Pineapple Strawberry Smoothie

A pineapple strawberry smoothie is the perfect summertime treat. The addition of homemade coconut syrup makes it extra special. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

The Back Story

It all started with a trip to the zoo. A smoothie sounded tasty, so I ordered one with pineapple and strawberries. I’m not sure what else was in it, but it was creamy and tasted like it had coconut in it. A few days later, I wanted another one, so I had to make my own pineapple strawberry smoothie.

We happened to have homemade coconut syrup on hand from our homemade snow cones. We like to make our own snow for sensory play and it just so happens to be perfect for DIY snow cones. We also make our own simple syrups for snow cones and cream soda – vanilla, strawberry, watermelon, coconut, etc.

I added canned pineapple (you could just fresh if you’d like) with some juice, fresh strawberries (frozen would also work but will make the smoothie thicker), ice, milk, and coconut syrup. I wanted the smoothie to be creamier, so I added in some half and half.

Coconut Syrup Recipe

My husband modified his usual simple syrup recipe and added in some unsweetened coconut flakes. His standard simple syrup is 2:1 sugar to water. For the coconut syrup, he made it thinner and used a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

Directions:

1. In a sauce pan, combine sugar and water. Allow mixture to come to a boil, stirring occasionally. Once mixture boils, the sugar will dissolve.
2. Add in unsweetened coconut flakes. Boil for 2-3 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and allow to sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
4. Strain coconut from syrup and allow to cool completely. Refrigerate unused syrup. It’s normal for some coconut solids to rise to the top.

Pineapple Strawberry Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup canned pineapple, diced plus juice
1 cup fresh strawberries, cut in half
1 cup ice cubes
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup half and half
1/2 coconut syrup (see recipe above)

Directions:

Combine ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Add more ice or use frozen strawberries for a thicker smoothie. This recipe will make 2 servings of the pineapple strawberry smoothie. Enjoy!

A note about the milk: I used whole milk and half and half. You can use whatever milk you like. It may not be as creamy. If you use skim milk, try adding a bit more half and half (and less skim milk). No half and half? Just use 1 cup of whatever milk you have on hand. You could also try it with almond milk or soy. Let me know how it goes!

More Summer Treats

• Berries and Banana Smoothie
• Hot Fudge Brownie Ice Cream Cake (sponsored)
• Quick and Easy Mocha Milkshake

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