When the thermometer ticks past 90°F, it’s time to pull out the blender and cool down with a slushy, tropical drink. There are plenty of frozen drinks for summer to choose from, but pina coladas always rise to the top of my list. There’s something about the way coconut’s creamy, velvety texture melds with sweet and tangy pineapple—it immediately transports me to a sandy beach (even if I’m just sitting on my front porch swatting away the mosquitos).
This virgin pina colada recipe creates a slushy, nonalcoholic treat that the whole family can enjoy. Feel free to increase the recipe to serve a crowd, but make sure you serve the drink as soon as it comes out of the blender. This blended mocktail melts fast, especially on a hot day.
A traditional pina colada recipe is a blended or shaken cocktail made with pineapple juice, coconut cream, ice and white rum. This tropical drink was invented in Puerto Rico, where it’s still the national drink. In this virgin pina colada recipe, we turn the drink into a nonalcoholic mocktail by omitting the rum. Our version uses only three staple ingredients you possibly already have on hand: unsweetened pineapple juice, cream of coconut and crushed ice.
Virgin Pina Colada Ingredients
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- Unsweetened pineapple juice: You can buy unsweetened pineapple juice in a can or make your own by blending fresh (or frozen) pineapple cubes in a blender or food processor. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the pulp. (Don’t throw away the pulp! Use it instead of crushed pineapple in our greatest pineapple recipes.)
- Cream of coconut: This sweetened coconut milk product is similar to coconut cream or coconut milk but is significantly sweeter and thicker. If you can’t find it at the grocery store, you can make a homemade version by blending equal parts sugar and coconut milk. However, the drink won’t turn out quite as thick and syrupy.
- Crushed ice: Using crushed ice is one of our top tips for making frozen drinks. It blends more easily than regular ice to give the drink a slushier texture.
- Optional garnishes: Garnishing each drink with a fresh pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry adds a fresh finish. If you want to get really fancy, add a tiny cocktail umbrella!
Directions
Step 1: Blend the ingredients
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Place the first three ingredients in a blender.
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Cover and process until smooth.
Editor’s Tip: The best blender for making smoothies and blended cocktails is a high-speed blender with a powerful motor. Blenders under 1,000 watts aren’t powerful enough to process ingredients into a thick, creamy mixture.
Step 2: Serve the mocktail
Pour the drink into a chilled glass. If desired, garnish with pineapple and a cherry.
Editor’s Tip: