Pina Colada Recipe

Looking for that perfectly refreshing cocktail for summer? You need a pina colada! This classic drink is bursting with fresh pineapple and coconut flavors. I’m going to show you how to make a pina colada and leave the mixes at the grocery store.

  • Total 5 minutes
  • Serves 2 glasses
  • Cocktails
  • Caribbean
Jump to the recipe
frozen pina colada poolside

Looking for that perfectly refreshing cocktail for summer? You need a pina colada! This classic drink is bursting with fresh pineapple and coconut flavors. I’m going to show you how to make a pina colada and leave the mixes at the grocery store.

a frosty pina coloada drink sitting by the pool more

Why this recipe works

Anyone can buy one of those mixes from the store and throw it in a blender. But honestly, it doesn’t take much more effort to create a fresh pina colada from scratch. It’s just as impressive as my frozen bourbon slush.

In the summer, you can’t beat a frosty cocktail for your backyard parties. Your friends will keep coming back for more, so be sure to get extra ingredients!

hand reaching for and picking up a pina colada cocktail by the pool

Ingredients you will need

You’ll see that ice is part of the ingredient list. However, you can use frozen pineapple instead!

labeled ingredients for pina coladaGet all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

How to Make an Amazing Pina Colada

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. Please scroll down to simply print out the recipe!

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Taste and adjust to your preferences, adding more juice or coconut cream.
adding pineapple juice to blender blender full of pina colada mixture
  1. Pour into a hurricane glass.
  2. Garnish with pineapple wedges and maraschino cherries threaded onto cocktail picks. Don’t forget the cocktail umbrella and colorful straw!
3 pina coladas with cherry and pineapple garnishes

Expert Tips & FAQs

  • Cut a fresh pineapple in half lengthwise. Cut those halves in half as well. You can then slice those quarters into wedges.
  • You can use white rum or gold rum in a pina colada. Depending on the rum you use, your pina colada will be white or have a yellow tint. Another factor in color is whether you use fresh pineapple and ice, or frozen pineapple.
  • If you must skip the garnishes, don’t skip the cocktail umbrellas. There’s something about that little umbrella that transports your mind to a tropical sandy beach!
  • Please keep in mind that a hurricane glass generally holds 16-20 ounces. That’s a big glass! So you may find variations in the number of servings you get.
  • Make sure your blender has ice crushing capabilities. Some less expensive blenders cannot handle this function.
woman sipping on pina colada

The pina colada is one of my favorite summer cocktails. I hope you love it too, cheers!

More Summer Drinks

And finally, if you love your pina coladas but agree we can’t really have them for breakfast, be sure to try our pina colada smoothie!

white pina colada with cherry and pineapple garnishYou can use white rum or gold rum in a pina colada. Depending on the rum you use, your pina colada will be white or have a yellow tint. Another factor in color is whether you use fresh pineapple and ice, or frozen pineapple.

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