Summer is only a couple of months away and soon the summer heat will start. While smoothies are great to beat the summer heat, you can have a smoothie any time of the year.
Are you looking for a smoothie that is easy to make, uses only simple ingredients, and is a refreshing drink? Then look no further than this Panera mango smoothie copycat recipe.
Panera’s mango smoothie is refreshing and delicious but it can be expensive. At about $6, that can add up to your expenses if you order it all the time.
You’ll save money and end up with a delicious mango smoothie with this Panera copycat recipe! In this article, I’ll guide you through how to make a Panera mango smoothie at home!
In this article:
- Ingredients and Equipment Needed to Make Panera Mango Smoothie
- Step-By-Step Instructions
- Tips For Making Panera Mango Smoothie
- Storing Panera Mango Smoothie
Ingredients and Equipment Needed to Make Panera Mango Smoothie
Before you can start making your homemade Panera mango smoothie, you need to gather a couple of things first.
6 oz. Mango Puree or 2 Fresh Ripe Mangoes
According to Panera’s website, they use mango puree for their mango smoothie. You can definitely use canned mango puree if that is what’s available to you.
If you are going to use fresh mangoes, use ripe ones so you’ll have a sweet refreshing smoothie.
½ Cup Greek Yogurt
It’s not going to be a smoothie if you don’t put yogurt in it. Greek yogurt adds a creamy consistency to the mango smoothie. You can use plain Greek yogurt or a vanilla-flavored one if you want to add more sweetness to your drink.
1 Ripe Banana
Sometimes mangoes can have a sour taste and a ripe banana can add a natural sweetness to your smoothie. A banana can also give your mango smoothie a creamy consistency.
½ Cup Orange Juice
You’re probably wondering why orange juice is part of the ingredients but orange juice adds a tangy flavor that can balance out the sweetness of the mango and banana.
If you are going to use canned or bottled orange juice, look for pure orange juice to avoid added sugars and preservatives. Alternatively, you can also use the juice of 2 to 3 freshly squeezed oranges.
Ice Cubes
Since you are making Panera’s mango smoothie, you will need ice cubes. You can adjust the amount of ice cubes depending on the consistency you want.
Blender and Tall Glass
A blender is essential to blend all the ingredients together. If you don’t have a blender, you can use an immersion blender or even a food processor. Of course, don’t forget a glass to pour your smoothie in!
Step-By-Step Instructions
Now that you have all the ingredients you need, it’s time to make a smoothie! It’s very easy to make and will take you less than 10 minutes. I say 10 minutes since you might be using fresh fruits then you’ll need more time to prep.
- If you are using fresh mangoes, peel and cut the mangoes and banana into small pieces. Add the sliced fruits to the blender.
- Squeeze 2 to 3 oranges to get orange juice. If using canned or bottled orange juice, pour the orange juice into the blender.
- Add ice cubes to the blender.
- Blend all the ingredients together until you get a smooth and creamy consistency.
- If the smoothie is not the consistency of your liking, you can add more orange juice, ice, or more fruits. Blend the ingredients until you achieve your desired consistency.
- Pour the smoothie into a tall glass and enjoy!
- Optional: Add fresh mint leaves on top.
Tips For Making Panera Mango Smoothie
Use Fresh Fruits
Panera uses mango and banana puree as well as orange juice concentrate, which you can also use. However, always use fresh fruits if possible.
You can also freeze fresh fruits if you want your smoothie to be naturally cold.
Fresh fruits, frozen or not, will give you the most flavor without the added sugar and preservatives. If you get the ripe ones, the flavors will be very delicious!
You don't even have to be limited with the fruits listed in this recipe! You can add other fruits that go well with mango, like pineapple.
Add Sweeteners
If you want a sweeter mango smoothie, you can always add sweeteners. If you are using fresh fruits, you won’t have to worry about adding too much refined sugar to your drink.
You can also use honey, maple syrup, or other natural sweeteners if you don’t want to use refined sugar.
Use Non-Fat Yogurt
If you are trying to cut back on calories but can’t resist a refreshing Panera mango smoothie, using a non-fat Greek yogurt can reduce the smoothie’s calories. You won’t be sacrificing any flavor since you’ll still be using fruits that have natural sugar.
Non-fat yogurts are lower in calories than regular plain yogurts so they are a great choice if you are tracking your calories.
Storing Panera Mango Smoothie
The great thing about smoothies is that they store very well in the freezer. You can place your smoothie in an airtight container and place it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Mason jars are great for storing smoothies in. Just make sure to not overfill the jar and to leave a couple of spaces between the lid and the smoothie so your mason jar won’t break.
If you are concerned about the glass breaking, you can also use plastic airtight containers or even Ziploc bags.
You can make your smoothies at the start of the week, portion and freeze them in individual containers, and you’ll have a refreshing drink throughout the week!
Wrapping Up
With just a couple of ingredients, you can recreate Panera’s delicious and refreshing mango smoothie in the comfort of your own home! This copycat recipe will give you tropical flavors that you’ll want to make this all the time.
You can experiment with different flavors using different fruits, or you can always just use mangoes if you like.
Now you can make your favorite Panera mango smoothie whenever the craving kicks in, especially since summer is slowly approaching. What better way to beat the summer heat than with this copycat Panera mango smoothie recipe?
Other Panera Copycat Recipes:
- How to Make Panera Green Tea at Home – Quick & Affordable
- How to Make Panera's Charged Lemonade at Home (Recipe)
- How to Make Panera Baja Bowl
