Dairy-Free Ingredients That Will Make Your Smoothies Taste Creamy and Rich

POPSUGAR Photography | Cera Hensley
POPSUGAR Photography | Cera Hensley

Smoothies make a great meal-prep-friendly addition to any menu. Not only do you have a myriad of healthy ingredients to choose from and endless flavor combinations to try, but you can also turn your smoothie into a wellness potion to suit particular needs.

As if that isn't enough, they also make great substitutes for your not-so-healthy favorite drinks. Although dairy-lovers do have it a lot easier when replicating milkshake recipes with such ingredients as yogurt, milk, and cottage cheese, vegans and nondairy eaters have alternative ingredients that can help them achieve the same. Read on for four ingredients that can go a long way to make your dairy-free milkshake dreams come true.

Nut butter

Although nut butters can be high in calories, in moderation, they make great additions to help thicken up a smoothie. If you don't have any nut butter, using actual nuts will give you the same creamy texture.

Avocados

Avocados have seemingly endless uses, and one of their best happens to be as a smoothie ingredients. Blending up a drink like this avocado banana smoothie will not only fill you up but will also up your intake of heart-healthy fats.

Coconut milk

Coconuts have given us a lot, from sugar and flavorful water to chips and milk. But when it comes to adding some creaminess to your smoothies, it's the milk you want. Of all the dairy-free milks available, the thick, mildly sweet liquid that comes from coconuts works best when trying to thicken up a smoothie.

Silken tofu

Silken tofu is often used as a substitute for eggs because of its creamy, yogurt-like consistency. This protein-packed ingredient is mostly flavorless, which makes it a great addition to smoothies like this healthy vanilla milkshake.