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.
Pina Colada vs. Virgin Pina Colada
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
- 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
Place the first three ingredients in a blender.
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:Â To chill the glass, put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes before serving. If you forget to plan ahead, you can quickly chill the glass by filling it with ice while blending the cocktail.
Virgin Pina Colada Variations
- Skip the ice: Use frozen pineapple chunks instead of ice to add extra pineapple flavor.
- Give it rum flavor: Before blending the drink, throw in a splash of rum extract to add complexity to this mocktail. Of course, if you’re not avoiding alcohol, you could add 2 ounces light rum to the mix.
- Make it sweeter: For a sweeter virgin pina colada, use sweetened pineapple juice or add a little sugar or a splash of simple syrup to the blender.
- Add ice cream: Add frozen pineapple chunks and a scoop of ice cream to the blender to give this mocktail a smoothie vibe. Or, to make a frosty pineapple punch, blend the pineapple juice and cream of coconut with ice cream. Finish the drink with club soda to give it a punchy, effervescent finish.
Can you make virgin pina coladas ahead of time?
To make our virgin pina colada recipe ahead of time, combine the pineapple juice and cream of coconut in a resealable jar. If you are increasing the recipe to make pina coladas for a party, mix the ingredients in a large pitcher. Store the mixture in the refrigerator for up to one week. When you’re ready to serve, add the mixture to a blender with crushed ice and blend as directed.
Virgin Pina Colada Tips
How do you make virgin pina coladas for a group?
Our virgin pina colada recipe makes one 8-ounce (or 1-cup) serving, so it’s easy to scale the recipe for a group by simply multiplying each ingredient by the number of people in the group. To make four virgin pina coladas, you’ll need 12 ounces (1-1/2 cups) pineapple juice, 6 ounces (3/4 cup) cream of coconut and 4 cups crushed ice.
Do you need a blender to make a virgin pina colada?
Instead of blending this virgin pina colada, you can serve the pina colada mocktail on the rocks. Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice. Double the pineapple juice and cream of coconut, and add them to the shaker. Cover and shake until condensation forms on the outside of the shaker, 10 to 15 seconds. Pour the contents into a tall glass and enjoy!
