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We are going old school with this Traditional Pina Colada Recipe! That’s right, we are using fresh pineapple juice, cream of coconut, rum and a touch of cream the way this cocktail was first created! You are going to need to pull out your blender because we are making the frozen version, which has always been my favorite!

Check out the Tropical Pina Colada Recipes for ever more pineapple and coconut inspired recipes!

Looking down on two pina colada cocktails sitting on a striped napkin with straws and pineapple garnish

Can you smell the coconut? How about the pineapple and salty, ocean air? Oh ya, you might want to grab some beach chairs for the full tropical paradise effect.

What does pina colada mean?

The name piña colada (Spanish) literally translates to “strained pineapple”, a reference to the freshly pressed and strained pineapple juice that is used to create the cocktail.

Side view of two pina colada cocktails sitting on a striped napkin next to a pink hibiscus flower

What’s in a pina colada?

Cream of coconut is a thick, heavily sweetened, processed coconut milk product that resembles condensed milk. It is originally produced by the Puerto Rican company Coco López and can be found in the liquor department in most grocery stores.
Freshly pressed and strained pineapple juice.
Heavy whipping cream
White rum – Bacardi is produced in Puerto Rico where the Pina Colada claims to be from.

How to make a tropical Pina Colada:

Remove the top of the pineapple, then cut it into 4 wedges trying to avoid the center.

Slice the flesh away from the outside of the pineapple and cut into chunks.

Place the chunks into a large measuring cup or bowl and smash with a potato masher to release the juice.

Fresh pineapple in a large measuring cup being pressed with a potato masher

Pour the juice through a fine mesh strainer to remove the crushed bits of pineapple.

Pour the pineapple juice, cream of coconut, rum, crushed ice and heavy cream into a blender.

Pineapple juice, cream of coconut, cream and rum in a blender

Place the lid on the blender and puree for 15 seconds.

A Traditional Pina Colada recipe blended in a blender

Pour into a Poco Grande glass and serve garnished with a fresh pineapple wedge and straw.

Two traditional pina colada cocktails garnished with a pineapple wedge, straw and pineapple leaves sitting on a striped napkin

I also included two leaves from the top of the pineapple, but that is optional. Just look at that frothy deliciousness created by the whipping cream!!

Tools used to create this cocktail:

Ninja Blender – you need one powerful enough to crush ice!
Potato Masher – to separate the pineapple juice from the pulp.
Measuring Cup
Poco Grande Glasses – the official pina colada glasses, but hurricane glasses also work.
Coco Lopez real cream de coconut

You can see the rest of my favorite kitchen tools and gadgets here in my Amazon Affiliate Page. I earn a small commission when you purchase through my links, at no cost to you, so I can keep bringing you more delicious recipes!

More tropical rum cocktail recipes:

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Enjoy!!