Piña Colada

Transport yourself to a tropical paradise with this classic cocktail.

By
Garrett McCord
Garrett McCord
Garrett McCord
Garrett has been writing about food and sharing recipes for 15 years. He is the author of Melt: The Art of Macaroni and Cheese.
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Updated January 16, 2024
Garrett McCord

If you’re looking for a refreshing, sultry cocktail to highlight your next summer party, this piña colada is it.

You may associate a piña colada with laid-back poolside vacations, but the piña colada ingredients of rum, coconut, and pineapple is actually a pillar of the tiki drink canon.

Golden Rum Poured Into a Glass of Piña Colada With a Pineapple Wedge, Pineapple Leaf, and a Straw, and Next to It, Another Serving in a Glass With the Same Garnish on a Marble and Wood Circular Serving Tray. In the Background, an Uncut Pineapple and a Blender With Some Leftover Piña Colada

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Ingredients for Making Piña Coladas

Part of the charm of piña coladas is how easy they are to make:

  • Rum: Rum is the base alcohol. Choose a white rum for this cocktail rather than the more strongly flavored aged rums. Mount Gay is a smooth and affordable option.
  • Coconut: For the coconut component, use cream of coconut. Avoid coconut milk or coconut cream; "cream of coconut" is a different product. You'll often find it near the liquor section with the other mixers. My preferred brand is Coco Lopez.
  • Pineapple: Pineapple enters the mix by way of pineapple juice and pineapple chunks. The chunks help make this blended drink thicker and frothier. If you cut the pineapple yourself, freeze the chunks in a single layer on a baking sheet before using.
  • The float (optional): Last but not least, I like to add a splash of golden or añejo rum to the top of each glass just before serving. This rum floats on top of the drink and adds a more complex flavor to the drink.
Two Glasses of Piña Colada With a Pineapple Wedge, Pineapple Leaf, and a Straw on a Marble and Wood Circular Serving Tray, and in the Background, an Uncut Pineapple, a Jigger, and a Blender With Some Leftover Piña Colada

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Murky Origins

Quite a few bartenders and bars have claimed to have created the now famous piña colada over the years, but the drink's true origins are a bit murky. There's even evidence that traders in the 19th century mixed rum with coconut water and mashed pineapple for what would have been a sort of proto-piña!

Piña Coladas: Blended or Shaken?

There’s a misconception out there that a blended piña colada is actually a more recent, modernized version of the cocktail. In fact, the blended cocktail is the original, and the shaken piña colada is the contemporary incarnation.

If you'd like to make a shaken piña colada for yourself, try shaking 1 1/2 ounces golden or añejo rum with 1 ounce coconut cream and 1 ounce pineapple juice, and pouring it over ice. A spritz of lime peel over the cocktail is a perfect finishing touch.

Blended or shaken, a piña colada truly can't be beaten for its tropical flavor.

Overhead: Glasses of Piña Colada Served With a Pineapple Wedge, Pineapple Leaf, and a Straw (on Coasters), a Cutting Board With More Pineapple Wedges, a Bowl of Lime Edges, Straws and a Jigger on the Counter, and a Bottle of Rum

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

More Summer Cocktails

Make It a Mocktail

To make a virgin piña colada, leave out the rums. You can add more pineapple juice and cream of coconut to make more servings. If it's too thick, add some coconut water, a splash at a time.

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Piña Colada

Prep Time 5 mins
Total Time 5 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings

The traditional blended piña colada recipe doesn’t use frozen pineapple, but I find it adds a bit more flavor and reduces the amount of ice needed.

As with most tiki-style drinks, this one uses multiple styles of rum to achieve balance and flavor.

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces white rum

  • 6 ounces cream of coconut (preferably Coco Lopez brand)

  • 6 ounces pineapple juice

  • 1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks (see How to Cut a Pineapple)

  • 4 cups ice

  • 4 ounces golden or añejo rum, optional but recommended

  • Pineapple leaves or wedges for garnish, optional

Method

  1. Blend:

    Place the white rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice and chunks, and ice in a blender. Process until totally blended.

    Blender With White Rum, Coconut Cream, Pineapple Juice & Fruit, and Ice Next to a Jigger for Piña Colada Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    Piña Colada in a Blender Next to a Jigger

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  2. Pour:

    Pour into glasses and top with and top with the golden rum (it should float on top), if desired.

    Piña Colada Poured Into a Hurricane Glass From the Blender and Next to It, a Jigger

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    Glasses of Piña Colada Topped With Golden Rum

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  3. Serve:

    Serve with pineapple leaves or slices as garnish and serve immediately.

    Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

    Glasses of Piña Colada Garnished With Pineapple Wedges, Pineapple Leaves, and a Straw

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
189 Calories
5g Fat
21g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 189
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 6%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 17mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 19g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 20mg 101%
Calcium 12mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 85mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.