Pina Colada

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. + chilling

Makes

6 servings

Updated: Jun. 30, 2023
Velvety-smooth texture and a taste of the tropics are what this tropical drink delivers. The easy-to-make pina colada recipe can be mixed and chilled ahead of time. When ready to serve, just blend for a creamy and delicious beverage. —Linda Schend, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Ingredients

  • 2-1/4 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
  • 1 can (15 ounces) cream of coconut
  • 1-1/2 cups light rum
  • 6 cups crushed ice
  • Pineapple wedges

Directions

  1. In a 2-qt. pitcher, combine pineapple juice, cream of coconut and rum. Refrigerate, covered, until chilled. For each serving, add a generous cup of rum mixture and 1 cup ice to a blender. Process, covered, until smooth. Pour into a chilled hurricane or highball glass. Cut a 1-in. slit into tip of a pineapple wedge; slide wedge over rim of glass.
Pina Colada Tips

What's the best rum to use for a pina colada?

If you're just learning about rum, you might be wondering what kind to use in a pina colada. A classic pina colada calls for white rum, which is aged in stainless steel barrels and has a lighter, sweeter flavor. Dark rum is aged in oak barrels and has a more robust flavor. You could replace some, or all, of the white rum with dark rum if you prefer a less fruity and more boozy taste. Otherwise, you could use spiced rum, which is often flavored with cinnamon, cloves or cardamom. If you choose spiced rum for your pina colada, know these flavors might compete with the pineapple and the coconut.

Can you use fresh pineapple in a pina colada?

A lot of classic rum drinks include pineapple or pineapple juice. This recipe calls for pineapple juice, which can come from a can or a fresh pineapple. In addition to the juice, you could also add a few cubes of fresh or frozen pineapple when blending for a thicker texture. Finally, try garnishing with wedges of fresh pineapple or even pineapple spears for a fun presentation and a bright, fresh flavor.

How do you make a pina colada sweeter?

If you tend to like mixed drinks that are on the sweeter side, you might want your pina colada with a dash of sugar, brown sugar or simple syrup. You could also go with sweetened pineapple juice instead of unsweetened juice, or sweetened cream of coconut instead of plain cream of coconut.

How do you make a virgin pina colada?

It's always nice to have a few mocktails on hand when you're hosting a party, and the same is true for a rum-free version of this frozen drink. To make a virgin pina colada, replace the rum with additional pineapple juice. You could even add a splash of rum extract if you want the rum undertones without the boozy flavor—or the booze.

—Peggy Woodward, Taste of Home Senior Food Editor

Nutrition Facts

1-1/4 cups: 457 calories, 13g fat (10g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 42mg sodium, 55g carbohydrate (52g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.