This coconut smoothie is healthy, easy, and oh SO good! All you need are a few simple ingredients to create a decadent and creamy texture.
This coconut smoothie is so easy to make and absolutely bursts with coconut flavor. It’s light and creamy, and totally decadent. Yet it’s sweetened with banana, so no added sugar! When your sweet tooth comes calling, this is your guilt-free treat!
I top my smoothie with dark chocolate chips and chopped raw almonds. It tastes like an almond joy candy bar! You can get creative and add your favorite toppings to customize this coconut smoothie to your taste.
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💗 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- An easy and quick treat or healthy snack
- Cool, creamy, and delicious
- Naturally sweetened with banana
- Add your favorite flavorings and toppings
🥥 Coconut Milk Smoothie Ingredients
Coconut Milk: You can’t have a coconut milkshake without coconut milk! I used an unsweetened coconut beverage, not the coconut milk in the can. However, you can use either. The coconut milk in the can is higher in fat and calories, but also a bit creamier. So, it’s up to you.
Frozen Banana: Adding a frozen banana gives this milkshake an icy cool and creamy texture, while also adding natural sweetness. There’s no need to add additional sweetener in the form of table sugar, maple syrup, or ice cream. Even though the banana is added, this doesn’t taste like a banana shake!
Unsweetened Desiccated Coconut: To give this coconut shake an extra boost of coconut flavor, I add unsweetened desiccated coconut flakes. They add a subtle texture and really give this shake more coconut flavor.
Dark Chocolate and Almonds (optional): This is totally optional, but I just love the flavors of an almond joy candy bar, so I top my shake with a teaspoon of chopped dark chocolate, and chopped raw almonds. I prefer 80% dark chocolate. It has less sugar, but still all that awesome chocolate flavor.
Strawberries, Cocoa Powder, Vanilla Extract (optional): If making one of the variations you’ll need strawberries for a strawberry coconut milkshake, cocoa powder for a chocolate coconut milkshake, and vanilla extract for a vanilla milkshake.
📋 Instructions
When making a smoothie the only thing you really need to think about is the order in which you put your ingredients into your blender.
Step 1: Start by adding coconut milk. Then add the coconut flakes. Last, add the frozen banana.
Step 2: Blend until smooth and creamy. If adding ice, add it at this time, and blend for a few seconds until combined. Don’t over-blend which can cause a watery texture.
Step 3: Pour into a glass of your choice, and top with chopped dark chocolate and chopped almonds.
❓ Recipe FAQS
This milkshake is thickened with frozen bananas. Frozen banana adds sweetness and natural creaminess to the shake. If you want a thicker texture, you can add a few ice cubes, vanilla ice cream, or yogurt (dairy-free or regular).
Coconut milk is ultra creamy and makes a delicious substitute when making dairy-free ice cream. Using coconut milk in a coconut milkshake adds a luscious creamy texture! There are many different types of coconut milk to choose from.
You can opt for full-fat coconut milk in the can. This often separates in the can, so you’ll need to whisk it together or warm and whisk to combine, then allow it to cool before adding it to your blender.
Another option is to go with light coconut milk in a can. This has fewer calories and fat. It doesn’t have a tendency to separate in the can as much as the full-fat one. However, I do recommend whisking it in a bowl or shaking really well in the can before opening it and adding it to your blender.
The final option is a coconut beverage. This version you’ll find this in the shelf-stable milk section of your grocery store, or with refrigerated dairy-free milk. This milk has the fewest calories and fat and is meant to be used as a beverage rather than in cooking like the previous two. Make sure to buy unsweetened coconut milk, and avoid vanilla flavoring.
📖 More Coconut Smoothie Ideas
This recipe is easily adaptable to make a variety of milkshake flavors.
Strawberry: Turn this recipe into a strawberry smoothie by adding a ½ cup of frozen strawberries.
Chocolate: Make this into a chocolate smoothie by adding 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder.
Vanilla: This recipe can easily become a vanilla coconut smoothie by adding 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract!
Tropical: Add ¼ a cup of frozen mango, and ¼ cup of frozen pineapple chunks for a tropical flavor.
👩🍳 Serving Suggestions
Make sure to serve your milkshakes right away. This is not the type of dessert you want to make in advance, and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to enjoy it!
The frozen banana and ice will melt creating more of a drink than a creamy shake.
Coconut Strawberry Smoothie-Serve with a fresh strawberry wedge on top.
Coconut Chocolate Smoothie-Serve topped with a sprinkle of dark chocolate shavings.
Coconut Vanilla Smoothie-Serve topped with coconut whipped cream and a fresh cherry!
I hope you enjoy these variations!! They’re perfect for a light dessert without added refined sugar on a hot summer day!
💭 Expert Tips
- Make it creamier by adding a cup of ice.
- Use coconut milk, not coconut water.
- If you don’t have coconut milk, you can use almond milk with the coconut flakes, but it won’t have a rich coconut flavor.
- Add a scoop of vegan protein powder.
- Use a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix to ensure that all the ingredients are evenly blended.
- If you have extra coconut milk left over, consider making coconut pudding, or freezing the coconut milk to use later!
- As written this recipe is a healthy plant-based dessert. However, you can add ½ a cup of regular ice cream, or Greek yogurt to thicken the shake. If you want to keep the recipe plant-based, and low in sugar, use ½ a cup of ice cubes to thicken the shake.
😋 More Cold Vegan Desserts!
If you made this recipe, please comment below and leave a ⭐️ rating. You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more family-friendly vegan recipes!
Recipe
Coconut Smoothie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk beverage or canned coconut milk
- 2 tablespoon desiccated coconut
- 1 frozen banana chopped
- ½ cup ice cubes optional
- 1 teaspoon dark chocolate shavings optional for topping
- 1 teaspoon chopped raw almonds optional for topping
Strawberry Flavor
- 1 cup frozen strawberries (optional for strawberry variation)
Chocolate Flabor
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder (optional for chocolate variation)
Vanilla Flavor
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional for vanilla variation)
Instructions
Coconut Smoothie
- Add the coconut milk, coconut flakes, and frozen banana to your blender. Blend on medium to high speed until the banana is completely combined.
- If you desire, add the ice, and blend again for about 30 seconds or until ice is incorporated. Don't over blend which would cause the milkshake to become watery. Just enough to give it some texture.
- Pour into a glass, and add the chopped dark chocolate and chopped almonds. Enjoy
- For a strawberry flavor, add 1 cup of frozen strawberries. Don't add any more ice.
- For a chocolate flavor add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder before blending.
- For vanilla flavor add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract before blending.
Video
Notes
- Nutrition facts are calculated based on the recipe ingredients without strawberries, cocoa powder, or vanilla extract.
- Enjoy immediately.
- Make it creamier by adding a cup of ice.
- Use coconut milk, not coconut water.
- If you don’t have coconut milk, you can use almond milk with the coconut flakes, but it won’t have a rich coconut flavor.
- Add a scoop of vegan protein powder.
- Use a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix to ensure that all the ingredients are evenly blended.
- If you have extra coconut milk left over, consider making coconut pudding, or freezing the coconut milk to use later!
- As written this recipe is a healthy plant-based dessert. However, you can add ½ a cup of regular ice cream, or Greek yogurt to thicken the shake. If you want to keep the recipe plant-based, and low in sugar, use ½ a cup of ice cubes to thicken the shake.
Leigh Ann
what can you substitute for the banana as I’m allergic to them?
Alison Corey
You could use frozen mango as a substitute.
Natalie
Yum, this sounds delicious. I never had a coconut milkshake. I must give it a try now. This is so healthy too, low in calories. Love this! Thanks for the recipe.
Erika
Love the different way to make these coconut based milkshakes, yum!
April
I can’t wait to try this. I love how you gave different options for flavors.
Michelle
This was such a luscious and yummy coconut milkshake! Love all the variations too!
Andrea
Such a refreshing drink with so many flavors to choose from.