Virgin Pina Colada

When the thermometer ticks previous 90°F, it’s time to drag out the blender and funky down with a slushy, tropical drink. There are many frozen drinks for summer to select from, however pina coladas at all times rise to the highest of my record. There’s one thing about the best way coconut’s creamy, velvety texture melds with candy and tangy pineapple—it instantly transports me to a sandy seaside (even when I’m simply sitting on my entrance porch swatting away the mosquitos).

This virgin pina colada recipe creates a slushy, nonalcoholic deal with that the entire household can get pleasure from. Be at liberty to extend the recipe to serve a crowd, however be sure to serve the drink as quickly because it comes out of the blender. This blended mocktail melts quick, particularly on a sizzling day.

A standard 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, the place it’s nonetheless the nationwide drink. On this virgin pina colada recipe, we flip the drink right into a nonalcoholic mocktail by omitting the rum. Our model makes use of solely three staple elements you presumably have already got available: unsweetened pineapple juice, cream of coconut and crushed ice.

Virgin Pina Colada Components

TMB Studio

• Unsweetened pineapple juice: You should purchase unsweetened pineapple juice in a can or make your individual by mixing recent (or frozen) pineapple cubes in a blender or meals processor. Pressure the combination via a positive mesh sieve or cheesecloth to take away the pulp. (Don’t throw away the pulp! Use it as an alternative of crushed pineapple in our greatest pineapple recipes.)
• Cream of coconut: This sweetened coconut milk product is much like coconut cream or coconut milk however is considerably sweeter and thicker. When you can’t discover it on the grocery retailer, you can also make a do-it-yourself model by mixing equal components sugar and coconut milk. Nevertheless, the drink received’t prove fairly as thick and syrupy.
• Crushed ice: Utilizing crushed ice is one in every of our high tips for making frozen drinks. It blends extra simply than common ice to provide the drink a slushier texture.
• Non-compulsory garnishes: Garnishing every drink with a recent pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry provides a recent end. If you wish to get actually fancy, add a tiny cocktail umbrella!

Instructions

Step 1: Mix the elements

TMB Studio

Place the primary three elements in a blender.

TMB Studio

Cowl and course of till clean.

Editor’s Tip: The best blender for making smoothies and blended cocktails is a high-speed blender with a strong motor. Blenders below 1,000 watts aren’t highly effective sufficient to course of elements right into a thick, creamy combination.

Step 2: Serve the mocktail

Pour the drink into a calming glass. If desired, garnish with pineapple and a cherry.

Editor’s Tip: To sit back the glass, put it within the freezer for about half-hour earlier than serving. When you neglect to plan forward, you possibly can shortly chill the glass by filling it with ice whereas mixing the cocktail.

TMB Studio

Virgin Pina Colada Variations

• Skip the ice: Use frozen pineapple chunks as an alternative of ice so as to add further pineapple taste.
• Give it rum taste: Earlier than mixing the drink, throw in a splash of rum extract so as to add complexity to this mocktail. In fact, when you’re not avoiding alcohol, you can add 2 ounces gentle rum to the combination.
• Make it sweeter: For a sweeter virgin pina colada, use sweetened pineapple juice or add just 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 provide this mocktail a smoothie vibe. Or, to make a frosty pineapple punch, mix the pineapple juice and cream of coconut with ice cream. End the drink with membership soda to provide it a punchy, effervescent end.

Are you able to make virgin pina coladas forward of time?

To make our virgin pina colada recipe forward of time, mix the pineapple juice and cream of coconut in a resealable jar. If you’re rising the recipe to make pina coladas for a celebration, combine the elements in a big pitcher. Retailer the combination within the fridge for as much as one week. Whenever you’re able to serve, add the combination to a blender with crushed ice and mix as directed.

Virgin Pina Colada Suggestions

TMB Studio

How do you make virgin pina coladas for a bunch?

Our virgin pina colada recipe makes one 8-ounce (or 1-cup) serving, so it’s simple to scale the recipe for a bunch by merely multiplying every ingredient by the variety of folks within the group. To make 4 virgin pina coladas, you’ll want 12 ounces (1-1/2 cups) pineapple juice, 6 ounces (3/4 cup) cream of coconut and 4 cups crushed ice.

Do you want a blender to make a virgin pina colada?

As a substitute of mixing this virgin pina colada, you possibly 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. Cowl and shake till condensation kinds on the skin of the shaker, 10 to fifteen seconds. Pour the contents right into a tall glass and revel in!