Piña Colada Recipe

This Pina Colada Recipe is super simple to make with just a few ingredients and only 5-minutes of prep. You can also serve this easy cocktail as a mocktail by omitting the rum.

Piña Colada Recipe

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to pina coladas, I can down more than just a few! Of course, this Pina Colada Recipe makes it easy to enjoy such a refreshing beverage because I can make it in minutes at home instead of buying a bunch of extra ingredients or going to a bar for one of my all-time favorite beverages. Of course, you can always make these Pina Colada Jello Shots.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to have a refreshing adult-friendly beverage from time to time, or you enjoy hosting friends and family over for little get-togethers, this is the perfect drink to prepare. You won’t need any unusual ingredients or anything like that. Instead, with just FIVE ingredients, you can prepare the kind of beverage that will keep your loved ones returning for seconds. 

Pina Colada Ingredients

To prepare such a simple Pina Colada Recipe, you will need five essential ingredients, including:

• Pineapple Juice – The pineapple juice brings a citrus-like flavor to the Pina Colada Recipe and has that naturally sweet taste that everyone enjoys.
• Pina Colada Mix – The pre-packaged pina colada mix makes it easy to prepare such a tasty beverage in no time with minimal ingredients.
• Light Rum – Use your favorite brand of light rum to enhance the taste of this beverage, giving it that alcohol addition that truly takes it to a new level.

• Dark Rum – You will use equal parts of dark rum, so be sure to grab your favorite brand of dark rum while you’re out at the liquor store getting your light rum!
• Ice – Of course, you’ll need some ice for this recipe to keep the beverage nice and cold. While you can make ice, you can also buy a bag of it from your local grocery store or gas station! The type of ice you use truly doesn’t matter much because you will be adding it to your blender and crushing it.

You can also include optional garnishes when preparing the Pina Colada Recipe, such as a pineapple wedge, pineapple leaves, or maraschino cherries.

How to Make a Pina Colada

Making a pina colada is much easier than you probably thought it would be. Take the following steps to prepare one of these beverages for yourself:

1. Add Your Ingredients to a Blender – Start by adding your ingredients one by one into a blender.
2. Blend on Medium to High – Once you’ve added the ingredients, begin with blending at a medium pace and then work your way up to blending on the highest setting to really get a good mix going.
3. Pour and Add Your Garnish – Pour your mixture directly into a cup of your choosing, and then add your favorite garnish.

Easy Pina Colada Recipe Variations

If you don’t have rum on hand but still want to try this Pina Colada Recipe, you can swap out the rum for vodka. 

However, because vodka is much stronger than rum, use a lot less of it to get the same effect. You may also want to add an additional ounce or two of pineapple juice when using vodka to even out the flavors.

If you’re looking for even more options for making cocktails, these 40+ of the Best Summer Cocktails  will make everyone super happy! 

More Variation ideas:

• Add fresh or frozen strawberries to the traditional Pina colada recipe for a fruity twist.
• Replace the pineapple with mango chunks for a tropical twist on the classic drink.
• Add a ripe banana to the mixture for a creamy, tropical flavor.
• Mix pureed blueberries with the traditional ingredients for a refreshing blueberry Pina colada.
• Use coconut water instead of regular water to give your drink a more coconutty flavor.
• Add a dash of cayenne pepper or a slice of jalapeno for a spicy kick to your Pina colada.
• Use both pineapple and coconut cream for a more decadent and delicious tropical drink. This Pineapple Rum Punch recipe is soooo good! 
• Add cocoa powder to the traditional recipe for a rich chocolatey flavor that will satisfy any sweet tooth.

Why is my pina colada strong?

If you think the Pina Colada Recipe is too strong, you can always use less light rum and dark. Instead of three ounces, you can swap it out for an ounce or two. Although this drink isn’t too strong, different people have different preferences, so feel free to adjust the amount of alcohol you plan to put in your beverage.

Can I make the pina colada without a blender?

You can make this Pina Colada Recipe without a blender, but it wouldn’t be exactly the same. The flavor would still be there, but it wouldn’t give off the same effect that you will get when blending ice with pineapple juice, pina colada mix, and rum. In a pinch, add the ingredients to a shaker bottle and shake vigorously before serving to prepare something that comes close to the original blended version.

Is coconut cream or coconut milk better for a pina colada?

As you can see, this recipe doesn’t use coconut milk or coconut cream, but if you want to add it, you can. Some people prefer that their pina colada is creamier than usual. Cream of coconut is usually the winner because it adds a unique and creamy flavor to the drink. 

Which rum is the best to use for Pina Colada?

This recipe calls for light rum and dark rum. You’ll quickly notice that the light rum is the better option if you want to add more rum to the recipe. You don’t want the darker rum to overpower the recipe entirely! I try to make my drinks light and fruity, which is why I choose to add a little extra of the lighter rum if I’m feeling it. 

Tips and Tricks:

• While canned pineapple may be convenient, using fresh pineapple chunks will give your Pina colada a fresher, more authentic flavor.
• Coconut cream is thicker and richer than coconut milk, which can make a creamier and more decadent Pina colada.
• Choose a good-quality white rum to give your Pina Colada a smooth and flavorful kick.
• Make sure to blend the mixture thoroughly until it is completely smooth. Any lumps or chunks can detract from the drink’s texture and flavor.
• While it’s important to blend the mixture until it is smooth, be careful not to overblend it as this can lead to a watery and less flavorful drink.
• Taste the drink as you make it, and adjust the sweetness as needed. You can add more sugar or honey to sweeten the drink to your liking.

More Colada Recipes

• Blackberry Colada
• Pina Colada Cake 
• Pina Colada Pie 
• Pina Colada Lush

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• Cotton Candy Margarita
• Purple People Eater Cocktail
• Cranberry Spritzer Recipe 
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