Best Malibu Rum Pina Colada Recipe: Frozen Coconut Cocktail
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Savor Summer with our Malibu Rum Pina Colada Recipe!
Piña Coladas are a sweet ticket to a tropical vacation—at home! This cocktail recipe is a summer party in a glass, offering a splash of coconut flavor and the sun-kissed tang of pineapple juice.
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While you may prefer to skip to the recipe card, we recommend reading through the blog post to avoid missing valuable tips and substitution suggestions and to ensure you have the necessary ingredients, equipment, and understanding of the steps and timings.
Malibu Rum Pina Colada Recipe
This delicious cocktail blends Malibu Coconut Rum, pineapple juice, coconut milk, and a splash of condensed milk for indulgent creaminess.
The simple ingredients are blended together, creating a rich coconut cream cocktail that will whisk your taste buds off to Puerto Rico – the birthplace of the classic, creamy Pina Colada.
Picture yourself lounging by the pool, sipping on your Malibu Pina Colada, the tropical flavors dancing on your palate…
Best Pina Colada
This a great drink for hot summer days, tropical-themed parties, or anytime you need a mini vacation.
One sip, and you’ll understand why this is one of our favorite cocktails!
Even if you can’t jet off to the tropics, our Malibu rum pina colada recipe brings the Caribbean to your backyard.
Dressed with a rim of toasted coconut and adorned with maraschino cherries, lime slices, and fresh pineapple wedges, it’s a cocktail that impresses taste and presentation!
Check out our piña colada recipes for more delicious piña colada-flavored treats!
Try our Piña Colada Cupcakes made with Malibu and fresh pineapple chunks, our Pina Colada Layer Cake that’s perfect for a Tropical Luau Party, our Mini Piña Colada Cheesecakes with rum and sweet pineapple topping, or for breakfast, our Pina Colada Muffins Recipe!
Reasons Why You’ll Love Malibu Rum Pina Coladas
- It offers a vibrant blend of tropical flavors, making every sip feel like a vacation.
- The recipe is easy to follow, making it perfect for your next summer party.
- With its rich, creamy texture and delightful garnishes, it’s a cocktail that impresses guests.
Ingredients For Malibu Piña Colada Recipe
The ingredients and tools for this recipe are conveniently linked to online retailers such as Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and Walmart. The quantities are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Ingredients for Malibu Rum Pina Coladas
- Pineapple Juice
- Coconut Milk
- Condensed Milk
- Malibu Coconut Rum – if you don’t have this, you can substitute for other popular brands of rum such as Captain Morgan or Bacardi.
- Simple Syrup – you can buy this ready-made, but it is easy to make yourself.
- To make simple syrup, place equal measures of sugar and water in a pan and stir over medium heat.
- By the time it simmers, the sugar is dissolved, and that’s it!
- Toasted Coconut – for the glass rims
- Ice Cubes
- For Garnish – Lime Slices, Pineapple Wedges, Pineapple Leaves, Maraschino Cherries
Cocktail Equipment
- This cocktail is made in a blender. You ideally need a blender that can crush ice. We love our Ninja Blender for doing that job superbly!
- Cocktail Skewers – for skewering cherries and other cocktail fruits.
- Rimming Dish – or saucers for rimming the glasses with simple syrup and toasted coconut.
- Piña Coladas are typically served in Hurricane Glasses, but you can use any kind of glass that you like.
- A hurricane glass is a type of tall glass often used for serving tropical cocktails. Its distinctive, curvaceous shape, resembling a hurricane lamp, makes it perfect for showcasing vibrant, layered drinks. It typically holds about 20 ounces of liquid.
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What Can I Serve With Malibu Rum Pina Coladas?
If you want to serve some appetizers with your drinks, check out these recipes:
- Grilled Shrimp Skewers: The sweet and smoky flavors perfectly complement this delicious drink.
- Slow Cooker Spicy Pineapple Pork with Cilantro-Lime Rice: The fruity flavors pair well with the cocktail.
- Coconut Shrimp: Add more tropical flavors to your meal.
More Tropical Cocktails To Make
If you enjoy tropical drink flavors, you’re going to love making these cocktail recipes:
Malibu Pina Colada Variations
Here are some Malibu cocktails—variations of the original cocktail recipe—that you might like to try.
Strawberry Piña Colada: Substitute some of the pineapple juice with fresh or frozen strawberries for a fruity twist.
Lighter Piña Colada: For a lower calorie version, consider using light coconut milk
Fruity Piña Colada: Add a splash of orange juice, cranberry juice, or cherry juice for a fruity twist.
Blue Piña Colada: Add a splash of blue curacao to the mix. This gives the cocktail a vibrant blue color and adds a slight orange flavor.
Piña Colada Sangria: A mashup of sangria and Piña Colada, this recipe calls for white wine, chopped fruit, pineapple juice, and coconut rum.
Supercharged Piña Colada: Replace 3/4 of the ice with frozen pineapple chunks for deeper pineapple flavors.
Mango Piña Colada: Incorporate some fresh mango or mango juice into the recipe for an added tropical flair.
Melon Piña Colada: Replace half the rum with melon liqueur for a delicious twist.
Floating Piña Colada: Gently pour a dash of dark rum on top for a “floater” with a little extra kick.
Creamy Piña Colada: Add a scoop of vanilla or coconut ice cream into your blender for a more decadent twist when mixing up your drink.
Pineapple Mint Piña Colada: Add some fresh mint leaves for a refreshing kick. This variation is particularly good for hot summer days.
Spiced Piña Colada: Use spiced rum instead of light rum to add a warm, complex flavor to your cocktail.
Virgin Pina Colada Mocktail (Non-Alcoholic)
So that non-drinkers can enjoy a coconut pineapple cocktail, we simply remove the alcohol and replace it!
Follow the recipe card using the non-alcoholic alternatives listed below instead of the alcoholic ones.
- Instead of Malibu Coconut Rum, use Coconut Syrup or Pineapple Syrup (or a combination of both)
I recommend adding the syrups to your taste as they may add the sweetness you may not necessarily get from alcoholic liqueurs.
Or you could just remove the alcohol completely and add more pineapple juice or coconut water to the mixture. Just don’t forget the fresh pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry on top!
Piña Colada Mocktails with Non-Alcoholic Spirits
For adults who would still like to enjoy the taste of alcohol in their mocktail, you could try non-alcoholic alternatives.
In the UK, try Lyre’s, which is also available on Amazon in the UK and Amazon.com.
Other brands include Strykk (UK) and Ritual (US & Canada). Non-alcoholic spirits are a growing trend, so be on the lookout in your local stores and online.
- Instead of Malibu Rum, use Lyre’s White Cane Spirit
Follow the recipe card using the non-alcoholic alternatives listed above instead of the alcoholic ones.
Big Batch Malibu Rum Pina Colada
Because this is a frozen drink, the easiest way to make a large batch for a crowd would be to multiply the ingredients in the recipe card.
The recipe makes 3 frozen cocktails, so if you need to make it for 12 people, multiply the measurements by 2.
Alternatively, you can stir the ingredients together if you don’t want to make it as a slush drink.
If you use the same measuring container (glass, cup, jug, etc.) for the “1 part”, the ratios will be correct, and you can make as much as you need to.
To make Malibu Pina Coladas for a crowd, mix together:
- 1 part pineapple juice
- 1 part coconut milk
- 1 part condensed milk
- 3 parts Malibu rum
Serve the large batch cocktail in drinks dispensers or pitchers, or go retro and serve from a punch bowl!
Add plenty of ice to your serving container to keep the cocktail chilled.
Saving Leftovers!
While it’s best to enjoy the cocktail fresh to savor its flavors, you may have some left at the end of your party—don’t let it go to waste!
- Transfer it to an airtight pitcher or container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
- Or, to make it last longer, turn it into Pina Colada Granita!
- Granita is a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water, and various flavorings. Originally from Sicily.
- Transfer the cocktail to a shallow freezer-safe container and place it in the freezer for 6 hours (or overnight).
- Use a fork to break the frozen cocktail into small pieces. Serve and enjoy!
- Or pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze.
- Use the cocktail cubes to chill and flavor future cocktails without diluting the drink.
Setting Up Your Cocktail Bar
When setting up your cocktail bar or serving area, you could include the following:
- Ice Bucket—Filled with ice, of course! Don’t forget a scoop or tongs.
- Cocktail Glasses
- Cocktail Napkins
- Cocktail Stirrers/Swizzle Sticks
- Cocktail Sticks/Picks—For cocktail garnishes.
- Cocktail Decorations—Such as cocktail umbrellas.
This cocktail recipe is intended for adults of the legal drinking age in your country of residence.
Please drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive.
How Do I Make Malibu Rum Pina Coladas?
The printable recipe card is below—please leave a star rating and quick review to share your experience with others!
Malibu Rum Pina Colada
Ingredients
For Glass Rim
- Simple Syrup
- Toasted Coconut
For the Cocktail
- 9 oz Malibu Rum
- 3 oz Pineapple Juice
- 3 oz Coconut Milk
- 3 oz Condensed Milk
- 4 cups of Ice
For Garnish
- Maraschino Cherries
- Lime Slices
- Pineapple Wedges
- Pineapple Leaves
SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
Instructions
- Pour the simple syrup into a small shallow dish and the toasted coconut into a separate shallow dish.
- Dip each glass into the syrup and then into the toasted coconut to coat the rim. Set glasses aside.
- Place the Malibu Rum, pineapple juice, coconut milk, condensed milk, and ice into a blender.
- Blend on high until smooth.
- Pour into the prepared glasses and garnish as desired with maraschino cherries, lime slices, pineapple wedges, and leaves. Cheers!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Dinner Party Menu Suggestions!
The beverage is covered, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to create a menu for a dinner party or special meal:
- Appetizer: Baked Coconut Shrimp with Avocado-Lime Dip
- Soup: Spicy Sweet Corn Chowder with Chorizo
- Salad: Tropical Noodle Salad with Chicken
- Main Dish: Air Fryer Cod Recipe with Mango Salsa
- Side Dish: Cilantro Lime Rice
- Dessert: Summer Fruit Salad with Honey-Yogurt Dip
FAQ About Pina Colada Cocktails
Here are some questions people often ask about making Piña Colada Cocktails.
Click the question to read the answer. If you have one of your own, please comment on this post!
No, a Piña Colada does not have to be frozen. The cocktail can be served either frozen (blended with ice) or on the rocks (poured over ice). It all depends on your preference.
The strength of a Piña Colada largely depends on how much and which type of rum is used. Generally, it is not considered a particularly strong cocktail due to the proportion of non-alcoholic ingredients like coconut cream and pineapple juice. However, you should always enjoy alcohol responsibly.
While both are tropical cocktails, they have different ingredients. A Piña Colada is made with rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice, whereas a Mai Tai is made with rum, lime juice, orange curacao, and orgeat (almond) syrup.
A typical Piña Colada recipe uses 1-3 oz of rum per serving, but this can vary depending on how strong you want the cocktail to be.
No, Malibu is not a Piña Colada. Malibu is a brand of rum often used in the preparation of Piña Coladas due to its coconut flavor.
Malibu is a brand of rum that originates from Barbados. Its well-known coconut flavor makes it popular for tropical drinks like the Piña Colada.
The primary alcoholic ingredient in a Piña Colada is light rum.
“Piña” means “pineapple” in Spanish. So, “Piña Colada” translates to “strained pineapple,” referencing the traditional preparation of the cocktail with fresh pineapple juice.
While traditional Piña Coladas are made with rum, you can use vodka for a different twist. However, it might not have the same tropical flavor profile that rum imparts. A vodka pina colada is known as a Chi Chi.
Due to its lighter and smoother flavor, light rum is usually preferred for Piña Coladas. However, some recipes might call for a mix of light and dark rum to add depth to the cocktail’s taste.
Malibu white rum, with its characteristic coconut flavor, is excellent for Piña Coladas and often a go-to choice for this cocktail.
A Tiki cocktail is an exotic style that became popular in the United States during the mid-20th century. These drinks are often associated with the Polynesian-style bars and restaurants (Tiki bars) that serve them.
Tiki cocktails are typically rum-based and incorporate fruit juices, syrups, and other tropical flavors. They’re known for their complex, layered flavors and their elaborate garnishes or presentation, often served in distinctive Tiki mugs or hollowed-out fruits.
Some of the most famous Tiki cocktails include the Mai Tai, Zombie, and, of course, the Piña Colada. While not necessarily originating in the Tropics, these cocktails evoke a feeling of tropical escapism and relaxation.
Coconut cream, coconut milk, and cream of coconut are all derived from the same source— the coconut—but they’re prepared differently and have different culinary uses.
Coconut Cream: This is a thick, rich, and non-sweet product obtained by grinding the flesh of coconuts and extracting the juice. It is high-fat and often used in rich soups, sauces, and desserts. If you let a can of coconut milk sit undisturbed, coconut cream is the thick layer that rises to the top.
Coconut Milk: This is made by grating the flesh of a coconut, soaking it in hot water, and then straining the mixture. The result is a milky-white liquid with a rich, creamy texture, often used in sweet and savory dishes. It has a lower fat content than coconut cream.
Cream of Coconut: This is a sweetened version of coconut cream, and it’s used primarily in desserts and cocktails like Piña Colada. It’s thicker and sweeter than both coconut milk and coconut cream. Coco Lopez is a popular brand of cream of coconut that’s often used in cocktail making.
In the context of a Piña Colada, cream of coconut is the standard choice due to its sweetness and richness. However, each product can impart a different flavor profile and consistency to the drink.