Clementine Sunshine Smoothie
Simple, delicious smoothie made with clementines and creamy yogurt or almond milk. This healthy smoothie offers over 200% of your daily value of vitamin C!
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on August 1, 2024
I’m just not that into smoothies. It’s nothing against fruit (really fruit, it’s me, not you). I just like to eat my food. This smoothie, however, is a different story. I’ve been fighting a head cold for over a week and I’ve been getting desperate for a solution. Every evening, I feel off-balance, like my head is underwater. I’ve had enough of this vertigo!
Since I refuse to go to the doctor for antibiotics, I’ve been spending quality time with this lovely contraption, taking probiotics and trying to consume as much immunity-boosting vitamin C as possible. Which is where this clementine smoothie comes into the picture. I drank at least four of these over the weekend and I am feeling better.
This smoothie is delicious, light and refreshing—closer to fresh-squeezed orange juice than a thick banana smoothie. It tastes similar to an orange julius or a dreamsicle or those orange Flintstone push-ups from my childhood. I couldn’t decide what to call it, but the sunshine in the photos seemed to match the bright clementine flavor in the glass, so I landed on clementine sunshine smoothie. Let’s go with it.
This four-ingredient smoothie is suuuuuper simple to make. So simple that I hesitated to post it, but then I thought about all the other people out there who are fighting winter colds, or worse. When energy is running low, we need the simplest of solutions, and this is one of them.
Each little clementine offers about 60 percent of your daily value of vitamin C. That means that this modestly-sized smoothie, which is made with four clementines, puts you at around 240 percent of fresh, bioavailable vitamin C. That’s twice as much as a glass of Minute Maid and it tastes better, too. Since you just blend up the ingredients in a blender, it’s even easier to make than fresh orange juice.
I offered a few totally optional add-ins in case you want to play around with this smoothie. I honestly love it most in its purest form, with just clementines, yogurt or almond milk and ice. This has become the new orange juice in my house, so I’ll be enjoying it even after I buck this cold! I hope you love it, too.
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Clementine Sunshine Smoothie
Simple, delicious smoothie made with clementines and creamy yogurt or almond milk. This healthy, immunity-boosting smoothie offers around 240 percent of your daily value of vitamin C! Recipe yields one modestly-sized, 10-ounce smoothie.
Ingredients
- 4 clementines, preferably chilled
- ½ cup ice
- ¼ cup yogurt or almond milk (plain or vanilla flavors work)
- Tiny dash sea salt
Totally optional add-in ideas (I prefer the smoothie as listed above):
- Chunks of frozen banana for extra creaminess (you can scale back on the ice if using frozen banana)
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric for exotic flavor and more immunity-boosting properties
- Drizzle of honey for extra sweetness
- One drop of pure vanilla extract for more of a dreamsicle flavor
Instructions
- Use your fingers to peel the clementines and pull each one in half. Pull out any excess pith in the center and discard it.
- Add the yogurt or almond milk to the blender, followed by the clementines, ice and a tiny dash of salt, which enhances the other flavors. Feel free to add any of the optional add-ins suggested above. Blend well, until the clementines have turned into juice and there are no chunks of ice left.
- There will probably still be some bits of pith in the smoothie. If you don’t mind some texture, pour into a glass and enjoy immediately. For a perfectly smooth smoothie, pour it through a metal sieve into your glass.
Notes
Recipe inspired by Gimme Some Oven’s Orange Julius recipe.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
yum — so bright!
What a delicious-looking smoothie! Sounds like a great way to start the day :)
Different cultures, different beliefs, but I just mention that in Asia ice is a no-no, especially when the body is sick. I added fresh ginger to your lovely (no-ice) smoothie and it worked. Hope you recover soon.
I love clementine season – I could eat my weight in those little beauties, but I love this idea for packing in lots of Vitamin C, and sounds so tasty too! Feel better Kate!
This sounds SO delicious – I have some clementines at the moment so will give this a go!
I think everyone in my house can use one of these! Seems like we have a revolving door of colds. I love that they are so bright…seems appropriate for a rainy New York day today.
Years ago, I discovered a wonderful remedy for colds of all kinds. It’s called a FLU SHOT!
Unfortunately, the flu shot doesn’t prevent colds, just the flu, and this year it’s not even doing a good job of that!
You are literally stupid.
Gorgeous photos! I am coming down with a sore throat and this looks like just what I need. I think I’ll try it with turmeric!
Feel better soon, Becky!
wow, yummy!
Try adding Camu Camu, the vitamin C superstar. An average orange has 25OO parts per million of vitamin C and the Camu Camu berry has 5O,OOO. The most common way to get Camu Camu is in powered organic form. It is also known to help with focus, mood, head fog, depression, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
I used to make something like this for my kids when they were younger, except I would add an egg (or egg product) and some vanilla. It would end up tasting very similar to an Orange Julius.
This looks like a ray on sunshine on a cold, dreary January day. Beautiful! Glad you are feeling better!
Looks delicious! Smoothies have been my go-to for an extra burst of fruit this winter, but I haven’t added citrus yet. I will definitely try this one!
Thank you for this! I got sick at work so l bought a bunch of Clementines and orange juice I also bought turmeric root so I’ll be trying this out perfect timing!
Thanks, Bree! Hope you enjoy it!
As a fellow “no thanks to antibiotics” person, this sounds absolutely incredible and healthful. And, please, don’t ever hesitate to post something that seems “too simple” bc there are plenty of women out there like me who are talented in many ways but not so much when it comes to coming up with healthful yummies. Love this! TY!
Thank you, Sylvia! :)
Yes! I agree whole-heartedly, Sylvia!
I’ve been feeling all sniffly this weekend, so a shot of vitamin C is just the thing I need. Glad to know you’re feeling a bit better now!
Too funny, I’m also fighting the infant stages of a flu and put up a post today for flu fighter juice with lots of Vitamin C and citrus. Hope you beat your bug too ;)
Hope you feel better soon!
I love smoothies (in fact I’m drinking one right now!), and this clementine smoothie looks so refreshing! What a delicious way to get some extra vitamin C. I hope you feel better soon!
hope you feel better soon! this smoothie should definitely help, it sounds delicious!
xo, cheyenne
This looks really good. I wish I had checked my email before running to the store today. I look forward to making it. I hope you feel better soon!
soooo good! Drinking it right now.
Yes! Thanks, Tammie.
Perfect timing. I’ve been in bed all day yesterday, and today looks no better. My one energy-draining outing will be to the kitchen to make this. Thank you!
Janet, I’m so sorry you’ve been sick. Hope this smoothie helps you get better!
My S.O. will not eat berries in any form, but loves a morning smoothie. I’m adding this one to the list to try!
Sounds delish! Im gonna try this tomorrow a. M. !!
Ah, sorry about that. I had a cold and it turned into a sinus infection, so that’s why I could/would go to the doctor for antibiotics. Believe me, I took antibiotics for years due to ear infections and acne and would never knowingly encourage anyone to take them if there’s an alternative treatment.
Clementine is so delicious!!
That sounds so lovely right now. Perfect for an afternoon pick me up.
This looks so refreshing!! Gorgeous photos. Another yummy add-in with the clementine is cinnamon…I love it with my orange/tangerine/satsuma smoothies.
mmmm….frothy yumminess! Cheers.
I hope you are feeling better soon Kate! I bet Cookie has been taking good care of you :)
This smoothie would be a perfect recovery beverage after my runs in our hot, humid Southern Hemisphere summer!
Can’t wait to try it when I next find some clementines at the markets :)
Hope you feel better soon! I also would rather eat than drink my food, but sometimes a smoothie is good in the a.m., with some pastries. The Clementines would be different than the usual berry smoothies. This kind of reminds me of an orange Julius!
Thanks, Ellen! I am feeling much better after all those smoothies. I think you would enjoy this one!
Delicious! Very refreshing!
Definitely simple, but worth the post! I would never even think to put clementines in a blender…so you’ve totally got me excited.
Oh, this sounds absolutely wonderful! Thank you so much for posting a smoothie recipe that doesn’t involve bananas (cannot stand them in any form) – such recipes can be tough to find! Hope you feel 100% again ASAP :)
http://www.youtube.com/sparklesandsuch26
This sounds lovely Kate! I’m fighting off a cold as well so I’m all about the vitamin C right now. Smoothies are cold, but I’m willing to drink them from under a blanket with 5 sweaters on if it means not getting sick!
Oh man, yes to clementines in any form! Eat them, drink them, it’s all good. (Note, however, that boiling them, mashing them, and sticking them in a stew is NOT so good. :) ) I love the idea of a super simple clementine and yogurt mix! So full of zing. Hope you are feeling better soon!
Clementine stew?! I never. I’m convinced that smoothie cured me, because I’m feeling much better after drinking lots of them last weekend.
Just like you I like to eat my fruit whole but your smoothie looks refreshing. I hope you got over your nasty cold.
This sounds super delicious and quite timely. I’ve been making smoothies lately with other fruits, while eyeing the clementines on my countertop and wondering how they would fare in the blender. I disregarded the thought because I worried it would end up all ‘pulpy’ (what an awful word). But you make it sound smart. I shall try this.
PS-For me personally, dairy makes colds harder to get over. Some people are sensitive. I just throw that out there in case you try it ‘vegan’ and find you feel even better.
Thanks, Lisa! Good point on dairy, it’s not for everyone. I have tried the smoothie with almond milk and it’s delicious either way.
I’m all for drinking your vitamins! Kathryne, your smoothie looks so darned bright and inviting.
Hope you’re feeling better.
xoxo
E
Thank you, Erin! I am feeling better. Happy new year!
This sounds much better then all the airborne I have been taking!!
Hi Kate, just want to leave my first comment on your blog. I’ve recently tried to adopt a much more plant based diet and discovered your blog. I must tell you I love your frank writing style which at times makes me laugh out loud and your recipes are very inspiring. I’ve spent the last few hours reading over your old entries, I’m currently at August! Anyways keep up the amazing work!
Thank you, Sammi! Delighted to hear that you appreciate my posts. Hope you love the recipes!
Well, now I know what to do with the obscene amount of clementines languishing away in my fruit bowl. Would never have thought to do this, thanks for sharing, Kate!
I’m so excited to try this recipe. So delicious! So inspirational!
I’m not a huge smoothie person either but I absolutely love the sound of this – so bright + refreshing + I’m pretty sure we can all do with some more sunshine (not to mention, vitamin C…) in our lives right now. Hope you’re feeling a bit better now!
Yum! I will be trying this in the morning, I just bought a bag of clementines yesterday :)
I’m the opposite, Kate! I love smoothies and would eat/drink them nonstop if calories didn’t exist ;) Hope you’re feeling better!
These sound delicious! Oranges and cream are a match made in sick girl heaven. Feel better!
I was sick over the weekend and I ate a ton of vitamin C which really helped! This smoothie looks really creamy and good. I also recommend getting a hand towel wet with hot water and putting a few drops of eucalyptus oil on it, inhaling and then using a neti pot. Works wonders! Hope you’re feeling all better!
Glad you’re feeling better, Heather!Thanks for sharing the eucalyptus oil trick, I’m always on the lookout for natural remedies that work!
I’m not really much of a smoothie girl either, but this I can get excited about! Winter citrus just screams for something like this!
I . Love. Simple. and this hit the spot. Thanks for sharing! I decided to try this after feeling sick from a restaurant dinner the night before. Helped me feel a lot better!
Thanks, Kristina! Hope you’re feeling better now!
Just made this smoothie with goat milk yogurt and it was delicious! Perfect when you need an extra boost.
Thanks Kate!!!!
Hooray!
Definitely filling this recipe away for next time I am under the weather! I am always happy to have a box of clementines around too
Yum! This looks so good, I’m going to make one right now! Question: what probiotics do you take? Thanks, as always, for the great recipe!