25 Smoothies That Are Better Than Ice Cream

Sweet and cold treats are a must for summer, but that doesn't mean you have to indulge in high-fat, high-sugar ice cream. Instead go for smoothies that have the same consistency and richness without relying on cream and sugar for flavor. Using fresh seasonal and frozen fruit for the blender along with inexpensive staple ingredients such as spices, yogurt, and milk keeps costs low.

Along with the benefits of chocolate, the secret ingredient, turmeric, boosts the nutritional value of this smoothie, making it healthful and delicious.
Recipe: Today

Bananas and nut butters add creaminess and a rich texture to blended smoothies. They're part of a balanced breakfast, but become part of an indulgent dessert-like shake once mixed in.
Recipe: Gimme Some Oven

This sweet smoothie is a powerful tool for keeping cravings at bay, with just enough decadence from an optional whipped cream topping. A touch of ginger adds depth to the flavors, and using seasonal or frozen peaches keeps costs low.
Recipe: Yum in Your Tum

Inherently rich coconut and sweet and sharp pineapple combine into a craveable combination. This super simple drink can be enjoyed any time of day or be spiked with rum for adult parties.
Recipe: Delish

Easier, healthier, and cheaper to make than ice cream, this smoothie is best with ripe summer strawberries. Freeze your own berries during the peak of ripeness and low prices to enjoy the bright flavor throughout winter.
Recipe: Loving It Vegan

This sophisticated blend of chocolate and berries comes in handy when craving chocolate cakes and desserts -- and unlike chocolate cake, can be enjoyed as a healthy start to the day. Made with just a few ingredients, it will save cash as well.
Recipe: Two Peas & Their Pod

Adding vanilla to blueberries heightens their natural sweetness and amps up the creaminess. This protein-packed smoothie tastes like a milkshake but delivers the nutrition of a full meal thanks to the oats and seeds -- among the cheapest health foods on the market.
Recipe: Your Choice Nutrition

It's hard to believe this is a healthy snack (or light meal), considering the thick, rich, creaminess of the chocolate. Just a small amount of almond butter creates an ice cream-like texture that rivals what's at pricey artisan ice cream shops.
Recipe: Savory Lotus

This recipe, which turns one of the most loved classic foods into a smoothie, is especially good for people who avoid gluten or carbs. It delivers all of the flavor with none of the bread.
Recipe: Kitchen Treaty

A nutty and toasty flavor makes this smoothie feel like dessert even though it is packed full of heart-healthy ingredients. Incorporating healthy fats into a diet leaves you more satiated so you're less likely to waste money on junk food later.
Recipe: A Beautiful Plate

This healthy meal replacer evokes chocolate-covered cherries. To get the best deal on the fruit, pick them at the height of their season and freeze leftovers. Or go straight for the frozen kind -- they tend to be cheaper than fresh.
Recipe: The Simple Veganista

Mango is naturally creamy when blended, and the nuttiness and subtle sweetness of tahini pairs well with it for something out of the ordinary. Since ripe mango is already so sweet and tahini contains plenty of protein and healthy fats, there's no need for other additives.
Recipe: Farm to Table

The flavor of this simple smoothie is perfect as is. Blending the ingredients makes them craveworthy, even though the base is made of common, inexpensive ingredients.
Recipe: Trimdown Club

The bold spices that make up chai ensure this smoothie is packed with satisfying flavor that helps keep you feeling full. Using your own blend of spices rather than a premade mix allows for customized flavors, and money-saving.
Recipe: Blissful Basil

Mixed berries are well-liked smoothie standby. Bags of frozen mixed berries can vary in price, so it's worth comparing price tags in the store to see if it's cheaper to buy individual varieties and mix and match at home.
Recipe: The Redhead Baker

This bright, tropical beverage is an invigorating way to start the day or as a midday pick-me-up. The apple adds sweetness and provides a good source of low-cost volume to bulk up the other fruits.
Recipe: Whole Foods Market

It's amazing what a creamy banana and a touch of vanilla can do to simple fruits. This homemade treat uses whole fruits and natural ingredients to achieve a dessert-like flavor for just a few dollars per serving.
Recipe: Sally's Baking Addiction

Rather than spend money and calories on ice cream or cake, this recipe of chocolate and mint makes for satisfying flavor in a beverage that is actually good for you.
Recipe: Healthy Delicious

Avocados are versatile fruits that add lusciously creamy textures even to all kinds of sweet treats. This fruity blend is an easy way to start experimenting with avocados in smoothies.
Recipe: Martha Stewart

This creamy and mildly spiced yogurt smoothie is cooling and comforting. Skip the hassle of peeling mango and go straight for frozen chunks from the store -- the cost is typically the same.
Recipe: Cooking Light

Change up a breakfast routine by combining two healthy, tasty options. Inexpensive and nutritious oats add a velvety texture when blended with fruits, yogurt, and milk.
Recipe: Martha Stewart

Dates are a healthy source of natural sweetness and become creamy when soaked and blended. The recipe is so simple it uses barely a dollar's worth of ingredients to create a sweet and creamy treat healthy any time of day.
Recipe: Real Simple

The combination of chocolate, coffee, and warm spices such as cinnamon and cayenne pack this smoothie with flavor, allowing each portion to be smaller and stretching dollars further.
Recipe: Connoisseurus Veg

Cashews have a natural sweetness that pair well with the sweet but tart flavor of ripe strawberries and provide long-lasting protein and creamy texture, making this satisfying enough to replace a meal.
Recipe: Sonima

The wave of nutrition your body gets from this smoothie is a bonus on top of how delicious it is. Check ethnic marts for the best quality and price for young coconuts.
Recipe: Healthy Smoothie HQ