Easy Piña Colada Recipe (5 Ingredients)

Finding a piña colada recipe online is simple. A quick Google search will turn up hundreds in less than a second. But finding the best piña colada recipe? That’s a little tougher. 

Fortunately, this one is pretty awesome. It’s sweet but not overly so. It’s also light, tropical, fruity, refreshing, and delicious. It’s everything a good piña colada should be. 

Best of all, it’s easy to make! It comes together in just a few minutes with only a handful of ingredients.

Try this piña colada recipe at your next backyard BBQ or pool party, and you won’t be disappointed!

It’s the ultimate summer drink. 

Easy Piña Colada 

There’s nothing like a quick and easy piña colada to get you in the mood for summer.

It’s crisp, refreshing, gently sweet, wonderfully fruity, and icy cold. It’s like a Dole Whip but boozy, which makes it even better. 

The combination of pineapple and coconut is irresistible. And the frozen, icy consistency is absolutely unbeatable.

Piña coladas are a tasty way to cool down on a hot day (and get buzzed while doing it). I don’t know about you guys, but those sound like winning endorsements to me! 

Ingredients 

You only need five ingredients for the classic piña colada: 

• Pineapple juice – Use 100% pineapple juice for this recipe. If you have a juicer, that’s excellent. If you must use store-bought juice, ensure it’s 100% pineapple juice. You can also use chunks of fresh, frozen pineapple. Do not used canned pineapple.

• White rum – I typically use Captain Morgan or Bacardi, but any white rum will suffice. 

• Cream of coconut – Cream of coconut is a sweetened version of coconut cream. It’s a bit like condensed milk in consistency. Look for Coco Lopez if you can find it. It’s the most popular. 

• Ice – Since you blend the ice with the other ingredients, you can use whatever ice you have. Shaved works well, but regular cubes are fine, too. 

• Pineapple wedge – A pineapple wedge is the typical garnish for a piña colada. You can also add maraschino cherries or anything else you like. 

How to Make a Piña Colada 

Like most cocktails, the piña colada is easy to make. Here’s what to do: 

1. Combine the drink ingredients. Pour the pineapple juice, white rum, and cream of coconut into a blender. Then, add the ice. 

2. Blend. Blend until the drink is smooth, creamy, and without chunks. Don’t over-blend, though. 

3. Pour, garnish, and enjoy! Pour the drink into a chilled glass and add the pineapple wedge garnish. Enjoy! 

Tips and Tricks 

Want a few more tips before grabbing the blender? No problem! 

• Shake it up. The authentic piña colada is usually blended for a thick and creamy texture. But if you want it lighter, you can shake the ingredients with ice. 

• Hold off on the ice. It may seem weird to worry about when to add the ice. However, adding it last will help prevent it from getting stuck in the blades. It will also ensure you get the creamiest possible drink. 

• Be wary of substitutions. Substituting coconut cream or coconut milk will NOT work. Only use cream of coconut. It’s the perfect consistency, and it’s sweetened. 

• Choose your consistency. Add more ice for a thicker consistency and more rum or pineapple juice to thin it. 

• Power it up! Use a high-powered blender. Otherwise, your piña colada won’t be as smooth and creamy as you like. 

Variations

Try these fun variations to mix things up:

• Switch up the rum. White rum is traditional, but you can use dark rum for a richer flavor. You can also experiment with flavored rum, such as banana.

• Go bold with brandy. Swapping out the rum for brandy turns the drink into a kappa colada. It’s just as delicious as the original. 

• Make it fruity. Add a handful of strawberries to the blender for a strawberry piña colada. 

• Ditch the booze. For a virgin piña colada, leave out the alcohol. You don’t have to change the recipe to compensate. 

Best Rum for Piña Colada

The best rum for Piña Coladas is light or white rum. Dark rum has too much caramel flavor and offsets the light brightness of piña coladas. 

As far as the brand is concerned, you can use whatever you like best. I like Captain Morgan and Bacardi, but any white rum brand you enjoy is fine. 

How to Garnish a Piña Colada 

This recipe features a simple pineapple wedge garnish. However, that’s not your only option. Here are a few other excellent ideas for piña colada garnishes: 

• Double your pleasure. Add a hefty pineapple wedge to the rim of the glass and a maraschino cherry in the drink.
  
• Add some lovely layers. Layer alternating chunks of pineapple and maraschino cherries on skewers in the drink. 
  
• Go restaurant-style. Garnish it with non-edible items like colorful umbrellas, festive straws, etc. 
  
• Jazz up your glass. Dust the rim of the glass with toasted coconut and add a lime wedge. 

These are only a few garnishes you can add to piña coladas. After all, the finishing touches to any drink are entirely up to your discretion!