Easy Pina Colada Pitcher Recipe

The easy Pina Colada pitcher recipe! A classic frozen cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut and pineapple juice. Cheers!

Easy Big Batch Pina Colada Recipe

Anytime we’re near the coast, we order a Pina Colada.  Something about coconut and rum that brings back memories from vacations we’ve enjoyed.  Over the years, we’ve tasted good Pina Coladas, some that are just ok and on occasion we’ve been served something awful.

As soon as we take that first sip, we start the comparison to our favorite recipe we’ve had for 46 years.

In 1975, we took a trip to Orlando, Florida. My husband attended business meetings for part of the day and when he returned to the hotel in the afternoons we would relax by the pool, take a swim and have a drink. Pina Coladas, of course!

Lo and behold there was a nicely figured, bikini clad lady bicycling around the pool. She had a cart in tow behind her and the curiosity got the best of my husband. He had to know what she was peddling. To his delight, she was whipping up the best tasting Pina Coladas he ever tasted.

Of course he needed to linger awhile and learn how this lovely bikini clad lady made them (that’s his story anyway).

We have made them this way ever since and we still love them after that first taste 46 years ago! Hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

And if you love Pina Coladas…. check out this Lava Flow cocktail recipe  – it’s a mashup of a Pina Colada and Strawberry Daiquiri, but with fresh strawberries!

What Kind of Rum for Pina Coladas?

The sweet flavors of coconut and pineapple need a light rum. A spiced rum would completely change the flavor of a Pina Colada. A dark rum adds another sweetness to the cocktail, typically with hints of caramel flavors. It’s a bit much for an already sweet drink.

With that said… a dark rum floater is pretty common for a Pina Colda drink served in bar. Most of the time, your bartender will ask if you want a floater whenever you order one.

If you’re inclined to go for that extra rum kick, I personally suggest either a lightly sweet darker rum such as Bacardi 8 or go for the exotic tasting Cruzan Blackstrap Rum with a hint of molasses flavor which goes well with the Pina Colda.

Adding Fresh Pineapple Chunks (Optional) & Here’s Why

The traditional Pina Colada garnish is a slice of fresh pineapple and a maraschino cherry. If you’re cutting up a pineapple for garnish, you may want to include fresh pineapple in the recipe.

In this easy big batch pitcher recipe, we use canned pineapple juice for a creamy smooth cocktail. By adding fresh pineapple chunks to the recipe, it tends to change the texture by adding a more juice to the mixture along with pineapple pulp.

The flavor doesn’t really change, but the blend will be just a little less creamy. It’s up to you and what you prefer!

Big Batch Pina Colada Pitcher Ingredients:

• (1) 46 oz. can of Dole pineapple juice
• (1) 15 oz. can of Coco Lopez Real Cream of Coconut
• 15 oz. of Bacardi light rum (I measure my rum as one full Coco Lopez can)

Big Batch Pina Colada Recipe Directions:

• Stir together well in a large pitcher
• Add 1 cup of this mixture to 2 cups of crushed ice and blend, adding ice a little at a time until you like the consistency.
• Makes approximately 10-12 drinks

Optional Recipe Additions:

• 1 shot of dark rum on top for a floater.
• Whipped cream on top (if I have it, I add it)
• Pineapple slice and a maraschino cherry for garnish.
• Buy a real pineapple or coconut and core it out.  Freeze the pineapple or coconut shell to use as a cold glass for your drink!

Cheers to a creamy Pina Colada!

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Easy Big Batch Pina Colada Pitcher Recipe

Yield: 10-12 drinks

Prep Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 8 minutes

The best big batch Pina Colada recipe! A classic frozen cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut and pineapple juice. Cheers!

Print

Ingredients

• (1) 46 oz. can of Pineapple juice
• (1) 15 oz. can of Coco Lopez Real Cream of Coconut
• 15 oz. of Bacardi light rum (I measure my rum as one full Coco Lopez can)
• Whipped Cream topping (optional)
• 1 oz Dark Rum floater (optional)
• Maraschino cherries and/or Pineapple slice for garnish

Instructions

1. Stir all ingredients together well in a large pitcher
2. Add 1 cup of this mixture to 2 cups of crushed ice and blend

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