Calling all coffee lovers! If you already love cold-brew coffee, just wait until you try this magnificent probiotic-rich Creamy Cold Brew Smoothie made with Lifeway Kefir. Our smoothie packs billions of probiotic cultures thanks to the Organic Lifeway Whole Milk Vanilla Kefir used in this recipe and is a great source of prebiotics thanks to the banana, gluten-free oats, and chia (or flax) seeds we used. Chia seeds and flax seeds are also great sources of omega-3 fatty acids to support heart, brain, and joint health.
This fiber-rich smoothie packs a nice little kick thanks to the coffee we used and you use regular or decaf, depending on your preference. You can make this as a smoothie, or you can make it as a creamer for your cold brew by mixing everything together except the coffee and then pouring the mixture on top of the cold-brew coffee for a creamer-like effect.
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for better gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, and even help support healthier blood sugar levels and improve levels of satiety due to how it triggers the release of GLP-1 since it is an excellent source of protein and high in bioavailable nutrition.
Lifeway Kefir contains a variety of nutrients that are vital for healthy bones and overall health: vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Lifeway also offers our artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy cultured cheese made with live and active cultures to support a healthy microbiome that is also an excellent source of complete protein.
Prep Time: 5 mins Servings: 2-3Ingredients
- 1 cup Whole Milk Vanilla Kefir
- ½ cup cold brew coffee of choice (can use regular or decaf)
- 1 frozen banana
- 1/4 cup gluten-free old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 cup crushed Ice
- 2 tbsp. ground chia or flax meal (optional for omega-3's)
Directions
- To make as a smoothie: Add all the ingredients to a blender in the order listed. Blend on low, then progress to high until the desired consistency is reached. If you want a thicker smoothie, add more ice or an additional frozen banana. For a thinner smoothie, make the recipe as is.
- If you want to use the blend as a creamer option for cold brew coffee, simply do the following: blend all the ingredients in the order listed, except the cold brew coffee. Once the ingredients have blended thoroughly (minus the coffee), it will be very thick and creamy like creamer. Pour your cold-brew coffee into a cold glass with ice, pour the mixture on top, and enjoy!
