Classic Piña Colada

5 from 1 vote
Prep: 3 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 3 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
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A classic Piña Colada that is made with pineapple juice, lime juice, coconut cream, and rum! This is a shaken cocktail served over ice. It’s filled with tropical flavors and the perfect summer cocktail! If you want a frozen drink, try our frozen pina colada recipe.

Furthermore, make these festive pina colada jello shots for a special party treat!

pina colada recipe

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This is a classic cocktail with tropical flavors. It’s perfect for pool parties and beach days and every sip makes you feel like you’re on vacation! You can also try out watermelon version too!

If you wonder what is in a pina colada or what’s an easy recipe, you’re in luck. Here’s everything you need to know to create the perfect tropical cocktail!

What Is in Piña Colada?

The traditional recipe is just three ingredients: coconut cream, pineapple juice, and rum. Even with an easy pina colada recipe like this, everyone seems to add their spin to this popular drink.

coconut rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream and lime on a table

Piña Colada Ingredients

This cocktail is really easy to make! Here’s what you’ll need:

Coconut Rum or White Rum – You can use a high-end rum to make this drink to make it more sophisticated.

Pineapple Juice – Pure pineapple juice with no sugar added is what you’ll want to use in this recipe.

Real Coco Cream Of Coconut  – We keep this on hand to make cocktails with coconut.

Lime Juice – Always use fresh lime juice.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, and add all of the ingredients into the shaker. Then, strain into a glass filled with ice.

Straining a pina colada into a glass

Tips for Making this Cocktail

  • Use any rum you want. A higher-end rum will add a smoother finish and a coconut rum will provide a lot of flavors.

  • Add more or less coconut cream depending on sweet you like it.

  • Shake for at least 20 seconds with ice to dilute the ingredients.

  • Use pebble ice for serving if you can.

Recipe Variations

Any tasty cocktail comes with variations. These are just some ideas for adding a twist to the classic pina colada recipe.

  • Add different Fruit – Try Passion Fruit, Mango, or Strawberries
  • Make it Virgin – Leave out the booze.
  • Get Creative – Make Popsicles, kabobs, or smoothies

Coconut Cream vs. Coconut Milk

While the traditional recipe calls for coconut cream, some people prefer to make their drink with coconut milk. Coconut cream has a higher fat content than coconut milk and it’s much thicker in texture.

Frozen Pineapple or Fresh Pineapple?

Some recipes call for fresh pineapple juice or fresh pineapple chunks, while others suggest frozen pineapples.

It depends on your style and what type of cocktail you’re making, classic or frozen. After all, you can try using both to create the ultimate pina colada.

Virgin Pina Colada

We have that too! Try our version of the best virgin pina colada recipe! It’s the perfect tropical mocktail to serve to anyone who wants a festive drink without the booze!

pina colada with a cocktail umbrella

Blended or Shaken

There are two ways to make this cocktail. Blended creates a frozen pina colada recipe and shaken creates a classic.

Virgin Pina Colada

A virgin cocktail doesn’t contain alcohol and is perfect for anyone wanting a zero-proof, festive drink! Simply leave out the coconut rum in the recipe and continue with all of the other ingredients and directions.

More Rum Cocktails

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pina colada recipe
5 from 1 vote

Pina Colada

By: Eden
A classic Piña Colada that is made with pineapple juice, lime jucie, coconut cream and rum! This is a shaken cocktail and served over ice.
Prep: 3 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
0 minutes
Total: 3 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
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Ingredients 

  • 2 ounces coconut rum, or any white rum
  • 1 ounce coconut cream
  • 2 ounces pineapple juice
  • 1/2 ounce lime juice

Instructions 

  • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  • Add all of the ingredients into the shaker.
    adding ingredients into a cocktail shaker
  • Shake for 20-30 seconds to dilute and blend the ingredients.
  • Strain into a glass filled with ice.
    Straining a pina colada into a glass
  • Garnish with a cherry, pineapple slice and umbrella.
    pina colada recipe

Notes

  • Use any rum you want. A higher-end rum will add a smoother finish and a coconut rum will provide a lot of flavors.
  • Add more or less coconut cream depending on sweet you like it.
  • Shake for at least 20 seconds with ice to dilute the ingredients.
  • Use pebble ice for serving if you can.

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 184mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 10IU, Vitamin C: 11mg, Calcium: 12mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About Eden

I’m Eden Passante and I develop, create, style and photograph every recipe and party on Sugar and Charm. I’m the author of Entertaining with Charm and have a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics and I’m here to help you create simple and easy recipes for entertaining and how to add charm to any gathering!

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