Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie Recipe

There’s nothing quite like a tropical smoothie to cool you down on a hot summer’s day.

It’s the perfect light drink to leave you both refreshed and satisfied.

With so many fresh fruits added to the mix, it’s also a very healthy option that you can drink guilt-free.

It’s exceptionally easy to make and anyone can prepare it in just 10 minutes at home.

While there are hundreds of tropical smoothie recipes out there, the one we are sharing today known as the ‘Bahama Mama’ has a few special ingredients and is not unlike something you’d find at a legitimate tropical smoothie cafe.

How to make Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie

This Bahama Mama smoothie recipe’s claim to fame is that it uses a mixture of fruits such as strawberries and pineapples, combined with shredded coconut to give it that extra tropical flair.

But the real magic happens with the white chocolate chips which give it that little bit of rich and milky creaminess that makes it both refreshing and luxurious.

It’s also extremely easy to make, all you need are some ingredients, a blender and you’re good to go!

Ingredients:

(for 1 serving)

• 5 ounces of fresh strawberries
• 2 ounces of chopped pineapple
• 2 ounces of shredded coconut
• 1/4 cup of plain white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1 cup of ice

Instructions:

Combine the pineapple, strawberries, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, and milk into the blender.

If the pineapple is too large to fit in the blender cut it down to size beforehand, but don’t worry about cutting it too finely as the blender will take care of that.

Step 1:

Blend everything together until it creates a smooth texture with no noticeable lumpy bits.

This should take around 2 minutes.

Step 2:

Open the blender top and add 1 cup of ice cubes.

Continue blending until it has a good consistency.

You can blend it for a shorter time if you want more of that shredded ice feel or if you blend it longer it will be more of just a regular chilled smoothie.

Step 3:

Pour the smoothie into a glass and serve, you can add a little more shredded coconut on the top to finish it off if you wish.

Enjoy your refreshing smoothie!

Ingredient substitutions

Smoothies in general are very adaptable, so depending on your preference there’s a tremendous amount of space for playing with the ingredients used to make them more unique.

We will also suggest some helpful alternatives to chocolate and milk in case you need a dairy-free option.

1. Blackberries

While there’s nothing quite like the strawberry, if for any reason you want a good alternative berry to use in its stead, blackberries are a fantastic choice.

They will still blend up to give you that nice consistency and taste delicious too! You can simply use them as a 1:1 ratio alternative.

2. Raspberry

While technically any kind of ‘berry’ can work as a strawberry alternative, raspberry is in the same family group and is probably the most similar tasting out there.

But there’s a catch, and that’s the seeds. If you’re ok with them then don’t worry about it!

If seeds are a big no-no for your smoothie preferences then you may wish to blend the raspberry separately, strain the seeds and then re-add it to the smoothie mixture as normal.

3. Banana

This is our big secret for making a delicious sweet and thick smoothie while making our recipe lactose free.

Simply use 1 medium-sized banana in place of the milk, but keep an eye on the consistency.

If you feel the whole thing is running a little too thick just add a little more water to thin it out.

There are many who actually prefer the banana taste over the milk, so it’s definitely worth a try!

4. Coconut milk

If you want to keep this recipe as ‘original’ as possible, coconut milk is another fantastic dairy-free alternative to cow’s milk.

The main benefit here is that we’ve already used shredded coconut so it’s going to fit the flavor palette perfectly.

5. Soy milk

As a final alternative suggestion to cow’s milk, soy milk retains all the protein regular milk has.

But it’s half the fat, calories, and carbohydrates which will make for a much healthier smoothie.

If soy milk is out of the question too, it’s said that orange juice also makes a fantastic fruity alternative to milk.

The downside is that it’s not quite as creamy and sweet, so it will affect the flavor of the smoothie.

Many people like this, but if it’s not for you consider adding the banana to re-introduce a bit of that natural sweetness.

What to serve with Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie

Smoothies can of course be great when served just by themselves in a glass.

But many people like to enjoy it with a snack or small meal to make it all that more delicious and fulfilling.

Here are our top ticks for some great foods to serve your smoothie with.

Some of these you can serve on the side, and others you can simply add directly into your finished smoothie to power it up.

Cream cheese bagel

A smoothie is generally considered a full meal, it packs enough nutrition and calories that you don’t really need to complement it with anything specific.

It’s more about just picking a delicious side that you feel in the mood for.

One of the classic breakfast additions is a simple toasted bagel with cream cheese on.

It’s light enough that it won’t make the meal too filling, but the hotter serving of the toasted bagel will round the package out perfectly.

Oats and nuts

If you serve your smoothie in a bowl rather than a glass, it’s possible to add more raw ingredients which can both bulk it up and add some extra flavor.

A great addition to a ‘smoothie bowl’ is oats and/or an assortment of nuts.

These have the nutritional benefit of adding some extra carbohydrates and protein, as well as adding some additional texture to complement the creamy texture of the smoothie.

More berries

Frozen fruit and berries such as mango, blueberries, raspberries, and even cherries work wonderfully.

Adding more raw and uncut berries to a smoothie allows you to get playful with the flavor palette and adds that alternative texture of the berry flavor that you have to chew instead of drink.

How to store Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie

Since we have put both milk and fresh fruit in the smoothie, it doesn’t last for too long when stored, so it’s best to finish it all at once.

But if you find yourself in a situation where you’re left with too much, here’s how to store a Bahama Mama Tropical smoothie for later.

Store in the fridge

Pour the remaining smoothie into a container with an airtight lid and refrigerate.

If possible try to use a container that perfectly fits the liquid contents you have so there’s as little air as possible.

Once stored this way it will last for 1-2 days, try to consume it by the next day before the color and flavor start to change too much!

Store in the freezer

Place the leftover smoothie liquid into a sealed, airtight container and place it in the freezer.

When stored this way it will last for up to 3 months.

To defrost simply move it from the freezer into the refrigerator, or alternatively, leave it out at room temperature until it returns to a liquid state.