Pina Colada Recipe: Bright pineapple and creamy coconut combine to make this easy drink. Transport yourself somewhere tropical with just 4 ingredients, and 3 minutes!
Love pineapple? You might also like my Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes.
Today is the perfect time to learn a new party drink recipe or two. A frosty (and delicious!) pina colada is the perfect addition to your drink repertoire, and with just a few ingredients and a blender, you can be on your way to enjoying this chilled treat. They are perfect for the beach, the pool, or even your backyard barbecue. It is impossible to drink this without a smile on your face! One sip, and you’ll immediately be transported someone with white sand, bright sunshine, and crashing ocean waves.
Looking for more summer drinks?
Ingredient Notes
You will need: two ounces white rum, three ounces pineapple juice, one and a half ounces of cream of coconut, a quarter ounce lime juice (fresh if possible), and one cup of ice.
Variations may include lime juice, bananas, and pineapple chunks or pineapple juice (depending on whether the recipe is for a smoothie or a cocktail). The recipes might also call for either white or dark rum, depending on color and flavor.
How to Make a Pina Colada
Chill your glasses ahead of time to stop the drinks from melting in the summer sun. First, gather all your ingredients ,and your blender.
I also use maraschino cherries and pineapple wedges as a fun garnish. Place all ingredients (with the exception of the cherries and pineapple wedges) into the blender, and blend until smooth. Adjust the consistency to your preference by either adding more or less ice or adjusting the amount of juice.
For a thicker drink add a few more ice cubs. On the other hand if you prefer a thinner drink use less ice cubes.
Once desired texture is reached, pour into pre-chilled glasses, then garnish with a cherry and a pineapple wedge.
Variations:
Virgin: Want a delicious drink but not interested in the alcohol? You can easily make a virgin pina colada by swapping the rum in our recipe for four ounces of pineapple juice. To get the same texture as you’ll want to increase the amount of ice in the drink. You can also add a frozen banana or frozen pineapple chunks to reach your prefect texture. Including fruit will also give you extra boost of flavor.
How to Make a Big Batch:It is possible to make a large batch too. You’ll want to have several large pitchers available. In one pitcher, place all ingredients with the exception of the ice, mix thoroughly, and store in the fridge until ready.
In the other pitcher, prepare a large amount of crushed ice ahead of time, and store in the freezer (or the fridge if you’ll be preparing the drinks shortly). When you are ready to serve, combine ingredients and crushed ice in a chilled glass. When using a pitcher, I like to put my garnish right in! Mmmm boozy fruit, my favorite way to get vitamin C!
No Blender? No Problem
If you do not have a blender available, it is certainly still possible to prepare and enjoy our cocktail recipe. Combine ingredients (without the ice) in a cocktail shaker, shake well, then strain into a glass. You may add a few ice cubes, just keep in mind it may get watered down as the ice melts.
Best Rum To Use
There are a wide variety of rums available on the market. I recommend a white rum to keep the taste a little light and the color bright. As a rule, dark rum is typically used for sipping because of its strong flavors, while white rums mix more easily into a cocktail. You know your palate, so use what you like best!
Consider Bacardi Silver, El Dorado 3-Year Rum or even Havana Club if you’d like stronger flavor but still want a white rum.
You might even consider a flavored rum like pineapple, lime or coconut such as Bacardi Pineapple or Malibu Lime.
History/Origin
Although the exact bartender that first created this creamy drink is a bit of a mystery, historians agree that the first modern pina coladas made their appearance in Puerto Rico in the 1950’s. Pina colada literally means “strained pineapple”(Bet you a dollar that’s a Jeopardy question someday!). The pineapple, coconut and rum flavors were all typical of the Puerto Rican style. Some say it got its start even earlier; a famous Puerto Rican pirate was known to give his crew a drink of pineapple, coconut and white rum in the 19th century. And that sounds like a good boss to me! 🙂
Pina Colada
Pina Colada Recipe: Bright pineapple and creamy coconut combine to make this easy drink. Transport yourself somewhere tropical with just 4 ingredients, and 3 minutes!
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Servings: 1 Drink
Calories: 405kcal
Ingredients
- 2 Ounces White Rum
- 3 Ounces Pineapple Juice
- 1 ½ Ounces Cream of Coconut
- ¼ Ounce Lime Juice Freshly Squeezed
- 1 Cup Ice About 6-8 Cubes
- Maraschino cherries and pineapple wedges For Garnish if Desired
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Instructions
- In the blender, combine white rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, lime juice, and ice. Blend until smooth.
- Pour into a chilled glass (typically a hurricane glass).
- Garnish with maraschino cherries, and pineapple wedges if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 405kcal
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Recipe adapted via: The Spruce Eats
So get blending, and get sipping! I hope you enjoy this frozen drink recipe as much as I did!
This piña colada drink was so refreshing and very tasty! I made virgin versions for my teens and they loved it especially with these hot days we are having too! Definitely keeping this on hand and making these again!
I go crazy over these flavors! So perfect for our romantic nights!
Oh I would love one of these right now!! It sounds AMAZING!
Yes, please! This is such a fabulous summer cocktail!!
Thank you so much for this pina colada recipe! Tasted really amazing and very easy to make! Highly recommended!
This Pina Colada looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Yummy! A perfect tropical drink for the grown ups. And that fresh lime juice… so good. I also added just a small bit of zested lime peel too! So perfectly refreshing.
This is by far one of my favorite summer cocktails and this recipe rocks! Now I just have to find those little umbrellas.
Such a good summer drink! Love the pineapple wedge, it’s such a neat touch.