Enjoy the taste of the Smoothie King Strawberry X-treme copycat recipe, bursting with the natural sweetness of fresh strawberries and tropical papaya. It's a homemade spin on a popular smoothie franchise favorite, delivering healthy robust strawberry flavor.
We realized that even some beloved menu items from Smoothie King, like the Banana Boat Smoothie, The Hulk, and Pineapple Surf Smoothie, often include added sugars, especially in the fruit juice blends.
So, we took it upon ourselves to recreate these treats at home, focusing on whole foods for that perfect consistency. Making these smoothies at home lets us control what goes in, ensuring top-notch ingredients and a flavor that hits the spot, all while saving money.
Instead of Smoothie King's papaya juice blend, laden with sugars, we use pure apple juice and fresh papaya.
As you prepare this strawberry smoothie, take a moment to set a positive intention. To delve deeper into this practice, check out our free guide on intention-setting and affirmations. It's all about enhancing your daily diet and enjoying the refreshing, smooth consistency of your favorite strawberry smoothie right in the comfort of your home, giving a whole new meaning to a fulfilling smoothie blend.
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Ingredients
Fresh Papaya: The papaya in this smoothie is a tropical treasure, rich in vitamin C and digestive enzymes like papain. Choose ripe, organic papaya for its superior taste and health benefits; it should feel soft to the touch and have yellow-orange skin.
Apple Juice: Use fresh-pressed, unfiltered, and organic apple juice for a natural sweetener loaded with beneficial plant compounds. If fresh juice isn't an option, opt for an organic version that's not from concentrate for the best quality without added sugars.
Frozen Strawberries: Frozen strawberries are a great choice for a frosty smoothie texture. They retain their high vitamin C content and are convenient to use, making them a powerhouse among frozen fruits.
Fresh Strawberries: Organic, fresh strawberries add a burst of freshness and are full of antioxidants.
Maple Syrup(optional): While Smoothie King Outlets add turbinado sugar to their smoothies, we find pure maple syrup a healthier alternative if extra sweetness is desired. It contains beneficial minerals and antioxidants without a spike in blood sugar.
Ice Cubes(optional): Lastly, ice cubes are optional but can turn your smoothie into a chilled delight, adding no extra calories but enhancing the smoothie's consistency.
Instructions
- Prepare the Fruit: Hull the strawberries and get your papaya ready by peeling, halving, and chopping it into chunks. This prep work ensures your fresh fruit is blender-ready. (See video)
2. Initial Blend: Combine the prepared strawberries and papaya chunks with the cold-pressed apple juice in a powerful blender. Process these until they reach a smooth, velvety texture.
3. Adjust Consistency: If the blend is thicker than you like, introduce a few ice cubes or a splash of more apple juice. This step customizes the smoothie to your preference for thickness and chill.
4. Taste Test and Adjust Flavors: Give your smoothie a taste. If it needs more sweetness, add your preferred natural sweetener or additional apple juice.
5. Serve After Final Blend: Once the smoothie meets your standards, pour it out and enjoy it immediately. This is when it's at its peak of flavor and texture.
Hint: To handle the papaya, slice off the ends, peel the skin with a knife, then cut it lengthwise. Remove the seeds with a spoon, but save a few. *Tossing in a handful of papaya seeds can ramp up the nutrition of your smoothie—they're full of healthy fatty acids and digestive enzymes.
*Just remember, they have a peppery flavor, so a little goes a long way!
Substitutions and Variations
Protein Boost: Add a scoop of protein powder like whey protein or a plant-based variety to transform your smoothie into a protein-rich post-workout treat.
Dairy-Free: Swap out apple juice for almond milk for a creamier, dairy-free variation.
Nutty Twist: A spoonful of peanut butter or almond butter can add depth to your Strawberry Xtreme, plus a boost of healthy fats.
Keto-Friendly: Those on a keto diet can reduce the fruit content and add lemon juice for tang or use a keto-approved sweetener.
Citrus Refresh: Replace apple juice with orange juice for a tangier strawberry citrus smoothie.
Seeds for Nutrition: Sprinkle in chia seeds, flax seeds, wheat germ, or hemp seeds for extra nutrients and fatty acids.
Check out our guide for chia vs flax vs hemp seeds to learn about these superseeds!
Greens for Wellness: Toss in a handful of leafy greens like spinach for a nutrient-dense drink without altering the strawberry flavor too much.
Banana Mix: Introduce banana flavor for a classic strawberry banana smoothie—a combination that never disappoints.
Storage
To keep your smoothie fresh, store any leftovers in an airtight container, like a mason jar. This will help maintain its freshness and prevent any absorption of odors from the refrigerator.
For longer storage, pour the smoothie into ice cube trays and freeze. These smoothie cubes are perfect for quick blending on busy mornings or for a refreshing icy treat.
Just pop a few cubes into your blender, maybe with a little liquid for easier blending, and enjoy a freshly made smoothie anytime!
Top tip
For the smoothest texture and best integration of ingredients, using a high speed blender is highly recommended. If you’re working with a standard blender, take care to gradually add the ingredients, especially the frozen ones.
Standard blenders require more time to thoroughly process frozen ingredients, so adding them slowly ensures that everything blends evenly without overworking your machine.
More Smoothie and Juice Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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Recipe
Smoothie King Strawberry X-treme Copycat
Equipment
- Knife and Cutting Board
- Spoon (for papaya seeds)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fresh strawberries hulled
- 1 cup Frozen strawberries
- 1 cup Fresh papaya peeled and chopped
- ½ cup Cold-pressed apple juice (adjust for consistency)
- 1 cup Ice cubes optional (for extra frostiness)
Instructions
- Prepare the Fruit: Hull the strawberries and prepare your papaya by peeling, halving, and chopping it into chunks.
- Initial Blend: Place the prepared strawberries and papaya chunks along with the apple juice in a powerful blender. Blend until smooth and velvety.
- Adjust Consistency: If the smoothie is too thick, add ice cubes or a bit more apple juice to reach your desired consistency.
- Taste Test and Adjust Flavors: Taste the smoothie and if needed, sweeten with your choice of natural sweetener or more apple juice.
- Serve: Pour the smoothie into glasses and enjoy immediately for the freshest flavor and best texture.
Notes
- Papaya Preparation: When handling the papaya, slice off the ends first, then peel the skin with a knife. Cut the fruit lengthwise, scoop out the seeds with a spoon, and save a few.
- Adding a handful of papaya seeds can enhance the nutritional value of your smoothie, providing fatty acids and enzymes. Remember, they have a peppery flavor, so use sparingly!
- Take time to add and adjust the flavors to your preferences
- High-speed blender is most efficient. If using a standard blender, take your time adding the fruits little by little.
Nutrition
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoy making and sipping on your homemade version of the Smoothie King Strawberry X-treme. This recipe brings the flavors of one of your favorite smoothie franchises into your kitchen and ensures you’re sipping on something wholesome and delicious.
We'd love to see how your smoothies turn out! Please leave a comment in the comments section below to share your experience or any tweaks you made. Don’t forget to tag us in your smoothie creations on social media @mindfullyhealthymama on TikTok and Instagram, and @mindfullyhealthyliving on Facebook.
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Be well,
Natalie
Nat says
My family loved this!
Nora says
A divine combination! My little daughter loved it! So I'll definitely make it again for her!
Natalie Perry says
Glad you liked it!
Juyali Nortman says
I love all your smoothie recipes, and this one is no exception. I grew up eating a lot of papaya smoothies but never combined with strawberries. It was so delicious!
Natalie Perry says
Thank you so much!