This pina colada smoothie makes pineapple, banana, and coconut into a creamy tropical healthy treat that satisfies a sweet craving! Perfect for breakfasts and snacks.
As someone who’s written over 50 smoothie recipes, I thought I’d tasted them all until I created this one: the pina colada smoothie! This healthy treat is so much fun, fresh and creamy with a tropical flavor reminiscent of the popular pina colada cocktail.
It uses only 4 ingredients and tastes so delicious, you’ll be whipping it up on repeat for snacks and treats! I especially love it when I’m craving something sweet but want to keep it light and healthy.
5 Star Reader Review
“This pina colada smoothie was a huge hit! So creamy and decadent but also not too heavy. This is a lovely and refreshing treat. We had one verrry brown banana that needed rescuing, and it added the perfect amount of sweetness.” -Tanvee
Ingredients You’ll Need
All you need is 4 ingredients here, plus water and ice! You don’t even need to worry about freezing a banana (which we always forget!). Here’s what you’ll need:
- Frozen pineapple: This provides the creamy, thick backbone of the smoothie.
- Banana: Use a fresh banana; it adds natural sweetness and creaminess to the puree (though banana is not part of a traditional pina colada cocktail). You can also use a frozen banana if desired.
- Shredded coconut: Just a bit of shredded unsweetened coconut infuses the coconut flavor.
- Coconut milk: For the best coconut flavor and creaminess, use canned coconut milk, not coconut milk sold in cartons. If all you have is carton coconut milk, you can add additional shredded coconut to taste.
Pro Tips for a Perfect Pina Colada Smoothie
- Add the liquids first. Adding the liquid and soft items to the blender first
- Adjust the ice to your preference. The recipe calls for 3 ice cubes, which creates a thick, spoonable consistency. If you prefer a thinner, more drinkable smoothie, you can skip the ice.
- Taste before serving. Depending on the natural sweetness of your pineapple and banana, you might want to add a touch of maple syrup or honey. I typically don’t need to, but some batches benefit from a small amount of sweetener.
Adding Protein
If you’re looking to eat this pina colada smoothie for breakfast or as part of a meal, you may want to add some protein to make it more filling. Here are a few ideas:
- Add chia seeds. Add plant-based protein and fiber with chia seeds! Two tablespoons chia seeds adds 4 grams protein and 11 grams fiber.
- Add protein powder. Use your favorite brand (plain is best, but vanilla can work too). I typically like this Orgain brand protein powder, which I use for my homemade protein bars.
Variations to Try
Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, you can add additional flavors. A tablespoon of lime juice adds a bright, tangy note that’s really refreshing.
You can also substitute half the pineapple with frozen mango: see my Tropical Smoothie recipe. Or you could swap in strawberries like my Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie.
If you’re avoiding bananas, I would replace them with another 1 cup frozen pineapple here.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
This pina colada smoothie is best enjoyed fresh from the blender, but I’ve found it stores well for up to 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator. Just keep it in a sealed jar or container. It will separate as it sits, so give it a good stir or shake before drinking.
Dietary Notes
This pina colada smoothie recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Pina Colada Smoothie
Pin RecipeWhat’s more fun than a pina colada smoothie? This creamy puree stars pineapple, banana and coconut for one deliciously sweet healthy treat.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 small or 1 large 1x
- Category: Smoothie
- Method: Blended
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- ½ cup full fat canned coconut milk
- ¼ cup water
- 1 banana (room temperature)
- 1 cup frozen pineapple
- 2 tablespoons shredded coconut (unsweetened)
- 3 ice cubes
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth, stopping and stirring as necessary. Eat immediately or store in a sealed jar for 1 to 2 days.
Notes
Coconut milk tip: For the best coconut flavor and creaminess, use canned coconut milk, not coconut milk sold in cartons. If all you have is carton coconut milk, add additional shredded coconut to taste.
Variations: You can also use a frozen banana and fresh pineapple or use both frozen; make sure to always have at least 1 frozen fruit.
Adding sweetener: Depending on the natural sweetness of your pineapple and banana, you might want to add a touch of maple syrup or honey. I typically don’t need to, but some batches can use a small amount of sweetener.
Banana swap: If you’re avoiding bananas, I’d replace them with another 1 cup frozen pineapple here.
More favorite smoothie recipes
If you love this pina colada smoothie, here are a few more favorite smoothie recipes to try:
- This strawberry smoothie, mango smoothie or pineapple smoothie are classic
- This grape smoothie and raspberry smoothie are fan favorites
- We love this chocolate strawberry smoothie or chocolate peanut butter smoothie when we’re looking for a treat
from A Couple Cooks https://ift.tt/PSs7z3R
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