Sweet fruits have always been my favorite foods in the Summer. As soon as Summer hits the produce aisles are filled with delicious fruits like cucumbers, bananas, papayas, plums, nectarines and two of my favorites: peaches and mangoes. Cucumbers, mangoes, and peaches are filled with vitamin c and are very hydrating. They are also sweet and juicy. Cucumbers, as well as in-season tropical fruits like mangoes and peaches are great for snacking or drinking in a Tropical Summer Smoothie.  

If you like drinking smoothies, this one might just be for you. A Tropical Summer Smoothie, like the one in this recipe, is filled with some health benefits. Fruits like cucumbers, mangoes, and peaches are filled with antioxidants. They have Vitamin C, which helps boost immunity, they support healthy skin, and they improve digestive health. In addition, they contain potassium, which helps lower blood pressure. When you combine these fruits into a smoothie, you get a sweet and delicious drink. 

Ingredients 

Mango

Mangoes are full of antioxidants and are a good source of fiber. In this smoothie, the mango will add a sweetness to the drink. In addition, it helps bring out a rich light yellow color. Not only does the mango add flavor, but it adds to the look of the smoothie as well. 

Milk 

Low fat milk is a great ingredient to add to this Tropical Summer Smoothie. Milk provides calcium, which helps promote strong bones. It also helps keep the smoothie creamy. Water would thin the smoothie out, and not using any liquids would give you a very thick mixture. Milk provides enough liquid to keep the smoothie loose, but gives enough texture to keep the drink creamy. 

Homemade Whipped Cream 

Whipped cream is delicious, no argument here. When you add whipped cream on top of a smoothie you get two benefits. First, it tastes delicious with a fruity drink. Second, it is aesthetically pleasing. Whipped cream enhances the appeal of the drink, and makes it look fancy. 

Here is the full list of ingredients for this smoothie. 

• 1 Mango 
• ½ Peach
• ⅓ Cucumber
• 1 tbsp Peanut Butter, optional
• ¼ cup Low-fat Milk 
• Cinnamon, to taste
• Ice Cubes
• ½ cup Heavy Whipping Cream 
• 2 tbsp Powdered Sugar
• 1 tbsp Vanilla Flavoring/Extract

Tools 

Making smoothies can be very simple. It’s especially easy when you have all the electric tools that do most of the work for you. However, if you’re like me, you might have to do almost everything by hand. I don’t have fancy gadgets, fruit peelers, or stand mixers to make this drink. I do have two capable hands and basic tools that will get the job done. Below, you’ll find everything you need to make this Tropical Summer Smoothie by hand. 

• Cutting Board 
• Kitchen Knife 
• Storage Bowl with Lid 
• Mason Jar with Lid 
• Measuring Spoons/ Cups 
• Blender 
• Drinking Glass 

Preparation Time 

This Tropical Summer Smoothie will take less than 10 minutes to make. You can prepare all the ingredients and blend up the smoothie at any time. If you’re in a rush, or you have all day, this drink will take no time at all to put together. However, if you plan to make the whipped cream instead of buying some from the store, you will need to chill a metal bowl or mason jar for at least 10 minutes beforehand. 

Instructions 

1. Chill the mason jar in the freezer for 10 minutes while you work on steps 2 – 7.
2. Gather the cutting board, knife, storage bowl, and fruit in one place.  
3. Cut the mango and half a peach into small pieces. 
4. Chop one large cucumber into thirds, and only use ⅓ of the cucumber for this smoothie. 
5. Pare the cucumber to remove the skin. 
6. Dice the cucumber into small pieces. 
7. Place the diced fruit into a storage bowl, and put it into the refrigerator to chill while you work on steps 8 – 10. 
8. Remove the mason jar from the freezer, and gather together the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. 
9. Pour the cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract into the mason jar and cover with an airtight lid. 
10. Shake the mason jar vigorously for about 3 minutes. Stop shaking the jar once the whipped cream has formed, and there is no longer liquid sloshing in the jar. 
11. Remove the fruit from the refrigerator, and gather the other ingredients (milk, peanut butter, cinnamon, and ice). 
12. Add the ingredients to the blender, measuring out the milk and peanut butter as needed. Place a lid on the blender. 
13. Blend on high for 2 minutes, or until all the ingredients are well combined. 
14. Pour the smoothie into a nice drinking glass. 
15. Top the smoothie with the homemade whipped cream – as much as you like! 
16. Sprinkle cinnamon onto the whipped cream. 
17. Enjoy!

Tips 

To further enhance the taste and look of this Tropical Summer Smoothie, you can add some garnish to the drinking glass. Cut a piece of cucumber and place it on the rim of the glass. This will definitely make the drink feel even more tropical.