The BEST Piña Colada
A really creamy, frosty piña colada with just the right balance of coconut cream, pineapple and rum? Yeah, we’ll take one of those! Tropical drinks are our favorite, year round! Originally created in San Juan, Puerto Rico, our piña colada recipe is inspired by the version of this classic tiki cocktail served at Hale Pele in Portland, OR. They mix up classic tiki drinks like this with the very freshest ingredients every cocktail on their menu is so good. Thankfully, the best piña colada recipe is also the simplest. Pineapple, white rum and coconut are a match made in tropical beach heaven, and our piña colada recipe is classic, simple and made from those three key flavors. Grab your blender, and let’s make piña coladas! Want even more blended goodness? Try our irresistible frozen Strawberry Margaritas.
Key Piña Colada Ingredients
Scroll down for the full recipe with measurements below.
- Pineapple: Frozen pineapple AND pineapple juice are what make our recipe so, so good. Not only do you get tons of tangy pineapple flavor from the juice, using frozen pineapple helps ensure a really frosty, rich and creamy drink.
- Coconut Cream: For a true piña colada, you’ve just got to use coconut cream (sometimes called Cream of Coconut) and we love the Coco Lopez brand. You can find it in the mixer section of most grocery stores, along with tonic water and grenadine. Liquor stores usually carry it, too. Do not substitute coconut milk for cream of coconut, it’s a whole different thing.
- Rum: Light rum is the classic for piña coladas (the drink is so light in color, after all), but we have an option for you to add a little dark rum to the mix (which we love to do!). We’ve got even more info about the best rum to use in piña coladas below.
How To Make The BEST Piña Colada Ever
- Pour all the ingredients into your favorite blender.
- Blend! Start on a low speed, and gradually work your way up to high just until the drink looks cohesive. Don’t over-blend! You want it thick and slushy.
- Pour into piña colada glasses or tiki mugs, garnish & enjoy!
The BEST Rum To Buy for Piña Coladas
White rum (also called light rum or sometimes ‘silver rum’) is the classic rum for piña coladas. There’s no need to use a super expensive rum here. Blended with cream of coconut and all that pineapple, any nuance in the rum will definitely be a bit hidden. Usually, for piña coladas, we reach for a middle-of-the-road white rum; $20-$25 bottles will be your sweet spot. Plantation white rum is usually a great rum for the money, as is Flor de Caña. As for the dark rum (if you decide to add it) regular old Myer’s dark rum is a great pick.
Make It A Mocktail + More Variations
- Make a virgin piña colada: If you’re planning to make yours a piña colada mocktail, just skip the rums!
- Make it LESS boozy: You’d like a drink that’s boozy but not super strong, it’s fine to leave out the dark rum.
- Make it STRONG: Tropical cocktails tend to be a little strong (unless you’re at an all-inclusive resort, but that’s another story), and so if you want the full tiki drink experience, use both light rum AND dark rum!
- Add bitters: Sometimes, you just want the most basic, creamy, sweet and delicious pina colada. And other times, you want a homemade cocktail that tastes like being at a fancy, secret tiki bar (without the long wait and cramped seating situation). If you’re feeling fancy, try adding a dash of bitters.
What To Serve With Piña Coladas
- No one will ever be upset to see some Homeade Corn Chips and Guacamole on the table.
- Hawaiian Poke Bowls would be such a great match!
- If you’re in the mood for something more substantial, you could serve up Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs or whip up some…
- Pineapple Pulled Pork Sandwiches
More Refreshing Cocktail Recipes
If You Like Piña Coladas…
For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest or order our cookbook. We love when you share your meals. Tag us on Instagram using #themodernproper, and we’d love to hear what you think of this recipe in the comments below. Happy cooking!
