This vegan pineapple coconut Piña Colada smoothie has all the flavors of your favorite tropical cocktail…but none of the alcohol. You can call it a “Piña Col-Nada!” With natural, whole foods sweetness from frozen pineapple, banana, and dates, this makes the perfect summer drink. Make up a batch and get the plant-based party started!
Vegan Pineapple Coconut Smoothie: A Healthy, Plant-Based Drink
Staying hydrated is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. However, it can be easy to reach for sugary juices, sodas, and caffeinated coffee drinks. Making a smoothie is an easy, plant-based alternative! This drinks works great as a quick breakfast on-the-go. Or, make it for a sweet dessert after dinner. It’s also a healthy way to get kids to heat more fruit.
How to Make a Whole Foods, Plant-Based Smoothie
Smoothies are easy ways to get healthy, plant-based nutrition in your diet. However, you want to make sure your smoothie isn’t a calorie or sugar bomb. Here are some helpful smoothie-making tips:
- No added sugar or syrup: Avoid adding sugar, maple syrup, or other refined sweeteners to smoothies. Get natural sweetness from the pureed fruit. Bananas and dates have plenty of natural sweetness. Plus, they have healthy fiber, which keeps you full.
- Frozen Fruit: Freezing your fruit ahead of time is the secret to a cold, creamy smoothie. You can cut and freeze your own fruit. Or, most groceries offer a good variety of delicious frozen fruits. These frozen fruits are usually picked and frozen soon after harvest, when they are at their sweetest, most delicious flavor. They retain much of the nutrition as fresh fruit so pick up a couple of bags to keep on-hand.
- Smoothie vs Juice: Unlike juice, smoothies retain the fiber from the ingredients. This helps regulate your blood sugar. In turn, you stay fuller for a longer period of time.
- Plant-Based Milk: Use a plant-based milk to puree your smoothie. You can use any variety you like: Soy, Almond, Oat, Cashew, or Rice. Just be sure to use a plain, unsweetened milk to avoid added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
- Adding Vegan Protein: If you have a very active lifestyle or want your smoothie to serve as a meal-replacement, you can add a scoop of vegan protein powder. Be sure to use a high-quality plant-based powder that has minimal added sugar or artificial ingredients. You can also add 1/2 cup silken tofu or cooked oatmeal.
What’s in a Regular Vegan Piña Colada?
A Piña Colada is a frozen alcoholic drink typically served in Mexico and the Caribbean. The ingredients of a standard Piña Colada are simple: pineapple, coconut milk, and rum. Fancier recipes might add coconut cream, lime, and use both dark and white rum. Because coconut milk is used, the drink is dairy-free and vegan.
Other Variations of Vegan Pineapple Coconut Piña Colada Smoothie
You can use this recipe as a template for other tropical fruits. Frozen mango, guava, passionfruit, and dragon fruit would all be delicious! Add fresh herbs like mint, Thai basil, or vanilla extract.
Use fresh or frozen mango for this easy, healthy, plant-based recipe 
Homemade Coconut Milk from Plants-Rule
Watch this Video to Learn More about how to Choose and Cut Pineapple:
You’ll Love this Healthy, Plant-Based Vegan Pineapple Coconut Pina Colada Smoothie Recipe! It is:
- A Gorgeous, Golden Color
- Easy to Make
- Cold and Refreshing
- Perfect for and Sweet Dessert or Breakfast on-the-go
Chef Katie’s Healthy, Plant-Based Cooking Tips for Vegan Pineapple Coconut Piña Colada Smoothie:
Frosted Glass Tip: To keep your drink colder for a longer time, freeze your serving glasses. Place in the freezer for at least 4 hours and enjoy the chilly, frosted glass.
Smoothie Meal Prep: For even faster blending, prepare your smoothie ingredients ahead of time. On the weekend (or whenever you have time to meal prep), cut up your pineapple and banana. Make enough for 4 smoothies. Portion into small containers, along with the dates. Then, add the ice, coconut milk, vanilla, and water when you’re ready to drink.
High-Speed Blender: A good, quality high-speed blender is a great investment for your plant-based kitchen. You’ll use it to make creamy cashew sauces, oil-free dressings, pureed soups, and quick smoothies. Choose one that fits your budget and has good reviews from chefs and home cooks.
No Refined Sugar or Syrup? I’m on a mission to get rid of empty calories. This recipe don’t use any refined sugar, maple syrup, or other refined sweetener. The pears and dates provide plenty of sweetness, along with healthy fiber and essential nutrients.
Low Fat Option: For a lower-calorie, low-fat version, swap out the coconut milk for another plant-based milk. Almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk would all work well.
Vegan Pineapple Coconut Pina Colada Smoothies
- Easy
- Servings: 2
- Yield: about 5 cups
- Ready in: 5 minutes
If you love this recipe, you should also check out: Spicy Mexican Chocolate Sauce with Pineapple, Cold Brew Hibiscus Tea, St. Patrick’s Minty Sham-Mock Spirulina Shake, and Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Coffee Smoothie.
Vegan Pineapple Coconut Pina Colada Smoothies
Ingredients
- 2 cups ice
- 2 cups pineapple chunks either fresh or frozen, thawed
- 1 frozen banana
- 4 dates pitted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup coconut milk
- ¼-1/2 cup water as needed
Instructions
- To Make the Vegan Pineapple Coconut Pina-Col-Nada Smoothies: In a blender, combine all ingredients but start with just ¼ cup of water. Puree until smooth, add more water, as needed, to reach a smooth, frozen consistency.
- Enjoy immediately!
Notes
Servings: 2
Yield: about 5 cups
Ready in: 5 minutes
Nutrition Facts
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings 2.0 | |
| Amount Per Serving | |
| calories 191 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 2 g | 3 % |
| Saturated Fat 1 g | 4 % |
| Monounsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Trans Fat 0 g | |
| Cholesterol 0 mg | 0 % |
| Sodium 20 mg | 1 % |
| Potassium 488 mg | 14 % |
| Total Carbohydrate 47 g | 16 % |
| Dietary Fiber 5 g | 21 % |
| Sugars 34 g | |
| Protein 2 g | 4 % |
| Vitamin A | 5 % |
| Vitamin C | 137 % |
| Calcium | 11 % |
| Iron | 3 % |
| * The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. | |
Shopping and Gear List
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