My body craves sweet things sometimes. It just does. I refuse to deny it sweet things when that's what it wants because the craving will build and build until I end up robbing a candy store completely over-doing it. Chris and I try to prevent this from happening by having a small dessert after dinner each night (most recently, limiting ourselves to only one of these each night). We're just being proactive.
Sometimes this small dessert just won't cut it, and I crave something sweet during the day and waiting until dessert is not going to suffice. This one particular day, absolutely nothing would do except for red velvet cake. This posed a small problem because 1. I didn't have any red velvet cake on hand (thank goodness!), and 2. I am trying to prepare my body for it's first trip to Maui, and devouring a red velvet cake would not have proved very useful in this task. Because I did not want to deny myself, I stared blankly into my pantry/cabinet racked my brain until I came up with a way to enjoy the taste of red velvet cake and nourish my body at the same time.
If you like red velvet cake, you will adore this smoothie. If you don't like red velvet cake, you will still adore this smoothie. It's refined sugar-free, provides long-lasting energy, and the cashew cream "filling" makes the smoothie itself very filling. If you need a healthy, nourishing alternative to stuffing yourself with cake, this is for you!
RED VELVET SMOOTHIE with CASHEW CREAM "FILLING"
makes two small smoothies or one large smoothie
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup raw cashews
- ½ cup warm water (will only use ¼ cup)
- ½ - 1 tsp powdered stevia
- ¾ cup grated or chopped red beets
- 4-6 strawberries
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup almond milk
- 2 dried dates
- 2-3 T cocoa powder (depending on your tastes)
- 1 T flax meal
- 1 T agave syrup
Instructions:
- Make your cashew cream “filling” first: Soak the cashews in ½ a cup of warm water for at least and hour, if not longer. Strain the cashews and reserve the water. In the bowl of a food processor, or in a bowl using an immersion blender, process the cashews with ¼ cup of the reserved water and the stevia until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- To make the smoothie, blend the remaining ingredients together until smooth, about 3 minutes. Pour into glass(es) and pour the cashew cream into the center(s). Enjoy!
The next time you are craving something sweet, don't deny yourself- Make this smoothie!
When you're craving something sweet, what do you usually reach for?
All Photos by Kristy Turner
© Kristy Turner and Keepin' It Kind, 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material (content and images) without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kristy Turner and Keepin' It Kind with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Bex @ Vegan Sparkles
Oh My WOW! I have never tried Red Velvet cakes (deprived, I know), but I am loving the look of these! I can't wait to try them! 🙂
keepinitkind
Thanks, Bex! I don't know which you need to try first: the cake or the smoothie! I say (and this is probably my PMS talking) do both at the same time!
Annie
Okay, lots of thoughts...I am with you, there is no denying the sweet craving, the key is not going overboard. My husband and I also treat ourselves with a mostly healthy sweet each day. I look forward to it! Coincidentally I've been way into daily smoothies lately and this is going on the list! So gorgeous and the cashew cream sends it right over the top! Staring blankly into the cupboard works very well for you ;-)!
keepinitkind
Thank you, Annie! I never thought I would be a smoothie person but I find myself looking forward to my smoothie lunch each day. I hope you like it!
CJ at Food Stories
This smoothie is just gorgeous. The beets really did the picture some justice, you know.
keepinitkind
Thank you, CJ! I love the richness the beets add to the smoothie as well.
Cadry
Adding this red velvet smoothie to the list of things to make! I especially like the idea of adding a dollop of cashew cream. Whenever I had a hankering for red velvet cake, I liked to visit Yummy Cupcakes. They have a Burbank and Santa Monica location, and I think they always have a vegan red velvet available. It wouldn't be as guiltless as your eye-catching smoothie, but at least there's a bit of portion control since it's cupcake-sized. Plus, afterwards I could visit my favorite dress shop, Audrey K, which is a few doors down from their Burbank location. Cupcakes and dresses? Yes, please!
You're a lucky duck preparing for a trip to Maui!! I hope you have a wonderful time!
keepinitkind
I used to work right around the corner from that Yummy Cupcakes! There was a furniture gallery on San Fernando Blvd. (I don't know if you were still in LA in 2008) called EQ3. We used to order cupcakes from Yummy all the time. I was vegetarian back then, but I should definitely check out their vegan options. Sprinkles has a vegan red velvet I've yet to try as well. Cupcakes and dresses- I love it! Imagine a shop that sold cupcakes and dresses! A girl can only dream...
Thanks Cadry- I'm sure we will have a great time. 🙂
Cadry
Yes, I was in LA until 2010, and I used to love going in EQ3! We probably saw you there at some point! We'd often walk around downtown Burbank, and visit SkyBluPink. I was so bummed when they went out of business too.
keepinitkind
What a small world! We probably did see each other at some point! That's actually where I met Chris. I left about a year before they went out of business (really crappy management). Downtown Burbank is a great place to hang-out- I actually spent many a lunch break browsing at SkyBluPink.
Julia {The Roasted Root}
I'm the same way about limiting sugar intake, and when I do, I try to keep the sugar as nutritious as possible, like having fruit instead of a cookie. This smoothie is absolutely something I would make on a daily basis...it has TONS of vitamins (LOVE the beets) and I can easily see my sweet tooth being quenched with this. I've never put coacoa in a smoothie - so excited to try it!
keepinitkind
Thank you, Julia! The smoothie is so simple, energizing, nutritious, filling, and beautiful! It's my new go-to for when we have beets in the house. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Hannah
Such brilliant, enticing colors! This is such a great concept- More shakes should really have a "cream filling" because that sounds incredibly decadent, no matter how healthy the ingredients. 🙂
keepinitkind
Thanks, Hannah! I agree 100%! Shakes & Smoothies with "fillings"- That sounds like a delicious idea! 🙂
Sailaja
Too good. Definitely will try this week
keepinitkind
Thank you, Sailaja! Let me know how it goes. 🙂
LP @dishclips
So many interesting ingredients in this drink. Looks so healthy, too!
keepinitkind
Thank you, LP- It is super uber-healthy!
Sadie
This smoothie looks really good! However, I've never had raw beets before and I was wondering can you taste them in the smoothie?
keepinitkind
Thanks! There might be a very faint beet taste, but really, the flavor of the banana & cocoa powder really overpower it. You could try leaving the beets out and just use more red berries, but the color might be a little lighter. Let me know if you have any other questions. 🙂
Tara A Tempting Vegan
How am I just seeing this now???
keepinitkind
I don't know, Tara! Get on it! ;-P
Savannah
What can I use instead of bananas? I have an allergy. Thank you!
keepinitkind
You could try mango!
Alyssa
Just made this smoothie this morning, and oh myyyyyy!!!!!!! Hubby & I both loved it! My new favorite. Thank you!
Monica
I wanted to tell you how much I love this smoothie and I make it often (pinned it years ago!). I was so smitten the first time I tried it, the next day I took a Vitamix full of this smoothie to work and had (ok, maybe "made") several coworkers try it. They loved it. The cocoa powder really gives it that "red velvet/cake-y" element. it's soooooooooooooo delicious!! Thank you for this recipe! Even my super duper picky 11-year old son likes it 😉