Smoothies are a delicious and nutritious way to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet. Blending everything together with ice makes smoothies refreshingly cold and thick. However, you may find yourself without ice cubes on occasion and still want to whip up a smoothie. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives you can use in place of ice cubes to chill and thicken your smoothies.
Why Do Smoothies Use Ice Cubes?
Ice cubes serve two main purposes in smoothies:
- Chilling the smoothie – Ice cools down the ingredients to give smoothies a refreshing, cold temperature.
- Thickening the texture – Melting ice cubes blend into the smoothie liquid to create a thicker, milkshake-like consistency.
If you don’t have ice cubes, you’ll need to find an ingredient that can replicate these effects by cooling and thickening your smoothie. Let’s go over your best options for ice cube substitutes.
Frozen Fruit
Frozen fruit makes an excellent ice cube substitute in smoothies. Fruits like bananas, strawberries, mangos, pineapple, and berries freeze solid and will chill your smoothie just like ice cubes. The fruit also blends smoothly into the liquid to thicken up your drink.
Almost any fruit can be frozen and used in smoothies. Berries like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries work especially well. Here are some tips for using frozen fruit:
- No need to thaw – Frozen fruit can go straight into the blender from the freezer.
- Freeze in portions – Cut fruit into pieces or mash before freezing into amounts you’d use for 1 smoothie.
- For more creaminess – Use overripe or very soft fruit like bananas.
In many cases, substituting about 1 cup of frozen fruit for the ice cubes called for in a recipe will give you the perfect chilled thickness for your smoothie.
Frozen Vegetables
While we mostly think of putting fruit in smoothies, frozen vegetables can also do the trick. Spinach, kale, carrots, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes are all great additions to smoothies. Like frozen fruit, frozen vegetables cool down and thicken up a smoothie when blended.
Leafy greens like spinach and kale blend especially smoothly. Try mixing in a handful of frozen greens to make a nutrient-packed green smoothie without the ice cubes. You can also use frozen chopped veggies like carrots and cauliflower.
Some tips for using frozen vegetables:
- To hide vegetable flavor – Pair with strongly flavored fruits like oranges, pineapple, or berries.
- For creamier texture – Cook vegetables before freezing to soften cell walls.
- Mind the ratio – Use more fruit than vegetables for better flavor.
About 1/2 to 1 cup of frozen vegetables can typically replace the ice in most smoothie recipes.
Frozen Yogurt Cubes
For a creamier, dessert-like smoothie, try using frozen yogurt cubes. Simply pour plain yogurt into an ice cube tray and freeze overnight. Pop the frozen yogurt cubes into your blender instead of ice.
Frozen yogurt cools a smoothie down while adding a delicious creamy, tangy flavor. It also blends smoothly to add thickness. Greek yogurt works best as it’s already thick. You can also add a bit of honey or fruit to the yogurt before freezing for extra flavor.
Some tips for using frozen yogurt cubes:
- Use nonfat Greek yogurt for richness without fat.
- For sweeter cubes – Mix in honey, maple syrup, or vanilla extract before freezing.
- Combine flavors – Layer yogurt with pureed fruit or chocolate syrup in the cubes.
Generally about 4 to 6 frozen yogurt cubes can sub for ice cubes in a smoothie recipe.
Frozen Juice Concentrate or Purees
Using frozen fruit juice concentrates or fruit purees is another way to add flavor and thickness to a smoothie without ice. Try frozen mango, pineapple, cherry, or other fruit concentrates. You can also puree fresh or frozen fruit and freeze in ice cube trays.
Fruit concentrates and purees not only chill a smoothie down but also add extra flavor, nutrition, and creaminess from the blended fruit solids. They freeze solidly to blend just like ice cubes into the liquid.
Some tips for using fruit concentrates and purees:
- Check labels for added sugar – Look for 100% juice concentrates without added sweeteners.
- Make your own – Puree overripe banana, mango, berries or other soft fruit in a blender.
- Mind the sweetness – A little concentrate goes a long way since it’s very sweet on its own.
About 2 to 4 tablespoons of frozen fruit concentrate or puree generally equals 1 cup of ice cubes.
Frozen Nut Butter
Nut butters like almond or peanut butter get deliciously creamy and thick when frozen. Simply spoon some nut butter into an ice cube tray and freeze. Add the frozen nut butter cubes to your blender in place of ice.
The rich, creamy frozen nut butter will chill and thicken up your smoothie beautifully. It also adds protein, fiber, vitamins, and healthy fats. Other nut and seed butters like cashew, sunflower seed, and hemp seed butter also work well.
Some tips for using frozen nut butter:
- Stir before freezing – This prevents separation and oily cubes.
- Layer flavors – Swirl in chocolate hazelnut spread or honey for variety.
- Frozen is key – Thawed nut butter will not blend or chill as well.
Usually 2 to 4 cubes of frozen nut butter can sub for ice in smoothies depending on how thick you like your drink.
Frozen Avocado Cubes
Creamy avocado cubes blended into smoothies add chill, thickness, and nutrition without diluting the flavor. Simply cut fresh avocados into cubes, store in a Ziploc bag, and freeze.
Using frozen avocado gives smoothies a rich, creamy mouthfeel while adding fiber, heart-healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Other fruits like bananas, mangos, and papaya can be frozen in cubes too.
Some tips for using frozen avocado:
- Prevent browning – Toss cubes in lemon juice before freezing.
- Ripe is best – Use very soft, ripe avocados for creamiest texture.
- Adjust avocado amount – Start with 2 cubes and add more to desired thickness.
Usually about 1/4 to 1/2 an avocado cubed up can replace 1 cup of ice cubes in smoothies.
Milk Cubes
You can swap in frozen milk cubes in place of ice cubes to add creamy richness to smoothies. Cow milk, almond milk, soy milk, and other milks all work well.
Using milk cubes gives smoothies a shakes-like texture while also punching up the protein, vitamins, and mineral content. Milk cubes blend extremely smoothly for a delicious creamy chilled drink.
Some tips for using frozen milk cubes:
- Stick to 2% milk or less for lower fat.
- Sweeten if desired – Add honey or maple syrup before freezing.
- Make buttermilk cubes – For tangy smoothies add lemon juice to milk before freezing.
Usually 4 to 6 frozen milk cubes can replace a cup of ice in smoothie recipes. Adjust the amount to your preferred thickness.
Frozen Herbal Tea
Brew up some strong herbal, green, or black tea. Let it cool and freeze in ice cube trays. Add the frozen tea cubes to your smoothie instead of regular ice for a flavorful antioxidant boost.
The frozen tea cubes won’t dilute the flavor of fruit smoothies. Rather, they’ll enhance it with aromatic tea notes. Herbal teas like hibiscus, mint, and chamomile work especially well. The tea cubes add chill and blend in smoothly.
Some tips for using frozen tea cubes:
- Brew tea double strength for freezing.
- Try green tea for a caffeine kick.
- Use herbal teas to avoid caffeine.
- Sweeten tea before freezing if desired.
Generally 4 to 6 frozen tea cubes can substitute for a cup of regular ice in smoothies. Start with less tea to avoid strong tea flavor.
Frozen Coffee Cubes
For an iced coffee twist, freeze leftover cold coffee or espresso in an ice cube tray. Add 3 to 5 cubes to your fruit smoothies in place of regular ice.
The frozen coffee blends smoothly into the drink adding rich coffee flavor and aroma. It chills and thickens the smoothie like ice, plus gives you an energizing dose of caffeine.
Some tips for using frozen coffee cubes:
- Use strongly brewed coffee or espresso for freezing.
- Avoid adding cream and sugar before freezing.
- Sweeten smoothie to taste after blending.
- Start with 3 cubes and add more for stronger coffee flavor.
Always taste your smoothie after adding the frozen coffee and adjust sweetener or milk to balance the coffee bitterness if needed.
Frozen Cream Cubes
For the ultimate creamy smoothie, substitute ice cubes with frozen cream cubes. Heavy cream, coconut cream, or half and half work wonderfully. Just pour into trays and freeze.
The cubes blend into smoothies giving them an ultra-rich, decadent milkshake texture. They add natural fat and creaminess for satisfaction. The frozen cubes chill the smoothie as effectively as regular ice.
Some tips for using frozen cream cubes:
- Don’t overdo the fat – Limit to 2 to 4 cubes per smoothie.
- Whip lightly before freezing for thicker texture.
- For lighter option – Half cream & half milk cubes.
- Mind storage times – Use within 2 months for freshness.
Start by replacing just 1 to 2 ice cubes with cream cubes to avoid an overly rich drink. You can always add more creaminess to taste.
Coconut Water Ice Cubes
For an electrolyte boost, use frozen coconut water cubes. Pour coconut water into trays and freeze. Add to smoothies to chill them without diluting the flavor.
The coconut water blends into smoothies adding hydrating electrolytes like potassium and magnesium. It chills and thickens smoothies nicely. Coconut water has natural sweetness that complements fruit smoothies.
Some tips for using coconut water cubes:
- Opt for no sugar added – Avoid coconut water with added sweeteners.
- Enhance electrolytes – Choose coconut waters labelled “high electrolytes.”
- Start with 4 to 5 cubes – Add more to reach desired thickness.
About 4 to 6 coconut water cubes can typically replace a cup of standard ice cubes in smoothie recipes.
Summary: Ice Cube Substitutes for Smoothies
When you’re out of ice cubes, don’t let that stop you from whipping up a refreshing smoothie. With a little creativity, you can chill and thicken your smoothies without diluting the flavor using ice alternatives like:
- Frozen fruit & veggies
- Frozen yogurt, nut butter, or avocado cubes
- Frozen juice concentrates or purees
- Frozen milk, coffee, tea, cream, or coconut water cubes
Experiment with different frozen ingredients to customize the flavor, texture, and nutrition of your smoothies. Just adjust the amount until you reach the perfect temperature and thickness. Stay chilled!
Comparison of Ice Cube Substitutes for Smoothies
| Substitute | Benefits | Downsides |
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| Frozen fruit |
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| Frozen vegetables |
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| Frozen nut butter |
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| Frozen yogurt |
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| Frozen milk |
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| Frozen coffee |
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