I am a huge coconut lover, one of my favorite ice creams is actually coconut. Today, I wanted to satisfy my coconut and ice cream craving, but in a healthy way.

Smoothie bowls taste like ice cream, so I developed a delicious coconut smoothie bowl recipe that I am so excited to share with you all today!

Unfortunately, even though I make a lot of smoothie bowls, I have still not perfected the decoration aspect of it.

So, please don’t judge the look of this coconut bowl, and try it, I promise you, it tastes delicious!

Benefits of Vanilla Coconut Smoothie Bowl

Even though this smoothie bowl with coconut tastes like eating ice cream it’s actually really good for you.

Here’s an overview of what kind of benefits you can get by eating this protein smoothie bowl with coconut:

Curbs Cravings In a Healthy Way: If you are on a path of eating healthier but have a craving for ice cream or something sweet, this smoothie bowl hits the spot and helps curve cravings without the extra calories and added sugars.
Immune Boost: The bowl is high in vitamin C which is essential for a healthy immune system.
Satiety: The use of protein powder adds a great amount of protein per serving of this coconut bowl. Protein and fats can contribute to feelings of fullness, which can help curb overeating.
Rich In Iron: The bowl is a great source of iron which is essential for red blood cell production and oxygen transport.
May Aid Weight Loss: The smoothie curbs cravings and promotes satiety – which are 2 very important factors when it comes to weight loss.
Muscle Support: The protein content present supports muscle growth and repair.
Supports Digestive Health: The high amount of fiber per serving aids in digestion and promotes gut health.

Is Coconut Milk In Smoothies Good For You?

If you are looking for a coconut base recipe for your smoothies and want to know whether coconut milk is a good one, the answer is it depends.

It depends on your lifestyle and the type of coconut milk you choose.

Coconut milk from a can, even a low-fat is high in calories. So, if you are someone who is careful about what you eat to avoid weight gain, you might want to use coconut milk from a carton.

Coconut milk from a carton is a much watered-down version of coconut milk, and it contains a lot fewer calories, but you still get the coconut taste.

Another thing to look at is added sugars. Some coconut milk brands have added sugars to them or added flavors. Avoid those.

Overall though, coconut milk is a healthy ingredient or a smoothie base to use for your smoothies, just make sure you choose the right coconut milk to suit your lifestyle.

How To Make a Coconut Smoothie Bowl

To make this delicious tropical smoothie bowl, all you need is 4 simple ingredients.
Here they are:

#1. Frozen Pineapple Chunks

It’s really important that you have pre-frozen chunks of pineapple in the freezer ready to be used.

You won’t achieve a thick cold smoothie bowl with frozen fruit.

#2. Coconut Milk

I used low-fat coconut milk. It’s thick, which helps make this smoothie even thicker.

Furthermore, coconut milk from a can also make ultra-creamy smoothies, which is exactly what you want from a smoothie bowl.

#3. Vanilla

Adding vanilla really adds something extra to your smoothie bowl.

It adds a gentle taste of vanilla, which is good because you don’t want to taste the overwhelming coconut taste.

I personally used vanilla extract, but if you can afford it, use vanilla bean paste or use the vanilla straight from vanilla beans.

#4. Protein Powder

I used double vanilla, vanilla extract, and also vanilla protein powder. If you are a huge vanilla lover like me, then I think you would like to do the same!

Now, I used vegan protein powder, which not only means that this coconut smoothie bowl recipe is dairy-free, but it’s also vegan-friendly too!

Making The Smoothie Bowl: Step-By-Step Process

As you can see, this smoothie has no banana in it. I wanted to create a no banana coconut smoothie bowl because not many people like bananas.

Here’s the process of making this smoothie:

If you don’t have pre-frozen pineapple chunks, you will need to freeze some yourself. Slice the peel off a large pineapple, then dice the flesh into chunks. Spread the pineapple in a large baking tray and place the tray in the freezer for a minimum of 2 hours. Transfer the pineapple chunks to a freezer bag, and freeze for another hour before using.
Once the pineapple is ready and frozen, add all the ingredients to your blender or a food process. I like to add my frozen fruit first, followed by the rest of the ingredients.
Blend for 2-3 minutes, stopping and scrapping off the sides of the blender or food process a few times for a smooth and consistent blend.
Pour the thick blended mixture onto your chose serving bowls and add your desired toppings.

Topping Suggestions:

If you are wondering what the best smoothie bowl toppings are for this smoothie, the answer is it depends on your personal taste.

However, I am going to leave a list of some of my favorite toppings that I know work well with coconut:

Coconut Flakes
Goji Berries
Lime Zest
Chia Seeds
Granola
Bee Pollen
Sliced Fruit