Escape to a tropical paradise with this irresistible Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie recipe! Inspired by the Tropical Smoothie Cafe bestseller smoothie, this homemade version is made with whole and simple ingredients.
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If you're trying to find new and exciting ways to sneak more nutrition, fruits, and veggies into your day, smoothies are your answer. They're one of my favorite go-to morning and afternoon nutrition boosts!
This amazing Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie is truly like tropics in a glass AND it's made with frozen summer fruit, coconut, hints of white chocolate and plant milk for extra creaminess.
Every sip will make you think of a sandy beach and the sound of ocean waves on a hot summer day, and you'll feel fantastic enjoying a refreshing drink that tastes amazing and is good for you too!
If you love the idea of a healthy and delicious smoothie, make sure to also try this Blueberry Pineapple Smoothie, Spinach Cucumber Smoothie (sweetened with banana) or this fun Boba Smoothie (a smoothie version of a bubble tea).
What is Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie?
Bahama Mama is one of Tropical Smoothie Cafe's best selling smoothie flavors. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a popular fast-casual restaurant chain in the United States that specializes in serving a variety of delicious and healthy smoothies, as well as food options such as wraps, sandwiches, and salads. The cafe's menu features a tropical-inspired theme, with an emphasis on fresh fruits, vegetables, and bold flavors.
The cafe's menu is centered around its signature smoothies, including "Bahama Mama," "Kiwi Quencher" and "Mango Magic," among others.
In this blog post I will show you how to make healthier homemade version of the delicious tropical Bahama Mama smoothie.
Ingredient notes
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Frozen Strawberries: slices or chunks will blend the best but if all you have is whole frozen strawberries, they will also work
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Frozen Pineapple: pineapple chunks will work best
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Coconut Flakes: I used unsweetened shredded coconut
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White Chocolate Chips: I like Lily's white chocolate style chips
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Plant Milk: use any unsweetened non-dairy milk that you like: almond, oat, soy or coconut
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Maple Syrup (optional): you can also use honey or agave syrup
Substitutions
You can easily tailor this tasty smoothie to suit your taste preferences, dietary needs, and the ingredients you have on hand. Here are some fantastic substitutions and variations to consider:
- Fruit Variations: While the classic combination of frozen strawberries and pineapple creates the tropical charm of this smoothie, feel free to experiment with other tropical fruits. Mangoes, papayas, peaches, or even frozen mixed berries (such as raspberries) can all add unique flavors and colors to your smoothie.
- Dairy or Non-Dairy Options: If you prefer a creamier texture, you can swap the plant milk for regular dairy milk or other non-dairy alternatives like almond milk, creamy coconut milk, cashew milk, or oat milk. Canned coconut milk will give you a creamier smoothie trexture.
- Nut butters: To add a dose of nutty goodness (plus extra protein), consider tossing in a tablespoon of almond butter, peanut butter, or cashew butter.
- Dark Chocolate: if you're not a fan of white chocolate, use dark chocolate chips for an awesome fruity chocolate variation.
- Greens: For an added nutritional boost, sneak in a handful of baby spinach or kale into the mix. The color will change but the flavor will stay mostly fruity!
- Sweeteners: you can adjust the sweetness level of this smoothie by adding honey, agave nectar, or date syrup instead of maple syrup. Or, add half a ripe banana for sweetness and more texture.
- Protein: make your Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie protein-rich by incorporating protein sources like Greek yogurt, silken tofu, or vanilla protein powder.
- Tropical Toppings: I like to top my smoothies with what's in them but toasted coconut flakes, sliced kiwi, diced mango, or a sprinkle of chia seeds or granola will not only look beautiful but also add delightful textures and flavors.
How to make Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie
- In a high-speed blender, add the frozen strawberries, pineapple, coconut, white chocolate chips and ¾ cup plant milk.
Note: The frozen fruits will not only bring the tropical essence to the smoothie but also eliminate the need for ice cubes, preventing any dilution of flavors.
- Blend until the ingredients are well combined and smooth, and you don't see any pieces of coconut or white chocolate. Taste and add maple syrup or sweetener of choice, if needed.
Note: If the smoothie is too thick, add a bit more liquid and blend together.
- Pour into a tall glass, decorate the top with some pineapple and strawberry chunks, more white chocolate chips and coconut (if desired) and serve!
Storage and freezing
Storage: If you have some smoothie left or want to prepare it ahead of time, you can store it in the refrigerator for later. Transfer the smoothie to an airtight container or a mason jar with a lid. Refrigerated smoothies are best consumed within 24 hours to retain their flavor and freshness. Separation might occur over time, so give it a good shake before enjoying.
Freezing: To freeze, follow these simple steps: prepare the smoothie as directed in the recipe, pour any remaining smoothie into separate airtight containers or ice cube trays. Leave some space at the top, as the liquid might expand when freezing. If using ice cube trays, you'll end up with ready-to-blend smoothie cubes that can be conveniently added to your next smoothie. Once the cubes are frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container.
Serving: Take out the desired number of frozen smoothie cubes from the freezer bag and let them thaw in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. Alternatively, you can add the frozen cubes directly to the blender along with a splash of your chosen plant milk and blend until smooth.
Recipe FAQs
Bahama Mama is the name of a popular tropical cocktail made with rum, crushed ice, pineapple juice, orange juice and grenadine. The Bahama Mama Smoothie flavor combination is inspired by this cocktail.
Yes, absolutely! Any milk will work great. You can also use full-far coconut milk from a can for even more creaminess and a more intense coconut flavor.
The smoothie incorporates a mix of fruits, coconut, and plant-based milk, making it a relatively healthy option. It's packed with nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber from the fruits and coconut flakes. White chocolate and optional maple syrup add sugar to the smoothie so if you follow a low-carb or low-sugar diet, you can skip those ingredients.
Yes! White Chocolate Powder is more expensive than chips but it gives the smoothie the most velvety, creamy texture. Use 1 tablespoon of powder instead of 1 ½ tablespoon of white chocolate chips. You can also use more, if desired!
To achieve the desired smooth texture, it is best to use a blender to mix the ingredients thoroughly. However, if you don't have a blender, you can try using a food processor, immersion blender, or even a smoothie maker to get the best results.
Yes, especially when they're in season. My rule of thumb for smoothies is that at least one ingredient should be frozen for best texture and flavor. If you have fresh sweet strawberries, simply swap them for frozen strawberries but keep the pineapple chunks frozen. Or, use fresh pineapple and frozen strawberries. If the smoothie is not thick enough, add a few ice cubes as long as you have a high speed blender.
100% yes! To do so, reduce the amnount of plant milk (or liquid of choice) to ½ cup. If you like smoothie bowls, I have many great ideas here on the blog, including this elegant and simple Strawberry Smoothie Bowl, sweet and healthy Snickers Smoothie Bowl or this mesmerizing Blue Smoothie Bowl made with blue spirulina powder.
For a vegan version of Bahama Mama Smoothie, make sure to use vegan white chocolate chips and plant-based milk or coconut water.
Recipe
Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie
Ingredients
- ¾ cup frozen strawberries, chunks or slices work best
- ¾ cup frozen pineapple chunks
- 1 ½ tablespoon white chocolate chips
- 1 ½ tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut
- ¾ cup unsweetened plant milk such as soy, oat, almond or coconut
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup optional
Instructions
- Place frozen strawberries, frozen pineapple, white chocolate chips, unsweetened coconut and plant milk in a blender.
- Blend everything until smooth and creamy.
- Taste and add maple syrup (or honey or agave) if the smoothie is not sweet enough.
- If you prefer thinner smoothies, add a couple more tablespoons of milk.
- Pour into a tall glass, add toppings if you like and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Meet the Author
Hi, I'm Agnieszka. I'm a mom of three and recipe developer, writer and photographer behind Wholly Tasteful. I love creating comforting, delicious, family-friendly recipes that you can feel good about.
Andy says
If you add rum, extra sweetener helps to balance the flavors.