Tropical smoothies are an essential summer drink. There's just something about having a cold, refreshing drink that slightly resembles a milkshake on a hot summer day! This Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie recipe is our version of the popular Tropical Smoothie Cafe drink. It has sweet strawberries, tart pineapple, creamy coconut, and delicious white chocolate. With real fruit and white chocolate, it's easy to see why everyone wants this copycat recipe!
Imagine you're sitting under a cabana, by the ocean, with a cold smoothie full of tropical flavors in your hand, complete with a little colorful umbrella. The breeze is warm and the ocean waves can be heard in the background and you just got a massive brain freeze from chugging this delicious smoothie. Quick - put your tongue to the roof of your mouth!
Ok, now that the brain freeze is gone and you are home from this slice of paradise, you are thinking it would be awfully great to have a smoothie made with tropical fruits at home. That is where this smoothie comes in! With some frozen fruit, coconut milk, and the secret ingredient: white chocolate, you'll feel like you are back on an island in the middle of the ocean.
Not only does this smoothie transport you back to island time, but it is so easy to make and everyone loves it! So, let’s get you on Island time!
Need more recipes to keep you on Island time? Try one of these!
Roasted Pineapple Habanero Salsa
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What is a Bahama Mama Smoothie?
The Bahama Mama Smoothie is one of the most popular drinks at the Tropical Smoothie Cafe. It's a delicious blend of strawberries, pineapple, coconut, and white chocolate. While white chocolate may seem a bit much for a smoothie, but it really is why this smoothie is so addicting!
Ingredients and Substitutions
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.
Coconut Milk: Coconut milk is a no-brainer for a tropical smoothie! It's sweet, without added sugar, hydrating for hot days in the sun, and gives this smoothie a super-smooth texture.
Substitutions: Any milk can be used, plant-based or dairy. You can also use a more water-based liquid, like orange juice, pineapple juice, or coconut water, but the texture will be less creamy.
Strawberry and Pineapple: We use frozen strawberries and pineapple to help thicken the smoothie and keep the ingredient cost a little lower.
Substitutions: Fresh strawberries or pineapple can be used but I recommend using frozen fruit for one of the fruits (pineapple OR strawberries) to ensure the smoothie is cold. If using fresh fruit for both, add a cup of ice cubes to the smoothie.
White Chocolate: White chocolate is what sets this smoothie apart! We use Lily’s white chocolate chips to keep the sugar lower.
Substitutions: White chocolate syrup, cacao butter mixed with agave, or vegan white chocolate can be used. You could also try using vanilla protein powder or white chocolate protein powder, but it would likely change the consistency. It would make a great protein shake, though!
Coconut Chunks: Coconut chunks can be kind of hard to find but they amp up the coconut flavor of this smoothie! They can typically be found in the cold produce section. You can find them at Amazon here!
Substitutions: Coconut powder (unsweetened) or shredded coconut can be used.
Add-Ins: You can add a few different items to your smoothie if you want to switch it up. Some ideas include low-fat yogurt, greek yogurt, chia seeds, and vanilla protein powder.
Recipe Testing Notes
Throughout our testing of this Bahama Mama Smoothie, we learned some key things that worked and didn't work. Here are the key takeaways!
The type of coconut matters: We tried shredded coconut, coconut chunks, coconut flakes, and not including raw or dried coconut in the smoothie. The raw coconut chunks were far and above the best addition in flavor and texture. This is likely because the other coconut options are dried so they add grittiness and not using any extra coconut makes the smoothie slightly bland.
A note about white chocolate: We tried white chocolate syrup and white chocolate chips for this smoothie. Both produced delicious flavor and texture. But, we felt white chocolate chips would be more likely to already be in your pantry, thus making it easier to make the smoothie.
How to Make this - Step by Step
Step one: Add the coconut milk, coconut chunks, and white chocolate chips to a high-speed blender and blend for 30 seconds. This is just to pulverize the harder ingredients to ensure they are fully incorporated into the smoothie.
Step two: Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and blend on high speed until smooth, about 30 seconds to a minute.
Step three: Enjoy with a colorful umbrella in a fun glass!
Watch How to Make This - Step by Step
Joy Tip!
Using frozen ingredients is a great way to incorporate fruit that has as much or more nutritional value than fresh fruit but is typically cheaper and available year round. Win win!
Facts and Common Questions
Is a Bahama Mama Smoothie healthy?
Totally! It has large portion of your daily values of Vitamin C and A from the strawberries and pineapple and it has healthy fats from the coconut chunks and coconut milk.
Is this smoothie vegan?
No it is not vegan because it uses white chocolate chips. To make it vegan, simply swap out the white chocolate for vegan white chocolate or use equal parts cacao butter and agave to make your own white chocolate.
What is the secret to a good smoothie?
It’s a secret so I can’t tell you. Just kidding! The secret to a great smoothie is having an ingredient that is fibrous or frozen. This can be a banana, an avocado, coconut chunks, or any frozen fruit.
Want to Save it for Later? Here’s how!
Saving a smoothie can be tricky. The liquid and solids tend to separate as it thaws in the fridge, so here is the best way to store any leftovers!
Storage: To keep any leftovers, we recommend keeping the smoothie in the fridge, in the blender.
To Enjoy: When you are ready to enjoy it, re-blend until smooth. You may need to add ice to thicken it again.
How long it will keep: This smoothie will keep for 2 days in the fridge.
Fun Fact
Pineapples are a very cool fruit! First off, they are packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Next, they are regenerative, meaning you can grow a new pineapple from the leaf of one that has already been cut up. But one plant only produces one pineapple and they take nearly two years to grow, so there is a lot of patience required. It also contains an enzyme that can break down proteins, which is why it is in many marinades for meat - it flavors the meat and tenderizes it! (source)
More Joyful Recipes!
Try these other delicious smoothies for a quick breakfast!
Peanut Butter Avocado Smoothie
Black Raspberry Lemonade Smoothie
Did you try this and love it? Leave us a review, we would love to hear from you!
Recipe
Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups coconut milk unsweetened
- 1 tablespoon white chocolate chips sugar free
- 3 tablespoon coconut chunks or shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 cup frozen pineapple
Instructions
- Add the coconut milk, white chocolate chips, and coconut chunks to the blender. Blend until smooth, about 30 seconds.
- Add the pineapple and strawberry to this mixture and blend another 1 minute.
- Enjoy!
Viking says
Excellent!!
Kelly says
This is SO good and easy! Makes me feel like I'm in the tropics!
Sheila says
The white chocolate makes it especially good !
Andrea says
This is soooo yummy! The white chocolate is a game changer!
Morgan says
I thought this would be too sweet with white chocolate but it was well balanced!
Lin says
White chocolate in a smoothie? That sounds a little more like a milkshake and I am about it!! Sounds so good!
KW says
This is terrific! Thank you!