This Piña Colada Breakfast Shake recipe is a perfect option for when you need a healthy breakfast on-the-go. It's vegan and tastes like summer in a glass!
What Suntan Lotion Tastes Like
When I was 4 or 5, 7-Eleven had a Piña Colada slurpees for the summer. I remember getting one and thinking to myself, "This is what suntan lotion must taste like!" I always felt compelled to eat suntan lotion, you see, because it smelled like something that should be eaten. So this was very exciting for me. I have loved that combination of pineapple and coconut ever since. It always reminds me of summertime and the beach and happiness. In fact, I think it's actually impossible to drink a Piña Colada and feel unhappy.
About the Recipe
It's been a while since I've posted a breakfast shake, so I figured it was time to do another. Everyone loves an easy, healthy breakfast, right? And during the summer, breakfast in cold smoothie form is always a bonus. Well, at least for me, it is. The thing that makes this a breakfast shake instead of a regular smoothie is the oatmeal. (And fine, I could have called these oatmeal smoothies, but smoothies for breakfast are a yawn. Shakes for breakfast, that's exciting! Rebellious, even!) I like to let the oats sit in liquid for a little bit to soften them up—if you're making these shakes for breakfast, you can combine the oats and liquid the night before. There's a little less oatmeal in this Piña Colada Breakfast Shake than there is in my other recipes, but only because I like my breakfasts a little bit lighter in the summer.
The coconut flavor in this smoothie comes from unsweetened coconut flakes. This is one of my new favorite ingredients to play around with. I love it in smoothies, muffins, overnight oats—whatever! You can even use it to make your own coconut milk. The reason I've used coconut flakes instead of canned or refrigerated coconut milk is that the flakes add much more of a coconutty flavor to the smoothie. And you want this to be coconutty!
I also used coconut water in this smoothie, but really, you can use any liquid you like—any kind of milk you have on hand (almond milk would be delicious!), juice, rum, whatever! I just happened to have coconut water on hand from Bestowed Box and since my husband and I don't like drinking it straight, I usually use it in smoothies. Oh, and because people always ask, YES you can add protein powder to this! Go wild!
Want more breakfast shake recipes?
Here are the others I've posted:
Mexican Chocolate Breakfast Shake
Banana Chai Breakfast Shake
Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Shake
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup coconut water
- ¼ cup unsweetened dried coconut flakes
- ¾ cup frozen pineapple chunks
- sweetener of choice to taste, if desired
Instructions
- Combine the oats, coconut water, and coconut flakes in a small container with a lid. Stir together, cover, and refrigerate overnight (or at least 2 hours if you're not having this for breakfast—this step helps soften up the oats).
- Add the oat mixture and the frozen pineapple chunks to your blender. (A high speed one like the Vitamix works best! Please do not blame me if your blender does not blend!) Puree until completely smooth and add sweetener to taste if you need it (since the pineapple is so sweet, I skip adding any extra sweetener).
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on 11 July 2013.
[email protected]'s Recipes says
Breakfast time here and I want one too!
Anna (Hidden Ponies) says
Suntan lotion does smell so delicious - love this breakfast shake!
Ashley says
This sounds like such a good breakfast in this heat! And I totally always thought the same thing about suntan lotion that smells like coconut ... sometimes I still think that now if it smells that good! lol kidding
Kiersten says
I'm glad I'm not the only one! 🙂
Stephanie @ Steph Loves Cake says
I had totally forgotten about the pina colada slurpees! I used to love them. What a great sounding smoothie, this is breakfast for tomorrow. Thank you for sharing.
Kiersten says
They were so good, right?! I haven't lived near a 7-Eleven for ages, so I have no idea if they still sell them...
Brenda Williams says
This sure looks better than what I had for breakfast. You have such great ideas...can't wait for the cookbook to see more!
Kiersten says
Only a year and a half more to wait! 😀
Colleen @ Culinary Colleen says
There's nothing better than the coconut-pineapple combo in the summer! I feel like I'd be way too tempted to spike this with some rum, though...
Kiersten says
I won't tell. 🙂
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
This sounds wonderful! I totally agree, I personally don't think I can drink something pina colada flavored and be unhappy 🙂 So yummy!
Kiersten says
It's just a happy flavor, right?! 🙂
Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says
I'm pretty sure my son would love the pineapple in this recipe! Serious yum and thanks so much for linking to my tutorial. Thank you for reminding me to do more!
mjskit says
This would feel like having a cocktail for breakfast but without the booze. Sounds yummy!
Genevieve says
I love anything pina colada flavoured too! I've been wanting to make a summery smoothie using coconut water, but I always seem to drink my coconut water on its own before I get a chance to try it in a smoothie haha...I like how you soaked the coconut flakes too, since they usually end up too chunky when I try to add them to smoothies, so I'm guessing that would help them blend easier.
Kiersten says
That's funny because coconut water sits in my fridge UNTIL I use it in a smoothie. 😉
Shelly says
Yes - this sounds SO delicious. I've been getting bored with my quick fix breakfasts as of lately...can't wait to try this one!
Kiersten says
I am all about quick and easy breakfasts lately too!
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ says
Pina colada for breakfast with oats instead of rum? Oh my gosh, this sounds heavenly good 🙂
Kiersten says
Well, there are some mornings when you might need to add a little rum too. 🙂
Lisa @ Greek Vegetarian says
Absolutely brilliant photography Kiersten. It's so hard to get white on white and retain details. Gorgeous shake too!
Kiersten says
Thank you! I haven't had much time to experiment with my photos lately and I missed it, so I took some time to try something different with this set. 🙂
Erin @ Texanerin Baking says
Hahaha. I do that all the time. "This is what pee must taste like!" (about beer) I recently said something about Band-Aids. That food was gross, whatever it was.
And I wish I wouldn't have eaten all the fresh pineapple for breakfast! Boo. I want this.
Kiersten says
OH MY GOSH, I hate pee beer. Pee beer is the worst beer!
Nichol says
I never think about adding oats to my smoothies. This sounds amazing!
Kiersten says
I add them to any smoothies I make for breakfast--fruit alone just isn't enough to fill me up!
Diana says
Made this today, with almond milk instead of coconut water, and added a scoop of protein powder. It was delicious but VERY thick. Trying to figure out if the protein powder could have made that big of a difference in the consistency? I made your Mexican Chocolate Breakfast Shake two days ago, and also added protein powder to that one, with great results. Any thoughts? Pumpkin Spice is up next!
Kiersten says
Hmm, that's interesting because when I make this, it's actually thinner than the other breakfast shake recipes I've posted! I wonder if maybe it was the protein powder? I know that the bromelain in pineapple can react with proteins, so that could be why the protein powder didn't change the consistency of the Mexican Chocolate Breakfast Shake...
Kristin says
I'm currently drinking a Mexican chocolate shake & it a SO GOOD that I immediately needed more shake recipes since I think these will become a new habit. All shakes! All the time! ☺️
Anyway, this sounds amazing! I love anything coconut, but a piña colada for breakfast?! It's anarchy (in the best way!) I'm already dreaming of summer- even though it's only January- so this is prefect. Love!
Side note: this is my first comment, but I am in love with your blog! It was the first I started to follow when I tried to change my diet to be more whole foods & plant based. It's changed so much since then, but in great ways!
Kiersten Frase says
Yes, I agree. Eat all the shakes! Or drink them. That probably works better. Oh, and thank you for your comment--you are too kind! 🙂 I'm glad to hear my blog has helped you with your diet changes!