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.
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!
This is my favorite recipe… 🙂
It’s one of our favorites too! Especially poolside! Thanks for blendin’ with us, Evolve!
Would frozen pineapple work with this recipe?
Sorry! I see this question was already asked!
No worries, Tracy!! Thanks for the question! We love blendin’ with frozen fruits. They’re perfect for ensuring our recipes are creamy + chilled to perfection, and are especially helpful when our favorite ingredients are out of season.
Cheers!
Hi Jadha and Jen,
How many calories are in your Pina Colada smoothie?
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/pina-colada-smoothie
Thanks,
Michelle
Hi Michelle!
Thanks for reaching out! At this time, we do not include the nutritional information with our recipes. We like to encourage our community members to focus on fueling with themselves with whole, nutrient-rich foods as opposed to tracking numbers. However, if you’d like to have the calorie count for your own personal needs, I’d recommend checking out My Fitness Pal :).
Thanks so much for being a part of our community! Cheers!
It is not convenient for me to get coconut water or coconut milk. I am wondering that if I could use soy milk (which is squeezed by myself)to replace them?
Hi Micky,
We haven’t made our own soy milk, so that’s hard to answer. When it comes to store bought options, we believe that small amounts of organic, non-GMO soy are fine (like tamari and tempeh) but we recommend staying away from highly-processed unfermented soy products which can interfere with nutrient absorption and leach nutrients from your body. Soy milk, soy burgers, and soy ice cream are all in this category.
We love switching up our liquid base options! When coconut water is hard to find, filtered water is a great option! Also, almond milk is a great substitute for coconut milk.
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/dairy-free-smoothies
Hope this helps!
how frequent should i do this in a day…
Hi Marion,
Great question! Our goal for you is to add one (16 oz) green smoothie to your day in addition to your regular diet.
Reach out with any questions!
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Hi Marion,
YAY! We’re so excited to have you blendin’ with us! Cheers to health, happiness, + leafy greens!
Are these resipes in the book? Plz say yes !
HI Khulood,
Oh, KALE YEAH! Our Pina Colada recipe is definitely part of our Simple Green Smoothies book!
This smoothie this so far the best green smoothie I have ever had, I can’t wait to make more green smoothies from here =D
Hi Dee,
YAY! Thanks for taking the time to share your smoothie love with us! 🙂
This smoothie looks delicious, but sometimes there’s no time to make them. This is a great organic alternative: bit.ly/1XpuRGt
Hi Lena,
Short on time? Try prepping your green smoothies!
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/frozen-smoothie-packs
Hi Shell,
Not a fan of coconut milk. No worries! Swap in another liquid base you enjoy more! Here are a few of our favorites…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/dairy-free-smoothies
Just made this and it’s so creamy and delicious. I only did half the recommended coconut milk and subbed in water, and it was still divine. Looking forward to checking out the rest of your website! Thanks so much!
Thanks for blendin’ with us Michelle! 🙂
Hello there, I have been drinking green smoothies for years but want to get back to basics I just stumbled onto your website and it looks very interesting.
Another question about coconut milk. I buy coconut milk in cans but now you can also buy coconut milk in cartons which is a ubstitute for “cow’s milk. It gets a little confusing sometimes. Which one is used in the Pina Colada smoothy.
Thanks.
Hi Estelle,
We’re so excited you found us in this busy internet world. And thank you for your great question! With all of the great coconut products available today, it can get confusing. There are several types of coconut milk, and it’s all about finding what you enjoy. Here’s our breakdown…
Coconut cream is the thickest and richest. It has the least amount of water. Then there is full-fat or regular coconut milk. It still has plenty of rich, creamy taste, but has a higher liquid ratio. Light coconut milk has the mildest flavor, highest water content, and least amount of calories compared with the other varieties. Think of these as you would heavy cream, whole milk, and low-fat milk.
I personally love using light coconut milk from the can for this recipe! It creates a delicious decadent green smoothie, will a little less guilt.
Want to learn more about coconut, check out our Coconut 101 post here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/coconut-oil-benefits
Hello ladies… Happy holiday to you both. My ???? Is this I enjoy your website. I have been drinking to smoothies a day, and the weight is coming off. I would like to know, I made my smoothie today. When I make any of mines I add half a cup of Greek yougurt. My question is when I did my pineapple I used can just drain the juice. Not much flavor I expected. Should I added a llittle juice from the pineapples.
Hi Talitha,
Thank you so much for reaching out. Finding canned pineapple not flavorful enough? Adding pineapple juice is a great option! Just know that adding fruit juice will up the sugar content of your green smoothie. Is frozen pineapple available where you are? Using frozen fruit is a great option when your favorite fruits are out of season or not local to your area.
Cheers 🙂
Hi ladies….I am looking forward tie trying this recipe. My o e question is could I use frozen pineapple??
Hi Laurie,
Of course! We actually suggest using at least one frozen fruit to ensure your green smoothie is chilled to perfection! Using frozen fruit also allows us to enjoy our favorite fruits when they’re out of season!
Hi Jen + Jadah!
So thankful I found your website, I just had my first green juice ever yesterday….and today I came home with a Blendtec! I’m a total beginner so all of your information is so incredibly helpful!!! Is there a coconut milk you recommend? Should I use sweetened or unsweetened coconut milk? Also, I would love to know the differences between coconut water and coconut milk. Are there different benefits?
Thank you so much for creating this website!!!
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
Thank you so much for reaching out! We’re so excited you found us in this busy internet world and love hearing your enthusiasm for Simple Green Smoothies! Jadah loves her Blendtec and we hope you love yours too!
We personally love making our own coconut milk, check out our recipe here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/meal-replacement-smoothie
When purchasing coconut milk from the grocery aisle we suggest reaching for unsweetened coconut milk and looking for a brand with the least amount of processing.
Between coconut milk, coconut water, and coconut oil, understanding all of the different health benefits and nutritional information can be confusing. Check out our post on all things coconut here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/coconut-oil-benefits
Reach out with any questions! 🙂