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Frozen piƱa coladas are the ultimate tropical drink for a hot summer day. RamĆ³n āMonchitoā Marrero created the original piƱa colada recipe in the 1950s, making it the official drink of Puerto Rico. His original recipe combined rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice for the perfect refreshing cocktail. Our piƱa colada recipe strikes an ideal balance, offering a creamy tropical flavor without being overly sweet. The key to the best piƱa colada is using Coco LĆ³pezās cream of cream, which takes the drink to a new level.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
Making frozen piƱa coladas is a breeze with just a handful of essential piƱa colada ingredients. This easy recipe means there is no need to buy pre-made frozen mixers ever again.
The full ingredient list and measurements are listed in the printable recipe below.
- Coco Lopez: Coconut cream and cream of coconut are not the same. Coconut cream is a thick cream made from coconut milk and generally is unsweetened. Cream of coconut is coconut cream that hasĀ been sweetenedĀ and processed to have a syrup-type texture. For frozen drinks like piƱa coladas, you want a can of cream of coconut such as Coco LĆ³pez.
- Rum: You can make piƱa coladas with either light rum (also known as white rum) or dark rum. Dark rum imparts a caramel flavor to the drink. There is no reason to splurge on the expensive stuff since it is mixed with pineapple, Coco Lopez, and lime, but we suggest you also not cheap out. Buy a mid-priced, good rum.
- Pineapple: For this recipe, you will need frozen chunks of pineapple. We usually canāt find pre-frozen pineapple in our local grocery stores, so we buy fresh whole pineapple, cut it into 1/2-inch chunks, and store it in the freezer.
How to Make a Frozen PiƱa Colada
Here are the quick step-by-step instructions with visuals; you can find the full instructions with the exact ingredients in the recipe card below.
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Pro-tip: Add a splash or two of canned or fresh pineapple juice for even more flavor.
1. Frozen Pina Colada: In a blender, add the Coco LĆ³pez, frozen pineapple wedges, rum, lime juice, and ice cubes, then blend until it is completely smooth. Pour the blended piƱa colada into glasses, garnish with fresh pineapple wedges or slices and maraschino cherries, and serve.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- FrozenĀ PiƱa Coladas can be made and stored in a freezer-safe airtight container the freezer for up to 2 days. It wonāt completely freeze because of the alcohol. Mix thoroughly before serving.
- Keep a couple of cocktail glasses in the freezer until you are ready to serve, as it will keep your piƱa coladas frozen a little longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Adjust the servings in the recipe card and then combine the appropriate amounts of Coco LĆ³pez, rum, frozen pineapple, ice, and lime juice in a blender and blend until slushy. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze until ready to be served. Give it a quick stir before pouring it into prepared cocktail glasses.
More Summer Cocktail Recipes to Try
Looking for more refreshing summer cocktail recipes? Try these other favorites:
- Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri -This is the perfect rum cocktail. Made with strawberry simple syrup, it is loaded with strawberry flavor.
- Strawberry Pineapple FrosĆ©Ā ā This frozen rosĆ© is the perfect summertime drink. Itās light and refreshing and not too sweet.
- Strawberry Margarita ā Using homemade strawberry simple syrup, enjoy easy, refreshing strawberry margaritas two ways ā on the rocks or frozen. They are the perfect cocktail for a few people or a crowd.
- Make-Ahead Freezer Margaritas ā No blender, no problem. These frozen margaritas are made in the freezer and are cold and slushy, perfect for a hot day.
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Frozen PiƱa Coladas with Coco Lopez
This recipe may contain paid affiliate sales links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my full disclaimer policy for details.
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 2 ounce Coco LĆ³pez Cream of Coconut
- 6 ounces frozen pineapple
- 4 ounces light rum
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1 Ā½ cup ice
Instructions
- Add Coco LĆ³pez, frozen pineapple, rum, lime juice, and ice to a blender. Blend until completely smooth.
- Pour into glasses and garnish.