The grinch drink

This child-friendly The Grinch drink is a fruity, gently minty smoothie with a super cute little strawberry Santa hat on the rim of the glass.

To make this yummy, healthy drink this Christmas, all you'll need is apples, bananas, kale, mint, a handful of ice and something to blend it all up in.

And for the fruity little Santa hats, you'll just need strawberries and a few mini marshmallows!

Here's the full recipe with plenty of step-by-step pics to help you make the perfect round of The Grinch drinks to enjoy.

Instructions

Cut the very tip of the strawberries off, and trim the step end to flatten.

Cut a slit in the strawberries from the wide end to about half way up.

Place the mini marshmallows on top.

The moisture from the strawberries should help them stick.

Put the apples into the blender jug. 

Add the bananas.

And the kale and mint.

Blend until green.

Add a handful of ice.

Blend until very smooth. Taste and blend in more ice, if you like. 

Pour into four glasses. Push the strawberries onto the edge of each glass and serve.

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect The Grinch drink

Is The Grinch drink easy to make?

Yes, this recipe is super simple to make as there’s no cooking involved at all. Just throw it all in a blender to mix it up and you’ll have a delicious and nutritious drink in seconds! 

This makes it a perfect recipe to make with your kids over the festive season or any time of year!

Will I need any special equipment to make The Grinch drink?

All you’ll need for this recipe is a blender or food processor and some utensils like a knife and peeler to prep the fruit. Feel free to use a smoothie maker or something like a Nutribullet or Nutri Ninja if you have one, as they’ll give you a nice smooth drink.

There is a full list of suggested equipment on the recipe card below.

How can I tell if kale has gone off?

As kale gets old, the leaves begin to wilt, turn yellow and eventually rot. If your kale has any signs of ageing it’s best to discard it, as the taste of bad kale will definitely overpower the rest of the ingredients in a raw smoothie.

It’s always important to make sure you use fresh ingredients which are in date and safe to use. Equally important is to make sure you wash your kale, and other leafy greens, especially when eating them raw. This is because leafy greens can carry Salmonella, Listeria, E Coli, Norovirus and various other germs and bacteria. 

Can I eat apples that have turned brown?

Fruit turns brown because of a natural chemical reaction that happens when oxygen comes into contact with an enzyme found in various fruits and vegetables. So while a brown apple doesn't look super appealing, they're safe to eat.

Unless they've turned brown because of mould or rot, in that case you should discard them!

Can I use dried mint instead of fresh mint?

Dried mint won’t bring the same bright, fresh flavour to your smoothie, so it’s best to use fresh mint if you can. 

It’s fine to use dried mint instead of fresh mint, it just won’t taste as strong or as fresh as fresh mint leaves. If you do use dried mint, you’ll have to add a little, then taste and repeat until the flavour is right for you. Dried mint is made from ground-up leaves, so it’s hard to say how much mint you’re adding if you add a tsp.

Is The Grinch drink suitable for vegetarians?

The main smoothie recipe is completely plant-based and vegetarian friendly. The only ingredient to watch is the marshmallows for the Santa hat garnish. 

Sometimes marshmallows can contain beef or pork gelatin, which is used to thicken the marshmallow. So make sure you check the packet of your marshmallows to ensure they’re gelatin-free. 

There are vegetarian versions of gelatine made using ingredients like seaweed, so there are many brands of vegetarian and vegan marshmallows available like this one.

Double-check all of your ingredients labels to make sure that they are suitable for vegetarians. Don't forget to check anything extra that you intend to serve the recipe with.

Is The Grinch drink suitable for vegans?

As above, this recipe should be suitable for vegans as long as you use vegan marshmallows. In addition to gelatine, some marshmallows can contain traces of milk, or be made with milk powder.

Dandies vegan marshmallows are vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. They’re available in the US, UK and Australia, so they would be a good option for this recipe.

So it’s always advisable to triple check the labels of your ingredients to ensure that they’re suitable for vegans.

Is The Grinch drink suitable for babies and toddlers? 

This drink is suitable for babies over the age of 1. The NHS advises that babies under 1 shouldn’t drink fruit juice or smoothies because of the sugars in fruit.

The NHS also advises that fruit juice for children under 5 should be diluted. However, as this smoothie contains ice and kale, that should sufficiently dilute the apple and bananas in the drink.  

So if you’re following NHS guidelines, it’s also best to leave the strawberry and marshmallow garnish off if you’re serving this to a very young child.

A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. Please seek help from a medical professional if you need further information or have any concerns.

Is The Grinch drink gluten-free?

Yes, as long as you use gluten-free marshmallows, this drink is completely gluten-free! 

The drink is a blend of fruits, mint and vegetables so there is no wheat or grains that would include gluten. Sometimes marshmallows can contain wheat flour, but there are many brands of gluten-free marshmallows. 

As I recommend above, Dandies are gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan - so they’re a good option for this recipe.

If you’re cooking for someone with an allergy or food intolerance it’s extra important to double-check your ingredients labels to ensure that they’re all safe and suitable to serve. Don't forget to check anything extra that you intend to serve the recipe with.

Is The Grinch drink keto-friendly?

No, this recipe isn’t keto-friendly as it contains a lot of fruit. The keto diet limits you from eating more than 20g of carbohydrates a day, to encourage your body to run on protein and fat. 

Fruit contains carbohydrates which means one glass of this drink could contain your entire daily allowance of carbohydrates on a ketogenic diet. 

Bananas and apples contain higher amounts of carbohydrates than fruits like strawberries or raspberries. So if you want to enjoy this drink on a keto diet, you could replace the apples and banana with a more keto-friendly fruit like strawberries or blackberries - and of course, skip the marshmallows!

There’s a good guide to eating fruit on a keto diet here. 

Is The Grinch drink healthy?

‘Healthy’ means something different to everyone. As I said above, this drink isn’t suitable or ‘healthy’ for a young baby or someone on a ketogenic diet, but to someone else this would be a very healthy drink.

This drink is full of raw fruit and vegetables, meaning it is full of vitamins, minerals, nutrients and water. So I would consider this a very healthy drink for an adult or a child over the age of 5. 

Is The Grinch drink safe to have while pregnant?

Yes, this drink is completely fine for someone to have while pregnant. However, as I mentioned before, when you’re using kale or other leafy greens it’s important to wash them thoroughly before use. This is because leafy greens can sometimes carry harmful bacteria and germs, like E Coli, or Listeria which is especially dangerous for someone who is pregnant.

Make sure that all of your ingredients are in good condition and this meal is prepared safely and hygienically.

A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. Please seek help from a medical professional if you need further information or have any concerns.

What goes well with The Grinch drink?

This Grinch drink will be deceptively filling, as it contains bananas, apples, strawberries and kale. So it’s probably best enjoyed on it’s own as a snack or as a light breakfast. 

Think of it as the equivalent of a soup, except sweet, cold and best served with a straw!

Can I make The Grinch drink without kale?

Sure! If you don’t have kale you could swap it for spinach. 

If you use spinach I would recommend doubling or even tripling the amount of spinach you use, as spinach is less substantial than kale, so it will break down much more.

If you aren’t into the idea of drinking raw veg, then don’t worry. With the banana, apples and mint, you won’t be able to taste the kale at all. So give it a try first and see how it goes down before you decide to skip the kale!

Remember, if you don’t include something leafy and green then you won’t end up with a green drink. So you’ll have to come up with a different name for this Grinch drink!

Can I make The Grinch drink without mint?

Sure, if you don’t like mint then you can leave it out. The green colour comes from the kale, so if you skip the mint the colour won’t be affected.

Where can I get mini marshmallows?

You can usually find mini marshmallows on the sweets and chocolate aisle of your supermarket. In the UK, some smaller shops like the Co-op will stock mini marshmallows with the baking ingredients or near the hot chocolate.

Can I add extra fruit to this recipe?

Sure, feel free to add some extra fruit to your taste. However, if you’ve added extra fruit and you’re making this for a younger child you might want to dilute the drink with a bit of water as the NHS guidelines state.

Adding more fruit will probably make the drink less green and change the texture. So it’s probably best not to change the balance of ingredients too much, or your drink might not turn out as green as the pictures above.

How should I store The Grinch drink?

You can keep your smoothie for 1-2 days in the fridge. The best way to store your drink is to pour it into an airtight flask or container and place it into the fridge immediately after making it. This will help slow the oxygen and enzymes in the fruit from reacting, which can cause your drink to turn brown. 

How long will The Grinch drink keep?

If you use fresh ingredients, your smoothie should last around 1-2 days as long as it’s kept in the fridge in an airtight container. 

Make sure to give your drink a shake before serving it as the water and the blended fruit and vegetable fibre will separate as it rests in the fridge.

Can I leave The Grinch drink out on the counter?

No, your drink contains raw fruit and veg, so if you leave it out it will most likely turn brown and eventually spoil.

Can I make The Grinch drink ahead?

You can make the drink a day ahead and keep it in the fridge. It will probably separate overnight, but all you need to do is shake it to mix up the ingredients again. 

As with most recipes it’s better to make this drink fresh. The ice will melt if you make this drink ahead of time so the smoothie will be a little wetter and won’t be quite as refreshingly cold.

You could also make the drink ahead and freeze it for 2-3 months. Defrost the drink a little for 1 hour in the fridge before blending again and serving. 

This will give you a nice icy and refreshing smoothie that will taste just as good as a fresh one.

However, you won’t be able to make the strawberry and marshmallow hats ahead of time as the marshmallows will melt and the strawberries will spoil quickly.

Can I keep The Grinch drink in the refrigerator?

Yes, the best place to keep your Grinch drink is the refrigerator. It should last 1-2 days as long as it’s in an airtight container or flask. As I said above, remember to give it a good shake before serving, as the liquid and solid ingredients may have separated. Then all you have to do is decorate the drinks with fresh strawberry and marshmallow garnishes.

Can I freeze The Grinch drink?

If you want to freeze the Grinch drink go right ahead. This recipe contains only fruit, vegetables and water so it’s perfect for freezing and defrosting. 

If you know you’ll be serving this drink for a group of people then it’s fine to freeze the whole smoothie in one container. Or you can freeze individual portions in sandwich bags to save space. 

What is the best way to defrost The Grinch drink?

The best way to defrost The Grinch drink is to take it from the freezer and place it into the fridge for around an hour. 

It’s best to only semi defrost the drink so it’s still a little frozen, then when you blend it again it will be nice and cold and as refreshing as a freshly made drink.

Can I make these The Grinch drinks in a different quantity?

Sure, this drink is super easy to make in different quantities so feel free to make less or more - as long as your smoothie maker or blender has enough room for a bigger batch!

Luckily I have a really useful tool to help you change the amount the recipe produces. If you scroll down to the recipe card below, you'll see the servings near the top. To change this to the number of Grinch drink portions you want to make, just click on the serving size number and a little slider will pop up. You can move the slider up or down to get the amount you want to make.

All the ingredient quantities will update automatically for you so that everything is in the right ratios.

Can I make The Grinch drink in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

No, this recipe needs to be mixed in a power blender or a food processor. A stand mixer won’t break down the kale or fruit enough so if you used one you would just end up with a bowl of mushy fruit and vegetables. 

Can I make The Grinch drink with a food processor?

Yes, if you don’t have a blender or power blender then you can use a food processor. However, I would recommend using a power blender like a Nutribullet or Nutri Ninja, as these types of blenders are designed to break down fruit and vegetables into a smooth drink.

How can I make sure The Grinch drink turns out perfectly?

This recipe is super easy, so all you need to do for the perfect Grinch drinks is put the correct ingredients into the blender and press a button! 

Getting the ratio of ingredients is key, as too much kale or too much banana will really change the texture and taste of the drink. Once you have the right amount of ingredients all you need to do is make sure that you blend it well, so you don’t have a lumpy or chunky drink.

Why did my The Grinch drink turn out lumpy?

If your drink turned out lumpy then it’s probably because it hasn’t been blended enough. So just pop it back into your blender and give it an extra blitz until it’s nice and smooth.

How can I add/change the flavours in The Grinch drink?

If you want to add to or change the flavours in this drink then feel free! You could swap out some of the fruit for alternative fruits. A good option would be to swap the apples for pears, mangos or melon as they have similar water content and texture.

As I said earlier, if you aren’t a fan of mint feel free to leave it out. You could add ginger instead for a fresh and zingy flavour to help mask the taste of the kale.

Cucumber and pear is another great smoothie combination so you could add some cucumber for extra vitamins and water content.

Who invented smoothies?

While many cultures around the world have been drinking fruit for centuries, smoothies are a more recent invention. Smoothies are said to have been invented in America, after blenders became widely available in the 1930’s, though it’s unclear who exactly invented smoothies.  

One popular brand of blender was produced by the Waring Corporation. In the 1940’s an employee named Mabel Stegner wrote a recipe book for the company, which included recipes for ‘milk smoothies’. 

While the idea of blended drinks seemed to have been established before this book came out, this is one of the earliest known references to smoothie drinks as we know them today. 

Why did The Grinch steal Christmas?

The Grinch is a character created by Dr Seuss. According to his book, ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’, The Grinch was born with a heart that is "two sizes too small”, which left him with a particular hatred for all things Christmas. 

One year he becomes so annoyed by the Christmas festivities that he steals everyone’s Christmas presents. However, when he sees the way the townspeople come together despite all of their presents being stolen, he realises the meaning of Christmas and his heart grows three sizes

Print this The Grinch drink recipe

Pin this recipe for The Grinch drink

More Christmas recipes to try