Ultimate Piña Colada Recipe

Head on a tropical vacation with a taste of paradise from the ultimate piña colada recipe. This iconic tropical cocktail is a delightful blend of refreshing flavors that transport you to sun-soaked beaches and swaying palm trees. With a perfect balance of frozen pineapple, creamy coconut, and a touch of citrus, it's a vacation in a glass.

According to food blogger Ksenia Prints of At the Immigrant's Table, the key to the ultimate piña colada is the combination of both coconut milk and coconut cream. For the alcohol, she likes to use dark rum and light rum as they give the drink a more complex flavor. Finally, Prints sends our drink to the freezer one last time before serving for the ultimate slushie texture.

Whether you're lounging by the pool or hosting a summer gathering, this beverage will whisk you away to an island getaway with every sip. So grab your blender and get ready to savor the blissful combination of tropical fruits, creamy coconut, and a hint of rum that makes the ultimate piña colada a timeless classic.

For the ultimate piña colada, you'll need a blend of refreshing ingredients. Begin with ice for a frosty texture, diced frozen pineapple for a tropical twist, pineapple juice and coconut cream for a creamy base, and a splash of coconut milk for added richness. We like Coco López cream of coconut due to its sweetness and great texture.

For the alcoholic kick, we will use both white rum and dark rum, along with a hint of lime juice for a bit of tang.

For the garnish we will need more pineapple wedges and, if desired, pineapple leaves for a touch of elegance.

To ensure a smooth and consistent mixture, begin by shaking the cans containing cream of coconut and coconut milk. This step helps distribute the ingredients inside the cans. Once shaken, carefully measure the required amount of each ingredient for the perfect balance of flavors in your piña colada.

In a blender, combine the puréed pineapple, cream of coconut, coconut milk, white rum, dark rum, lime juice, and 3 cups or approximately 15 ounces of ice. The blender helps coalesce all these tropical elements together, resulting in a velvety-smooth texture and a harmonious blend of flavors.

At this point, your piña colada may more closely resemble flavored alcoholic milk. To give it that frosty beverage texture, we are going to send it for another quick sojourn in the fridge.

Transfer the blender cup to the freezer and let the mixture freeze until it reaches a thickened state, similar to that of a milkshake. This typically takes around 20 to 30 minutes. After this, you may need to quickly pulse it again until it reaches the perfect slushy frozen drink consistency.

Divide the delectable mixture among glasses and add a touch of tropical elegance by garnishing each glass with a vibrant pineapple wedge and, if desired, a decorative pineapple leaf.

Prepare to impress your guests with this visually stunning and irresistibly refreshing piña colada masterpiece.