Easy Pina Coladas

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This recipe for Easy Pina Coladas includes coconut extract instead of coconut milk to save on calories. It’s not the traditional recipe for this tropical cocktail, but you’ll be able to drink more of them without the guilt!

July 10th is National Piña Colada Day! You must celebrate by making a piña colada or ordering one at your favorite drinking establishment. A traditional piña colada is a cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut (or coconut milk) and pineapple juice. It’s served either shaken with ice or blended. The recipe I’m sharing today is for a lower fat version of easy piña coladas. You might like to try it if you’re watching your calories!

Share the piña colada love on social media today using the hashtags #NationalPinaColadaDay, #PinaColadaDay and #RecipesForHolidays.

Be sure to follow my July Food Holidays page so you never miss a food holiday in the month of July!

“If you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain… then you’ve probably had too many piña coladas!”

(seen on a t-shirt)

The History of Piña Coladas:

The piña colada cocktail originated in Puerto Rico. The story of the original creator is somewhat disputed, but there are several stories.

The earliest story is that a 19th century Puerto Rican pirate named Roberto Cofresi gave his crew a cocktail to boost morale. That cocktail contained coconut, pineapple and white rum. When he dies in 1825, the recipe was lost.

A recipe for a piña colada appeared in The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock in 1930. It contained white rum, coconut milk and crushed pineapple blended with ice.

The Caribe Hilton Hotel claims that bartender Ramón “Monchito” Marrero created the piña colada in 1954 while he was working at the hotel.

Barrachina, a restaurant in Puerto Rico, claims that their bartender Don Ramon Portas Mingot created the piña colada in 1963.

In any case, Puerto Rico named the piña colada their official drink in 1978.

Ingredients needed:

• fat free or regular sweetened condensed milk
• orange/pineapple/apple juice concentrate (frozen)
• frozen diced pineapple
• white rum
• coconut extract
• fresh pineapple wedges for garnish

How to make Easy Piña Coladas:

The complete, printable recipe is at the end of this post.

Combine half of each ingredient (except pineapple wedges) in a blender; process until smooth. Pour into a pitcher. Repeat the procedure with the remaining ingredients.

Divide the mixture between four glasses. Garnish with pineapple wedges. Serve immediately.

Make this popular tropical cocktail on a hot summer day or for a party. Everyone loves an icy beverage. Enjoy!

Fun Facts about Piña Coladas:

• The name “piña colada” literally means “strained pineapple.”
• Musician Rupert Holmes had a 1979 hit, “Escape: The Piña Colada Song” that became popular around the world.
• There are several variations of the piña colada. An Iguana Colada is made with Midori. A Miami Vice is half strawberry daquiri and half piña colada. The Jackolada calls for using half Jack Daniels and half white rum. The Blue Hawaiian has blue curacao added to it.
• In 2010, a cement mixer made 310 liters of piña colada, creating the world’s largest.
• One traditional piña colada has about 650 calories. My version has 292 calories!