This piña colada smoothie is made with coconut milk, juicy pineapple chunks (no processed juice here), banana, and a touch of vanilla. It's ready in 5 minutes, naturally vegan, and has all the tropical flavors of a piña colada- just without the alcohol or the sugar crash.
Quick overview
✅ Naturally dairy-free, vegan
✅ Ready in just 5 minutes
✅ No refined sugar
This smoothie is the little cousin of my Piña Colada Mocktail, but creamier because I've added banana. You already know I have a thing for pineapple smoothies (like my No-Banana Frozen Pineapple Smoothie or my Pineapple Almond Milk Smoothie).
But this one is a different take- richer from the coconut milk, naturally sweetened with a date, and a closer match to that classic piña colada flavor. Made from only fresh fruit- no sugar, no juice.
Ingredients & substitution notes
- Pineapple: I usually go for fresh pineapple when it's in season, but the rest of the year I stick with canned pineapple without added sugar. It's easy and super convenient.
- Frozen banana: Make sure to use a very ripe one for optimal sweetness, sliced and frozen the night before. I always keep a few in the freezer so I don't have to think about it
- (Organic) unsweetened coconut milk: this is what gives this smoothie its creamy texture. Cans vary in how much actual coconut extract they contain, and the higher that amount, the creamier the result. You'll usually see them sold as either full-fat coconut milk (richer, thicker) or light coconut milk (thinner, less creamy). For this smoothie, I find that full-fat works best but feel free to stick to a lighter option. I usually stick to organic, unsweetened.
- Medjool date: optional, for extra sweetness.
- Vanilla extract: optional, but it gives the smoothie a nice round flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
Step-by-step photo instructions
Step 1: Put all the needed ingredients into a (high-speed) blender.
Step 2: Blend until smooth. Adjust sweetness and texture.
Smoothie success tips
- Shake it: Give that can of coconut milk a good shake before opening. It tends to separate if it's been hanging out in the cupboard or fridge too long. For this smoothie we want both, the cream and the liquid!
- Make it toddler-friendly: pour leftovers into popsicle molds and freeze. It'll taste like (healthier) ice cream! popsicle mold
Variation & optional add-ins
- Coconut flakes: Add a sprinkle of coconut flakes for a bit of texture and more intense coconut flavors.
- Yogurt: 2 tablespoons of your favorite yogurt (I love vanilla soy or coconut yogurt here, but Greek works just as well) if you want it thicker.
- Protein powder: Add a scoop of protein powder for a bit of a protein boost.
- Fresh lime: Or a squeeze of fresh lime juice for a tangy kick.
- Maple syrup: This smoothie is made without the addition of sugar or syrup but feel free to add some if you've got a sweet tooth.
- Pineapple juice: This smoothie is deliberately made without the additional of fruit juice but feel free to add a splash of pineapple juice for more intense pineapple flavors.
Storage
Honestly, I don't recommend storing this one. It definitely tastes best fresh and fruit smoothies don't store that well.
FAQs
No, it's optional. I like adding one for a little extra natural sweetness, but you can skip it if your banana and pineapple are already sweet enough or replace with maple syrup.
Yes, for less banana flavors you could swap part of the coconut milk with pineapple juice. Just note the smoothie will be a little less creamy.
Related recipes
Looking for more smoothie recipes? Try these:
📖 Recipe
Piña Colada Smoothie
Equipment
- 1 (high speed) blender
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana *sliced and frozen in chunks
- 2 cups (400 g) pineapple chunks *see notes
- 1 cup (230 g) unsweetened coconut milk *see notes
- 1 Medjool date *optional
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extact *optional
Instructions
- Give the coconut milk a good shake so the cream and liquid combine- both are needed for the creamy texture.
- Add all the ingredients to a (high-speed) blender and blend until smooth.1 frozen banana, 2 cups pineapple chunks , 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk, 1 Medjool date, 1 teaspoon vanilla extact
- Taste and adjust sweetness if needed (add more dates or a splash of maple syrup). Pour into a glass and serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Pineapple: I usually go for fresh pineapple when it's in season, but the rest of the year I stick with canned pineapple without added sugar.
- Coconut milk: I like to use organic, unsweetened full-fat coconut milk in this smoothie. Full-fat gives the creamiest result, but light works if you prefer it less rich.
- Can I use pineapple juice? Yes, for less banana flavors you could swap part of the coconut milk with pineapple juice. Just note the smoothie will be a little less creamy.
- Do I need the Medjool date? No, it's optional. I like adding one for a little extra natural sweetness, but you can skip it if your banana and pineapple are already sweet enough or replace with maple syrup.
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