This easy homemade pina colada smoothie made with banana and coconut milk is bound to be a favorite! It is the perfect refreshing drink for warm days and evenings so you too can enjoy the tropical taste of vacation at home. This healthy 4-ingredient recipe is made without alcohol and is naturally sweetened with fruit.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, at no extra cost to you.
Jump to:
Reasons to Love:
Nothing beats homemade smoothies when it comes to taste and the incredible health benefits. I have shared a few smoothie recipes in the past; my blue spirulina and strawberry pineapple smoothies are particularly loved by readers for these simple reasons.
Oh, and if you love smoothies as my family does, then make sure to grab this printable collection of delicious healthy smoothies in PDF format.
This piña colada smoothie bags some great points in its favor, namely:
- delicious - it is creamy, sweet, refreshing, with the delicious taste of vacation (I think you get the drift).
- healthy - much healthier because it uses coconut milk instead of the cream of coconut used in most recipes, which is normally loaded with sugar. It also uses healthy fruit (namely fresh pineapple and frozen banana) which add natural sweetness to the smoothie.
- diet-friendly - fits perfectly into the paleo and whole 30 clean eating diets. It is also vegan.
- easy-to-make - basically involves popping all the ingredients in a blender, et voilà (there you go)!
Ingredients
You only require a few ingredients to make your own homemade virgin pina colada smoothie:
- Canned coconut milk - helps give it a rich and creamy taste.
- Diced ripe pineapple - naturally sweetens the smoothie keeping it healthy and eliminating the need to add processed sugar.
- Frozen banana - while most pina colada variations do not use bananas, I find using frozen banana helps add a creamy flavor, plus, most Caribbean versions include it so do not think it is strange.
- Vanilla extract - and by all means, feel free to use coconut extract.
- Optional - add crushed ice or ice cubes if preferred. Alternatively, use a piece of sliced pineapple or toasted coconut flakes to garnish, when serving.
How to make a Pina Colada Smoothie
Now comes the fun part! Making this homemade vegan smoothie is pretty easy and quick, so let's get to it.
- Peel and dice a pineapple. Use canned pineapple if you prefer, but make sure to keep an eye on the ingredient list. You can set aside two slices of pineapple, to use later as garnish.
- Combine canned coconut milk, diced pineapple, banana, ice cubes (optional), and vanilla extract in a blender, then process.
- Place some crushed ice or ice cubes into a glass if preferred. Pour the blended smoothie into glasses and serve. You can use pineapple slices, toasted coconut flakes, or both to decorate your glass. Serve immediately.
Ingredient Options
This non-alcoholic pina colada smoothie is so good, but feel free to get creative in the kitchen and play around with the ingredients!
- Coconut water - use coconut water in place of coconut milk but bear in mind that it may not be as creamy.
- Protein - add one scoop of vanilla or unflavored protein powder or use Greek yogurt to make a pina colada protein smoothie!
- Cocktail - while this recipe is non-alcoholic, you can enjoy it as a cocktail by adding 1-2 oz of white rum.
Frequently Asked Questions
The name pina colada is derived from the Spanish words piña which means (pineapple) and colada (strained). The earliest known history of the drink dates back to Puerto Rico, as early as the 19th century.
The classic cocktail comprises white rum, cream of coconut or coconut milk, and pineapple juice. Cream of coconut refers to sweetened and thickened coconut milk. The ratio is normally as follows: 1 oz (1 part) coconut cream, 1 oz (1 part) white rum, and 3 oz (3 parts) pineapple juice. Virgin pina colada or piñita colada on the other hand, is basically pina colada, minus the rum.
More Delicious Recipes to Try
- Easy Carrot Ginger Coconut Soup
- Recipe for Turmeric Latte (Paleo and Vegan)
- Delicious Paleo Carrot Cake with Almond Flour
Great news, you have made it this far which means you probably made or are making this virgin pina colada smoothie! It would go a long way if you could leave a ⭐rating on the recipe card or comment in the comments section below.
Feel free to follow me on my social channels! Tag me @weeatatlast (formerly paleolowcarbkate) on Instagram, pin it on Pinterest, or like my Facebook page for the latest updates! Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel or Newsletter for regular recipe notifications!
📖 Recipe
Easy Homemade Pina Colada Smoothie Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup canned coconut milk (full fat)
- 1 cup diced pineapple (very ripe)
- 1 frozen banana (sliced)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pineapple slice to garnish (optional)
- ice cubes or crushed ice (optional)
Instructions
- Peel and dice a pineapple. Use canned pineapple if you prefer, but make sure to keep an eye on the ingredient list. You can set aside two slices of pineapple, to use later as garnish.
- Combine canned coconut milk, diced pineapple, banana, ice cubes (optional) and vanilla extract in a blender then process thoroughly for about 3 minutes or until smooth and creamy.
- Place some crushed ice or ice cubes into a glass if preferred. Pour the blended pina colada smoothie into glasses. Garnish the rim of each glass with the previously set aside pineapple pieces. You can also garnish with toasted coconut (or a combination of both).Serve immediately.
Notes
- Coconut water - use coconut water in place of coconut milk but bear in mind that it may not be as creamy.
- Protein - add one scoop of vanilla or unflavored protein powder or use Greek yogurt to make a pina colada protein smoothie!
- Cocktail - while this recipe is non-alcoholic, you can enjoy it as a cocktail by adding 1-2 oz of white rum.
Nart at Cooking with Nart
This smoothie looks so good!
Kate Hahnel
Thank you. Hope you get to try it out.