Authentic Puerto Rican Piña Colada Recipe: Taste Paradise In Every Sip by Elisa Schmitz
Growing up as the daughter of a Puerto Rican mother, I ate a lot of coconut and pineapple. On frequent visits to see my family in Puerto Rico, one of my favorite things was to visit the local bakery (la panaderia) and buy a loaf of fresh-baked Puerto Rican water bread (pan de agua), still warm from the oven; a block of fresh white cheese (queso del pais); and a can of pineapple juice (jugo de piña). That comforting and refreshing meal would fuel me all day.
As I grew up, I discovered the piña colada – the national drink of Puerto Rico – and my life was forever changed. With the hot tropical sun beating down, sipping an ice cold, smooth and creamy piña colada was a little slice of heaven. Those authentic Puerto Rican piña coladas offered the taste of paradise in every sip.
The delicious blending of pineapple juice, cream of coconut, white rum and ice was invented in San Juan, but the identity of its creator is still an unresolved controversy in Puerto Rico. Three different Puerto Rican bartenders claim the piña colada as their original creation, including two bartenders from The Caribe Hilton Hotel and one from Barrachina, a restaurant in Old San Juan.
Regardless of which Puerto Rican bartender served it first, the piña colada is legendary in Puerto Rico (and everywhere else). So when my husband and I recently returned to Puerto Rico for a family reunion, one of the first things I did was order a piña colada. It was just as dreamy as ever. We enjoyed many piña coladas during our stay on La Isla del Encanto. So, when it was time to return home, I knew the refreshing drink was one of the things I would miss the most.
That's why I make the authentic Puerto Rican piña colada right here at home. Our official house cocktail is so easy to make, and it brings you the taste of the tropics in every glass. Here are the simple ingredients you need to take your own trip to paradise: cream of coconut (be sure to use Coco Lopez brand, as it was created specifically for making an authentic piña colada and is considered the gold standard), pineapple juice, white rum and ice. The pineapple chunks are optional, as is the cherry garnish.
Blend it all up, pour it into a pretty glass, top it with a cherry and start sipping. Enjoy the taste of paradise without leaving your home. Serve one for your friends and family – even non-drinkers can enjoy it as a mocktail because the piña colada is equally delicious without rum!
Note: 30Seconds is a participant in the Amazon affiliate advertising program and this post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission or fees if you make a purchase via those links.
Cuisine: Puerto Rican
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients
- 6 ounces pineapple juice
- 6 ounces cream of coconut (Coco Lopez brand)
- 5 ounces white rum
- 2 cups ice
- 1 cup frozen or fresh pineapple chunks (optional)
Helpful Products
- Luxardo Cherries
- Cocktail Umbrellas
- Maraschino Cherries
- Beach Towels
- Picnic Basket
- Jigger
- Blender
- Smoothie Glasses
- Cocktail Glasses
- Biodegradable Paper Straws
Recipe Notes
- You can use more or less rum, depending on your preferences. For a non-alcoholic version, leave out the rum.
- You can add a dark rum "floater" on top, if desired. A floater is an additional layer of rum that enhances the presentation and flavor of the drink (it looks pretty and smells nice). Just be careful, as it adds additional alcohol as well!
- Garnish with a Luxardo or Maraschino cherry, pineapple wedge and/or a paper straw or cocktail umbrella, if desired.
Here's how you make it:
- Place all the ingredients into a blender and blend until creamy smooth.
- Garnish with a cherry, straw or cocktail umbrella, if you like. Start sipping!
Nutrition Facts Per Serving
Calories: 492
Total Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 13.5g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 45mg
Total Carbohydrate: 75g
Dietary Fiber: 3g
Total Sugars: 71g
Protein: 0.5g
Vitamin D: 0mcg
Calcium: 10mg
Iron: 0mg
Potassium: 120mg
Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. This recipe has been analyzed by VeryWellFit. However, any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography. We may occasionally reference products based on a contributor’s personal opinion. But 30Seconds is not affiliated or in no way endorses or makes any warranties about specific products.
Need to convert cooking and baking measurements? Here are some kitchen conversion charts. Here's how to submit your recipes to 30Seconds.
Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get recipes in your newsfeed daily.
Related Products on Amazon We Think You May Like:
30Second Mobile, Inc. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
join discussion