Prep Time: 25 minutes
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This post was originally published on April 20, 2018.
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. Two popular tropical fruits combined with crushed ice creates a winning combination every time.
Piña coladas can be made with a shaker or a blender. This recipe uses a blender, so it’s super fast. Once your garnishes are in place, dump everything in and give your blender a whirl. And presto, you’re drink is ready to enjoy!
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 cream of coconut will give more body to your mixed drinks and desserts because it is richer, sweeter, and thicker than coconut milk.
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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 fresh pineapple wedges. Pull off some pineapple leaves, and cut the outer skin to make pineapple 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 pineapple wedge 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 (pineapple chunks, pineapple juice, cream of coconut and crushed ice) in a blender.
Pour it into an empty ice cream container. Cover and freeze for up to one week.
How to Make a Non Alcoholic Piña Colada
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 of pineapple can be cut up to use in the drink.
Gather all the ingredients: pineapple juice, fresh pineapple chunks, cream of coconut, crushed ice, bamboo picks, cocktail umbrellas, and maraschino cherries.
Place the fresh pineapple chunks, pineapple 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 is drink has no alcohol, it is sure to be a family favorite! Bring on the kids, and let the taste testing begin!
Pro Tips for Making Non-Alcoholic Piña Colada
- 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, maraschino cherries, pineapple leaves, lime curls, cocktail umbrellas, shaved coconut
- Health conscious? Sub out the cream of coconut with coconut milk or water, extra fine sugar, freshly squeezed lime juice, and tons of shaved ice.
- 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!
- Sparkling Grapefruit and Ginger Fizz: these elegant drinks have a delightful citrus flavor.
- Easy Lime and Mint Refresher: lime juice and mint syrup flavor these not-too-sweet spring drinks.
- Arnold Palmer Drink: a classic Southern medley of sweet tea and lemonade.
The pleasure of a 5-star review for this piña colada recipe would be greatly appreciated.
Print
Non Alcoholic Piña Colada
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 1 15-ounce drink 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
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
- 1/4 cup fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup cream of coconut, (Coco Real: Cream of Coconut Drink Mix)
- 1 cup crushed ice
For the Garnish
- pineapple wedge
- maraschino cherry with stem
- pineapple leaves
Instructions
Preparing the Garnishes (Optional)
- Optional: chill or freeze your glassware. Traditionally, piña coladas use hurricane glasses, but any tall, 16-ounce glassware will do.
- To prepare the 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.
- Make a garnish from the pineapple’s skin by cutting the outer skin of the pineapple. Rinse then cut into 1/4 inch strips and place in a bowl.
- To make pineapple wedges for the rim of the glass, cut the skinned pineapple in quarters lengthwise. Cut triangular wedges from one of the pineapple 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. Place extra pineapple wedges in a bowl.
- Core the remaining three pineapple quarters and cut into one inch chunks. If you like, you can freeze the leftover pineapple.
- 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. Put the cherries in a small bowl.
Making the Piña Colada
- Shake the pineapple juice and the cream of coconut before using.
- 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.)
- Pour into a glass and garnish with a pineapple wedge, maraschino cherry, pineapple leaves and/or pineapple skin strips. Insert a straw, preferably red and white, and enjoy.
Notes
- The pleasure of a 5-star review for this piña colada recipe would be greatly appreciated.
- 👩🏻🍳 Want to see our latest recipes? Subscribe to our email newsletter to get our latest recipes, fun food facts, food puns, and behind the scenes news about our blog.
- Category: Drink
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: non alcoholic piña colada, virgin piña colada
