Mocktail Pina Colada
Cream of coconut, fresh pineapple, lime - the 1954 Caribe Hilton classic translated without the rum. The fresh lime is the secret most home recipes miss; without it the drink reads as dessert.
The mojito is one of the few classics where the alcohol was always playing a supporting role. Mint, lime, sugar, and bubbles do the heavy lifting; the rum just rounds them out. Pull the rum and you can still build a drink that tastes like itself.
Two non-negotiables: real spearmint and crushed ice. Bottled lime, dried mint, or a glass full of cubes all turn this into mint-flavored water by sip three.
Why this works
Cream of coconut + fresh pineapple + lime = the drink. Rum was extra.
4 ingredients
Mint, sugar, lime, NA rum, soda. All pantry-friendly.
Under 220 cal
210 calories per tall pour with 13g sugar.
Tested 24 times
Tuned across 24 batches to fix the most common home-bar failures.
The Method
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01
Build the blender.
Add 2 oz non-alcoholic white rum, 2 oz cream of coconut, 3 oz pineapple juice, and 0.5 oz fresh lime juice to a blender.
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02
Add ice.
Add 1.5 cups crushed ice plus a 2-inch piece of frozen pineapple core if you have one (adds body without diluting).
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03
Blend hard.
Blend on high for 15-20 seconds until uniformly slushy. The drink should pour thick off a spoon.
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04
Pour and garnish.
Pour into a chilled hurricane glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge, a brandied cherry on a pick, and a wide straw.
Pro Tips From Laura
- Toast 2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut in a dry pan until golden. Wet the rim with cream of coconut and roll in the toasted coconut.
- No blender? Shake the recipe hard with ice for 15 seconds and strain over fresh crushed ice. The texture is less slushy, more cocktail.
- Freeze fresh pineapple core overnight and toss it in the blender. Body and pineapple intensity without watering the drink.
- Cream of coconut and coconut milk are not interchangeable. The first is sweetened and thick; the second is thin and unsweetened.
Common Questions
What is the difference between cream of coconut and coconut milk?
Cream of coconut is sweetened and thick (Coco Lopez); coconut milk is thin and unsweetened (Goya, Aroy-D). Use cream of coconut for piña coladas.
Can I make this without a blender?
Yes. Shake hard with regular ice for 15 seconds, strain over crushed ice. The texture is closer to a cocktail than a slushy.
How do I lighten the calories?
Use light cream of coconut (Coco Real Lite) and increase the pineapple juice by 1 oz. Drops to about 150 cal.
Can I batch this for a party?
Blend in 4-serving batches and hold in a chilled pitcher. Stir before pouring; the coconut separates as it sits.