This cool, frothy piña colada protein shake, inspired by piña colada julius, is an easy and delicious way to up your protein intake.
A few months ago I started using an app to track my calories because I’m hoping to lose a few pounds before some trips that I have coming up. I was shocked to see how little protein I was consuming, and started making more of an effort to incorporate more of it into my meals and snacks.
Since I rarely take the time to make a real breakfast (you either? here are some make-ahead breakfast recipes) I turned to shakes and bars for a quick, grab-and-go option on my most rushed mornings. After trying a bunch of options, I found a few that I really like – especially Rx and Oatmega bars.
How to make a piña colada protein shake
Shawn had a piña colada julius the other day, and as soon as I took a sip I knew I needed to turn it into a protein shake. This easy piña colada protein shake quickly became one of my go-to breakfasts, but it’s also great as a post-workout snack. It’s light, frothy, and cool with a bright sunny flavor. For a more substantial shake with a thicker, milkshake-like texture, you can also blend in half a frozen banana. Or, if you like things green, throw in a cup of baby spinach. Whatever you do, don’t skip the coconut extract – it’s key to getting that classic piña colada flavor.
The nutrition information will vary depending on your protein powder; I use 365 whey protein and my shakes have 17 grams of protein. It’s probably not the best protein powder on the market – there are others with more protein and less sugar – but it’s affordable (about $14 per carton at Whole Foods) and I love how smooth it is. Other powders I’ve tried seemed gritty and I wasn’t a fan at all.
(My other quick go-to shake recipe? 6 ounces of cold brew coffee, 2 ounces of coconut milk, and 1 scoop of powder, shaken well. It takes about 30 seconds to make and tastes like a really good coffee shake!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
- ½ frozen banana optional
- 6 ounces unsweetened coconut milk
- ½ teaspoon coconut extract
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to the blender.
- Cover and blend on high until smooth and frosty, 10-15 seconds.
- Pour into a glass and drink immediately.
4 grams of protein is not a protein shake.
Thanks for bringing this error to my attention! It looks like the nutrition calculator wasn’t pulling in the protein powder. It should be 21 grams of protein per shake (on average, depending on the brands of protein you use!)
The piña colada recipe wasn’t very good.
I’m sorry you didn’t like it. It really is one of my favorite. What kind of protein powder did you use? Is it one you’ve liked before? Some of them aren’t so good, so that can really make a huge difference.
I would like to try it!!!