Is there anything better on a hot day than sipping on a cold, fruity drink? It’s even better if you’re lucky enough to be sitting on the beach…sigh. But oh do I love this healthy Piña Colada smoothie beach or no beach! Pass me a paper umbrella, please.
Table of Contents
Piña colada origins
Did you know that the piña colada was created in San Juan, Puerto Rico? According to Forbes Magazine, Ramón “Monchito” Marrero, bartender at the Caribe Hilton created this cocktail in 1954. It became the official drink of Puerto Rico in 1978.
While this piña colada smoothie is alcohol free (no judgement if you add a bit to yours!), the flavor is inspired by this iconic tropical beverage. It’s a fun way to ring in warmer, longer days.
Coconut milk: can vs carton
Whenever I create a smoothie with coconut milk as the base, people ask if they should use canned coconut milk or coconut milk in a carton.
For this recipe, I use canned coconut milk. The key is to shake the can before opening, so that the creamy fat on top mixes in with the watery milk at the bottom. Coconut milk provides essential healthy fats that our bodies need to break down the carbs + protein.
If you need to use milk with a lower fat content, then go for the refrigerated coconut milk in a carton. This piña colada smoothie will be less creamy, yet still just as delicious (I promise!).
Homemade coconut milk for piña colada smoothie
Carton coconut milk has been in grocery stores for several years, yet have you ever read the labels on them? Many contain gums + fillers as well as additives to fortify the milk. I like to know exactly what I’m putting in my body, so I often opt for homemade coconut milk… and I’ve perfected my recipe to produce delicious results every time.
More smoothies with coconut milk
If you made this piña colada smoothie and loved the coconut milk base, then try out these fun smoothie recipes:
- Strawberry milkshake
- Peach smoothie
- Coconut milk smoothie cubes
- Cherry smoothie
- Shamrock shake
- Cacao smoothie bowl
I love using coconut milk as a healthy fat as well as for its ability to cream up any creation.
Healthy piña colada smoothie recipe
This scrumptious green smoothie may fall into the category of a sweet treat, yet it also has numerous health benefits:
A healthy fat boost from the coconut milk + coconut flakes.
Over 100% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C from the nutrient-rich pineapple.
Rich in iron, magnesium, and fiber.
So what are you waiting for? Grab a fun glass and let’s get blending. After you down this smoothie, leave a rating + review to let me know how you liked this smoothie, who you sipped it with, and any fun additions you made.
Pina Colada Smoothie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach
- ½ cup coconut milk
- ½ cup water
- 1 tbsp coconut flakes
- 1 ½ cups pineapple frozen
- 1 serving homemade protein powder optional
Instructions
- Blend spinach, coconut milk, water and coconut flakes, if using, until smooth.
- Add the pineapple and blend again until smooth.
Notes
- Use at least one frozen fruit to make the green smoothie cold.
- If you use fresh pineapple, then you might want to add a few ice cubes to chill after blending.
I can’t wait to try these
Hey Zoe- I can’t wait for you to try the Pina Colada Smoothie too. Let me know how rawesome you think it is when you do!
Summertime in a jar! I LOVE this recipe so much. I see this being a regular this summer!
I used full fat coconut milk in this, and it was super creamy!
Yes – pass the paper umbrella!! Can’t wait to try this while soaking up some FL sunshine. It’s gonna totally give the staycation vibes, I can already tell. 🙂
I love all your healthy smoothies recipes! Thank you for this one especially!
These smoothies sound great. Can you list the amount of potassium in these recipes? I have kidney problems and need to watch my potassium intake. Maybe you could talk about the potassium content in the greens. I know spinach is high in potassium. How about Kale or others? I think I would cut the amount in half and it probably wouldn’t change the taste much
Thank you!
Hi Geri. I think an app like Lose It! or MyFitnessPal that tracks nutritional information would be able to help you determine the potassium in the food you consume. If you think you need to cut the amount of leafy greens in half, you def can. One of the great things about our recipes is that they can be tweaked to fit your dietary needs. 🙂
I finally got my green loving 8 year old to drink a smoothie! We usually put the liquid into popsicle molds. He had this with me this morning over ice. Happy, healthy mom outside Philadelphia!
Yeah, Lisa! That’s great. 🙂 We love all the lil’ Rawkstars!
I love having healthier options for parties… and this is one of those! I’ve used coconut milk from the refrigerated section as well and it works good.
This is seriously one of my absolute favorite smoothies.
Hello from Spain!!
The coconut milk is from a can or a brik?
Thanks!!!
Are these smoothies good to use as a meal replacement? Or in addition to your regular diet
Hi Shawnna,
We love using our green smoothies as a meal replacement. We simply suggest using protein + healthy fats to ensure you’re fueling your body with a complete meal. Learn more about our favorite meal replacement booster combos here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/meal-replacement-smoothie
I just bought a proper blender – no more of that fiddly Nutribullet crap – and made this for breakfast this a.m. Sooooo good.
Didnt have coco milk so used coco water in place of both milk & water, added a 1/4 C. plain yogurt, a few more coco flakes, & the zest of a lime.
May have to whip up a batch tonight, but add a splash of rum in lieu of the spinach:) Yummm.
Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Olivia,
YAY!! We hope you love your new blender + love having you blending with us!
Cheers 🙂
Hi
Im lucky enough to be able to use fresh green coconuts in your recipes, Im wondering whether I should use the coconut flesh too – do you think it would up the calorie/fat content too much? Im sure it would taste great : )
Hi Ade,
You can definitely add coconut flesh in place of coconut flakes in this recipe. Our recipes are here to inspire you, so please don’t hesitate to change things up!
Worried about the fat content? Though coconut milk is high in protein, fiber, and other micronutrients, it is also high in calories and fat. For this reason we recommend saving recipes with coconut milk like this one for special indulgences–maybe for date night desserts. This milk does help to protect your heart, but it will cost you in other areas if used on a regular basis.
Hope this helps!