Tropical Smoothie Jetty Punch Copycat

This strawberry banana smoothie is a copycat recipe of Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s Jetty Punch. It features strawberries, banana, ice, and turbinado for a sweet treat.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s Jetty Punch:

We live two minutes from a Tropical Smoothie Cafe. My kids love to stop in and grab an impromptu smoothie. Whenever we do this, I always make a homemade version and taste them side-by-side.

This Jetty Punch copycat recipe is super simple! It’s only four ingredients and easy to customize. Plus it saves you money. Takeout smoothies are expensive, costing 7 dollars and up per smoothie.

When you make smoothies at home, the cost of each smoothie goes down since you get to keep the leftover ingredients. If you love this Tropical Smoothie copycat, try this Bahama Mama, Chia Banana Boost, or Detox Island Green copycat!

Jetty Punch Ingredients:

• Banana – Bananas make a sweet and creamy smoothie! For best results, use a yellow, ripe banana. When a banana ripens, it’s starch converts to sugar. Underripe bananas taste slightly bitter and chalky.
• Frozen strawberries – I buy a big bag at Costco! Be sure to use frozen fruit for a thick, shake-like consistency. Fruit is frozen at its peak of ripeness, so it tastes great and it’s affordable.
• Ice – I don’t typically use ice, but tropical smoothie cafe does! I added it to achieve the same consistency.
• Turbinado – Even though it’s not listed under a smoothie’s description, Tropical Smoothie Cafe adds it to almost all their smoothies. Turbinado is a less processed version of sugar cane with large, golden brown crystals. Sugar in the Raw is a brand of turbinado.
• Water – For the liquid base!

Sweetness Level:

Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s smoothies are very sweet! You can customize the sweetness level to fit your tastebuds by changing the amount of turbinado.

Less turbinado = less sweetness. More turbinado = more sweetness.

Or try one of these alternatives instead:

• Natural sweetener – You can swap the turbinado with maple syrup, honey, or light agave.
• Alternative sweetener – If you want the same sweetness level without all the sugar, swap the turbinado with a 1 to 1 zero calorie sweetener. If you plan to use Stevia or Truvia, reduce the amount to 1 1/2 teaspoons.

How to Make it:

This strawberry banana smoothie is simple to make!

• Combine ingredients: Add the banana, frozen strawberries, ice, turbinado, and water to your blender. Always add the softest ingredients first for better blending, i.e. the banana.
• Blend: Start your blender on low speed, then gradually increase the speed. Blend until smooth.

• Adjust: Taste for sweetness and consistency. Adjust if necessary. I prefer my smoothies thick yet pourable.
• Serve: Pour into glasses and enjoy immediately!

Expert Tips:

• A high-speed blender pulverizes the ice effectively for a smooth texture. Tropical Smoothie Cafe uses professional grade blenders to achieve a smooth consistency.
• For a healthier smoothie, omit the turbinado. If you still want the sweetness, add a teaspoon of stevia or swap the water with juice.
• Buy frozen fruit in bulk for a better deal. It lasts for 8 months in the freezer so you don’t have to worry about spoilage. You can compare prices by checking the price per ounce.

Variations:

• Fruit – Swap the strawberries with mixed berries, mango, pineapple, or a combo!
• Greens – Add a handful of baby spinach for a boost of iron and other essential micronutrients.
• Oats – Add 1/4 cup of oats for whole grains and a subtle oatmeal flavor/texture.
• Seeds – Add one tablespoon of chia seeds or two tablespoons of hemp hearts for omega-3 fatty acids and plant-based protein.
• Protein – Add 3 tablespoons of vanilla protein powder or 1/3 cup of Greek yogurt for a boost of protein.

Storage:

Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately when they’re fresh and frosty cold! Technically you can store smoothies in the fridge for up to 24 hours, but I recommend 4 hours for the best results.

My favorite way to store smoothies is as smoothie popsicles! Pour the strawberry smoothie into popsicle molds, add popsicle sticks, and freeze overnight.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Recipes:

• Tropical Smoothie Peanut Paradise Recipe
• Avocolada Smoothie Recipe
• Mango Magic Tropical Smoothie Copycat
• Tropical Smoothie Sunrise Sunset Recipe