Celery Smoothie with Apple and Banana

A celery smoothie may sound odd, but it’s delicious—trust me! This vegan variation uses green apple, banana, spinach, and avocado to yield a super green drink that’s full of benefits. Lemon, ginger, and vanilla round out the flavor profile. If you’re looking for interesting celery recipes or more things to make with celery, this is a fun one to try!

Jump to:

• Lizzie’s Notes
• Celery Smoothie Benefits
• Ingredients and Easy Swaps
• Tips for Best Texture
• Storage Tips
• More Smoothie Recipes
• FAQs
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

This post was originally published in June 2021. It was updated with helpful information and new photos in June 2026, but the recipe remains the same.

Lizzie’s Notes

This refreshing recipe is a great way to mix up your green smoothie routine, especially if you’re tired of the same combination of fruits and veggies. And while a recipe using frozen celery is a little different than my typical salads or roasted veggie dishes, I promise you’ll love it just the same!

Still, I know what you may be thinking. “Does raw celery even taste good in a smoothie?” The answer to that totally reasonable question is yes! But it all depends on what you pair with it. I used green apple, lemon, and ginger for some tangy, zesty notes that complement the earthy, mineral-like taste of celery. The banana and vanilla, on the other hand, contribute some sweetness, while the avocado and spinach boost the nutrient levels and green color.

The whole thing is downright delish. You’ll be looking for reasons to freeze leftover celery after you try this plant-based celery smoothie!

Celery Smoothie Benefits

Ingredients and Easy Swaps

• Sliced celery: Fresh or frozen both work, but frozen yields a creamier texture.
• Spinach: Baby spinach is the best option for giving the smoothie a bright green color without an overbearing taste. You can sub kale if you don’t mind the earthier flavor it will contribute. If you only have kale but want to make the smoothie a little sweeter, use a sweeter apple (see options below) or add a squeeze of honey.
• Banana: Use frozen banana instead of fresh for a creamier celery smoothie, but both work in this recipe. If you don’t like banana, omit it and use a full avocado instead of half of one. Add a squeeze of honey before blending to make up for the loss of banana.
• Avocado: If you don’t have avocado, omit it. The texture may be a little less creamy, but it’ll still be delicious. While it has a much different taste, peanut butter (about 2 tablespoons) can be subbed for avocado if you still want a source of healthy fat in the drink.
• Green apple: I love the tart flavor this contributes, but you can substitute Honeycrisp or other varieties of apple that are sweeter than Granny Smith if preferred.
• Lemon juice: Substitute lime juice if you don’t have lemon.
• Ginger: You can use fresh ginger or even ginger paste (for a stronger kick). Omit if you don’t want the zesty flavor it contributes.
• Vanilla extract: Along with the banana, this contributes a little extra sweetness to balance the tangy apple and lemon. You can easily omit it if you don’t want to include vanilla.

Tips for Best Texture

• Use frozen celery (and banana) for best results. It blends better than fresh celery and will make your smoothie refreshingly cold. Frozen bananas also provide a creamier texture compared to fresh ones.
• If you have one, use a high-powered blender. I love making smoothies in my Vitamix E310 or NutriBullet to ensure that everything is as blended as possible and minimize the chance of swallowing a bigger piece of produce that didn’t get fully blended. You can of course use still make a celery smoothie if you don’t have a high-powered blender, but it may contain tiny flecks of spinach and other ingredients (as seen in the photos). Some people prefer that though!
• Blend long enough. It’s tempting to turn off the blender after 30 seconds and guzzle down your smoothie as soon as you can. However, blending everything for at least one minute and up to two minutes if needed will break down tougher ingredients and yield a smoother beverage. Add a splash of water if the blending seems to be stuck.

Storage Tips

More Smoothie Recipes

• Cucumber Smoothie with Pineapple and Banana
• Green Pea Smoothie with Mint
• Collard Greens Smoothie
• Super Green Broccoli Smoothie
• Green Grapefruit Smoothie
• Avocado Mango Smoothie with Spinach
• 11 Best Vegetables for Smoothies
• How to Make a Smoothie

FAQs

• Are celery smoothies good for you? Since celery has a high water content, provides dietary fiber, and contains some vitamins and minerals, it’s filling and hydrating. Pairing it with other fruits and vegetables, like in this recipe, is a great way to eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods all at once.
• What fruits pair well with celery in smoothies? Bananas, apples, strawberries, pineapple, and mango all blend well and provide sweetness to offset celery’s earthy taste. This recipe uses bananas and apples, but you can substitute other fruits if that’s what you prefer.
• Can I use celery leaves in smoothies or just the stalks? Celery leaves are totally fair game to add! Since they can be bitter, you may want to add another half of banana or a squeeze of honey.

📖 Recipe