Are you craving the taste of the Caribbean? Then you must try your hand at making a non alcoholic piña colada. This recipe is so easy, you'll want to make it all the time!
What makes this drink so addicting is the combination of coconut and pineapple. These two tropical fruits always are a winning combination! Just dump everything into the blender and give your blender a whirl. Presto, your drink is ready to enjoy!
Love tropical drinks? Try our non-alcoholic versions of tequila sunrise and hurricane.
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Questions
What does a virgin piña colada taste like?
The dominant taste in a virgin piña colada is pineapple, followed by coconut. This drink uses crushed ice, so it tastes very cold, which is perfect for a hot day. If you want to be adventurous, you can add a splash of freshly squeezed lime juice, angostura bitters, or maraschino cherry juice to change up the taste.
Is there a difference between coconut cream and cream of coconut?
Coconut milk is similar to cow's milk in consistency, while cream of coconut is like sweetened condensed milk. Coconut milk is used in Asian cooking, and cream of coconut is used for mixed drinks and desserts. Both require a thorough shaking before using because the liquid and fat separate during storage. The latter will give more body to your mixed drinks and desserts because it is richer, sweeter, and thicker.
Where can I find cream of coconut?
First, check in your local grocery store. Most carry it, but if you can't find any there, try shopping online.
- Ethnic food aisle near the Thai food items
- Drink mix area of the grocery store
- Near the milk products in a health food store
How do you make blended drinks thicker?
- Decide on your consistency: slushy, thick, or creamy.
- Add the fresh fruit first and the ice last.
- Use more crushed ice that's cold and not half melted.
- Freeze some of your piña colada mix and use that to thicken the drink.
How can I garnish a piña colada?
To make this drink look tropical, spend a little extra time getting your garnishes ready. Cut up a pineapple to get some wedges. Pull off the leaves, and cut the outer skin to make strips.
Find some pretty maraschino cherries with stems to give your glass some color. You can also use some shaved coconut. To make the drink look more tropical, pierce a wedge of this fruit with a cocktail umbrella or use a bamboo pick to show off a cube of pineapple and some cherries.
Can I freeze a piña colada?
Yes, it's perfect for making this drink ahead of time. Just blend all your ingredients in a blender.
Pour it into an empty ice cream container. Cover and freeze for up to one week.
How to Make
Start with a fresh pineapple. Remove the leaves and keep the best ones from the center to use as a garnish. Keep some of the rind to use as a garnish.
Slice one section into triangles and the other into long rectangles for garnishes. The other two sections can be cut up to use in the drink.
Gather all the ingredients.
Place the fresh pineapple chunks, juice, and the cream of coconut in a blender. Make sure the cream of coconut is stirred well before adding to the blender.
Add the crushed ice last.
Put the lid on and blend until smooth. It will be foamy on top, but that part tastes really good, so no worries.
Pour into a hurricane glass and add a pineapple wedge to the rim. Make sure to cut a small slit with a knife so it fits nicely.
Next add your cherry with a stem. Cut a small slit in that too so it rests securely on the rim.
Add two rinsed pineapple leaves for color and to make it look more tropical.
Enjoy, your garnished non alcoholic piña colada with a loved one tonight. It will make their evening just a little more special.
Don't worry--if you can't make it to the beach or go on a vacation to the tropics, you can still enjoy the tropical flavors of this classic drink wherever you are.
Since this drink has no alcohol, it is sure to be a family favorite! Bring on the kids, and let the taste testing begin!
Variations
- Want to reduce the fat content? Lower the amount of coconut cream or use coconut milk and add superfine white sugar right after the pineapple chunks.
- Want garnish options? Pineapple wedges and leaves, maraschino cherries, lime curls, cocktail umbrellas, shaved coconut
- Health conscious? Use coconut milk or water, extra fine sugar, freshly squeezed lime juice, and tons of shaved ice.
Pro Tips
- Use Coco Real cream of coconut drink mix for a creamy, thicker piña colada that has a more dominant coconut taste.
- Use Coco Lopez for a thinner piña colada that allows the pineapple taste to shine through more than the coconut.
De-stress with these other refreshing non-alcoholic drinks. Treat yourself!
- Blue Lagoon Mocktail
- Cinderella Mocktail
- Non-Alcoholic Mint Julep
- Sparkling Grapefruit and Ginger Fizz
- Easy Lime and Mint Refresher
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PrintRecipe
Non Alcoholic Piña Colada
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 1 15-ounce drink 1x
Description
Ready for paradise? Whip up this easy tropical drink for kids of all ages to enjoy at your next party. Cream of coconut, crushed pineapple, and pineapple juice mixed with ice is so refreshing on a hot day. Whether you are sitting on the beach or just wishing for a vacay to the tropics, one sip of this classic drink will transport you to the islands. Enjoy this simple recipe today!
Ingredients
For the Piña Colada
- ¼ cup fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- ¼ cup cream of coconut
- 1 cup crushed ice
For the Garnish
- pineapple wedge
- maraschino cherry with stem
- pineapple leaves
Instructions
Preparing the Garnishes (Optional)
- Chill Glassware: Traditionally, piña coladas use hurricane glasses, but any tall, 16-ounce glassware will work. Place it in the fridge or freezer.
- Pineapple Leaves: Cut off the top of the pineapple. Take the nicest, smaller leaves out to use as a garnish, or keep some larger leaves and make them smaller with a knife.
- Pineapple Skin: Cut the outer skin off. Rinse, then cut into ¼-inch strips.
- Pineapple Wedges: Cut the peeled pineapple in quarters lengthwise. Cut triangular wedges from one of the quarters, then round out the top edge with a knife if needed. Make a small slit with a knife near the point so it can rest on the rim of a glass.
- Cherries: Select some pretty cherries with stems. Make a small slit at the base, so the cherry can sit securely on the edge of the glass.
Making the Piña Colada
- Diced Pineapple: Core three quarters of a pineapple and cut into 1-inch chunks. If you like, you can freeze the leftovers.
- Shake: Be sure to shake the pineapple juice and the cream of coconut well before you start.
- Blend: Put the pineapple chunks, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and crushed ice in a blender. Pulse until smooth. (If your blender isn't powerful, you can crush your ice first in the blender, then remove the ice and make the drink as described.)
- Garnish & Serve: Pour into a glass and garnish with a wedge of fruit, maraschino cherry, pineapple leaves and/or pineapple skin strips. Insert a straw, preferably red and white, and enjoy.
Notes
- For a creamy, thicker piña colada that has more coconut flavor, use Coco Real cream of coconut.
- Want the pineapple taste to shine through more than the coconut? Use Coco Lopez for a thinner piña colada.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Drink
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: non alcoholic piña colada, virgin piña colada
This post was originally published on April 20, 2018.
Beth
The creaminess of the pineapple 🍍 goes with the coolness of the drink overall. Super tropical and summery!
Emma
Coconut and pineapple are such a refreshing tropical combination. Thanks for leaving a review!