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Lava Flow Drink Recipe (Creamy Hawaiian Drink)

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This Lava Flow drink recipe is a popular Hawaiian drink made with flavors of pineapple, strawberries, banana and coconut mixed with rum. It’s fresh, fun and full of tropical flavors in a creamy cocktail. You’re going to love this Lava Flow drink!

Lava Flow Drink with drink umbrella by the pool.

Lava Flow Drink is a popular cocktail in Hawaii

 

The Lava Flow Hawaiian Drink

I am often inspired to try any tropical drink that makes me feel like I’m on a beach vacation! And this Lava Flow Hawaii drink does just that.

If you’ve traveled to Hawaii, you probably noticed almost every Hawaiian bar – from hotel bars to beach bars – includes the Lava Flow drink on their menu. It’s almost as popular as this authentic Mai Tai drink.

The popularity of the Lava Flow cocktail in Hawaii put it on the map in restaurants and bars on the mainland. You no longer need to travel to a tropical paradise or Duke’s Waikiki to drink a Lava Flow, today you can order one from popular establishments such as Bubba Gumps and TGI Fridays. It’s also a favorite drink on Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

A similar, but definitely different tropical drink you should try is the Miami Vice Drink!

Why You’ll Love this Lava Flow Recipe

Of course, you can make the best Lava Flow drink right at home and feel like you’re on a tropical vacation. This tropical drink is the perfect treat on a hot summer day. 

  • Creamy: We use chilled ingredients so there isn’t any ice in the cocktail.
  • Coconut, Pineapple and Strawberry are a fantastic tropical flavor combination.
  • Gorgeous: The lava flow look makes it a show-stopper your friends and family will ooh and awww over.

If you want another tropical drink, be sure to try this Bob Marley layered cocktail or this dessert in a glass Bananas Foster Cocktail.

 

Lava Flow Drink displayed on white wood background with drink umbrella

 

What is a Lava Flow Drink?

The Lava Flow Hawaii drink recipe is similar to the most popular tropical drink, the Pina Colada (another awesomely creamy recipe – check it out for this easy big pitcher recipe) mixed with a little bit of strawberry puree.

Adding two fresh fruits and a special pouring procedure is what punches up the Pina Colada into the Lava Flow recipe.

The three common ingredients between these two tropical drinks are rum, pineapple juice and cream of coconut:

  • The Lava Flow recipe adds fresh strawberries and a banana capturing all the popular tropical flavors.
  • The reason it’s a Hawaiian cocktail is all in how it looks.
  • The red ingredients are made from a strawberry puree that is added to the bottom of the glass first.
  • When the creamy white mixture of banana, pineapple and coconut blend is poured on top, the red strawberry mix slides up the sides of the glass creating the resemblance of flowing lava.

What is the Difference Between a Lava Flow and Miami Vice?

The Lava Flow cocktail shares similarities with the Miami Vice drink. The Miami Vice Drink is a mix of Pina Colada and Strawberry Daiquiri poured in layers.

The Lava Flow on the other hand, omits the lime juice and adds a fresh banana. Then poured into the glass to look like flowing lava. This combination tastes more like a Banana Daiquiri and Piña Colada mixed together with added strawberry puree.

Lava Flow Drink by a pool

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. Light Rum
  • 2 oz. Pineapple Juice (chilled)
  • 2 oz. Cream of Coconut (chilled)
  • 5-6 Fresh Strawberries
  • 5-6 Fresh Pineapple chunks (optional)
  • 1 Small Banana
  • Garnish with a pineapple wedge and paper umbrella

The reason to chill your ingredients is to avoid using a cup of ice in the drink, keeping this cocktail extra creamy.

Lava Flow Drink Ingredients: Fresh pineapple, strawberries and banana. Bottles of pineapple juice, cream of coconut and light rum.

Lava Flow drink ingredients.

 

Can you substitute Cream of Coconut?

There is no substitute for cream of coconut. It’s a must have ingredient for this fruity drink. There are vast differences between cream of coconut, coconut milk and coconut cream.

Coconut milk has the consistency of milk where the must-have cream of coconut is a very thick syrup and tastes completely different.

Coconut cream does have a thick consistency but lacks the sweetness of the cream of coconut.

The two ounces of cream of coconut are vital to the best recipe for this Lava Flow cocktail.

How to make a Lava Flow Drink

Get your blender ready!

The key is to make two separate concoctions. The first concoction is blended strawberries and rum and the second is everything else.

Make sure to rinse your blender after making the strawberry mixture so it doesn’t tint the color of the second concoction.

Recipe Directions:

  1. Blend Strawberries and rum together and pour the mixture into your glass.
  2. Rinse out your blender.
  3. Blend banana, pineapple juice and cream of coconut.
  4. Pour mixture into your hurricane glass (on top of the pureed strawberries and rum mixture).

Watch the strawberry mixture rise up the sides of your glass creating the signature “lava flow” look of the drink!

Note: If you don’t have a hurricane glass, make sure to use a tall glass so you get the full effect of this tropical island cocktail.

 

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Lava Flow Variations and Tips:

  • If you’re a fan of coconut rum, replace one ounce of Light Rum with Coconut Rum.
  • If you like a little more pineapple taste to your drink, add 4-5 fresh chunks of pineapple and blend it with the second mixture.
  • I have forgotten to pour the two concoctions in the right order. If this happens to you, simply pour the strawberry rum mixture into the glass aiming for the middle of the pineapple, banana, cream of coconut mixture. Take a knife and give it a few swirls. This also creates the lava look.
  • Chill your ingredients! If your pineapple juice and coconut cream are cold, then there is no need to use ice cubes, keeping this Lava Flow recipe super creamy. If your ingredients aren’t chilled, you can add crushed ice into the second mixture and blend until smooth.
  • You can also use frozen strawberries if fresh berries aren’t available.
  • As always, we’re never going to fault a dark rum floater on top! Not a traditional Lava Flow drink ingredient, but certainly nothing wrong with it.

It’s easy to bring a little Hawaiian vacation to your home! Just whip up a Lava Flow Drink and enjoy!

Yield: 1

Lava Flow Drink - Tasty Hawaiian Drink

Lava Flow Drink Recipe

This Lava Flow recipe is a popular Hawaiian cocktail made with flavors of pineapple, strawberries, banana and coconut mixed with rum. It’s a fresh and fun eruption of tropical flavors in a creamy cocktail.

The Lava Flow recipe is similar to a Pina Colada with a few extra touches to add flavors. Primarily, we’re adding fresh fruits to the mix. One banana, a couple strawberries and (optional) fresh pineapple.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. Light Rum
  • 2 oz. Pineapple Juice (chilled)
  • 2 oz. Cream of Coconut (chilled)
  • 5-6 Fresh Strawberries
  • 1 Small Banana
  • 5-6 Fresh Pineapple chunks (optional)
  • Slice of pineapple for garnish

Instructions

  1. Blend Strawberries and rum together and pour the mixture into your glass.
  2. Rinse out your blender.
  3. Blend the following: banana, pineapple juice and cream of coconut (optional: include 4-5 pineapple chunks)
  4. Pour into your glass (on top of the strawberry and rum mixture).
  5. Watch the strawberry concoction creep up the sides of your glass creating the signature Lava Flow drink look!

Notes

If you’re a fan of coconut rum, replace one ounce of Light Rum with Coconut Rum.

If you like a little more pineapple taste to your drink, add 4-5 fresh chunks of pineapple and blend it with the second mixture.

Chill your ingredients! If your pineapple juice and coconut cream are cold, then there is no need to use ice, keeping this Lava Flow drink super creamy. If your ingredients aren’t chilled, add crushed ice into the second mixture and blend until smooth.

I have forgotten to pour the two concoctions in the right order. If this happens to you, simply pour the strawberry rum mixture into the glass aiming for the middle of the pineapple, banana, cream of coconut mixture. Take a knife and give it a few swirls. This also creates the “lava flow” look.

As always, I'll never fault a dark rum floater on top! Not a traditional Lava Flow recipe ingredient, but certainly nothing wrong with adding one.

Drink Responsibly.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 403Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 278mgCarbohydrates: 333gFiber: 27gSugar: 283gProtein: 13g

Nutritional values are estimates and not exact.

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I love easy recipes and delicious desserts and happy to share with you my favorite recipes. My favorite places are tropical, family always comes first and I'm a cocktail enthusiast for sure!
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