Pear Ginger Smoothie – Packed with greens and a hint of warm ginger, this kid-friendly green smoothie is the perfect breakfast or snack! (Paleo or Vegan)

Turns out, I’m a pear person.

They feel like such a little gift in the winter, when my favorite summer fruits (peaches! nectarines! berries!) are all far out of season, and I’m craving some fruit.

They’re also SUPER affordable, so they make a great budget-friendly option when they’re in season….which sometimes leads to me over-buying and them all going ripe at the same time. (Oopsies!)

When I don’t toss them into pear sauce (try it!), I love whipping up a quick pear ginger smoothie. This pear smoothie recipe is delightfully sweet and loaded with greens, fiber, and a tiny bit of warmth from the spices.

It’s the perfect smoothie to sip during the cold months. My kids love it, I love the ingredients, and it’s a great way to use up extra ripe pears, or pears that are a bit bruised (anyone else’s kids refuse to eat bruised fruit?).

Here’s what I toss into it…

WHAT’S IN MY PEAR GINGER SMOOTHIE:

FROZEN PEARS (OR FRESH PEARS). Pears have natural sweetness (plus, lots of fiber!), and frozen pears give this pear smoothie a gorgeous creamy texture! If you’re a newbie to freezing your own fruit, scroll down to the next section–I’ll walk you through the whole thing!

SPINACH. You can really pack the greens into this smoothie! The sweetness from the pears keeps this kid-friendly (seriously, my kids slurp it right up!), but you can feel good about packing in the spinach!

COLLAGEN PROTEIN OR CHIA SEEDS. For a paleo option, we love adding 1-2 scoops of collagen protein to this pear smoothie. For a vegan version, we’ve had good luck with 1-2 Tbsp. of chia seeds or ground flax. It’s a great way to add some protein + healthy fats!

FRESH GINGER. A little bit of warmth from the fresh ginger really makes this pear smoothie special. I’ve been really into frozen ginger lately–it’s frozen from fresh and tastes just as vibrant as freshly minced. (Plus, you don’t have to worry about it going bad in the fridge!)

CINNAMON (OPTIONAL). I sometimes add cinnamon and sometimes don’t. It adds another layer of subtle spice and really plays up the sweetness of the pears!

ALMOND MILK. We like unsweetened almond milk because it’s got such neutral flavor, but you can use whatever milk you like and drink!

HOW TO FREEZE PEARS FOR A PEAR GINGER SMOOTHIE

I’ve never seen frozen pears in stores–it’s always something I do myself when I’ve got lots of ripe pears or pears that are still good but too bruised for my kids to want to eat them. Here’s how I do it:

Wash pears thoroughly. I don’t peel my pears (added fiber!), but you can if the texture bothers you.
Dice the pears and discard the center core.
Spread pears out on a plate or baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone baking mat. (This will keep them from freezing together in one big clump!)
Place in the freezer and freeze for 30-60 minutes, or until they’re no longer tacky.
Transfer frozen pears to a freezer safe bag or container and freeze until ready to use.

FAQ + TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE PERFECT PEAR GINGER SMOOTHIE

HOW DO YOU FREEZE PEARS? Scroll back up to the section above for a full tutorial!

HELP! I FORGOT TO FREEZE MY PEARS. ANY TIPS? No worries. While I love the super velvety texture that frozen pears lend to this pear ginger smoothie, you *can* use fresh ones if you forgot. In this case, I recommend adding 1 cup of ice to the smoothie to give it a little frosty texture. It won’t be identical, but it’ll work!

PRO TIP: TRY FROZEN GINGER! I’ve been buying frozen ginger and garlic for the last year and I’m totally sold. I love that I can pop out exactly what I need (there’s never any going bad in my pantry or fridge!), and it tastes as vibrant as fresh.

CAN I USE A DIFFERENT KIND OF MILK? A pear smoothie can be made using just about any kind of milk you like–dairy, cashew, rice, soy, oat, almond, etc. will all work. Use what you usually drink and enjoy.

WHAT KIND OF PEARS DO YOU USE FOR A PEAR GINGER SMOOTHIE? You can use any ripe pear you like. I most often use Bartlett (they’re very naturally sweet and thin-skinned). D’Anjou, red, and Bosc will also work. If your pear skin is very thick, you may want to peel some or all of it so you get a nice, smooth texture.

MIX IT UP! TRY ONE OF THESE OPTIONS… to mix things up, you can try making this with my chai spice mixture, or skip the cinnamon and add a squeeze of lemon juice (lemon + ginger + pear are lovely together!)

LIKE THIS PEAR GINGER SMOOTHIE? I BET YOU’D LIKE:

HELPFUL FOR THIS RECIPE:

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