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
Recipe
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.
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
I've love one right now! Either this - or the real thing. Kidding! Yours looks so healthy and creamy and wonderful. Pinned!
Kiersten says
Thank you for the pin! 🙂
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
Mmm, that sounds good! "If you like pina coladas and gettin' caught in the rain!"...sorry.
Since I'm not a fan of coconut water or the texture of the flakes, do you think I could add light coconut milk in place of the water without messing with the consistency too much? I've got a can from TJ's in there asking to be used and this would be perfect!
Kiersten says
I think that would work, although I suspect that it wouldn't be as coconutty. I'm sure it would still be delicious, though!
Anna {Herbivore Triathlete} says
This looks like the perfect summer treat, for breakfast or any other time of day!
Makes me wish I wasn't allergic to pineapple 🙁
Kathryn says
When I was about 16, I discovered that coconut rum & lemonade tasted a lot like suntan lotion and I was pretty much obsessed with it. I like this (non-alcoholic) version much more!
Kiersten says
Ooh, I might have to try that. 🙂
Joy // For the Love of Leaves says
Man, it must be a piña colada kinda day. I woke up this morning thinking about making piña colada ice cream for my blog. This shake looks fantastic!
Kiersten says
Piña Colada ice cream would be amaaaazing! 😀
Caitlin says
i had the same compulsion as a child with sun tan lotion. it smelled SO GOOD! this shake looks seriously fabulous. coconut and pineapple are two things i haven't combined in a while and i totally feel like i'm missing out right now. and i LOVE these photos.
Kiersten says
It's definitely one of my favorite smells. And in general, I love fruity smells for lotions, lip balms, soaps, etc. 🙂
Natalie says
Sounds like a lovely tropical tasting treat!
Ruta says
Yum yum yum. I love me a nice refreshing shake in the summer! You also had me nearly laughing with your sunscreen smelled like something that should be eaten comment. That's such a cute thought.
Kiersten says
It really does smell like that though! 😀 It makes me hungry just thinking about it!
Tieghan says
I just made a strawberry banana pina colada smoothie. SO good!! I am loving yours. Coconut is my best friend these days!
Kiersten says
Ooh, adding strawberries and bananas sounds so good!
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch says
I'd love this now ...and later too!!! Yum!!!
Suzanne @ hello, veggy! says
I've been so into making smoothies recently, and this one will join the list for sure! I'm giving away a copy of 365 Vegan Smoothies on my blog today! Check it out 🙂
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom says
I know what I'm having for breakfast tomorrow! I love almost anything that has pineapple/coconut or coconut. Except the water for some reason. I'll have to try it in a smoothie though. I just can't drink it straight - no matter how cold I let it get.
Kiersten says
Yeah, I don't care for coconut water, but Chris can't stand it--he REALLY hates it. But when you put it in a smoothie, you can't even taste it. 🙂
Brea Giffin says
MMM this looks delicious. Just slap some Jimmy Buffet on and start your morning the right way! Nothing says summer quite like a pineapple coconut combo!
Kiersten says
I have had Jimmy Buffet stuck in my head ever since posting this recipe! 🙂
Rachel @ Bakerita says
Oh my goodness, yum. I need to make this!! It looks like the perfect breakfast smoothie 🙂
Jackie {DomesticFits} says
I used to think that I hated coconut, but I couldn't reconcile that with the fact that I loved pina coladas and wanted to lick sunscreen. This looks exactly like why I now know that I totally love coconut.
Kiersten says
I used to think I hated coconut too. I think it wasn't so much the flavor of coconut itself, but the intense sugary-ness that often accompanies it, combined with the texture. I've gotten over the texture part, and with unsweetened coconut, I can avoid the sweetness.
Deb says
Sounds wonderful! But I've been having trouble finding unsweetened coconut flakes. Any suggestions?
Kiersten says
I get them at my regular grocery store, but I know they sell them at Whole Foods too. If you don't live near a Whole Foods, you can order them online from Bob's Red Mill here: http://www.bobsredmill.com/coconut-flakes.html?&cat=
dixya| food, pleasure, and health says
i really like adding oats to my smoothie esp for the breakfast - its filling. Love your spin on pina colada.
Kiersten says
Yeah, just fruit in my smoothies isn't filling enough for me--well, it fills me up for an hour or so, but then I get hungry again! I really need those oats if I'm having a smoothie for breakfast. 🙂
Laura says
Yum! I didn't think of replacing breakfast with a shake before - definitely something worth investigating.
Kiersten says
It's nice for those days when you're in a rush! 🙂
Katherine says
looks delicious!
Alexis @ Hummusapien says
OMG. I need this in my life immediately. I just threw some fabulous coconut water down the drain because it was expired...so sad. As soon as I get my hands on more, this is totally on my breakfast list.
Kiersten says
Nothing hurts my soul more than having to throw away food!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
omg!! Can't live without coconut and yet another delicious recipe to tempt me!!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
If this is what breakfast looks like, then I am all over it. Love these flavors!
Jennie @themessybakerblog says
I used to love those slurpees. It feels like forever since I've had one. This breakfast shake sounds amazing. I'm addicted to coconut: coconut milk, oil, flakes. I love it all. Yes, sunscreen should be edible. Why make something that smells tropical if you can't eat it?
Kiersten says
I can't even remember the last time I had a slurpee, but I loved them too. Even though I know they pretty much consist of artificial colors, artificial flavors, and corn syrup. 🙂
Connie says
So, I call it suntan lotion too and my husband always rolls his eyes, because he insists it should be called sunscreen.
Kiersten says
Ha! Well, this was the stuff that was supposed to actually HELP you tan. I remember my mom buying it in the early 80s, back when sunscreen wasn't really a thing. I'm not even sure if they still make it?
Connie says
Yeah, probably not. Okay, I'm still the weird one calling sunscreen suntan lotion.
Stephanie @ henry happened says
This sounds so fantastic! My mom used to always get virgin pina coladas whenever we were on vacation (which was rare) so they have a special place in my heart. And yours sounds a wee bit healthier than the one I made yesterday!
Kiersten says
I can't wait to see your recipe! There can never be enough piña colada smoothies in this world. 🙂