Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: There’s nothing like a frosty, refreshing pineapple smoothie, made with delicious tropical fruit and coconut milk, to bring you all the sunshine, with an added boost of protein, too!
How long it takes: 5 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: blender
Servings: 2 large smoothies, or 4 small smoothies
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Pin ItCall it a pineapple smoothie, a Dole Whip, a piña colada smoothie, or whatever you decide, the tropical flavors of this deliciously creamy smoothie are sure to please! Made with frozen pineapple and banana, plus coconut milk, pineapple juice, and a few other healthy add-ins, a pineapple smoothie is the perfect way to start any summer morning (or any morning you could use a refreshing taste of the tropics)!
Creamy Pineapple Smoothie
Healthy ingredients. Pineapple can boost immunity and is loaded with fiber and vitamins. Bananas are another healthy fruit. This smoothie is also a good way to add protein to your day because it’s made with Greek yogurt and collagen (or protein powder, if you prefer).
Frosty but not icy. Because you’ll be using frozen fruit, there’s no need to add ice. Your smoothie will be frosty but never watered down by melted ice.
Easy to make and completely customizable. This smoothie recipe is so flexible, with no hard and fast rules. You can definitely swap out certain things for whatever you’d like. You can skip the banana, and pair the pineapple with other fruits. Make it with milk (any type of milk) instead of coconut milk. Try cottage cheese instead of Greek yogurt. You can easily make it a dairy-free smoothie, too!
Love pineapple beverages? Be sure to try my pineapple water recipe (you may know it as pineapple agua fresca). If you’re more in the mood for a cocktail, this pineapple margarita is always a winner!
Ingredient Notes
- Frozen banana: Adding a frozen ripe banana gives the pineapple smoothie a thicker consistency while adding sweetness and flavor. I always have bananas in my freezer for smoothies and baking. It’s a great way to use overripe bananas!
- Frozen pineapple: Using frozen fruit eliminates the need for ice which can water down the smoothie. Buy a whole pineapple, cut it into chunks, and freeze it so it’s ready to use for smoothies.
- Pineapple juice: The pineapple juice not only adds sweetness but also acts as the liquid to help blend your pineapple smoothie. I find that refrigerated pineapple juice has better flavor than canned.
- Plain Greek yogurt: Not only does yogurt give the smoothie a rich creamy texture, it adds protein, too!
- Coconut milk: Coconut milk adds a nice coconut flavor (think piña colada!). Use the type of coconut milk that’s meant to be a beverage, not canned coconut milk.
- Agave syrup: This is a natural sweetener that can be omitted if you prefer. You could also substitute honey, brown sugar, or another sweetener.
- Collagen or protein powder: If you’d like to boost the protein in your smoothie, collagen powder is an easy choice because it’s flavorless and calorie-free. Unflavored protein powder is another good option. You can also opt to make your smoothie without either product.
Mixing Pineapple with Milk
You may have heard that it’s not a great idea to mix fresh pineapple with milk. Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which can interact with the proteins in dairy products, causing the milk to curdle and giving it a bitter taste.
Since the pineapple and yogurt are blended together in this frozen smoothie, you won’t notice any curdling or bitterness. If you are concerned about any negative interaction, substitute canned pineapple for the fresh, or use a dairy-free yogurt.
How to Make A Pineapple Smoothie
Blend. Add the frozen banana, pineapple, pineapple juice, yogurt, coconut milk, sweetener, and protein powder to a blender. Blend until smooth.
Serve. Pour the smoothie into glasses. This recipe makes about four cups so you can divide it into two large smoothies, or four smaller ones. Garnish each glass with pineapple wedges (and maybe a cute cocktail pick!). Serve immediately.
For a tropical-themed breakfast, check out my piña colada pancakes! They go really well with this pineapple smoothie.
Bamboo Cocktail Picks
I found these cute palm leaf cocktail picks on Amazon. They’re inexpensive and come a hundred to a pack. You can also use them as fruit skewers or to decorate cupcakes.
Easy Recipe Variations
- Lean into the coconut. The pineapple juice makes the pineapple smoothie extra fruity but if you prefer a smoothie that has less sugar, increase the coconut milk and reduce the juice.
- Add more protein. Plain cottage cheese may be substituted for the Greek yogurt for an extra boost of protein. It will make a thicker smoothie.
- Try a different sweetener. Sub in honey or maple syrup for the agave. Granulated sugar will do in a pinch or the sweetener can be completely eliminated, especially if you use a very ripe banana.
- Use different fruit combinations. The possibilities are endless! Because pineapple is so sweet, it pairs well with other tropical fruits such as banana, mango, coconut, papaya and guava. It also pairs nicely with oranges, and even goes well with berries such as strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry. I love strawberries and pineapple!
- Make it a bowl. This pineapple smoothie can easily be turned into a smoothie bowl to be enjoyed as a sit-down breakfast. Top with toasted nuts, bits of dried fruit, hemp or chia seeds.
A smoothie is always best consumed right away. Keep it in the fridge for up to no more than a day, if you have any extra.
More Smoothie Recipes
Pineapple Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- 2 cups frozen pineapple chunks
- ¾ cup pineapple juice
- 1 container (5.3 oz.) plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons agave syrup, or as desired (honey or sugar can be substituted)
- 1 scoop collagen or protein powder, optional
- pineapple wedges, for optional garnish
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender, and blend until smooth.1 frozen banana, 2 cups frozen pineapple chunks, ¾ cup pineapple juice, 1 container (5.3 oz.) plain Greek yogurt, ¼ cup coconut milk, 2 tablespoons agave syrup, or as desired, 1 scoop collagen or protein powder, optional
- Pour into glasses and garnish with pineapple wedges. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Yield: This recipe makes about 4 cups. You can divide it into two 16 oz. servings, or four 8 oz. servings.
- Pineapple: I like to buy a fresh pineapple, cut it into chunks, and freeze it in 2 cup portions so it’s all ready for smoothies. Bananas can be frozen ahead, too, especially if you happen to have extra ripe bananas on your counter.
- Less sugar: If you prefer, decrease the amount of pineapple juice and increase the amount of unsweetened coconut milk. You can also skip the added sweetener, especially if the banana is very ripe.
- Protein boost: Substituting cottage cheese for the yogurt will add slightly more protein. The smoothie will be thicker, too. Collagen or protein powder are optional add-ins.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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