One of the most iconic summery drinks of all time is the Pinã Colada. It combines tropical flavors of coconut and pineapple with the punch of rum to make the perfect frozen drink for enjoying on the beach or by the pool.
But, for those of us who are still under age or avoiding alcohol for other personal or religious reasons, the classic pinã colada is out of reach.
Thankfully, there are a huge variety of virgin pinã colada recipes out there that allow everyone to enjoy all of the drink's delicious flavors. It's not just for drinks anymore, either.
1. Matcha Pinã Colada
You won't even miss the rum when you make this pinã colada with a secret ingredient. The matcha powder elevates the coconut flavor. Trust me when I say that you'll be having green pinã coladas from now on.
2. Pinã Colada Fluff
This recipe combines the traditional pineapple and coconut flavors with ingredients like pecans and marshmallows for a light, summery dessert that will satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth.
3. Fresh Pineapple Pinã Colada Smoothie
This recipe is everything you love about a pinã colada and more because you can have it for breakfast. Using fresh pineapple makes a world of difference by keeping this smoothie from being sickeningly sweet.
4. Pinã Colada Bread Pudding
If you're looking for a way to turn the traditional pinã colada into a heavy dessert, try this recipe. It's great topped with ice cream after a barbecue. Or, if you're feeling especially adventurous, you could top it with fresh fruit and call it breakfast. Sometimes you gotta treat yourself.
5. Pinã Colada Chicken
This much healthier twist on pinã colada takes the flavors you have come to love and turns them upside down into a savory entree. The chicken is a perfect choice of protein in this recipe because it absorbs the flavors without becoming too sweet.
6. Spicy Pinã-Rita
Odds are that if you're avoiding alcoholic pinã coladas, margaritas are off the table as well. With this recipe, you can have a virgin cocktail that combines the two flavors into the ultimate tropical drink. It's even got avocado for added creaminess and health from good fats.
7. Pinã Colada Granola
If you're a smoothie or yogurt bowl fan, I would highly recommend making a batch of this granola to top off your breakfast. It's got chia, dried pineapple, and coconut flakes as well as oats for a variety of flavors and textures.
8. Pinã Colada Fudge
Although making any type of fudge from scratch sounds like a difficult job, this recipe will prove you wrong. Even a huge chocoholic, like me, will reach for this chunky, melt-in-your-mouth pinã colada version.
9. Creamy Pinã Colada Nacho Sauce
You may be a little hesitant when you hear that this recipe tops cheesy pork nachos with a creamy pinã colada sauce, but let me assure you that the people of Hawaii know what they're doing. The sweet and savory flavors complement each other perfectly.
10. Pinã Colada Cupcakes
These perfectly sweet and moist cupcakes are a great dessert to bring to a summer barbecue. You'll get the pineapple flavor from the cake and a rich coconutty taste from the tangy cream cheese frosting.
11. Strawberry Pinã Colada Pops
It's only natural that people have started experimenting with combining other fruits with the traditional pineapple in pinã coladas. This recipe uses strawberries to add another layer of flavor to popsicles that make the perfect poolside treat.
12. Pinã Colada Yogurt Dip
This recipe uses rum extract to be sure that every pinã colada flavor is accounted for with none of the alcohol.
The great thing about making a dip is that the possibilities for dipping are nearly endless. Try starting with fresh fruit and graham crackers.
13. Raspberry Pinã Colada Punch
You only need five ingredients to make this recipe because it takes a shortcut by using pinã colada concentrate. I love the added punch that the frozen raspberries bring to contrast the super sweet pineapple juice and soda.
14. Pinã Colada 7-Layer Bars
This recipe puts a pinã colada twist on the classic seven-layer dessert bar, which has also been called the magic cookie bar. You'll combine the traditional graham cracker crust and coconut flakes with pinã colada flavors like pineapple, cherries, and white chocolate.
15. Pinã Colada French Toast
This recipe is a great option for a decadent summer brunch by the beach. Fresh fruit makes a nice accompaniment to the sweet, cream cheese-stuffed baguette.
Warning: it may induce a morning food coma.
16. White Chocolate Pinã Colada Cookies
These cookies are perfect to surprise people with the taste of summer during the holidays. It starts with a super simple cookie dough, but then all the pinã colada flavors come in with sweet coconut flakes, dried pineapple, and rum extract. You can make them fancy with a white chocolate drizzle.
17. Green Pinã Colada Breakfast Smoothie
I'll admit that when the green smoothie trend first started, I was a huge sceptic. Now that I've tried it and realized that you really can't taste the greens, I make them all the time.
This is one of my favorite recipes, with mango, banana, and spinach in addition to coconut and pineapple.
18. Pinã Colada Cheesecake Bar
This recipe combines pinã colada and cheesecake to make a decadent dessert that's surprisingly relatively healthy. In my mind, that makes it the perfect option to end every summer night.
#SpoonTip: For extra coconut flavor, try grinding some coconut chips and mixing them into the crust.
19. Pinã Colada Coconut Shrimp Sauce
It's only natural that someone, especially the seafood chain restaurant giant Red Lobster, decided to pair coconut shrimp with a pinã colada sauce. Try using this recipe for a lighter version that tastes even better when you can enjoy it on the beach.
20. Pinã Colada Pound Cake
After you make this recipe, I promise that you'll never buy a store-bought pound cake again. Although it's great on its own, I would highly recommend cutting it up and using it in a trifle, like this one.
21. Pinã Colada Smoothie Bowl
I thought I would finish this round-up of virgin pinã colada recipes with my personal favorite way to indulge in the tropical flavors.
These smoothie bowls are everything you love about pinã coladas in both the smoothie base and the toppings. I promise that the missing rum will be the last thing on your mind.
Now that you have 21 virgin pinã colada recipes to try, I'm sure you'll have no problem waiting to try the real thing until you turn 21. From smoothies to cakes to chicken, the classic tropical flavor combination goes well with pretty much anything so you'll never get bored having it again and again.