You will find most smoothies use almond milk as their main liquid. We are aware, however, that not everyone wants to use nut-based milk as the liquid base for their smoothie. However, if you want a plant-based, dairy-free liquid, coconut milk is a great option. It can be a bit time-consuming to make coconut milk and you might not readily have access to a dry coconut. Fortunately, you can now purchase ready-made coconut milk. Below you will find a few of our favorite coconut milk smoothie recipes.
Common Ingredients in Coconut Milk Smoothie Recipes
Blueberry, Pineapple, Mangoes, Greek Yogurt, Strawberries, Bananas, Spinach, Kale, Watermelon, Lime Juice, Pear, Blackberry, Raspberry
Protein Add-ons
Protein Powder, Hemp Seeds, Nut Butter
Common Sweeteners
Honey, Ripe Banana, Agave Syrup
Other Coconut Milk Smoothie Add-ins
Collagen Peptides, Protein Powder, Grated Coconut, Almond Butter, Flaxseeds, Chia Seeds, Hemp Seeds
How To Make Coconut Milk
I grew up in the Caribbean and making coconut milk was part of my Sunday ritual. The first thing you need is a dry coconut. A dry coconut will have a very thick and firm flesh. The flesh should be so firm that it can be grated. Step-by-step instructions are listed below:
- Get a medium-sized dry coconut
- Separate the flesh from the shell. You can use a knife to do this. The best way to do this is piece by piece. Handle the knife carefully.
- Add the coconut flesh to around 3 cups of water.
- Blend the coconut flesh and water until the coconut flesh is finely ground. You should blend the mixture for 2-3 minutes.
- Strain the mixture with a cheesecloth or a very fine strainer.
- Store the contents in an airtight container. The coconut milk should keep for approximately 3 days.
How To Make a Coconut Milk Smoothie
You can make your own coconut milk or buy coconut milk, the choice is up to you. However, keep in mind that store-bought coconut milk might contain additives. When making a coconut milk smoothie, firstly add the coconut milk, secondly add the fruits and vegetables, and thirdly add the add-ins such as yogurt, chia seeds, or hemp seeds.
Blueberry Coconut Milk Smoothie
This recipe can be utilized as a smoothie bowl or as a thick, creamy smoothie. The choice is yours, however, my personal preference is a thick smoothie. Coconut milk and blueberry combine to make a beautiful, delicious smoothie. The honey and banana provide extra sweetness. The addition of yogurt not only provides extra thickness, but also extra protein.
Pineapple Coconut Smoothie
When I think of pineapple and coconut, I automatically think of the tropics. More specifically, I imagine myself on a white sand beach sipping a cool, delicious drink. This smoothie is simple to prepare with only four ingredients. This smoothie is ideal as a quick breakfast option or as a mid-afternoon snack. This smoothie recipe maintains a coconut theme with the addition of coconut milk, coconut yogurt, and grated coconut.
Coconut Mango Creamsicle Smoothie
Mangoes and coconut is another combination that makes you automatically think of the tropics. If you have problems finding mangoes you can use frozen mango chunks. This recipe is yogurt free, however, if you like you can add some yogurt since it combines well with mangoes. This recipe is simple to prepare with only four ingredients: coconut milk, banana, mango chunks, and collagen peptides.
Coconut Milk Strawberry Smoothie
Coconut milk is an ideal way to fix a dairy-free, healthy milkshake. This smoothie is simple to prepare with only four ingredients: coconut milk, frozen strawberries, and almond butter. If the strawberries don’t provide enough sweetness you can add a low-carb sweetener.
Coconut Milk Matcha
It’s always nice to see smoothies that utilize matcha. This product has started to gain popularity in the west. For those of you not familiar with matcha, its high-grade green tea ground into powdered form. Matcha tea is usually steeped in hot water, however, in this smoothie recipe, coconut milk is added.
Cherry and Coconut Milk Smoothie
I don’t know about you but I would be tempted to eat the cherries I plan to use for this smoothie rather than blend them up in a smoothie drink. This recipe reminds me of a delicious cherry dessert, the main thing is it is good for you.
Tropical Island Green Smoothie
The combination of strawberries, pineapple, mango, and banana will definitely have you feeling the island vibes. The addition of coconut milk will transport you to a white sand beach lined with coconut trees. The addition of spinach provides a great dose of minerals and vitamins.
Watermelon Smoothie
Watermelon is not a fruit that I usually use for smoothies. Watermelon does not have a strong flavor so you have to be careful that the watermelon flavor is not overshadowed by other flavors. Fortunately, the watermelon and the strawberry used in this recipe work well. The addition of yogurt and coconut milk helps to thicken the smoothie and provide a creamy texture. If you need an additional sweetener add some honey.
Strawberry Banana Coconut Milk Smoothie
Most strawberry banana smoothies use almond milk. However, if you are not a fan of almond milk this strawberry banana smoothie is a great alternative. This smoothie is vegan-friendly and easy to prepare since it has only three ingredients.
This smoothie only contains strawberry, banana, and coconut milk. This smoothie recipe is easy to prepare and should take five minutes are less. It’s a great way to start the day for a quick breakfast option or if you want to prepare a mid-afternoon snack.
Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie
I have to admit the thought of white chocolate in a smoothie seems sacrilegious and downright decadent. However, it’s okay to sin once in a while, and white chocolate is a good place to start. This Bahama mama smoothie is a take on one of the tropical smoothie cafes’ most popular drinks. This smoothie is a delicious blend of strawberries, pineapple, and white chocolate.
Coconut Mango Lassi (Mango Smoothie)
This smoothie is an interpretation of the famous Indian drink mango lassi. This smoothie is both vegan and dairy-free. Instead of using a combination of mangoes and yogurt, this smoothie contains mangoes, coconut milk, and honey or agave as a sweetener.
Strawberry Coconut Protein Shake
This smoothie is a great option for a post-workout pick-me-up with the addition of strawberry protein powder. This smoothie is a version of a typical strawberry banana smoothie. The addition of the coconut flakes is a nice touch.
Pineapple Mango Coconut Cream Smoothie
This smoothie is a great way to cool down on a hot summer day. The combination of mango, pineapple, and coconut milk will have you imagining you are sitting by a resort pool sipping a tropical drink. This smoothie is easy to prepare since it has only three ingredients, coconut milk, mangoes, and pineapple. If you want to thin out or sweeten the smoothie you can add some pineapple juice.
Creamy Pear and Coconut Smoothie
This smoothie really places an emphasis on coconut flavor with the addition of coconut milk and unsweetened coconut flakes. The addition of pear provides sweetness, and the addition of greek yogurt provides extra protein.
Blueberry Banana Coconut Smoothie
This smoothie looks so beautiful you probably won’t want to drink it. The almond butter and yogurt provide a nice creamy consistency and add additional protein to your smoothie. The blueberries and bananas are packed with minerals and vitamins and provide extra sweetness to your smoothie.
Fresh Blackberry Smoothie
Any type of berry goes well with blackberries. We have covered coconut milk smoothies with raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries. It’s now time for blackberries. You can use frozen or fresh blackberries, it depends on what you have available, however, both choices work well. The addition of spinach provides an extra nutritional boost.
Raspberry Coconut Smoothie
This smoothie recipe is vegan and dairy free. This smoothie is bursting with coconut flavor with the addition of coconut milk, coconut extract, and coconut flakes. The addition of raspberries and bananas provides extra sweetness and flavor.
