PINEAPPLE SMOOTHIE

This simple and refreshing pineapple smoothie delivers a burst of tropical flavors! With blended pineapple, coconut milk, Greek yogurt, pineapple juice, and a touch of honey, you have a quick and delicious smoothie.

You don’t need to be on a tropical island to enjoy the taste of the tropics. With a few simple ingredients, you can recreate those beloved island flavors. Add a fun drink umbrella, close your eyes and imagine the sound of the wind and waves while sipping on your pineapple smoothie! This smoothie recreates all of the yummy flavors of a pina colada but without the alcohol. I’ll give you some suggestions below if you want to add alcohol and have the whole pina colada experience.

Frozen Pineapple:

I always avoid using ice in my smoothies. Ice makes your smoothie cold, but as it melts, it waters down your smoothie without adding any flavor. Using frozen fruit gives you an ice-cold smoothie while also adding loads of flavor.

You can use either fresh pineapple or buy frozen pineapple. If you are using fresh pineapple, you will need to cut it up into cubes and allow time for it to freeze. To freeze a fresh pineapple, remove the skin and cut it into uniform chunks. Place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Make sure the pieces are not touching each other. Allow the pineapple to freeze for 6 hours or overnight. Once they are frozen, you can toss them into a freezer bag until you are ready to use them. I have made the mistake of placing all of my pineapple pieces in a container to freeze them. I ended up with one large chunk of pineapple with all the pieces frozen together, and I had to chip them apart to use them for my smoothie…Don’t make my mistake.

Adding Alcohol:

If you want to make these more true to a pina colada and add alcohol, go for it; just don’t forget the drink umbrella! I would recommend starting with 3 ounces of white rum or coconut rum, about ⅓ cup. Then, of course, you can always add more if you like.

Pineapple Smoothie

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 5

Course Drinks

Servings servings

Equipment

Blender

Ingredients

3 cups frozen pineapple chunks
½ cup plain greek yogurt
½ cup coconut milk
½ cup pineapple juice, (more if needed to thin out the smoothie)
1 tablespoon honey, optional

To Make this an Adult Beverage:

3 ounces white rum or coconut rum, (about ⅓ cup)

Instructions

If using fresh pineapple, cut the pineapple into chunks and place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Be sure the pieces are in a single layer and not touching. Leave the pineapple chunks in the freezer for 6 hours or overnight. Once frozen, you can place the pineapple chunks into an airtight container or freezer bag until ready to use.
Place the frozen pineapple, yogurt, coconut milk, pineapple juice, and honey (if using) in the blender. Blend until smooth and creamy, with no visible pineapple pieces. If you want to thin out the smoothie, add more pineapple juice, just a little at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
**If adding alcohol, add it to the blender along with the other ingredients.
Pour into the glasses and serve immediately.

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SPARKLING FRUIT PUNCH

This Easy fruit punch is my go-to drink for every party and get-together. Super sweet, super fruity, and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser!

Every time I have served this fruit punch at a party, at least one person has asked for the recipe. It’s that good! It’s full of bold, fruity flavors with bubbly carbonation. The addition of the blended strawberries and bananas thickens the juice and gives it a smooth, creamy texture.

Not only is this juice amazingly delicious, but it’s also so easy to put together. It all comes together in under ten minutes! So it’s easy to serve at a casual backyard barbeque or dress it up with strawberries or fruit slices (lemon, lime, or pineapple slices) for a more formal get-together.

Looking for a more adult-themed beverage, add light rum or vodka to the fruit punch. Reduce the ginger ale to one liter and start with 3 to 4 cups of alcohol (you can always add more or less depending on your preference). You can also make the juice by following the instructions and then adding the vodka or rum to the individual glasses.

Sparkling Fruit Punch

This Easy fruit punch is my go-to drink for every party and get-together. Super sweet, super fruity, and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser!

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Prep Time 10

Chill Time 4

Total Time 4 10

Course Drinks

Servings servings

Ingredients

1 can (46 ounces) pineapple juice,
¾ cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 cup water, divided
½ cup sugar
2 large ripe bananas
1 package (20 ounces) frozen unsweetened whole strawberries, thawed
2 liters ginger ale, chilled
alcohol (optional), see notes

Instructions

In a punch bowl or large pitcher, combine pineapple juice, lemonade concentrate, ½ cup water, and sugar.
Place bananas, thawed strawberries, and remaining water in a blender; cover and process until smooth. Stir into the juice mixture.
Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.
Just before serving, stir in the chilled ginger ale.
**See notes for adding alcohol

Notes

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GRILLED CINNAMON PINEAPPLE

Grilled pineapple, which is melt-in-your-mouth tender, is a simple – yet delicious – way to enjoy this refreshing fruit! The combination of the caramelized sugar and cinnamon with the pineapple makes for an outstanding accompaniment to all your summer barbeques.

I first heard about grilling pineapple while eating dinner at a Brazilian restaurant. They were running a special on grilled cinnamon pineapple. I said to my husband, “That sounds so good!” So we told our waiter that we’d like to try it. Unfortunately, they were sold out because it was so popular. But, I knew this couldn’t be too hard to recreate at home. So this is my version of grilled cinnamon pineapple.

The first step is choosing a good pineapple. Unlike other fruits, a pineapple will not ripen any further after it is harvested, so it is important that it is harvested at peak ripeness. Unless you grow your own, you have no control over when the pineapple is harvested, so you have to know how to spot the ripest one. Look for a plump and fresh pineapple with a crown of fresh green leaves. The body of the pineapple should be firm, not soft. The larger the pineapple, the greater proportion of edible fruit – but size does not indicate ripeness or sweetness. Skin color is also not an indicator of ripeness. A pineapple’s skin can range from green to yellow and can be sweet and ripe even when it is almost all green! I like to smell my pineapple when I’m selecting it. A ripe and sweet pineapple will have a pleasant, sweet aroma. Once you pick your pineapple, the sooner you eat it, the better. If you don’t plan to use your pineapple right away, store it in the refrigerator. It will keep better and longer.

To make this recipe:

If you are using wooden skewers, they need to be soaked in water for at least 2 hours, but longer is better. This is to keep the skewers from burning on the grill.
Cut up the pineapple into triangle-shaped chunks, and set them aside.
Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon. Add the pineapple to the sugar mixture and stir to evenly coat all the pineapple pieces. Allow the pineapple to marinate in the brown sugar and cinnamon for 20 to 30 minutes.
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat while the pineapple is marinating.
Place the pineapple chunks onto the skewers, 5 to 6 pieces per skewer.
Place the pineapple skewers onto the grill, making sure they are not touching each other.
Grill 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 minutes on each side.
Check the pineapple frequently to ensure that it is not charring too much. You’ll want a nice browning of the pineapple with it just beginning to char.
Allow the pineapple to cool for 10 minutes, then serve.

Grilled Cinnamon Pineapple

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 6

Course Dessert

Servings people

Equipment

skewers

Ingredients

1 pineapple, cut up
½ cup brown sugar
1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon

Instructions

If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 2 hours; longer is better.
Cut up the pineapple into wedges.
In a medium bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon.
Add the cut pineapple to the sugar mixture, and stir to coat evenly. Marinade for 20 to 30 minutes.
Preheat grill to medium-high. Place pineapple on the grill for 2½ to 3½ minutes on each side, or until pineapple begins to caramelize and char.
Allow the pineapple to cool for 10 minutes. Serve.

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DISNEY DOLE WHIP

The classic Disney Dole Whip is yours for the making!!! This is the perfect summer dessert, sweet, refreshing, and bursting with flavor. The best part is you don’t have to wait for your next trip to Disneyland to enjoy this amazing treat!!

Disney has released its Dole Whip recipe to the masses! That’s right; you can make this fantastic frozen treat yourself at home! Dole Whip was first sold at Disneyland in 1986 and has since developed a cult following. People are obsessed with it! But I can’t blame them; it is pretty amazing. But did you know that Disneyland isn’t the only place where you can get this tasty treat? Here in Hawaii, on the island of Oahu, you can drive to the North Shore and get it at the Dole Plantation. That’s where I first experienced it. Some say it tastes better here in Hawaii because it’s made with fresh, locally grown pineapples, literally grown just down the road. No matter where you get it, though, you will love it! But now you can make it yourself.

The key to good Dole Whip is a good pineapple. It’s been said that pineapples taste better in Hawaii, and they actually do! But it’s not just because you’re in paradise that they taste better; it has to do with the variety grown here. Most pineapples grown here in Hawaii are called “sugarloaf pineapples,” and for a good reason, they are high in sugar and low in acidity, making them super desirable for eating. But they are softer and more fragile than other varieties of pineapples. Because of this, they don’t ship well and are not exported to any other states.

How to Pick a Fresh Pineapple:

Unlike other fruits, a pineapple will not ripen any further after being harvested. So it is important that it is harvested at peak ripeness. Unless you are growing your own, you have no control over when the pineapple is harvested, so you should know how to spot the ripest one. The first step is to look for a plump and fresh-looking pineapple with fresh, green leaves on the crown. The body of the pineapple should be firm, not soft. The larger the pineapple, the greater proportion of edible fruit, but size does not indicate ripeness or sweetness. Skin color is also not an indicator of ripeness. A pineapple’s skin can range from green to yellow. Pineapple can be sweet and ripe even when it is almost all green. I like to smell my pineapple when I’m selecting it. A ripe, sweet pineapple will have a nice, sweet aroma. Once you pick your pineapple, the sooner you eat it, the better. Store it in the refrigerator if you don’t plan to use your pineapple right away. It will keep better and longer.

For this recipe, you’ll want to freeze your pineapple chucks. To freeze a fresh pineapple, remove the skin and the core, then cut it into uniform chunks. Place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Make sure the pieces are not touching each other. Allow the pineapple to freeze for 6 hours or overnight. Once they are frozen, you can toss them into a freezer bag until you are ready to use them. I have made the mistake of placing all of my pineapple pieces in a container to freeze them. I ended up with one large chunk of pineapple with all the pieces frozen together, and I had to chip them apart to use them for my smoothie…Don’t make my mistake.

Making the Dole Whip:

Add your frozen pineapple chunks to a blender or food processor, along with the pineapple juice and ice cream, and process until smooth. This is best served immediately as it will be creamy and smooth. It will harden up a lot in the freezer because of the pineapple juice, so I do not recommend freezing it for later.

Serve in a bowl or glass. Optionally you can top with chopped pineapple and a dollop of whip cream. For an authentic Dole Whip experience, use a piping bag and an extra-large star tip to pipe the Dole Whip into the serving dish. I recommend freezing the Dole Whip for 30 minutes before pipping it into the bowls. This will help it firm up a little and hold its shape better. But don’t leave it in the freezer too long because it freezes pretty hard.

Can I use frozen pineapple from the store?

Yes, of course. Frozen, prepackaged pineapple will work if you can’t find fresh pineapple or don’t want to bother cutting up an entire pineapple. I will say this though…nothing beats a fresh pineapple.

Disney Dole Whip

The classic Disney Dole Whip is yours for the making!!! This is the perfect summer dessert, sweet, refreshing, and bursting with flavor. The best part is you don't have to wait for your next trip to Disneyland to enjoy this amazing treat!!

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Course Dessert

Servings servings

Ingredients

2 cups frozen pineapple chunks
4 ounces pineapple juice
2 scoops vanilla ice cream

Optional Toppings:

additional chopped pineapple
cool whip or whipped cream

Instructions

To freeze a fresh pineapple, remove the skin and the core, then cut it into uniform chunks. Place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Make sure the pieces are not touching each other. Allow the pineapple to freeze for 6 hours or overnight. Once they are frozen, you can toss them into a freezer bag until you are ready to use them.
When you are ready to make the Dole Whip, add the ice cream, pineapple juice, and frozen pineapple to a blender. Blend until well combined and smooth.
*If it is too thick, you can add a little more pineapple juice until you reach your desired consistency.
Scoop into bowls or glasses, add chopped pineapple and cool whip (if desired), and serve immediately.
For a more authentic Dole Whip experience, use a piping bag and a large star tip, swirl into the bowls or glasses, and top with pineapple (optional).
**If you are pipping the Dole Whip, freeze for 30 minutes before pipping it into the bowls so it holds its shape better.

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