This pina colada smoothie is a tropical mix of frozen pineapple and coconut milk blended into a refreshing drink! Made with 3 simple ingredients, this healthy smoothie recipe is a creamy, cool and satisfying way to begin the day.
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Healthy Pina Colada Smoothie
Today I wanted to share one of my favorite things in the summertime…pina colada smoothies! Something about the blend of coconut and pineapple and creamy goodness just screams SUMMER to me. Along with my favorite Orange Julius recipe it’s the perfect refreshing treat to cool off on a hot summer day and has all those classic tropical flavors that make you feel like you’re at the beach similar to this green smoothie recipe!
This mocktail recipe is super simple and only takes 3 ingredients (plus ice) and 5 minutes to make. As is it is both vegan and gluten-free! There are plenty of ways to make it your own, like adding in a frozen banana and strawberries, or using coconut cream to make it a bit sweeter and thicker.
Serve it in a glass with a fun straw, a fresh pineapple wedge and even a dollop of whipped cream if you’re feeling fancy. Or make a smoothie bowl with all your favorite toppings. Either way you’ll have an easy breakfast or healthy snack idea that’s ready in no time!
Recipe Ingredients
Simple and wholesome ingredients combine together for a smoothie with the most delicious creamy texture!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Milk: Coconut milk is best for a tropical taste. Canned coconut milk will give the creamiest results, but feel free to use your favorite non-dairy milk.
- Pineapple: Frozen pineapple will make the smoothie thick and creamy.
- Sugar: Just a small amount of granulated or coconut sugar brings out the natural sweetness of the fruit.
- Ice: You will also need 1 cup of ice.
Smoothie Substitutions
- Swap the sugar for honey to keep it healthier.
- If you’d like more fruit, mix in 1/2 banana and 1 cup strawberries (I recommend both frozen).
- For more protein, add a scoop of vanilla protein powder (this will change the flavor a bit, but will still taste delicious).
- Substitute the coconut milk for coconut cream for a thicker and sweeter smoothie.
- Serve as a smoothie bowl with toppings like shredded coconut, more fresh fruit and chia seeds.
How to Make a Pina Colada Smoothie
My kids LOVE this piña colada smoothie and beg for me to make them all summer. It’s the perfect healthy snack idea to cool off with after playing in the hot summer sun.
- Combine. Stir the coconut milk, then combine it with sugar, pineapple chunks and ice in a blender.
- Blend. Blend on high power until smooth adding more milk or frozen pineapple if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Serve. Pour into 2 glasses and serve with fresh pineapple garnish if desired.
Tips for Smoothie Success
- Frozen pineapple. This creates the perfect creamy consistency. You can buy bags of frozen pineapple at the grocery, or cut a fresh pineapple into cubes and then freeze them yourself.
- Stir the coconut milk. Coconut milk tends to separate in the can (solid cream on top and liquid on bottom). So before using the milk, make sure to give it a big stir to combine the 2 layers. You can definitely use your blender to do this, just make sure to pour it back in the can and then measure out 3/4 cup.
- Liquid first. As with most smoothie recipes, pour the liquid (coconut milk) into the blender first, then add the remaining ingredients. Not only is this gentler on your blender, but the smoothie will blend more easily this way.
- Consistency. After blending together the ingredients, check out the consistency. If it’s too thick, add in a bit more coconut milk. Or blend in more frozen pineapple or ice to thicken it up.
FAQs
This pina colada smoothie also doubles as a great recipe for homemade popsicles! Pour any leftovers into a popsicle mold and freeze for about 4 hours, or until solid. Then run warm water on the bottom of the mold to release the pops.
You can also pour the leftover smoothie into an ice cube tray and then use the cubes to make my favorite pineapple smoothie.
Garnish your glass with a fresh pineapple wedge, whipped cream and a cherry for an even more tropical island feel! Other garnish ideas include coconut flakes, fresh mint leaves or sliced strawberries.
While you could use dairy milk or other dairy-free milks like almond or oat, coconut milk is really what gives this the tropical taste.
Smoothies are best fresh as they start to lose some of their nutrients after that but if needed you can store leftover smoothie in the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours.
For more healthy smoothie recipes try a kale smoothie, peanut butter banana smoothie or this strawberry smoothie!
More Smoothie Recipes
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Pina Colada Smoothie
Ingredients
- ¾ cup coconut milk
- 2 to 3 cups frozen pineapple
- 1 Tablespoon granulated or coconut sugar , more to taste
- 1 cup ice
For serving (optional): fresh pineapple slices, whipped cream, cherries
Instructions
- Combine the coconut milk (stir first), sugar, pineapple and ice in a blender.
- Blend on high power until smooth. Add more milk or frozen pineapple if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Pour into 2 glasses and serve with fresh pineapples if desired.
Video
Notes
- You may omit the sugar or substitute for honey.
- If you’d like more fruit, you can try adding 1/2 banana and a cup of strawberries.
- For a sweeter and thicker smoothie, use cream of coconut.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Beverages, Breakfast, Dairy-Free, Freezer-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Kid-Friendly, Nut-Free, Smoothies, Sweet Breakfast, Vegan, Vegetarian
Excellent !
I want your Recipe please that look so Good.
Can I use coconut milk in carton?
You can, although the canned coconut is thicker with a bolder coconut flavor.
I freeze the pineapple and omit the ice. This is so good!
Great tip! Glad you enjoyed the smoothie, Theresa :)
Do you mean coconut milk, or the cream of coconut that you buy in the aisle with the mixed drink products?
Canned coconut milk :) You can usually find it in the Asian food aisle.
I used cream of coconut and added evaporated milk. I followed the recipe as is. It turned out great. I might exclude the sugar since it is sweet enough.
That is perfect! Thanks for sharing!
I love (alcohol free) pina coladas, so I know I am going to love this. I am going to add a smidgen of coconut extract. Thank you for the tip about blending the can of coconut milk; I never would have thought of that!
You are so welcome, Jeannette! The addition of coconut extract sounds delicious. Enjoy :)
I can’t eat pineapple unless it’s canned…I wonder if I drained and froze canned pineapple chunks if it would work???
I haven’t tried, but I think that would work well :)
Very good 10
So glad you liked it! :)
Hi, I’m a little confused on the coconut milk. I saw unsweetened milk, sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated milk at my grocery. Which one does the recipe call for? I went with unsweetened. Hope that is correct?
Unsweetened coconut milk should work just fine. Give it a taste after blending and feel free to add in more sugar if needed to sweeten it up a little.
very refreshing & tasty , gr8 morning picker upper
So glad you enjoyed the recipe :)
Give me one of these & the beach & I am in heaven!! Super easy & little ingredients makes this a hit at my house!
Yum!! My smoothie of choice! Love all the tropical flavors!
Hi can I use full fat coconut milk in the cans?
Yes!
Thank you so much for sharing this pina colada smoothies recipe! It’s really awesome and fam really loves it! Very easy to make!
I love that there is only 3-ingredients! It is so refreshing and creamy too! Can’t wait to make it all summer long.
I’m definitely trying this! I have everything to make them tonight :) Party time!