Full disclosure: this smoothie doesn’t actually contain any caramel. HOWEVER, thanks to the magical power of maca, a deliciously caramel-y superfood, this smoothie will be a treat for your tastebuds.

If you’ve never had maca before, imagine a ground-up powder that tastes a little maple-y, a little earthy, a little nutty, and a little butterscotch-y. It can have a slightly bitter aftertaste when eaten straight, but that’s where the maple syrup in this recipe comes to the rescue. Paired with all-natural applesauce, the maca makes this smoothie a dead ringer for a caramel apple. Plus, there’s the added bonus of maca being a adaptogenic superfood. And while there aren’t many peer-reviewed, scientific studies regarding the benefits of maca, it has been used for centuries as an anti-depressant, libido booster, and hormone balancer. (For more information, I highly recommend this article by Sarah B. of My New Roots.)

In summary – this smoothie tastes like a caramel apple, but it’s made with superfoods and whole food ingredients, and provides mood-boosting health benefits. And did I mention that it takes just minutes to throw together in a blender?! It’s the whole package!

Just a quick note about the applesauce – I love to make my own raw vegan applesauce loosely based on this recipe. However, you can absolutely use store-bought for this smoothie! Just take care to make sure you buy a natural brand (preferably organic) without a lot of added sugar or preservatives. 

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Superfood Caramel Apple Smoothie

This superfood caramel apple smoothie is made entirely from natural, healthy ingredients – but tastes just like a caramel apple!

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 2 Smoothies

Ingredients

• 1 Frozen Banana
• 1 1/2 Cups Natural Applesauce
• 1/2 Cup Frozen Kale
• 1/2 Cup Almond Milk
• 1 Tbs Maca Powder
• 1 Tbs Maple Syrup or more to taste
• Pinch of Cinnamon

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender, and blend on high until everything is smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust if necessary – i.e., add more maple syrup.
• Pour into glasses and enjoy!

Links of the Day:

1 // Instant Calm Latte by The First Mess (+ some adorable puppy pictures). I love everything about this.

2 // Vegan Chocolate Walnut Cookies by Butter and Brioche. Thalia’s blog is just gorgeous – her photos (to me) evoke a sense of home and comfort and beauty.

3 // Three Everyday Oatmeals by Wholehearted Eats… Sophie uses a maca-based caramel too, great minds think alike! :)

4 // This Vegan Vanilla Cake with Chai-Spiced Icing by The Almond Eater is just stunning.

5 // Vegan Chocolate Caramel Bounty Slice by Blissful Basil. That vegan caramel looks AMAZING!