Collagen Cherry Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 cup frozen pitted dark cherries
• 1 scoop unflavored collagen peptides
• 3/4 cup milk of your choice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 ice cubes

Instructions

1. 1

   Warm the milk very slightly (just enough to take the chill off, not hot) and whisk in the collagen peptides until fully dissolved, since collagen mixes into liquid more reliably at room temperature than straight from the fridge. Pour the mixture into the blender with the cherries, vanilla, and ice, then blend until smooth.

2. 2

   This recipe uses collagen peptides in place of a dairy protein source like yogurt. Collagen dissolves completely and has almost no flavor of its own, so it adds protein without changing the taste or color of the deep purple cherry base. Many people also like it for the skin and joint support collagen is known for.

3. 3

   If your smoothie ever comes out with tiny white flecks, it usually means the collagen didn't fully dissolve before blending — next time, mix it into the liquid first and let it sit a minute before adding the fruit. Frozen sweet cherries work here just as well as pitted fresh ones.