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Piña Colada: frozen piña colada with rum — Drinks recipe | AfoodrinkDrinks

Piña Colada

This frosty piña colada blends pineapple, sweetened cream of coconut, white rum, and ice into a creamy tropical drink. It is simple to make at home, as long as you use cream of coconut—not plain coconut cream.

Total time
10 min
Yield
2 drinks
Difficulty
Easy

Prep 10mCook 0mPuerto RicanDrinks

The piña colada is a classic Puerto Rican cocktail with a short ingredient list and a big vacation feel. Pineapple brings the tang, cream of coconut adds sweetness and body, and white rum keeps the flavor clean.

This version uses frozen pineapple chunks, so the drink blends up thick and cold without needing too much ice. That helps the pineapple flavor stay bright instead of watered down.

Look for sweetened cream of coconut near the cocktail mixers or canned coconut products. It is not the same as coconut cream, which is unsweetened and much less sugary.

01What you'll need

Ingredients

5 items · 2 drinks

  • 1 1/2 cups frozen pineapple chunks, about 210 g
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened pineapple juice, chilled
  • 3 fluid ounces sweetened cream of coconut, 6 tablespoons, well stirred
  • 4 fluid ounces white rum
  • 1 cup ice cubes

02How to make it

Step-by-step

  1. 1. Chill the glasses

    Place 2 cocktail glasses in the freezer while you make the drinks. Cold glasses help the piña coladas stay thick and frosty a little longer.

  2. 2. Stir the cream of coconut

    Open the can or bottle of sweetened cream of coconut and stir it very well. It often separates into thick coconut solids and syrup, and you want both in the drink.

  3. 3. Add the liquid ingredients

    Pour the pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and white rum into a blender. Adding liquids first helps the blender blades move more easily.

  4. 4. Add the frozen fruit and ice

    Add the frozen pineapple chunks and ice cubes. If your blender is small, add the pineapple in two batches so the motor does not struggle.

  5. 5. Blend until smooth

    Blend on high until the mixture is creamy and slushy, about 30 to 60 seconds. Stop and scrape down the sides if any pineapple pieces stick above the blades.

  6. 6. Adjust the texture

    If the drink is too thick to pour, blend in 1 to 2 tablespoons more pineapple juice. If it is too thin, add a few more frozen pineapple chunks or ice cubes and blend again.

  7. 7. Serve right away

    Pour into the chilled glasses and serve immediately. A piña colada is at its best while icy, smooth, and freshly blended.

03From our kitchen

Cook's tips

  • Make-ahead: Mix the pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and rum up to 24 hours ahead. Keep it covered in the refrigerator, then blend with frozen pineapple and ice just before serving.
  • Storage: A blended piña colada melts and separates as it sits. If you have leftovers, freeze them in an ice cube tray, then re-blend the cubes with a splash of pineapple juice later.
  • Virgin piña colada: Leave out the rum and add 1/2 cup more pineapple juice, coconut water, or cold water. Taste before serving, because the drink will be sweeter with extra juice.
  • Cream of coconut swap: Do not swap in unsweetened coconut cream one-for-one unless you also add sweetener. For a less sweet drink, use 2 ounces cream of coconut and add 1 ounce coconut milk.
  • No frozen pineapple: Use 1 1/2 cups canned or fresh pineapple chunks, drained, and increase the ice to about 1 1/2 cups. The drink will be a little lighter and icier.
  • Too sweet? Add 1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice and blend again. Lime is not traditional in every version, but it can balance very sweet cream of coconut.

Cook's note

Nutrition is an estimate per drink using USDA values for pineapple, pineapple juice, and 80-proof rum, plus a standard sweetened cream of coconut label value of 130 calories per 2 tablespoons. Different brands of cream of coconut can change the calories and sugar noticeably.

04Frequently asked

Questions & answers

What is the difference between cream of coconut and coconut cream?

Cream of coconut is sweetened and made for drinks and desserts. Coconut cream is thick, rich, and usually unsweetened. For a piña colada, cream of coconut gives the classic sweetness and silky texture.

Can I make piña coladas without alcohol?

Yes. Replace the rum with more pineapple juice, coconut water, or cold water. Coconut water makes the drink less sweet, while pineapple juice makes it fruitier and sweeter.

Why did my piña colada separate?

Separation can happen if the cream of coconut was not stirred well or if the drink sat too long after blending. Stir the cream of coconut before measuring, blend thoroughly, and serve right away.

Can I make this without a blender?

You can make a shaken version, but it will not be as thick. Shake pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and rum with plenty of ice, then strain over crushed ice.

What rum is best for a piña colada?

White rum is the standard choice because it has a clean flavor that lets the pineapple and coconut stand out. A lightly aged rum also works if you want a warmer, deeper flavor.

05Per serving

Nutrition facts

Nutrition Facts

2 drinks

Amount per serving

Calories410

% Daily Value*

Total Fat5 g
6%
Saturated Fat5 g
25%
Cholesterol0 mg
0%
Sodium25 mg
1%
Total Carbohydrate53 g
19%
Dietary Fiber2 g
7%
Total Sugars46 g
Protein1 g
2%
Vitamin D0 mcg
0%
Calcium22 mg
2%
Iron0.5 mg
3%
Potassium194 mg
4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.

05Keep cooking

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