Sodium: 1303.9mg | Fiber: 5.7g | Sugar: 26.7g

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.