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.
Blendtec blender
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Clementine Sunshine Smoothie
- Author:
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 smoothie 1x
- Category: 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 Information
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
kristin | W [H] A T C H
yum — so bright!
June Burns
What a delicious-looking smoothie! Sounds like a great way to start the day :)
Rita
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.
Jess
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!
Lauren
This sounds SO delicious – I have some clementines at the moment so will give this a go!
Kimberly | Chic & Sugar
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.
Lonely Realtor
Years ago, I discovered a wonderful remedy for colds of all kinds. It’s called a FLU SHOT!
Kate
Unfortunately, the flu shot doesn’t prevent colds, just the flu, and this year it’s not even doing a good job of that!
Amanda
You are literally stupid.
Becky Winkler
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!
Kate
Feel better soon, Becky!
ItalianGirlCooks
wow, yummy!
Dolly Lowery
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.
Connie
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.
Liz @ Floating Kitchen
This looks like a ray on sunshine on a cold, dreary January day. Beautiful! Glad you are feeling better!
Elizabeth
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!
Bree
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!
Kate
Thanks, Bree! Hope you enjoy it!
Sylvia
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!
Kate
Thank you, Sylvia! :)
Nancy Jo
Yes! I agree whole-heartedly, Sylvia!
Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits
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!
J.S. @ Sun Diego Eats
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 ;)
Kate
Hope you feel better soon!
Kristine @ Kristine's Kitchen
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!
cheyenne
hope you feel better soon! this smoothie should definitely help, it sounds delicious!
xo, cheyenne
Jessie
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!
Tammie
soooo good! Drinking it right now.
Kate
Yes! Thanks, Tammie.
Janet
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!
Kate
Janet, I’m so sorry you’ve been sick. Hope this smoothie helps you get better!
Tessa | Natural Comfort Kitchen
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!
Jean
Sounds delish! Im gonna try this tomorrow a. M. !!
Kate
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.
madelein.se
Clementine is so delicious!!
Clever Girl Reviews
That sounds so lovely right now. Perfect for an afternoon pick me up.
Rebecca @ DisplacedHousewife
This looks so refreshing!! Gorgeous photos. Another yummy add-in with the clementine is cinnamon…I love it with my orange/tangerine/satsuma smoothies.
★★★★★
thefolia
mmmm….frothy yumminess! Cheers.
Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life
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 :)
Ellen Lederman
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!
Kate
Thanks, Ellen! I am feeling much better after all those smoothies. I think you would enjoy this one!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Definitely simple, but worth the post! I would never even think to put clementines in a blender…so you’ve totally got me excited.
Ella | SparklesAndSuch26
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
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
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!
Eileen
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!
Kate
Clementine stew?! I never. I’m convinced that smoothie cured me, because I’m feeling much better after drinking lots of them last weekend.
Gerlinde
Just like you I like to eat my fruit whole but your smoothie looks refreshing. I hope you got over your nasty cold.
Lisa
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.
Kate
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.
erin {yummy supper}
I’m all for drinking your vitamins! Kathryne, your smoothie looks so darned bright and inviting.
Hope you’re feeling better.
xoxo
E
Kate
Thank you, Erin! I am feeling better. Happy new year!
Gaby
This sounds much better then all the airborne I have been taking!!
Sammi
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!
Kate
Thank you, Sammi! Delighted to hear that you appreciate my posts. Hope you love the recipes!
Emma {Emma's Little Kitchen}
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!
Trang's corner
I’m so excited to try this recipe. So delicious! So inspirational!
Kathryn
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!
Ashley Tukiainen
Yum! I will be trying this in the morning, I just bought a bag of clementines yesterday :)
Megan - The Emotional Baker
I’m the opposite, Kate! I love smoothies and would eat/drink them nonstop if calories didn’t exist ;) Hope you’re feeling better!
Lauren
These sound delicious! Oranges and cream are a match made in sick girl heaven. Feel better!
Heather
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!
Kate
Glad you’re feeling better, Heather!Thanks for sharing the eucalyptus oil trick, I’m always on the lookout for natural remedies that work!
Joanne
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!
Kristina
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!
Kate
Thanks, Kristina! Hope you’re feeling better now!
cecilia
Just made this smoothie with goat milk yogurt and it was delicious! Perfect when you need an extra boost.
Thanks Kate!!!!
★★★★★
Kate
Hooray!
Sarah Rose {What Sarah Knows}
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
Kate
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!
Christina Dubin
I just made this with naval oranges and plain kefir (both what I had on hand) and it is delicious! And pretty :)
Kate
Glad to hear it, thanks Christina!
Malinda
Just made this with my 3 yr old girl, and we both thought they were YUM! I used cashew milk because it’s what we had, and added the dash of vanilla. Thanks for posting. And P.S. – found your blog a few days ago and am loving it! So many fresh recipes to get excited about :)
Kate
Thanks, Malinda! So glad you found my blog and you both enjoyed the smoothies!
Linda
Hi Kate! Love your blog, just found it! I eat very much like you create, but you take it to 5 stars!!! ;-)
I make a LOT of smoothies, so I really enjoyed watching your take on this. Please don’t worry about making anything too simple. In my life, the simpler the better, I’m sorry to say, as a working single mom to 2 busy kids!
Thanks for all your effort and incredible recipes! <3
Kate
Hi Linda! Thank you for saying hello! I’ll try to come up with more simple recipes for you soon. Sounds like you are one busy lady!
Alex
This is exactly what I was looking for. I feel a cold coming on and was looking for tasty ways to get my Vitamin C. Perfectttt!
Kate
Hope you’re all better now, Alex!
kentuckylady717
Thank you for posting this….I have been making a lot of smoothies lately and can’t seem to find one that I like…..I have been wanting a cream-sicle one, sure hope this is what I have been wanting….
Just made a 3berry one today was ok, and I might make it again….but everyone I make and put banana in it, it still taste like banana smoothies , no matter what else I put in it !!!! I do not like bananas…..need to find some new flavors without bananas in them…..
★★★★★
Kate
I hope you love this one! Frozen bananas are nice because they lend creaminess to smoothies, but you can skip them most of the time!
Nancy
Love this “creamsicle” smoothie! I added chia seed and a drop of vanilla…..deicious! Looking forard trying more of your recipes. Thanks!
★★★★★
Nancy
Keys are sticking…….I meant “delicous” and “forward”!
Kate
Thank you, Nancy! Hope you enjoy the others just as much!
Kate
I’ve been making this everyday for the last week! To add a little different twist I’ve added some fresh ginger and a few pieces of frozen pineapple. Unreal!
mick
wow.. Awesome & sound tasty.
★★★★★
Adria
Made this today as a post workout breakfast. I added the banana and tumeric. AMAZING!
Nykky R.
Absolutely delicious! I took out the salt and added a bit of stevia to enhance the flavor and my whole family loved it.
★★★★★
Evie Birch
This smoothie Looks delicious, My favorite smoothie ingredient is fruit! all kinds! thanks for sharing KATE.
★★★★★
Remi
Could you substitute the milk/yogurt for something else?
★★★★
Ellie Macdonald
This smoothie looks Awesome! My favorite smoothie material is fruit! all kinds! thanks for sharing…
★★★★★
Alice
Hi Kate, when you make this for yourself, do you use almond milk or yogurt? And if almond milk, do you use sweetened or unsweetened? Thanks!
Erica
What a delicious, bright, and fresh way to begin a day.
★★★★★
Aimee
I broke my ankle 3 weeks ago and have been stuck inside with a constant cold ever since! Figured I could use a vitamin C boost.
I’ve never thought to put clementines into a smoothie before but it’s so good! Thank you, Kate.
Kate
Oof, those nasty colds hit at the worst times. I hope this helped, Aimee!
Sandra Lea
I’m always looking for a new smoothie recipe and I love clementines. My local store only sells them in the wooden crate and as much as I love them, that’s just too many for me to eat by myself so this is a perfect way to use them up. I hope you feel better soon.
Kate
Let me know how it works out, Sandra :)
CATHY GARDNER
I JUST MADE A DOUBLE BATCH WITH 2 VANILLA GREEK YOGURTS -WHAT A TREAT!! A NEW WINTER FAVORITE – THANK YOU!
★★★★★
Kate
Yum, that sounds so good, Cathy!
Cltd
I would like to know the Nutrition Information per serving. Thanks
Kate
Unfortunately, I don’t have nutritional info available for my recipes just yet. I’m looking for a solution, and will update about it once I find one. Thanks!
Tori
Sooooooooooo good!! Thank you!! Will be enjoying this regularly.
Craig
Love these! There used to be a place in my area that made similar drinks to this and they called them the Fuzzy Orange.
★★★★★
Kate
Ha! That’s a cute name. I hope you tried it, Craig.
Alex Turner
Clementin, ice and milk it so simple but how delicious is it!
Kate
Right? Simple but full of flavor.
juice lover
This is beautiful,let me make oranges juice today
Kate
Great! Thank you.
Jarvis Coleman
Great recipe! Made it for my kids and they absolutely love it!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Jarvis!
Kelly Mustain
This was awesome! I’m not feeling well and I have a million tangerines from my tree. Made it with whole milk vanilla yogurt and a scoop of unflavored collagen. Thanks!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad it helped you feel a little better! I love that you have a tangerine tree.
Lisa
This smoothie is so surprisingly good considering how simple it is (and I didn’t even do the add-ins)! Helped me get through a bag of mandarin oranges when I had too many sitting around last year. I usually try to avoid yogurt in smoothies (because I eat too much of it anyway, ha), but I thought it really added a lot here. Thank you!!
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Lisa!
Betsey
This smoothie + vanilla is FREAKING AMAZING. I have been suffering with a terrible cold and am so thankful I found this recipe. Thank you for posting it! This is going into my regular rotation. YAY!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m so glad you like this smoothie! Great one for the winter, helps to brighten the cold. Right :)
Katty
Turned out so yumm when i tried!!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you loved it, Katty!
Darlene Myers
Can this be made ahead? Thank you
Kate
I don’t typically think smoothies work well prepared in advance blended. But, you could try have the ingredients prepped prior to blending.
Ann
I made it, but made a few subs due to what was in my house. I substituted pure vanilla w TJs bourbon vanilla extract, substituted clementines with mandarin organges added some ground flax seed, collagen powder and spinach. It was delicious, I think still very close to your original. It was of course green bc of the spinach but all orange in flavor!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for sharing, Ann!
BlendersLab
Looks so delicious! I have made Banana Almond Smoothie from your post. But I have not tried this yet. Can you please suggest any substitution for sea salt?
Kate
You can skip it, but I don’t have a good substitution for salt.
Sonia A.
An awesome twist to our traditional, caribbean, Morir Soñando, which I grew up with as a child in the early 70’s. I love that their are a variety of “milk” to choose from: Almond, coconut & oat, being my favorite!
★★★★★
Kaitlin Richters
I love this smoothie! It’s not filling, though so I ate almond butter toast with flax seeds and raspberries along with the smoothie.
I added banana for the perfect creaminess, and a bit of honey but I didn’t actually have clementines, so I subbed two medium oranges. I read other comments mentioning cinnamon, so I added that and, boy oh boy, that was an amazing touch!
Chris
I rarely leave comments on internet recipes, but this is so simple and delicious. I did just the basic with a few drops of vanilla and it was just lovely. I have been wanting fresh juice for awhile but only have the blender, so looked up to see if clementines work well and how to prepare them. This will definitely be a staple smoothie!
★★★★★
Leah
Such a delicious smoothie! Cured my sweet tooth too!
Joni
Drinking this little bright colored smoothie makes me happy! Perfect consistency. I added some vanilla as you suggested and loved the extra flavor.
★★★★★
audrey
tried with turmeric, didn’t taste good to me
★
Elle
Wow! I was tempted to try add ins but thought I’ll first try a sip as is… it is as is, AMAZING!
For a little twist, I’ll try add ons next time.. so delicious!
★★★★★
Elle
Wow! I was tempted to try add ins but thought I’ll first try a sip as is… it is as is, AMAZING!
For a little twist, I’ll try add ons next time.. so delicious!
*I added coconut vanilla yogurt.
★★★★★
Kate
I’m happy you loved it, Elle. Thank you for sharing!
Jenna
I followed the recipe and used mandarin oranges, coconut almond milk and frozen bananas. It was delicious! Vitamin C is so tasty!!!
★★★★★