How to Make a Pineapple Upside Down Cake Drink Recipe

Makes: 1 Serving
Per Serving: 35g Protein | 280 Cal

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This healthy, high-protein pineapple upside down cake smoothie is a creamy, dreamy blend of wholesome, nutritious ingredients that taste like dessert. If you’re looking to recover from a difficult workout, want a healthy dessert that will still keep your health and wellness goals in mind, or you’re looking for a quick and easy breakfast to start your day off right, this delish pineapple upside down cake drink is a recipe you need to have in your back pocket.

Why You’ll Love This Pineapple Upside Down Cake Smoothie Recipe

• It tastes like dessert: The mix of sweet, creamy pineapple, cake batter extract (or protein!), and a bit of maraschino cherry juice makes this drink taste just like a slice of cake.

• High in protein: Each serving of this smoothie contains 35g of protein, helping you to feel fuller for longer and holding you over between meals.

• Ready in 5 minutes or less: This smoothie comes together in no time at all. Just add all of your ingredients to a blender and give it whir.

• It’s a fun treat: This smoothie makes for a fun treat that satisfies your sweet tooth without overloading on tons of sugar.

• Easy to customize and super versatile: It couldn’t be easier to switch up the protein powder, fruit, and more to make this drink your own.

Ingredients

• ½ cup fat-free Greek yogurt or cottage cheese (for creaminess + protein)

• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder

• 1 cup frozen pineapple (don’t skip the frozen—it makes the texture dreamy)

• 3–5 drops cake batter extract (or see swap below)

• A drizzle of maraschino cherry juice

• 1 maraschino cherry, optional, but highly recommended for topping

• Light or fat-free whipped cream, for that true sundae-style finish

Instructions

1. Blend your smoothie: Add the yogurt or cottage cheese, protein powder, frozen pineapple, cake batter extract (or vanilla), and maraschino cherry juice to a blender. Blend on high until smooth and creamy.

2. Garnish and serve: Pour into a tall glass, garnish with a bit of whipped cream and a cherry, and serve. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information - Per Serving (Makes 1 Serving)

• Calories: 280

• Protein: 35g

• Carbs: 35g

• Fat: 0g

Swaps & Substitutions

• Make it sweeter: Prefer your dessert a touch sweeter? Add a little maple syrup, honey, or favorite sweetener like stevia.

• Make it thicker and creamier: Use cottage cheese for added richness. You won’t be able to taste the cheese!

• Make a cocktail version: Looking for a healthier (no cocktail is healthy!) version of your favorite frozen cocktail? Add a shot of vodka (plain vodka,vanilla vodka, or cake-flavored vodka) when you’re blending. Garnish with pineapple slices or chunks of fresh pineapple.

• Swap the cake batter extract: If you can’t find cake batter extract, but do have cake batter protein powder, use that and vanilla extract instead.

• Add a splash of grenadine: Instead of the syrup from the maraschino cherry jar, add a little grenadine syrup.
  

Pro Tip: Want to grab the cake batter extract or maraschino cherries I used? You can find them here. (affiliate link)

FAQs

• Can I make this pineapple upside down cake smoothie dairy-free?

  You sure can! Instead of using Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, swap in a dairy-free yogurt (like one made of coconut or almond) and make sure you use a dairy-free or vegan protein powder since a lot of protein powders contain dairy.

• What can I use if I don’t have frozen pineapple on hand?

  Frozen pineapple will work best because it’ll give you the smoothest, creamiest texture, but if you don’t have any, you can instead use fresh pineapple. If you’re using fresh fruit, make sure you also add a handful of ice to ensure you’ll get the thickest, frostiest texture.

• Can I make this smoothie in advance?

  You can definitely set yourself up for success, even if you can’t fully meal prep everything. Portion all of the non-liquid ingredients into freezer-safe bags or airtight containers and store in the freezer until you’re ready to use them. When you’re ready to blend, add your prepped ingredients and liquid to the blender, blend well, then garnish and enjoy.

  You might find that you need to add a little water or even pineapple juice to get it to blend well.

• Do I have to add the maraschino cherry syrup?

  No, it’s not required, but it does add a touch of that classic dessert to your smoothie.

• Can I add vegetables to this smoothie?

  You sure can! Add a bit of frozen cauliflower rice or frozen zucchini. It’ll make your smoothie thick and creamy without altering the flavor at all.

This pineapple upside down cake smoothie is packed with protein, but sweet and creamy enough to taste like dessert. Whether you’re looking for a sweet afternoon treat or post-workout recovery snack, this smoothie delivers.

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Pineapple Upside Down Cake Drink Recipe

Yield: 1

Author: Ashley aka The Protein Snack Queen

This pineapple upside down cake drink is packed with protein, low in fat, and a smooth and creamy dream. You have to try it!

Ingredients

• ½ cup fat-free Greek yogurt or cottage cheese (for creaminess + protein)
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1 cup frozen pineapple (don’t skip the frozen—it makes the texture dreamy)
• 3–5 drops cake batter extract (or see swap below)
• A drizzle of maraschino cherry juice
• 1 maraschino cherry, optional, but highly recommended for topping
• Light or fat-free whipped cream, for that true sundae-style finish

Instructions

1. Blend your smoothie: Add the yogurt or cottage cheese, protein powder, frozen pineapple, cake batter extract (or vanilla), and maraschino cherry juice to a blender. Blend on high until smooth and creamy.
2. Garnish and serve: Pour into a tall glass, garnish with a bit of whipped cream and a cherry, and serve. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Calories

280

Fat

0 g

Carbs

35 g

Protein

35 g

Nutrition info is based off of estimates. They are calculated by taking the ingredients in this recipe and dividing them by the number of servings.