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    Home » Appetizers & Drinks

    Updated: Aug 16, 2024 · Published: Jun 28, 2022 · by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

    Pina Colada on the Rocks

    Jump to Recipe

    This heavenly tropical cocktail is a shaken, not blended, pina colada on the rocks. It will blow your mind without the "brain freeze". One sip and you will feel you are on an island enjoying the sun & listening to the waves crashing - no passport needed.

    Two tall tiki glasses filled with pina colada on ice garnished with pineapple wedges.

    Why this Pina Colada on the Rocks Recipe is the Best: This fun, fruity, & creamy summer cocktail needs no blender. Oh, and no brain freeze.

    I originally created this drink so I can enjoy the yummy pineapple coconut flavors at my pool club. It is great anywhere you are unplugged; camping, tailgating, park picnics, & beach days.

    This recipe has Hawaiian vibes like my Mango Pineapple Smoothie & is fun & pretty like a Vodka Sunrise. Ok, now let's get shaking!

    Two recipe images for pina coladas in glasses and another with the shaker of cocktail being poured into a glass.

    Ingredients

    Anyone that loves a good pina colada knows that the key flavors are pineapple and coconut. Make sure you have plenty of ice for these drinks. If you don't have an ice maker, follow my tips for how long it takes water to freeze into ice cubes, trays, or molds.

    Pina Colada on the Rocks Ingredients.

    Here are the ingredients that go into making a pina colada cocktail:

    • Pineapple Juice - the sweet tart fruit juice that is the star.
    • Coconut Milk - the creamy thick full-fat canned stuff like those made by Goya or Thai Kitchen.
    • Lime Juice - fresh squeezed is best.
    • White Rum - a light rum like Bacardi, Koloa, The Real McCoy, Wray & Nephew, or Havana brands are my favorites.
    • Optional - fresh pineapple chunks for garnish & Myer's dark rum for an extra shot to float on top.

    See the recipe card for quantities & substitutions/variations.

    Instructions

    Should a pina colada be shaken or stirred if it is not a blended recipe? I tried both methods and shaking is best - here's why. Both mix the ingredients but when shaken, the drink chills faster but also helps froth up the coconut milk for an amazing creamy & foamy texture without the blender.

    To make a couple of pina coladas on the rocks, it takes only a few minutes. You will need a cocktail shaker and two high ball glasses. Each will need to be about 10-12 ounces in size.

    Here are the easy steps for making pina colada without a blender.

    1. Prep the Glasses
    2. Add Ingredients
    3. Shake & Pour
    4. Optional Garnishes

    See the recipe card for full instructions.

    Empty glasses half full of ice plus empty shaker on a table.

    Fill 2 tall glasses & a cocktail shaker halfway with crushed ice. (cubes work too but crushed ice gives more a faux blended texture)

    Adding Pineapple juice to shaker with ice cubes.

    Add the pineapple & lime juices into the shaker.

    Shaker full of ice coconut milk and pineapple juice.

    Add the coconut milk & rum to the cocktail shaker.

    Pouring Pina Colada shaken from the cocktail shaker into tall glasses.

    Place the shaker lid on tightly & shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour through the shaker strainer over the crushed ice.

    Garnish with wedges of pineapple or slices of lime. Add a straw and enjoy!

    Two tall tiki glasses filled with pina colada on ice garnished with pineapple wedges.

    Double-Shot: If you wish to make this a Super/Deluxe drink, leave room at the top. You will want the room to float a shot of Myers's dark rum floated on the top for a Jamaican or Caribbean aesthetic.

    Two Glasses filled with pina colada on the rocks garnished with pineapple wedges and Meyer's dark rum ready to pour on top.

    Recipe Tips & Behind the Scenes

    Here is my recipe for success - including what I learned when testing, funny stories or bloopers, and more.

    • #1 tip - shake, do not stir for the creamiest drink.
    • Do not substitute the canned coconut milk with low-fat, fat-free, or the watery boxed kinds.
    • If you don't have a cocktail shaker, use a mason jar with a tight fitting like.
    • Even my husband has to use my step stool for this recipe since our alcohol cabinet is above the fridge - I have to use a chair since the step stool isn't tall enough.
    • Who will you share one of these with?
    Overhead image of two glasses filled with pina colada cocktail on ice.
    Two pina colada drinks in glasses with crushed ice.

    Pina Colada on the Rocks

    Angela
    This tropical cocktail is a shaken, not blended, pina colada on the rocks. With creamy coconut and pineapple that classic pina colada taste over ice is just the recipe for a taste of summer. 
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2
    Calories 298 kcal

    Equipment

    • cocktail shaker

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 ounces white rum
    • 5 ounces pineapple juice
    • 5 ounces coconut milk
    • ½ tablespoon lime juice
    • crushed ice
    • pineapple wedges garnish
    • 1 ounce Myers's Dark Rum optional
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Fill 2 tall glasses & a cocktail shaker halfway with crushed ice.
    • To the cocktail shaker, add the pineapple & lime juices.
    • Add the coconut milk & rum to the cocktail shaker.
    • Place the shaker lid on tightly & shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
    • Pour through the shaker strainer over the crushed ice.
    • Add a wedge of pineapple to the edge of the glass for garnish.
      OPTIONAL - add a 1-ounce shot of Myers's dark rum floating on the top of the drink.
      ENJOY!

    Notes

    The nutrition info is per cocktail as written - NOT including any variations, garnishes, or the additional shot of Myers's dark rum.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 298kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 2gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 11mgPotassium: 252mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword 4th of July, alcohol, beverage, cocktail, happy hour, Hawaiian, party, summer
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Summer Cocktail Recipes

    Looking for more drinks similar to this, try these:

    • PITCHER OF MOJITOS
    • RUM PUNCH
    • SPICY JALAPENO BASIL MOSCOW MULE
    • WATERMELON MINT MARTINI
    « 30+ Best Kid-Friendly Side Dish Recipes
    40+ Best Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Recipes »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jack says

      July 01, 2022 at 2:16 pm

      5 stars
      Our blender is terrible at making crushed iced drinks so we thought a different pina colada may be worth a shot. Shots! As in many shots of rum were enjoyed with these drinks.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        July 01, 2022 at 2:24 pm

        I am glad you found this recipe a great way to enjoy a pina colada without a blender (at least one that works - haha)

        Reply
    2. Katelynn says

      July 01, 2022 at 2:17 pm

      5 stars
      These went down too easy and we will be making these all summer. I am not sure I will blend one up again. I like this better.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        July 01, 2022 at 2:24 pm

        Cheers!

        Reply
    3. Britt says

      August 17, 2022 at 1:56 pm

      5 stars
      Not too sweet. We loved them.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        August 17, 2022 at 4:46 pm

        Great to hear, thanks for the comment.

        Reply
    4. Jodee says

      May 27, 2023 at 7:46 pm

      5 stars
      These are TROUBLE! Soooo GOOD!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        May 28, 2023 at 12:32 pm

        My kind of good trouble - haha!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Angela I’m Angela, a petite mom that loves to cook, eat, drink, & explore all things food. As a former personal chef & caterer, I specialize in family recipes that taste great & are easy to make. I rely on my trusty stool every day to create & test recipes I know you will love.

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