Name: Cranberry Oatmeal Smoothie
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: ¼ cup rolled oats; ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 very ripe banana, preferably frozen; ½ cup fresh or frozen cranberries; ¼ fresh orange, peeled, seeded, and with the white pith removed; Zest from ¼ of an orange; ½–¾ cup milk; ½ cup plain Greek yogurt

Fresh cranberries might not be the first fruit you think of for a smoothie, but their tart, fruity flavor makes a surprisingly good breakfast! This cranberry oatmeal smoothie is creamy, naturally sweetened with fruit, and takes just a minute to blend up.

Creamy cranberry oatmeal smoothie topped with fresh cranberries, rolled oats, and cinnamon, served alongside frozen cranberries and a small pitcher of milk.

If you find yourself with leftover fresh cranberries after making your usual Thanksgiving and holiday recipes, this cranberry smoothie is a fun way to use them. It’s a little different from the usual cranberry sauce and baked goods, and it makes a really nice breakfast.

I always loved cranberry orange muffins, so using that same flavor combination in a smoothie was a bit of an ah-ha moment for me.

Fresh cranberries bring the tartness, while a very ripe banana and a little fresh orange add just the right amount of natural sweetness.

I also blend in oats, Greek yogurt, and milk to make it more filling. It’s a creamy breakfast smoothie with about 18 grams protein and 7 grams fiber, no protein powder or added sugar needed!

Cranberry smoothie with oats made with fresh cranberries, banana, orange, and Greek yogurt. See the simple ingredients, the creamy pink smoothie blending in a personal blender, and the finished cranberry oatmeal smoothie topped with fresh cranberries.

Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Smoothie

No added sugar – Ripe banana and fresh orange provide the sweetness needed to balance the tart cranberries.
A little cranberry orange muffin flavor – Orange and cinnamon give this smoothie that familiar flavor combination I love.
A filling breakfast smoothie – Oats, Greek yogurt, and milk give it more substance than a basic fruit smoothie.
Made with simple ingredients – Everything in this smoothie is a whole-food ingredient. No flavored yogurt, sweeteners, or protein powder needed.
A fun fall breakfast option – Fresh cranberries and fall go hand in hand, and this is a nice way to enjoy them beyond the usual cranberry recipes. If you’re looking for more fall-inspired smoothies, try my Maple Pecan Oatmeal Smoothie, Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Smoothie, or Pumpkin Smoothie.

Creamy homemade cranberry smoothie garnished with fresh cranberries, rolled oats, and cinnamon, surrounded by frozen cranberries, fresh orange slices, a ripe banana, and oats.

Ingredients Needed

Fresh cranberries
Banana
Fresh orange
Rolled oats
Plain Greek yogurt
Milk
Ground cinnamon

Labeled ingredients for a cranberry oatmeal smoothie recipe, including fresh cranberries, banana, orange, rolled oats, cinnamon, Greek yogurt, and milk.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Fresh cranberries – You can use fresh or frozen cranberries for this smoothie. I like keeping a bag in the freezer so I can make it even when fresh cranberries aren’t in season. Just be sure to use whole, unsweetened cranberries, not canned cranberries or cranberry juice.

Banana – A very ripe banana is best here. The riper it is, the sweeter your smoothie will be. A banana with plenty of brown spots on the peel is best for natural sweetness. I prefer frozen banana because it also gives the smoothie a thicker consistency.

Orange – Just a quarter of a fresh orange adds a little citrus sweetness and gives this smoothie its cranberry-orange flavor. Orange zest adds even more of that fresh orange taste.

Rolled oats – Old-fashioned rolled oats add fiber and make this more of a filling breakfast smoothie. They also give it a heartier texture.

Greek yogurt – Plain Greek yogurt adds creaminess and protein. I prefer it over regular yogurt, especially in breakfast smoothies, because of its higher protein content.

Milk – Use your favorite milk. I like filtered milk, such as Fairlife, because it adds more protein without adding much sugar. You can also use regular dairy milk or your favorite non-dairy milk.

Ground cinnamon – A little cinnamon brings out the cranberry-orange muffin flavor. You only need a small amount.

Homemade cranberry smoothie with fresh cranberries, frozen cranberries, a ripe banana, orange slices, and rolled oats arranged around the glass.

How to Make a Cranberry Oatmeal Smoothie

All you need is a blender to make this smoothie. I use my Ninja personal cup blender for single-serving smoothies, but a Vitamix professional-grade blender has more power and a larger capacity, making it a good choice when blending multiple servings.

Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.

Grind the oats. Add the rolled oats and cinnamon to your blender. Blend for about 15 seconds to break down the oats.
Add the remaining ingredients. Add the milk, banana, cranberries, orange wedges, orange zest, and Greek yogurt.
Blend until smooth. If your blender has a smoothie setting, use that. Otherwise, start on low and gradually increase to high. Blend for about a minute, or until smooth. Stop and scrape down the sides if needed to make sure everything is incorporated.
Adjust the consistency. Add a little more milk if the smoothie is thicker than you like.
Serve immediately. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Nine-photo collage showing the step-by-step process of making a cranberry oatmeal smoothie, from measuring the ingredients to blending the fruit, oats, and yogurt until smooth.

Once blended, the smoothie is thick, creamy, and ready to pour into a glass. I like adding a few fresh cranberries, a sprinkle of oats, and a little cinnamon on top.

Pink cranberry oatmeal smoothie served in a decorative glass and topped with fresh cranberries, rolled oats, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Recipe Notes & Tips

Use at least one frozen fruit. I like using both frozen cranberries and frozen banana. This makes the smoothie thick and cold without adding ice. However, you don’t need both fruits frozen. Just make sure at least one is frozen.

Milk substitution: You can substitute orange juice for some or all of the milk if you prefer. Just keep in mind that this changes the nutritional profile of the smoothie and increases the sugar content.

Enjoy it right away. This cranberry smoothie is best served immediately after blending, while it’s cold and freshly mixed.

Close-up of a thick, creamy cranberry smoothie showing tiny specks of blended fresh cranberries throughout the smooth pink mixture.

Cranberry Smoothie Nutrition

Fresh cranberries add vitamin C, fiber, and beneficial plant compounds to this smoothie.

One serving has approximately 350–400 calories, 18–21 grams of protein, and 7–9 grams of fiber, depending on the milk and Greek yogurt you use.

With protein from the Greek yogurt and milk, plus fiber from the cranberries, banana, and oats, this is a satisfying breakfast smoothie that offers more than just fruit.

Gluten-free option: All the ingredients in this smoothie as written are naturally gluten-free. If you’re avoiding gluten, be sure to use oats labeled certified gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination.

Fresh cranberry smoothie served in a glass and garnished with an orange slice and fresh cranberries.

More Oatmeal Smoothie Recipes

Oats pair well with so many different fruits and flavors. Here are a few more oatmeal smoothie combinations to try.