Panera Bread is a popular bakery-cafe chain that offers a variety of breads, sandwiches, salads, and soups. In addition to their savory menu items, Panera also offers refreshing smoothies made with real fruit and juices. Panera’s smoothie menu includes classic flavors like Strawberry Banana, Mango, and Mixed Berry. But what exactly goes into these frosty blended beverages? Read on to find out what ingredients make up Panera’s smoothie recipes.
Fruit
The base of any smoothie is fruit. Fruit provides smoothies with natural sweetness, nutrients like vitamin C and antioxidants, and texture. Panera smoothies feature fruit such as:
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Mangos
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Pineapple
Using fresh, ripe fruit ensures Panera smoothies have an authentic, fruity flavor. The fruit also contributes to the smooth, creamy texture.
Juices
In addition to fruit, fruit juices are another key smoothie ingredient at Panera. Juices add liquid content, natural sweetness, and flavor. Some juices found in Panera smoothies include:
- Orange juice
- Pineapple juice
- Apple juice
- Cranberry juice
The juices complement the flavors of the fruits and provide a nutrition boost with added vitamins and minerals.
Yogurt
Creamy yogurt is blended into Panera’s smoothies, adding protein, calcium, and healthy probiotics. Non-fat vanilla yogurt is used to provide richness without unnecessary fat and calories. The yogurt also enhances the smooth, creamy mouthfeel.
Sherbet
For thicker, milkshake-style smoothies, sherbet is sometimes added to the blender. Sherbets come in flavors like orange, lime, and rainbow that complement the fruit. The sherbet gives the smoothies a thicker, creamier consistency while also reducing the tartness of the juices.
Sweeteners
To balance out the tartness of the fruit juices and yogurt, Panera adds a touch of sweetener to their smoothie recipes. Typically, cane sugar or honey are used to subtly sweeten the blended beverages. The sweeteners offset the acidity and enhance the flavor, without being overly sugary.
Ice
What’s a smoothie without ice? Crushed ice is added to the blender to give Panera’s smoothies their signature thick, frosty texture. The ice chills the smoothie to refreshing perfection. It also dilutes and blends the ingredients together into a frozen drink consistency.
Flavorings
In addition to fruits and juices, Panera sometimes incorporates other flavorings into their smoothie blends. These extra flavor shots customize the taste and aroma of each smoothie variety. Examples include:
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Cocoa powder
A dusting of cinnamon takes an apple smoothie to the next level. Cocoa powder adds richness to a chocolatey banana smoothie. Small amounts of these add-ins customize Panera’s smoothies.
Vegan and Low-Calorie Options
Panera offers options for customers with dietary preferences or restrictions. They have a selection of vegan smoothies made without yogurt or honey. These vegan smoothies rely on fruits, juices, ice, and sweeteners like agave nectar. There are also low-calorie smoothies made with artificially sweetened yogurt, light juices, and zero calorie sweeteners to reduce the calorie count.
Smoothie Sizes
Panera smoothies come in three sizes: small, regular, and large. Here is an overview of the size options:
| Size | Ounces |
|---|---|
| Small | 16 oz |
| Regular | 24 oz |
| Large | 32 oz |
The small is a lighter option for those who want just a taste. The regular satisfies most smoothie cravings. And the large is perfect for sharing or extra thirst-quenching refreshment.
Nutrition Information
Panera offers detailed nutrition information for their smoothies on their website and in-cafe menus. This allows customers to make informed choices about calories, sugar, protein, and other nutrients. Here is the nutrition breakdown for a 24oz Strawberry Banana Smoothie:
| Nutrition Facts | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 270 |
| Total Fat | 2g |
| Sodium | 100mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 61g |
| Dietary Fiber | 5g |
| Sugars | 51g |
| Protein | 5g |
As you can see, while smoothies do contain sugars from the fruit juices, they also provide important nutrients like vitamin C and fiber. Overall, Panera smoothies can be part of a balanced diet when consumed in moderation.
Price
Panera smoothies range in price from $3.99-$5.99 depending on size. Here are the typical prices for each size:
| Size | Price |
|---|---|
| Small | $3.99 |
| Regular | $4.99 |
| Large | $5.99 |
Smoothies are an affordable treat, costing just pennies per ounce. Panera often runs specials where smoothies are discounted or sold in bundles with food items.
Blend-Ins
For an extra nutrition and flavor boost, Panera offers blend-in additions you can mix into your smoothie. Popular options include:
- Whey protein powder – adds protein
- Flaxseed – increases fiber
- Coffee bean – caffeine kick
- Nut butter – protein & healthy fats
- Greek yogurt – extra protein & creaminess
Each blend-in is an additional $.99. They allow you to customize your smoothie to your dietary needs and preferences.
How Panera Smoothies Are Made
Panera smoothies are made fresh in each cafe location. They follow a simple process:
- Gather ingredients – fruits, juices, yogurt, ice, etc.
- Portion ingredients into a plastic blender cup.
- Blend on high speed until smooth consistency is reached, about 1 minute.
- Pour into a plastic cup and serve with a dome lid and straw.
- Enjoy immediately or refrigerate until ready to consume.
Employees are trained to follow precise recipe cards for each smoothie variety. This ensures consistent flavor and quality across the entire chain.
Smoothie-Making Equipment
Panera uses heavy-duty blenders designed specifically for commercial use. Vitamix blenders have high horsepower motors that can whip up smoothies in seconds. The plastic blender cups have markings to easily portion ingredients. Other tools used in smoothie prep include:
- Cutting boards
- Knives
- Measuring cups
- Food storage containers
- Squeeze bottles for juices
- Refrigerators and freezers
Proper equipment enables Panera employees to quickly make fresh smoothies while maintaining food safety and consistency.
Benefits of Panera Smoothies
There are many benefits to enjoying smoothies from Panera:
- Made with real fruit and juices – no artificial flavors or colors
- Provide nutrients like vitamin C, antioxidants, probiotics, fiber and protein
- Thick, creamy texture from fruit, yogurt and ice
- Vegan and low-calorie options available
- Can be customized with flavorful blend-ins
- Refreshing taste and texture
- Convenient meal or snack when on-the-go
Overall, Panera smoothies provide nutritious ingredients in a delicious chilled beverage. They make a tasty anytime treat!
Storing Leftover Smoothies
Have extra smoothie you can’t finish? Follow these tips for storing it:
- Transfer to an airtight container or jar with a tight lid.
- Let cool, then place in the refrigerator.
- Smoothies will keep 2-3 days in the fridge.
- Give a quick stir before enjoying to recombine any separation.
- For longer storage, freeze extra smoothie in ice cube trays, then transfer to freezer bags.
- Add frozen smoothie cubes to bowls, more smoothies, or blends as needed.
With proper storage methods, you can enjoy Panera smoothies for several days and avoid wasting any.
Smoothie Menu Options
Panera offers a wide variety of smoothie flavors on their menu throughout the year. Popular choices include:
- Strawberry Banana – classic flavor combo
- Mango – refreshing tropical flavor
- Mixed Berry – loaded with blueberries and raspberries
- Green Passion – spinach, mango and pineapple
- Caribbean Mango – mango, pineapple, coconut milk
- Orange Splash – orange sherbet gives a creamy taste
- Peach Pear – juicy peaches and sweet pear
Limited time offerings have included fun flavors like Lemon Meringue and Cinnamon Roll. There are light options as well as indulgent varieties. With so many options, there is a smoothie to satisfy every craving at Panera!
Smoothies for Kids
In addition to regular size smoothies, Panera offers 8oz kid-sized smoothies. The Junior Smoothies come in kid-friendly flavors like:
- Strawberry banana
- Mixed berry
- Mango pineapple
The smaller smoothies pack all the same fruity flavor into a pint-sized portion perfect for little hands. They provide a nutritious beverage option for kids instead of sugary sodas or juices.
Drink Smoothies Quickly for Best Texture
Smoothies from Panera are best consumed right away before the ice starts to melt. The icy temperature not only keeps the drink chilled, but provides that signature thick, frosty texture. Here are some tips for preserving the texture:
- Use a straw to sip smoothies quickly rather than slowly with a spoon.
- Add blender cubes or extra ice if you won’t finish a large smoothie immediately.
- Consider ordering a smaller size smoothie if you plan to drink it slowly.
- Stir occasionally as you drink to redistribute the texture.
Drinking smoothies fast allows you to experience their full rich, creamy texture straight from the blender!
Are Panera Smoothies Healthy?
Panera smoothies can be a healthy choice when consumed in moderation as part of an overall balanced diet. Consider the following:
- Made with real fruit and yogurt – provide vitamins, minerals and protein.
- Contain fiber from blended fruit and pulp.
- Offer vegan and low-calorie options.
- No artificial ingredients or high fructose corn syrup.
- Provide hydration from fruit juices and water content.
- Customizable with healthy blend-in mix-ins like flaxseed or protein powder.
That said, smoothies do contain natural sugars and calories from fruit, juices, and added sweeteners. Stick to smaller portions and limit high-calorie blend-ins for the healthiest option. Overall, smoothies make a tastier, more nutritious choice than soda, milkshakes or most coffee drinks.
Conclusion
Panera Bread offers delicious smoothies freshly blended with real fruits, juices, yogurt, and ice. While recipe specifics are proprietary, some of the main ingredients include strawberries, banana, mango, orange juice, and vanilla yogurt. Panera smoothies provide important nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber from whole fruit ingredients. Customization options allow you to tailor the smoothies to your dietary needs. Sipped responsibly alongside the rest of your diet, Panera smoothies can be part of an overall healthy lifestyle. So next time you’re craving something cool and fruity, stop by your nearest Panera cafe and blend up a tasty fruit smoothie.
