Creamy, rich and refreshing, this Virgin Piña Colada recipe is a tropical treat everyone can enjoy. This made-from-scratch mocktail is so flavorful, you won't miss the alcohol! Blend one up in minutes with only 5 ingredients.
Make those dreams of a warm weather beach vacation a reality anytime with this quick and easy Virgin Piña Colada recipe. Silky smooth and bursting with fresh pineapple and coconut flavors, our non-alcoholic version of the classic tiki drink takes any day from zero to hero in a hurry.
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Why you'll love this recipe
➤ It's easy to make from scratch. With only five ingredients (including ice!), this drink comes together in minutes. Just as quick to make as a bottled mix but with far better flavor.
➤ It's not too sweet. This recipe is the perfect balance of creamy, frosty and fruity. A secret ingredient - lime juice - keeps this drink from getting cloyingly sweet, a common problem with many piña colada recipes.
➤ It's just as satisfying. Think a mocktail can't beat a traditional cocktail? Think again! This rum-free drink is so smooth, rich and refreshing, you won't miss the booze!
Ingredients
You only need five ingredients to make a creamy piña colada mocktail, all of which are easy to grab at the grocery store.
A few ingredient notes:
- Cream of Coconut: This ingredient gives the drink its signature coconut flavor. It's basically coconut cream that has been sweetened and you can find it in same aisle as the tonic water and club soda. I've had the best results using either Coco Lopez or Coco Real cream of coconut. Do NOT substitute coconut cream or coconut milk. Neither of these are sweetened, and your drink will not have the right consistency or taste.
- Lime juice: Freshly squeezed is the only way to go. The bottled juices contain preservatives to extend shelf life. Unfortunately, these preservatives also affect taste.
- Pineapple: I like to use frozen pineapple to cut down on the amount of ice needed for a frosty and flavorful drink. You can use fresh (or even canned) pineapple but your drink will have a thinner consistency.
- Pineapple juice: 100% pineapple juice gives this mocktail the most vibrant, tropical flavor.
Instructions
Make a glass or a batch of these Virgin Piña Coladas in minutes!
Place all the ingredients in a blender: ice and pineapple, cream of coconut, pineapple juice and lime juice. Blend until smooth and creamy. Pour into glass and garnish with pineapple slices and maraschino cherries, if desired.
Tip: A high-powered blender makes whipping up a round of these Virgin Coladas quick and easy. We both have Blendtecs and love them but they especially great for making smoothies and frozen drinks. You can use any blender, of course, but you may need to process your drinks a few times to make sure they are smooth and free of ice chunks.
FAQs
A traditional piña colada is a Puerto Rican cocktail made with rum, coconut cream and pineapple juice. The virgin version does not contain any alcohol but still has the same tropical flavor as the rum version.
Coconut cream is unsweetened, so if you use it in this recipe, you will need to add additional sweetener. Using cream of coconut allows you to skip that additional step as well as take the guesswork out of how much extra simple syrup to add.
Expert tips for making this Virgin Piña Colada recipe
✔︎ Cream of coconut often separates in the can and is tough to stir back together with a spoon. I like to dump the whole can in my blender before making a piña colada and pulse it a few times so it all comes back together. Then I pour it out of the blender, use whatever amount I need in my drinks and store the rest in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
✔︎ This mocktail is easy to customize. Want more pineapple flavor? Add more juice or pineapple cubes. Craving more coconut? Pour in a little extra cream of coconut.
✔︎ Serving a crowd? It's just as easy to make a single drink in the blender as it is to make a batch. Simply multiply the recipe by the number of guests and you'll have drinks for everyone.
✔︎ Don't skip the lime juice! The recipe doesn't call for a lot of it, but that small amount of acid helps keep the drink from tasting too sweet.
✔︎ Traditional piña colada garnishes include paper umbrellas, straws, pineapple wedges and maraschino cherries. Use any or all for your virgin colada.
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Recipe
Virgin Piña Colada
Ingredients
- 6 oz cream of coconut
- 4 oz pineapple juice
- 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
- 2 cups ice
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Divide among two glasses and garnish with maraschino cherries and pineapple wedges, if desired.6 oz cream of coconut, 4 oz pineapple juice, 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice, 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks, 2 cups ice
Notes
- Cream of coconut can separate in the can and be tough to stir back together so pour the whole can into the blender and give it a few pulses to bring it back together before making this mocktail. Store excess cream of coconut in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- Frozen pineapple gives this drink the best frosty, frothy texture, but you can also use fresh or even canned pineapple (that's been drained) for a slightly thinner colada.
- The lime juice is a key ingredient that helps keep the flavor from being overly sweet. Don't skip it!
- Traditional piña colada garnishes include maraschino cherries and pineapple wedges. Feel free to add tropical touches like paper umbrellas and bamboo skewers, if you like.
Nutrition
Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.
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