Cool And Refreshing Piña Colada Recipe

The piña colada is such a refreshing and classic drink, and it undoubtedly hits the spot on a hot summer day. Most people will order piña coladas at the bar on vacation, and the smooth, coconutty taste is oh-so-refreshing. But believe it or not, you can whip up this beverage in the comfort of your own home, and it's very simple to do so. Whether you're making a glass for yourself and a friend or serving a pitcher to a crowd, these will surely throw you into a tropical paradise, if only in your head.

Recipe developer Jaime Shelbert of Wholly Nourished came up with this simple recipe that will leave you wanting more. "The piña colada is one of those cocktails that can put you in an island state of mind. It's perfect for summertime and is easy to throw together, she shares. "All of the ingredients go into the blender, and done! It's definitely not a light drink and is almost like drinking a milkshake." How great does that sound? "This is a great drink to make for a group and can be customized to alcohol preference. A batch can be made with alcohol and another without to make virgin piña coladas," she adds.

Start by grabbing all of the necessary ingredients. For Shelbert's recipe, you will need cream of coconut, pineapple juice, white rum, frozen pineapple chunks, and ice. You can add maraschino cherries and pineapple slices for garnishes if you wish.

Aside from the garnishes, you will want to load all the ingredients into your blender. This includes the cream of coconut, pineapple juice, white rum, frozen pineapple chunks, and ice.

Turn the blender to high and blend the mixture until it's smooth. This shouldn't take long; you just want to make sure there are no remaining chunks of ice or pineapple.

After you finish blending, pour the cocktail into glasses of your choice. Simply garnish with a maraschino cherry and pineapple slice if you wish. Of course, the mini umbrella is optional too, but highly encouraged.

These piña coladas would be great on their own, but Shelbert provides a few additional serving suggestions. "Piña coladas pair well with spicy or smoky foods to balance out the sweetness. Tacos are always a great choice, or blackened fish, jerk, or barbecue chicken. Whether drinking these by themselves or with food, enjoy!