Pina Coladas are a wildly popular tropical cocktail for good reason. Brimming with pineapple, coconut and rum flavors, they taste like a tropical vacation!
This perfect piña colada recipe blends up in minutes. It’s one of those easy recipes you’ll enjoy on the regular especially in hot weather or when you are craving a trip to an island getaway.
It’s one of the best rum cocktails and the official cocktail of Puerto Rico! Sit back and enjoy the rich coconut and pineapple flavor.
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Best Pina Colada Recipe – Blender version
This is a perfect pina colada recipe for parties or when you don’t want to be using a cocktail shaker all evening.
All the ingredients go into the blender to whip up a creamy cocktail with tropical fruity flavors.
Simple ingredients and a traditional blender are all you’ll need!
Alterning the amount of ice used changes the texture of the cocktail too so you can make the perfect Pina Colada recipe you love.
History of the Pina Colada
Every good cocktail has a great origin story and the Pina Colada is no exception.
The first known version was attributed to a Puerto Rican pirate concocted a pineapple, coconut and white rum cocktail to bolster his crew’s morale. Though a disputed tale, this version was believed to both be the original recipe and also lost with his death in 1825.
The Caribe Hilton Hotel in San Juan Puerto Rico claims their bartender developed the cocktail in 1954 believing it to represent the essence of Puerto Rico.
Another Puerto Rican restaurant, Barrachina, boasts their claim that their bartender developed the famous drink in 1963.
Whoever is responsible there’s no denying this classic Puerto Rican cocktail has become famous worldwide.
In 1978 it officially become the official national drink of Puerto Rico.
Recipe Ingredients + Notes
Rum. Use light rum or white rum (not aged rum) for this cocktail recipe. For an extra kicker an aged rum or dark rum float can be added to the tropical drink when serving.
Cream of Coconut. Be sure to use ‘cream of coconut’ NOT coconut cream (more below). Coco Lopez is probably the most well known brand. This is a sweet thick coconut water or milk that comes in a can. There is not a true substitute and it is key for the tropical flavor in a pina colada.
Pineapple juice. Pineapple is the other key flavor in the perfect pina colada recipe. Using juice and pineapple fruit makes a delicious cocktail.
Lime juice. Fresh lime juice makes a difference so juice your own. We love using a handheld juicer to get the job done.
Fresh pineapple. Some fresh sweet pineapple chunks add a fresh fruity flavor.
It’s traditionally served in a hurricane glass but any tall glass or highball glass will work. You can even serve it from a hollowed out pineapple half.
Garnish with a slice of pineapple and maraschino cherry….and a cocktail umbrella.
Cream of Coconut versus Coconut Cream
Be sure to use cream of coconut for this recipe. I have accidentally reserve swapped cream of coconut into a recipe that used coconut cream and they are nothing like each other!
Cream of coconut is made from coconut water or coconut milk with lots of sweetener as well as thickeners. It has the consistency of a syrup.
Coconut Cream is made from coconut water with a thickener but is not sweetened. So it has a dense coconut flavor without any sweetness.
Variations
Traditionally pina coladas are served over pebble ice. But there are a few ways to change up the blender version! By changing the amount of ice you can make different variations of homemade pina colada
Pina Colada Slushies. Add 2-3 cups ice when blending for a slushie version.
Frozen Pina Colada. Add 4 cups ice and instead of fresh pineapple use frozen pineapple.
Want a light version? Swap in coconut rum and use a little bit of simple syrup to adjust the sweetness of the drink .
Virgin Pina Colada. Remove the rum from the recipe. Blend the pineapple juice, lime juice, fresh pineapple and half the cream of coconut. Taste and add more cream of coconut to taste. Because of its sweetness gradually adding to your liking doesn’t allow it to overpower with coconut flavor.
How to Make it
Add the pineapple, pineapple juice, lime juice, cream of coconut, rum with a cup of ice (photo 1-3). Blend (photo 4)!
How to Make a Pineapple Cup
A fun way to both get fresh pineapple and serve the cocktails in a unique way is to hollow out a pineapple for serving.
Slice off the top portion of the pineapple (photo 2). Use an ice cream scoop to scoop out the ripe pineapple (photo 3).
Save the pineapple for the cocktails. Make sure there is at least 1/2-3/4 inch thickness left inside the pineapple if using it as a cup (photo 4).
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Recipe
Pina Colada cocktails
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (1 cup) light or white rum
- 6 ounces (3/4 cup) cream of coconut
- 6 ounces (3/4 cup) pineapple juice
- 2 ounces (1/8 cup) freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/2 cup ripe fresh pineapple
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender: rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, lime juice, fresh pineapple and ice.
- Blend until smooth. Pour into 4 glasses garnish with pineapple slice and maraschino cherry.
Notes
- Slice the pineapple across and remove top 1/4.
- Use an ice cream scoop to scoop out the pineapple (reserve the fruit for the cocktails).
- Leave 1/2-3/4 inch of fruit inside the skin for stability.
- 2 ounces of white or light rum
- 1.5 ounces cream of coconut
- 1.5 ounces pineapple juice
- .5 ounce of lime juice
- 1/8-1/4 cup fresh pineapple
Natalie says
That was so refreshing. Definitely making it again.
Natasha says
It was so delicious and refreshing! I’ll definitely save this for our next family event. Thanks for sharing!
Elizabeth says
Such a delicious recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Amy B. says
So much easier than I expected, and incredibly delicious! The fresh pineapple makes all the difference!
Swathi says
Pinacolda cocktail is my favorite.
Gwynn Galvin says
Pina Coladas always transport me to a tropical paradise!
Seanna Borrows says
So tasty and easy to make! Love this!