Coconut Piña Colada

By Rebekah Peppler

Published Sept. 13, 2024

Coconut Piña Colada
Rachel Vanni for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Spencer Richards.
Total Time
8 hours 10 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes, plus freezing
Rating
5(29)
Comments
Read comments

Frosty and smooth, this take on the piña colada adds coconut water to the classic combination of rum, pineapple and cream of coconut. Freezing coconut water into cubes takes a bit of forethought, but the act of blending them into the drink in lieu of standard ice cubes results in a drink that is layered with coconut flavor. The (optional) float of high-quality dark rum tips the drink toward party fare, and chilling your glasses in the freezer before pouring from blender to glass ensures the drinks stay frosty for as long as possible.

Featured in: Your Drinks Are Missing a Key Ingredient: Coconut Water

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

Advertisement

Ingredients

Yield:4 to 6 drinks
  • 12ounces/1½ cups organic, unsweetened coconut water
  • 2cups frozen diced pineapple
  • 8ounces/1 cup white rum
  • 4ounces/½ cup sweetened cream of coconut (preferably Coco López)
  • 2ounces fresh lime juice
  • 2ounces quality dark rum (optional)
  • Pineapple slices, for garnish
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

231 calories; 3 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 24 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 20 grams sugars; 1 gram protein; 68 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    The night before you’re planning to serve this drink, prepare your coconut water ice cubes: Pour the coconut water into ice cube trays, cover and freeze until solid.

  2. Step 2

    To make the cocktail, add the coconut ice cubes, frozen pineapple, white rum, cream of coconut and lime juice to a blender. Blend until smooth and frosty.

  3. Step 3

    Divide into chilled glasses, preferably lowballs. If desired, top each drink with about ½ ounce dark rum. Garnish with pineapple slices and serve immediately.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Ratings

5 out of 5
29 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Comments

Linda Lou

Just leave out the rum.

The Dude

No it wouldn't. Rum, pineapple and coconut has always been a pina colada. Pina in Spanish translates to pineapple. A Mai Tai is a completely different drink with way more ingredients and different juices. The common ingredient to both is rum, of which Mai Tais have two or three kinds. Both tasty though. In fact, it's unnecessary to put coconut in the name of this drink because it ALWAYS has it in it.

The Dude

I must say I do like the idea of blending in coconut water ice cubes instead of regular ice. Coco Lopez on the other hand is way too sweet (it tastes and smells like suntan oil). I find that if you open up a can of coconut milk and just pour off the liquid (leave the fat that has congealed on top), this adds the perfect coconut flavor. You can use the coconut "fat" that was in the can to cook some Thai food. And then enjoy your cocktail with it!

Kimberly

Very good recipe! The coconut water ice cubes are a game-changer in defense of watering down your drinks with regular ice cubes. (for those without ice trays, The Dollar Store will fix you up for cheap!) I have used frozen pineapples as well as canned. I preferred the canned version.

NHcook

Anyone else looking for a more natural version of Coco Lopez should give canned condensed coconut milk a try. I can pronounce all the ingredients and it tastes great. Coconut water electrolytes in my cocktail? Yes please! Amazing drink

Pandan Express

top each drink with a half ounce of angostura bitters instead of more rum

Private comments are only visible to you.

Recipe Tags

or to save this recipe.