This smoothie is easy to make with just 3 key ingredients — cranberry, fig, and ginger. Like all WeirdSmoothies, it’s super healthy and delicious!
You’ll also get tips to upgrade your cranberry fig ginger smoothie to a healthy breakfast bowl by sprinkling superfoods into it – This keeps you and your loved ones energetic and fresh throughout the day. 🦋
Ready? Let’s get started!
Do you want to know more about the ingredients and health benefits? Keep reading! 👇
Your Taste Buds Are Going To Love The Cranberry Fig Ginger Smoothie!
Why should you try the cranberry fig ginger smoothie?
(1) Because it works with most diets (vegan and more)! 👉 Diets
(2) Because it keeps you healthy and beautiful! 👉 Beauty and Health Benefits
(3) Because it only needs 3 ingredients! 👉 Ingredients
(4) Because it only takes 5 minutes to make! 👉Recipe
(5) Because one cup has only 134 calories and is packed with vital nutrients! 👉 Calories and 👉 Nutrition Table
(6) Because it’s easily affordable! 👉 Save Money
(7) Because you can pimp it with superfoods and use it as a healthy baseline for our delicious breakfast bowls! 👉 Bowls
So why not?
Which Diets Apply to the Cranberry Fig Ginger Smoothie?
The following diets apply to the basic cranberry fig ginger smoothie recipe of just cranberry, fig, and ginger, and water:
✅ Vegan
✅ Vegetarian
✅ Gluten-Free
✅ Lactose-Free
✅ Detox
✅ Anti-Inflammatory
✅ Low-Salt
✅ Low-Fat
✅ Low-Carb
✅ Low-Calorie
✅ High-Protein
✅ High-Fiber
✅ Keto
✅ Paleo
✅ Clean Eating
✅ Mediterranean
✅ MIND
✅ DASH
Do you want to learn more about these and other diets? Feel free to dive into our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog — it’s super informative!
👉 Recommended Guide: An Overview of Dietary Plans
As you can see, the cranberry fig ginger smoothie adheres to the principles of many popular dietary plans.
Why should you care about any of those? Here are the seven top benefits of choosing a healthy diet:
- Improved Energy Levels: Eating a healthy diet can give you the energy to stay productive and alert throughout the day.
- Weight Management: Eating healthily can help you get your dream weight.
- Improved Mood: A balanced diet helps to keep your hormones in check, improving your mood and reducing stress.
- Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Eating a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
- Improved Digestive Health: It can improve your digestion and help prevent digestive problems like constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn.
- Improved Immune Function: A healthy diet can boost your immune system, making you less susceptible to illnesses.
- Improved Heart Health: Lastly, it can reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease.
Below, I’ll give you some variants that may influence these dietary considerations. But now let’s dive right into the health benefits, specifically, of the cranberry fig ginger smoothie:
Beauty In A Glass: Discover The Health Benefits Of A Cranberry Fig Ginger Smoothie!
Unlock your inner radiance with the cranberry fig ginger smoothie! Enjoy a healthier life today by sipping on this nutritious blend. In particular, here are the beauty benefits of the cranberry fig ginger smoothie:
Cranberries are a superfood for beauty! Rich in Vitamin C, antioxidants, and biotin, cranberries can help reduce acne, wrinkles, and the breakage of nails. They can also help promote collagen production and hair growth, giving you a healthy, youthful glow. So, if you want to look and feel your best, include cranberries in your diet!
Figs are known for their amazing skincare benefits – from preventing wrinkles to making skin soft and supple, they provide hydration and promote healthy skin, as well as promoting hair growth. With their rich array of vitamins and nutrients, figs are a great way to keep your skin and hair looking and feeling their best.
Ginger is a powerful rejuvenator packed with benefits for the skin! Not only can it reduce signs of aging, flush out toxins, and even out skin tones, but it can also promote hair growth and increase blood circulation. On top of that, it contains potent antioxidants that can reduce scars and protect the skin from UV rays. With all these advantages, ginger is a must-have in your beauty routine!
Health Benefits
🥜 In a Nutshell: The cranberry fig ginger smoothie has multiple health benefits. Cranberries are a low-calorie superfood that are rich in nutrients and antioxidants, which may help protect against urinary tract infections, reduce inflammation, improve heart health, and more. Figs are an incredibly nutrient-dense superfood, packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that may help reduce the risk of chronic disease, improve digestion, and promote weight loss. Bananas can improve blood sugar levels, support digestion, reduce stress and anxiety, and reduce blood pressure.
Cranberries are a great source of Vitamin C, dietary fiber, and manganese, all of which help to support a healthy immune system. The unique combination of antioxidants in cranberries can reduce inflammation, protect against certain types of cancer, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Cranberries are also a great source of potassium, which is vital for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. Finally, cranberries can help support digestive health due to their high levels of dietary fiber. All in all, cranberries are an incredibly nutrient-dense food you can enjoy as part of a healthy diet.
Figs are literally bursting with nutrients: They contain dietary fiber, which promotes regular bowel movements, vitamins and minerals which can help with weight loss, and antioxidants that improve heart health. Figs can also help regulate blood sugar levels in people with diabetes and even prevent hypertension. And these are just some of their many health benefits!
Ginger is a powerful remedy for improving your mental health! Not only does it boost serotonin and dopamine levels, the hormones responsible for happiness, but it also reduces inflammation, which can contribute to feelings of depression. Ginger has even been known to benefit those suffering from anxiety, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. Its healing benefits don’t stop there; ginger can also ease stomach pain and treat nausea and morning sickness. Take advantage of this remarkable superfood and feel its positive effects on your mental health today!
These are only some of the plenty of health benefits. Find more on our detailed health guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog. As with everything, you shouldn’t consume smoothies too excessively because, in the wrong dose, everything becomes unhealthy, even water!
👨🦳 Paracelsus: “There is nothing without poison; only the dose makes a thing non-poisonous.”
Ingredients – Anatomy of a Perfect Smoothie
Making a tasty smoothie is super easy—if you use good ingredients and blend them the right way. In addition to the base ingredients, we use 👉 blending and binding agents to create the perfect thickness and consistency.
Here are the base ingredients of a simple and healthy cranberry fig ginger smoothie:
- Base Ingredient #1: Cranberry
- Base Ingredient #2: Fig
- Base Ingredient #3: Ginger
- Blending Agent: Water
Now, this would be the base smoothie — nothing more is needed!
⭐ But now comes the fun part: Use variations of blending and binding agents to make your smoothie more interesting, healthy, and delicious!
Do you want to know the secret formula to your perfect smoothie? Here it is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4. 🤓
- Base Ingredients: Fruits or vegetables. For this recipe, cranberry, fig, and ginger.
- Blending Agents: Water, vegan milk alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), cow milk, coconut water, or other liquids
- Binding Agents: Avocado, vegan yogurt alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), yogurt, nut butter (peanut, almond), or cottage cheese
- Extras: Superfoods and toppings such as chia seeds, nuts, flaxseeds, herbs, cacao powder
Let’s dive into each of those next. The perfect smoothie starts with the perfect ingredients! 👇
🌸 Use Organic Ingredients! They are free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Many people believe these chemicals are harmful to our health, so eating organic foods can help reduce our exposure to them. Organic foods also tend to be fresher and less processed, so they can retain more natural vitamins and minerals.
1) Base Ingredients – Fruits and Vegetables
Creating smoothies with your family is an easy and fun way to get your daily dose of delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables! These base ingredients provide a flavor base and serve as the building blocks for a healthy snack or meal. And why not get creative in the kitchen and let your loved ones pick out their favorite fruits and veggies for a smoothie that will make them happy?
Cranberry Fig Ginger Smoothie Flavors: 😋
- Due to their very sharp and sour taste, cranberries are rarely eaten raw. You’ll likely want to combine them with other, sweeter fruits because their extreme tanginess can be off-putting to some people. Alongside those, however, they can add a bright, acidic flavor to balance out the sweetness!
- Figs are sweet and moist with a pulpy texture and crunchy seeds. When ripe, they’re heavy with a syrupy liqueur that tends to drizzle out of their base. It tastes sweet like honey with a subtle note of berry. Figs are a delicious, versatile treat and elevate any dish!
- Ginger has a bold and spicy flavor that is both earthy and fresh. Its sharp, pungent aroma can be described as a combination of citrus and pepper. Its taste is strong and intense, with a subtle sweetness and a lingering heat that remains on the tongue.
Yummy! This delicious and nutritious smoothie not only tastes great — it keeps you and your loved ones healthy, energetic, and radiant. 👉 Beauty and Health Benefits
2) Blending Agents – Liquids
Liquids are a crucial component of smoothies because they help to blend the other ingredients together and create a smooth, drinkable consistency. Without enough liquid, your smoothie will be too thick and difficult to drink.
🛑 Beware! Two of my blenders got destroyed because I tried to blend too many hard ingredients and the thickness broke the blender knives. If you’re looking for a high-powered blender, feel free to check out our ultimate blender guide.
The type of liquid you use in your smoothie can also affect its flavor and nutritional content, so choosing a liquid that will complement your other ingredients is important.
Here is a list of the eight most common blending agents for smoothies:
- Water
- Coconut water
- Coconut milk
- Almond milk
- Soy milk
- Oat milk (not gluten-free!)
- Cow milk (not vegan or lactose-free!)
- Juice
If you’re adventurous, you can also experiment with other liquids like tea or even coffee! ☕
3) Binding Agents
Binding agents are the secret ingredient that makes smoothies smooth and creamy! These ingredients are high in fiber and help to combine the other ingredients in the smoothie, creating the desired smooth and thick consistency.
They also add volume to the smoothie, making it more filling and satisfying. Plus, binding agents add serious nutritional value to your smoothie, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
So don’t skimp on the binding agents – they’re the key to a delicious and satisfying smoothie!
Here is a list of the eleven most common binding agents for smoothies:
- Avocados
- Peanut and almond butter
- Plant-based yogurts
- Milk-based yogurt (not vegan or lactose-free!)
- Cottage cheese (not vegan or lactose-free!)
- Frozen fruits
- Oats (not gluten-free!)
- Chia seeds
- Flaxseeds
- Psyllium husk
- Protein powder
In addition to these ingredients, you can experiment with other binding agents, such as egg whites, cornstarch, or leafy greens.
4) Extras
Taste-enhancing ingredients like honey, maple syrup, dates, and vanilla extract can be added for sweetness. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger can also be added for extra flavor. Here’s a list of ideas:
- Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
- Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds
- Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
- Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
- Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
- Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger
To make your smoothie look more appetizing, choose your preferred colorful toppings from this list, such as fruits, nuts, seeds, or granola. For example, drizzle honey or agave syrup, sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, or add a swirl of nut butter or coconut cream plus a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon. Et voilà! 👌
👉 Recommended: Pimp Your Smoothie – Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozens
If you want to dive even deeper into the anatomy of a perfect smoothie, binding agents, blending agents, and all the secrets you want to know, feel free to check out our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog.
Should You Use Frozen Ingredients?
Here’s a little-known secret: Use at least one frozen ingredient in your smoothie recipe — or a handful of ice cubes — to make your smoothie thicker and give it a delicious chill!
There are many benefits of freezing your smoothie ingredients:
- Nutrition: Freezing your ingredients helps to preserve their nutritional content. Frozen fruits and vegetables retain vitamins and minerals longer than fruits that are not frozen.
- Antibacterial: Freezing food can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Freezing kills many of the bacteria and organisms that cause food to spoil.
- Zero Preservatives: Frozen food is free from preservatives, i.e., it’s more natural!
- Shelf Life: Freezing can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, so they stay fresh for months.
- Seasonality: You don’t have to go vitamin-free during winter but eat healthy (frozen) fruits and vegetables all year without excessive long-distance transportation.
- Plastic Waste: You can prepare zero-waste smoothies easily by purchasing raw ingredients, cutting them, and saving them in handy and reusable boxes. No plastic!
- Food Waste: Freezing food can reduce food waste. Fruits and vegetables can be frozen and blended later, rather than throwing out any leftovers.
- Convenience: The last thing you want to do is cut ingredients during a hectic day. Freezing food is super convenient and allows for easier meal preparation. Pre-frozen ingredients can make meals much faster to prepare.
- Money: You save money because you can purchase larger amounts of ingredients at a discount and have zero food waste.
You can either buy frozen fruits and veggies or cut them into handy portions and freeze them for future use.
🌸 Sustainability Tip: Freezing food could reduce global food waste by an astonishing 83%! Roughly one-third of food is thrown away worldwide, and 45% are fruits and vegetables. Freezing can largely eliminate this waste. (Martindale and Schiebel, British Food Journal 2017)
The following three cranberry fig ginger smoothie recipe variations are sure to tantalize your taste buds. So what are you waiting for? Get your blender out and get ready for a refreshingly delicious start to your day!
Cranberry Fig Ginger Smoothie Recipe
YIELD: 2 Servings
PREP TIME: 5 Minutes
Our base recipe is easy, healthy, and oh-so-yummy. But if you’re looking for something to cool you down in the summer heat or warm you up on a cold winter day, we’ve got you covered with two season-inspired recipe variations.
Variation #1 – Base Smoothie
- 1 cup of cranberries
- 6 fresh figs, quartered
- 1 tablespoon of peeled and freshly grated ginger
- 2 cups of water
- (Optional) 1/2 a cup of unsweetened plant-based yogurt
Variation #2 – Refreshing Summer Smoothie 🌞
- 1 cup of cranberries
- 6 fresh figs, quartered
- 1 tablespoon of peeled and freshly grated ginger
- 2 cups of cold water
- 1/2 cup of pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
- 1/2 cup of plant-based milk
- (Optional) 1/2 cup of ice cubes or crushed ice
Variation #3 – Cozy Winter Smoothie ❄️
- 1 cup of cranberries
- 6 fresh figs, quartered
- 1 tablespoon of peeled and freshly grated ginger
- 2 cups of hot tea
- 1/2 cup of plant-based yogurt
- 2 teaspoons of peanut butter
- 2 teaspoons of chia seeds
- 1/2 cup of raw brazil nuts
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons of honey
Instructions
☝️ Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
✌️ Pour into glasses and decorate with some leftover ingredients.
👌 Serve and enjoy!
Tips
❄️ Add at least one frozen ingredient or a handful of ice cubes to make your smoothie extra creamy and thick!
💧 Add more water to reduce the thickness of your smoothie!
See 👉 Problems and Solutions
Do you want to make this smoothie even healthier? Check out our amazing selection of healthy bowl ideas based on this smoothie. Scroll down or jump right in! 🤩
Are you looking for the best blender for your kitchen? Look no further! We have scoured the market to bring you an unbiased comparison of the top blenders available. Find out which blender will best meet your needs and budget.
👉 Recommended Guide: The Ultimate Blender Showdown: Who Will Come Out on Top?
Cranberry Fig Ginger Smoothie Calories — A Not-So-Guilty Pleasure
A homemade cranberry fig ginger smoothie typically has roughly 134 calories per serving (200 ml, one glass).
The amount of calories you need per day varies depending on your gender, age, height, weight, activity level, and overall health.
- The average woman needs about 2,000–2,400 calories per day to maintain her weight, and 1,500–1,800 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.
- The average man needs around 2,500 to 3,000 calories per day to maintain his weight, and 1,800-2,300 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.
👉 Compare one large cup of the cranberry fig ginger smoothie (134 calories) with one cappuccino (80 calories), one small serving of red wine (105 calories), and one 500 ml glass of beer (218 calories). 🍺
If you’re interested in shredding some pounds, feel free to check out our popular WeirdSmoothie guide on weight loss!
Cranberry Fig Ginger Smoothie Nutrition per 100 Grams
Nutrients | Base Recipe | Recommended Daily Intake (RDI, %) |
---|---|---|
Calories | 67.19 kcal | 3% |
Fat | 0.29 g | 0% |
Cholesterol | 0.0 mg | 0% |
Sodium | 1.42 mg | 0% |
Carbs | 17.97 g | 7% |
Fiber | 3.23 g | 1% |
Sugar | 12.98 g | 5% |
Protein | 0.68 g | 1% |
Calcium | 28.07 mg | 3% |
Iron | 0.35 mg | 2% |
Potassium | 198.5 mg | 4% |
Vitamin C | 4.75 mg | 5% |
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate – we use generalized estimates!
Save Time and Money with These 10 Tricks
🪙 Costs: You can expect to pay roughly $2 USD for one cup of the basic cranberry fig ginger smoothie. If you use advanced ingredients such as chia seeds and nuts, the cost of one glass will increase by another +$2 USD to $4 USD. Note that these are only rough estimates because the costs depend on your location and the quality of the ingredients.
Still too expensive? These ten tricks will help you save money and time:
- Buy pre-cut frozen fruits or vegetables, saving you time on prep work.
- Freeze fresh ingredients before they expire and spoil — even nuts retain their nutrients longer when refrigerated.
- Buy in bulk so you can save money on each individual item.
- Make large batches of smoothies so you only have to do the prep and clean up once.
- Use a powerful blender to make a large batch at once.
- Don’t try to be exact with the measurements. Rough guesses will do to save time and minimize clean-up!
- Drink the smoothie directly out of the blender, so you don’t have to clean your glasses after. (Just kidding.)
- Use water instead of milk to reduce the costs per cup significantly.
- Use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt, as it has more protein and will fill you up faster.
- Add nuts and seeds for more protein, which are cheaper than protein powder.
And don’t be penny-wise but pound-foolish! A healthy lifestyle will save you tens of thousands of dollars in direct health costs, add years to your life, and make you more productive in the time you have!
🌸 Sustainability Tip: Shop seasonally and regionally for fresh ingredients to save money! When on sale, stock up, wash, portion, and freeze for future use. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!
Want more sustainability tips? Sure, find them on the WeirdSmoothie blog!
Typical Mistakes and Problems
Problem: My smoothie is too thick.
Solution: Add more liquids or other blending agents.
Problem: My smoothie is too thin.
Solution: Add a binding agents to make it thicker, such as banana, avocado, nut butter, chia seeds, and frozen fruits.
Problem: My smoothie is too grainy.
Solution: Add more blending agents (liquids) and binding agents (e.g., avocados, bananas, and peanut butter) to make it creamier. If nothing works, you may need to buy a better blender or change the knives.
Problem: My smoothie is too smooth.
Solution: Congratulations. This is what it’s all about!
Problem: My smoothie is too bitter.
Solution: Add natural “sweeteners” such as bananas, dates, or honey.
Problem: My smoothie is too sweet.
Solution: Add lemon or lime juice, grapefruits, pomegranate, or plain yogurt to balance the sweetness.
Problem: I have leftovers.
Solution: Put it into the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours to avoid losing too many nutrients. Or put it into the freezer and save it for up to three months. Your kids will love the smoothie ice cream.
👉 Recommended Article: The Most Common Problems and Solutions When Creating Smoothies
The Perfect Cranberry Fig Ginger Smoothie Bowl For A Healthy Breakfast
When I sip a smoothie, it’s not as satisfying as a meal. Science backs this up: Chewing releases saliva that helps break down food, so no smoothie can replace a proper meal.
You can use the cranberry fig ginger smoothie as a basis for your innovative cranberry fig ginger smoothie bowl!
Follow the cranberry fig ginger smoothie recipe as outlined before. Then add your favorite unblended ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and peanut butter. Sprinkle in some oatmeal or healthy muesli. Superfoods such as berries, chia seeds, or flaxseeds are a perfect addition. Ta-da! Your cranberry fig ginger smoothie bowl! 🤗
Do you need more inspiration? Choose your favorites or be adventurous:
- Nuts and nut butter: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
- Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, psyllium husk
- Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
- Sliced fresh fruits: bananas, berries, pineapple, mango
- Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
- Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
- Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger
- Muesli: Oats, Cornflakes, Granola, Cereal
👉 Recommended Article: Secrets of Creating Delicious and Healthy Smoothie Bowls
More Smoothie Recipes You May Like
If you liked this recipe, you’ll love our other delicious — and, yes, sometimes weird — smoothies:
- Peach Pear Pineapple Smoothie
- Cucumber Grape Guava Smoothie
- Broccoli Passion Fruit Smoothie
- Grape Pomegranate Smoothie
- Melon Peach Smoothie
- Cranberry Ginger Nectarine Smoothie
- Broccoli Pear Smoothie
- Carrot Kumquat Passion Fruit Smoothie
- Blackberry Papaya Smoothie
- Cherry Pineapple Spinach Smoothie
Sip Your Way to a Better Health — Nine Benefits of Smoothies
Thanks and Bye!
Drinking the Banana Cacao Smoothie is fun, but cleaning it up—not so much. Anyways, thanks for checking out our weird smoothie recipe. I hope to see you around soon to check out one of our weird smoothie recipes!