Pina Colada Smoothie – Barefeet in the Kitchen

Bursting with the sweet, juicy flavors of pineapple and coconut, this Pina Colada Smoothie brings a bit of vacation sunshine, no matter the weather.

Pina Colada Smoothie

Years ago, when I first put this recipe on the blog, I had just made this piña colada smoothie and churned it into ice cream. I can still remember how my little boys jumped up and down with excitement.

They loved the sweetness of this refreshing ice cream treat during the heat of a Phoenix summer. I loved that it had no refined sugars.

I had been on a bit of a smoothie kick, back then. But, I’d never tried freezing a smoothie recipe before that. The result is a creamy texture that is more like soft-serve ice cream.

The twist of lime in this Pina Colada Smoothie gives it a unique taste that is more complex than the simple combination of coconut and pineapple. And, the tiny pinch of sea salt likewise enhances all of the flavors.

Be aware that different manufacturers produce their coconut milks at varying levels of creaminess and thickness. My favorite is the canned coconut milk from Thai kitchen.

I typically use store-bought frozen pineapple chunks for smoothies, but you can also freeze fresh pineapple chunks with the banana. Also, the honey could be swapped out for another natural sweetener like maple syrup, but it does alter the flavor a bit.

Now, if say, a splash of rum makes it into your smoothie and alters the taste, I won’t tell. Cocktail smoothies are absolutely a thing. They’re a good thing.

Pina Colada Smoothie Recipe

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

• Thai coconut milk
• frozen pineapple chunks
• frozen banana chunks
• honey
• fresh lime juice
• fine sea salt
• rum (optional)

Pina Colada Ice Cream

Start by placing all of the ingredients into the blender. Then, blend until smooth and creamy. If making smoothies, pour into glasses and serve immediately.

If making ice cream, pour the contents of the blender into an ice cream machine and process according to the manufacturer’s directions. Scoop into bowls and serve immediately after freezing.

Looking for more smoothie recipes? This Strawberry Blueberry Banana Smoothie brings summertime straight to your glass. Sweet and creamy, this good-for-you smoothie is an easy way to start your day or refuel in the afternoon.

Sweet blueberries and bananas combine with tart grapes in this Blueberry Grape Banana Smoothie without any added sugar. It is one of my favorite smoothie combinations.

Rich chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and frozen bananas are blended together in blissful harmony to make this Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie – that tastes more like a peanut butter banana milkshake than a breakfast drink.

Crisp, earthy spinach leaves blend with ripe, frozen bananas and orange juice to create a Banana Spinach Smoothie that is out of this world.

Fresh pineapple + toasted coconut = an abundance of flavor in a single scoop of this traditional Pina Colada Ice Cream. (But let’s not pretend that any of us are going to stop at one scoop of this ice cream.)

A crisp shortbread crust is topped with a chewy gooey layer of pineapple and coconut to make these Pineapple Coconut Bars.

originally published 7/27/13 – recipe notes and photos updated 2/14/24