What Is A Pina Colada?
The original recipe for pina colada originated at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico in the 1950s and consists of a blend of rum, coconut cream, heavy cream, and pineapple juice, all blended with ice. It’s the perfect sweet beverage to make when you’ve got the beach on your mind!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for a skinny pina colada, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Rum – Most pina colada drinks use white rum or gold rum. You can also use coconut rum, but beware that it will have added sugar. Coconut Cream – You can find pure canned coconut cream in many stores, or chill a can of coconut milk in the fridge overnight and scoop out the thick, creamy portion. (Alternatively, just use the coconut milk in its entirety — it will be less thick, but still delicious!) Avoid canned “cream of coconut” for this recipe, which has added sugar and a different texture. Pineapple Chunks – Use fresh cut pineapple or frozen pineapple for best taste. Canned pineapple can work if you must, but the flavor won’t be quite as bright. Pineapple Extract – I like using this for an extra boost of pineapple flavor, but you can also omit it and simply add more fresh pineapple. (I use just 1/4 cup of pineapple per drink to keep it skinny, but you can double or triple it and skip the extract if you like.) Sweetener – Sure, you can use regular sugar, but then it wouldn’t be skinny. 😉 I use Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend, which keeps this skinny pina colada sweet, yet sugar free! Unlike other sugar substitutes, it dissolves easily into this drink and has a flavor just like sugar, with no aftertaste. You can also use maple syrup, or simply omit for a less sweet drink. Ice – Helps thicken and keep your drink ice cold.
How To Make A Skinny Pina Colada With Alcohol
To make a skinny pina colada, simply add rum, coconut cream, pineapple, pineapple extract, and Besti to a high powered blender, followed by ice. Blend until smooth. Pour into tall glasses and garnish with fresh pineapple slices on the rim (or even a paper umbrella)!
How To Make A Virgin Pina Colada
It’s easy to make a virgin pina colada recipe! Simply omit the rum, keeping all other ingredients and amounts the same.
What alcohol is in a pina colada? White rum is the typical alcohol for pina coladas. Can you use dark rum for pina coladas? Yes, you can make homemade pina coladas with dark rum. This aged rum has a bit more bite to it, but still works well. How many calories in a pina colada? Depending on the recipe, traditional pina coladas can contain over 600 calories in a serving! A skinny pina colada can cut the calorie count by nearly half. Does a pina colada have dairy? The original frozen pina colada recipe does contain dairy in the form of heavy cream, and some versions even contain ice cream. Always read ingredient lists to know for certain.
Storage Instructions
This easy pina colada recipe is best made fresh and enjoyed immediately; it’s not recommended to make ahead. The ice will start melting right away, but you could keep it in the freezer for up to 15 minutes if needed. (Longer than that and it may harden.)
What To Serve With A Skinny Pina Colada
A skinny pina colada can pair with a variety of dishes! Try it with these easy recipes.
Island flavors – Pair this drink with coconut shrimp or coconut chicken tenders, and homemade salsa or pineapple salsa with your favorite tortilla chips. Grilled mains – Burger recipes, grilled shrimp skewers, or grilled sirloin steak would taste great with a frosty pina colada! Fresh fish and seafood – Serve with juicy broiled lobster, spicy Cajun grilled cod, or flaky lemon butter baked tilapia. Spicy dishes – Skinny pina coladas can help cool down the heat in lemon pepper wings, Chipotle beef barbacoa, or baked buffalo chicken. Mexican favorites – Try this drink with cilantro lime chicken, a Mexican shrimp cocktail, or tacos made with jicama tortillas.
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