Caramel Apple Protein Smoothie

One of the best things about the Fall is the combination of rich flavors that become more prominent everywhere. Yes, there's the whole pumpkin spice latte trend, but I prefer all the apples and cinnamon.

Every year as a child, my parents would take my brother and me to the County Fair in Ventura, California. I loved getting the sour green apples dipped in sweet, chewy caramel. I think this is also why I just love homemade applesauce, too. This Caramel Apple Protein Smoothie is a much healthier way for me to still enjoy those delicious flavors, but in a high-protein smoothie instead, just like my Pink Power Protein Smoothie and Pumpkin Cheesecake Protein Smoothie, Apple Crisp Protein Smoothie, sooooo good!

Ingredient Notes

Unsweetened Almond Milk: You can use any milk of choice, but I recommend looking for milk that has not been sweetened with added sugars.

Apple: The apple is very key to the flavor of this smoothie. If you like a sweeter apple, I'd recommend a honeycrisp. For a more sour apple, I'd recommend a granny smith. No need to remove the peel, either -- that adds texture and nutrients to the fruit smoothie.

Rolled Oats: Keep the rolled oats uncooked. For GF diets, make sure to find GF rolled oats to avoid any potential gluten cross-over. I use Quaker or Bob's Red Mill rolled oats most of the time. Avoid quick-cooking oats as they go through additional processing (more on the healthiest oatmeal).

Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are a nutritional powerhouse, as they add omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and fiber to your smoothie. Check out my article on the benefits of chia seeds.

Cinnamon: I love the addition of cinnamon to this smoothie, as it adds just the right amount of spice. Plus, adding cinnamon will make the entire smoothie taste sweeter without adding any additional sweetner.

Dates: Dates are the real stars in this smoothie, as they add a delicious, rich sweetness that can mimic even that of caramel. They also contain many beneficial nutrients, like copper, magnesium, and fiber. I recommend using pitted Medjool dates.

Protein Powder: I recommend using a minimally processed protein powder that is flavored vanilla. (For help on protein powder, check out my post Protein Powder | The Ultimate Guide For Beginners)

Pro Smoothie Tips

If you're new to smoothies, it can be easy to veer off and make a few simple mistakes that can take your smoothie from delicious to meh. I discuss more in my post on How To Make a Smoothie, but here are the basics:

• Choose a high-quality blender that can blend everything well. I've used my same Vitamix blender for the past five years for 1000s of smoothies, and it's such a game changer. While you don't need a Vitamix, having a high-speed blender that doesn't get caught up on ice will make a big difference in the smoothness of your smoothie.
• Start with the liquid and end with the ice.
• Don't add too much ice in the beginning. Blend first with just a little ice, and then add a little bit, then blend again. You can always add more ice, but it's hard to take to away.
• If the caramel apple protein smoothie is too thick, add a little almond milk to loosen it up.