This lush, decadent “Midnight Velvet Cherry-Berry Smoothie is made of sweet cherries, banana, blackberries, blueberries, and fresh lemon with a milk and yogurt base.
Midnight Velvet Cherry-Berry Smoothie
4
8-oz. servings11
minutes10
minutes21
minutesIngredients
½ lemon
1½ cups (mildly heaping) frozen dark cherries
½ cup (mildly heaping) frozen blackberries
½ cup (mildly heaping) frozen wild blueberries
½ frozen banana (for creaminess)
3 Tbs sugar
1 tsp chia seeds (for body and nutrition)
1 tsp ground ginger (for intrigue)
¼ tsp sea salt
½ cup + 2 Tbs 2% milk
¼ cup full-fat Greek yogurt
1 Tbs sour cream (for a tangy note)
1 Tbs maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla
2 fistfuls of ice
Whipped cream, for garnish
Chopped pistachios, for garnish
Speculoos, for garnish
Directions
- Place the lemon cut-side down and slice it into 8 equal wedges. Remove any seeds – be very thorough. Toss two of the wedges into the blender. Remove and discard the peel and pith from the remaining wedges and scrape the pulp and juice into the blender. Add all remaining ingredients and blend until luxuriously smooth. Be patient; let this take time.
- Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity.
- Pour into chilled glasses, garnish, and serve immediately. (The mixture may be too thick to pour but should still be drinkable through a straw. If so, use a flexible spatula to scrape it into the glasses and knock the bottom of the glass onto the countertop a few times to settle the smoothie into the glass. If not, allow it to sit in the blender for a couple of minutes, blend again briefly, and re-test its pourability. (If you’re impatient, add dark rum, bourbon, or cherry liqueur bit by bit, until it’s pourable. This will not only make your smoothie immediately more pourable, but will take the edge of your impatience. 😉 )
Notes
- I blended this in a Ninja professional blender. I suspect it may be a bit too thick to blend in a conventional blender without thinning out the texture.
- Substitutions: any other kind or percentage of milk for the 2%, mascapone for the sour cream
This smoothie has depth, contrast, and elegance. It’s a refined, playful balance of dark fruit, creamy richness, bright acidity, and aromatic intrigue. The whipped cream and Speculoos add a touch of decadence, making it feel almost dessert-like. Maybe not even “almost.” I think I’d be happy having this for dessert.
Social Learning:
I prefer to divide this into three ten-ounce smoothies. Sometimes, it produces four 10-oz. smoothies! It never comes out exactly the same, but it’s always between 30 and 40 ounces.
Fruit & Acidity
Dark cherries, blackberries, and wild blueberries create a deep, complex berry profile with both tart and jammy undertones. Where you gonna find wild blueberries? Well, this can’t be a food blog if it doesn’t contain at least some esoteric item that will be nearly impossible to find. I get mine from the forest behind my estate in Nantucket. I usually fly there in my private jet during foraging season … but in this economy? You can get yours at the grocery store. No one’s going to know. Blackberries come with seeds. I like them in the texture, but I realize that some people don’t. I have no solution for some people. Lemon brings the smoothie to life. You can adjust this if you’re someone who prefers “less life,” by squeezing the lemon and using just the juice, to taste. Using the lemon in the way I’ve suggested will give you a fruity flavor that’s bright and vibrant, but without leaving you in need of tastebud sunglasses. Banana adds creaminess and subtly smooths the acidity.
Sweetness & Complexity
Sugar & maple syrup contribute layered sweetness—sugar offers a clean boost, while maple syrup adds an earthy, caramelized depth. Obviously, you can adjust the sugar to taste … the amounts I’ve recommended make this seem just sweet enough. Vanilla rounds out any sharp edges.
Creaminess & Fat Balance
Milk provides a light base. Greek yogurt thickens the smoothie and adds a creamy, luxurious tang. The sour cream … well … I was looking to butter-up the yogurt’s acidity. I’m not sure a tablespoon of it does that. Maybe it’s more wishfult thinking. But I tried it both ways, and I liked it best with the sour cream! So go figure.
Intriguing Elements
Ground ginger … that really puts this into upscale territory. You probably won’t notice its flavor and heat up front unless you’re looking for it. It mainly blooms as an aftertaste – and when it does, it’s magical. Sea salt intensifies both sweetness and complexity, amplifying depth. If you’re curious, try it with and without the salt. You may be amazed at how much depth the salt provides – not at all in saltiness, but in making the fruit flavors seem three dimensional. Chia seeds contribute slight nuttiness and body. I don’t like to think of myself as a guy who has chia seeds in his pantry, but … here we are.
Texture & Garnish Contrast
Ice ensures a thick, frosty consistency. The pistachios will stay put on top and slowly ride like an elevator to the bottom if you drink this with a straw. You’ll then have to drink the last bit without the straw, and when you do, you’ll wish there had been pistachios in every sip! Whipped cream and the speculoos … what you do with those is, after taking only a few initial sips of the smoothie, use the speculoos as you would a nacho chip, scooping up as much smoothie and whipped cream as you can. Double or even quadruple dipping is mandatory!
Midnight Velvet Cherry-Berry Smoothie
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I love that you take your PJ to Nantucket for berry picking. How else would you get them, I mean really…
This sounds really good but I might have it midday and not at midnight! 🙂 Great combination of flavors… and, oh, how I covet your Ninja blender.
Well, sometimes I think I should just send someone for the berries, rather than picking them myself. But I guess that’s where I draw the line. 🙂
What a delicious looking summer treat. Isn’t it amazing how a little sea salt brings out so many flavors? I’m glad I have my Ninja Professional so I can try this recipe exactly as you created it.
Oh, perfect! Thanks!
Jeff, this beverage sounds and looks fantastic. It contains an amazing assortment of ingredients. Plus, your comments, instructions and insights are among the greatest you’ve ever written.
Oh, well thank you so much!
Fantastico, magari averne qua ora uno!!!
Maybe you should!
Dark cherries, blackberries, and wild blueberries!! What a combination from every aspect – taste and health!! I could go for that right now in this heat wave ! Whipped cream is my favorite- I never leave it off. Thanks for this wonderful recipe.
You’re welcome, Judee!
Anything fruity sounds great right now, with the summer heat. This sounds delicious!
Thanks, Tracy!
Now I do feel fancy, hobnobbing with the elite, flying to Nantucket in their private jets! I get my wild blueberries from the freezer section of my boring old grocery store in boring old Toronto. But your adventure sounds a whole lot more fun. I must admit, I am on the non-seed side of blackberries, dare I say, even raspberries. You see, they always find that one spot in my teeth and wedge themselves in so tightly that I need a crowbar to get them out. But I do love the flavour of blackberries. This looks like a very refreshing smoothie. I did bring some Speculoos back from Spain on our visit this past winter, I wonder if there are any left? You don’t mention, but would you have this as a breakfast or is it more of a dessert?
Just between us, I happened upon some wild blueberries at the market, which spawned that whole flight of fancy. I have a hard time believing that they were “wild.” I can only imagine that they meant that they were the type of blueberry that grows close to the ground, instead of on a bush. I don’t think I’d have this smoothie for breakfast, mainly because – and I’ve never really thought of this before – I think I’d rather have something hot or room temperature for breakfast. Not something icy cold. I would definitely have it as a dessert – I think it’d make a refreshing dessert. But I’ve had it most often as a mid-afternoon luxury. Or an “I just got home from work, and I need something to make it all seem worthwhile” kind of treat.
Bookmarking this one for a special treat! This might be the most luxurious smoothie I’ve ever seen 😱
Wow, thanks, Raymund!
This is blended perfection. To start, your berry blend is lip smacking fantastic… and the yogurt and sour cream add a luxurious richness to the blend. I also loved your idea to add a few Speculoos for garnish. YUM!
Any time of day for me. What an exceptional and decadent smoothie. The queen of smoothies! 🙂 ~Valentina
Thanks, Valentina! It is a good smoothie if I do say so myself. I’ve made it many, many times.
Awesome post! ninja blender
are incredibly powerful and versatile—I love how easily they handle everything from smoothies to nut butters. I’ve also shared some suggestions and reviews about Ninja blenders on my site. If you’re interested, feel free to explore it. Thanks for sharing such helpful info!