Natural Homemade Pina Colada Recipes to Die For

If you love smoothies or homemade juices, then I’m certain you’ve heard of the renowned Pina Colada. This is a Puerto Rican drink made of pineapple and rum mixed with sweet coconut delight. The blend of these three ingredients creates a flavorful experience for the taste buds.

If you need to get away and experience life in the tropics, head into your kitchen. While you may not be able to take a vacation quite yet, flavorful tastes of pineapple, coconut, and rum will get you halfway there. After all, the Pina Colada is indeed the drink of the tropics.

History of the Pina Colada

While the Pina Colada has been around for a while, it’s not as ancient as some might think. The earliest known instance of the drink in history appears in the 19th century. The legend goes that a Puerto Rican pirate named Roberto Cofresi created a beverage to boost the morale of his crew.

By the way, Jack Sparrow was nowhere to be found this time, even though it sounds like something he might think up.

Cofresi decided to use the ingredients available to create a sweet cocktail of pineapple, rum, and coconut. Do these ingredients sound familiar?

That’s right; these three ingredients make up what’s known today as the Pina Colada. The legend goes on to say that Cofresi met his demise on a particular day in March 1825 when he and his crew were captured and executed by a firing squad.

On a lighter note, though it’s said this recipe was lost, the drink has continued down through the centuries. Unless, of course, it wasn’t created by the abovementioned pirate (as some believe). It’s said that a barman named Ramon Marrero from the Caribe Hilton (Puerto Rico) created the blend in 1954.

He claims to have experimented with his blend for three months before he finally settled on the ingredients found in today’s Pina Colada. Ramon went on to serve this famous drink for 35 years, at which time Puerto Rico officially named the Pina Colada its national drink.

So, while we may not know who exactly came up with this amazing drink, it still remains the taste of the tropics to this day. Well, enough said about the history of this special blend. Let’s move on to the recipes!

3 Simple Recipes for Making Natural Pina Colada’s

While the main ingredients are basically the same as we mentioned earlier, this recipe has many variations to choose from. Also, for non-alcoholic versions, the rum can be left out.

While Pina Coladas are easily found in bars and restaurants, you’ll find that you can make them just as easily as home. Plus, drinks in bars and restaurants are often plagued with high fructose corn syrup and other synthetic ingredients. Unhealthy additives and ingredients are best left out of what we put into our bodies, and natural ingredients taste much better.

Making this tropical delight is quite simple. You can make a pina colada with just a few tasty ingredients and a blender.  We will go through three healthy recipes for making this traditional cocktail.  Depending on one’s preferences, Pina Coladas can be served over ice, without ice, or frozen.

1.) Time-Honored Traditional Pina Colada

Ingredients:

• 2 Ounces White Rum
• 1 Ounce of Coconut Cream
•  3 Ounces of Pineapple juice
• 1 Cup of Crushed Ice
• 1 Slice of Pineapple

Instructions:

1. Put the cup of crushed ice into the blender. If you don’t have an easy way of crushing your ice, just use ice cubes. Using crushed ice will ensure a smoother consistency and less time blending.
2. Add the coconut cream. The coconut cream will give your drink a fresh tropical coconut taste without being overpowering. Remember, you are making a cocktail. Hence, you need to balance the taste of various ingredients.
3. Add the rum. There’s nothing quite like the uniquely sweet taste of rum. If you want a non-alcoholic drink, you can always omit the rum. However, rum is integral to the official Puerto Rican drink.  Nonetheless, it all depends on your preference.
4. Blend all ingredients on the medium setting. Make sure they are well mixed before ceasing operation.  The final mixture should be creamy, smooth, and sweet.
5. Prepare and serve. Now that your pina colada is ready to serve empty the drink into a tall glass. Since presentation matters when serving food and drinks, garnish your drink with the pineapple slice.

There’s nothing like drinking a cold and refreshing Pina Colada on a hot summer day. This drink is great for summer get-togethers, graduation parties (without the alcohol), or as a fancy drink at your weekly cookout. Whatever the case, summers aren’t the same without treating yourself to this tropical tradition.

2.) Breathtaking Frozen Pina Colada

Ingredients:

• 6 Ounces of Pineapple Juice,
• 3 Ounces of Coconut Cream,
• 2 Cups of Crushed Ice,
• 2 Ounces of Rum,
• 1 1/2 Ounces of Heavy Cream
• 1 Maraschino Cherry

Instructions:

Place the ice in the blender. Using a high setting, blend it vigorously. Keep blending your ice until no large chunks remain. If your blender isn’t able to blend ice very well, no problem; continue to the next step. Blending your ice beforehand will ensure that your drink is smooth and creamy. You don’t want any “crunch” in your final served drink.

Smooth and creamy is the goal of the end result.

Place the remaining ingredients in the blender. Add the pineapple juice, rum, coconut cream, and heavy cream to your blender. On a high speed, blend the ingredients until they form a thick mixture. If you couldn’t blend the ice in the prior step, your blender should do just fine with the additional liquid ingredients. Just be sure that there are no ice chunks before serving.

Pour. At this stage, your frozen pina colada is ready. If you’re feeling fancy, pour your drink into a tall glass or hurricane glass.

Prepare and serve. Now, it’s time to add the last final touch to the drink. Cut a slit in your maraschino cherry and garnish the rim of your glass. You could also add a pineapple wedge if you’d like. Add a straw and enjoy the drink. You can savor it anytime, especially when it is hot outside.

Your children will love this cold treat after they come in from a full day of playing outside in the hot sun (without the rum). Better yet, let them make this fun drink with you!

3.) Chilled Sweet Strawberry Pina Colada

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Pint of Fresh Strawberries
• 4 Ounces of Pineapple Juice
• 2 Tablespoons of Sugar
• 3 Ounces of Rum
• 3/4 Cup of Mango Juice
• Sprig of Mint
• 1/4 Cup of Crushed Ice
• 2 Ounces of Triple Sec

Instructions:

Add strawberries and sugar into a food processor or blender. The strawberries can be cut into smaller pieces in this stage to make this step more manageable. If using a blender, you can add the pineapple juice in this step to make blending easier since pure strawberry puree may be too thick.

Transfer the pureed sugar and strawberries to a pitcher.  Add the pineapple juice, white rum, mango juice, and the triple sec.  Mix all of your ingredients until completely incorporated.

Chill. Place your mixture in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

Prepare and serve. Pour your mixture into a martini glass or any other glass of your choice. Garnish with your sprig of mint.

Strawberries are a great addition to any drink. If you really want to have the great taste of Pina Colada but also want to try something a bit different, this recipe is the one for you. This drink has a beautiful red glow that is sure to make your mouth water on those hot summer days.

Ideas and Tips

If you need to make enough Pina Coladas for a number of guests, just double or triple each batch. In addition, if you are wondering why you need to add heavy cream, there’s a good reason.  The cream will give the drink a luscious, creamy, smooth texture, which you won’t be able to resist.

If you want your drink to taste extra fresh, juice a fresh pineapple. The fresher the ingredients you can use in your recipe, the better.

Another thing you may already know is that coconut cream is sometimes replaced with milk. However, for the best results, do not make this switch. Don’t be concerned about the fat content of coconut cream. If you’re going to treat yourself to a real and authentic Pina Colada, stick to coconut only in this recipe.

For alcohol, you can add either white or dark rum. Actually, go ahead and alternate between the two to see which you prefer. Also, when adding ice, be sure not to add too much. Too much ice will water down your drink.

Final Thoughts

I can still remember back to the days of my childhood when my mom would make us kids this fancy and tasty drink. I even remember that I oftentimes couldn’t remember what the drink was called when I’d try to beg her to make it again. Happy memories are things to be treasured.

We hope these simple recipes enable you to create your own happy memories with your friends and family.

If anyone in your family hasn’t ever had a Pina Colada before (especially children), treat them and make this essence of the tropics ASAP. They’ll never forget that happy memory.

Pina Colada FAQs

What is the base ingredient for pina coladas?

Pineapple juice is the foundation in most cases, providing a fruity flavor and natural sweetness. Then, with coconut and rum, you’ll end up with the traditional flavor of this special drink, though there are other variations that include additional ingredients.

What kind of rum works best?

White rum, like Bacardi, adds classic Caribbean flair without overpowering the other flavors. For a more heavy rum flavor, use dark rum. For non-alcoholic variations, try using a few drops of rum extract for the flavor of rum without the alcoholic content.

What gives homemade pina coladas a creamy texture?

Blending in coconut cream, coconut milk, or coconut yogurt creates a smooth, creamy blend. This can vary depending on the recipe. Heavy cream and milk products are also used at times, though they aren’t necessary.

How do you get the frothy top layer?

Whipping the coconut cream before blending aerates the pina colada for a light, foamy topping. Additionally, you can add an additional layer of whipped coconut cream after pouring the base mixture into your glasses to be stirred in while drinking. This extra cream layer can be garnished with dried sweetened coconut, cherry juice, etc.

What’s the ideal blender for pina coladas?

Any high-powered blender will do. The extra blending power will be useful for pulverizing the ice to a frothy consistency better than a standard blender. If in doubt, try the blender you already have as long as it can be safely used with ice.

Should pina coladas be served frozen or on ice?

On ice maintains the chill without freezing and diluting the flavors as the drink melts. That said, our family prefers the frozen smoothy texture vs. drinking it over ice. It’s entirely up to your preference.

What garnishes complement pina coladas?

Pineapple wedges, maraschino cherries, coconut shavings, mint, lime, or orange slices. The options are almost endless.

Can you make pina coladas dairy-free?

Yes, use coconut milk beverages and coconut cream or yogurt for a dairy-free version. We prefer dairy-free products in our family for this particular drink.

How do you spice up a basic pina colada?

Add ginger, nutmeg, vanilla, or a splash of rumchata for extra flavor. Feel free to get even more creative than that. Perhaps some mango or papaya as well? It’s completely up to you.

What glassware is ideal for serving pina coladas?

Hurricane glasses or large margarita glasses with crushed ice suit the tropical vibe and show off the colors. If serving for a gathering, consider the size of the glasses, how many servings will be needed, and the overall appearance.