Best Virgin Pina Colada Recipe

This simple yet extraordinary 3-ingredient piña colada mocktail captures all the tropical magic of the classic cocktail without any of the alcohol. This sweet drink delivers all the distinctive richness and silky texture that make traditional frozen piña coladas so indulgent, ensuring nobody misses the rum!

After lots of iterations and taste tests, this recipe has perfected the ratio of cream of coconut to pineapple, creating that authentic piña colada flavor that rivals any beachside resort’s signature drink. And after 15+ years of experimenting with home bartending, this creamy and refreshing blend has become one of my kiddo’s most requested mocktail recipes. And I don’t mind at all because it’s packed with actual pineapple and 100% pineapple juice!

Whether you’re hosting a summer gathering, looking for fun a kid-friendly drink option, or simply want a moment of tropical escape, this mocktail is the perfect choice! All you need is 3 simple ingredients, a blender, and a few minutes and you’ll have this tropical treat ready to sip on.

If you love this virgin pina colada mocktail recipe, you need to try these mai tai mocktail, mojito mocktail, and pink grapefruit mocktail recipes too!

You will love this Non-Alcoholic Pina Colada

A tropical paradise in a glass. This drink makes you feel like you’re enjoying time somewhere warm and sunny.

Quick and easy to make! This wonderfully creamy drink is ready in just a few minutes! Measure, blend, and enjoy!

Great for all ages. This virgin pina colada recipe is great for kids and adults alike! Because it’s alcohol free, this pina colada mocktail can be served to a wider audience.

Only 3 ingredients needed! This easy mocktail only needs 3 simple ingredients to make.  

Using frozen pineapple means no watering down with ice! Frozen pineapple is super convenient to store and since it’s so cold you don’t need to add ice to your drink. This results in a drink with strong, tropical, pineapple flavor.

Easy to make for one or in bulk for a party! This recipe can be made for a solo-night in or scaled and blended up for a larger get together! This is a great option for pool parties, girls night, sleepovers, and more.

Pina Colada Mocktail Ingredients

• Frozen Pineapple. Using frozen pineapple chunks keeps your virgin pina colada nice and cold without needing to water it down with ice cubes. Plus, you don’t have to worry about having fresh produce on hand when you want to make this fun and fruity non-alcoholic drink.
• 100% Pineapple Juice. This shelf-stable juice amps up the tropical flavor, and adds nutrition to your pina colada mocktail (did you know pineapple juice is rich in vitamins B6 and vitamin C, is a good source of antioxidants, and has anti-inflammatory properties too?).
• Cream of Coconut. Cream of coconut is coconut cream that’s been sweetened and processed so it has a thick, syrupy texture. This mixture is primarily used for drink making, and is what gives this tropical mocktail its classic flavor.
• Optional garnish: Maraschino cherries, a pineapple wedge or pineapple slice, or a cocktail umbrella! You could also make a coconut rim by coating the rim of your glass with the cream of coconut and gently rolling the coated edge in coconut flakes. 

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

The Difference Between Cream of Coconut and Coconut Cream

I learned this the hard way, but Cream of Coconut and Coconut Cream are NOT the same (despite what the similar name may lead you to think). In a nutshell, Cream of Coconut is sweet and has a syrup-like texture. Coconut cream is not sweet and is very thick.

Cream of coconut is what you want to mix drinks. It is a pre-made mixture of coconut cream that’s been sweetened and processed so it has a thick, syrupy texture. You can find this in squeeze-bottles or cans, often by drink-mixes (for us, this is by the liquor department). I personally like to use Coco Real’s Cream of Coconut for mixing drinks.

Coconut cream is a type of thick cream made from coconut milk that is very common in Southeast Asian cooking. Coconut cream has a distinct coconut flavor and is used in a wide variety of recipes like soups, sauces, smoothies, and desserts. It is also often used in vegan, dairy-free, and keto dishes. You will generally find coconut cream in a can in your grocery store’s ethnic food aisle.

To get that wonderfully creamy coconut flavor in your virgin drink, be sure to grab cream of coconut (NOT coconut cream).

Pina Colada Non-Alcoholic Variations

• Add lime juice. Some pina colada recipes have lime juice. If you’d like to add this to your virgin pina colada recipe, add ½ – 1 ounce to start and adjust to your liking.
• Add a non-alcoholic rum alternative (or rum extract). If you love zero-proof alcohol alternative, feel free to add 1-2oz into your blended pina colada mocktail! If you are doing this, reduce the amount of pineapple juice by the same amount to ensure you have the perfect frozen pina colada texture. You could also simply toss in 1 teaspoon of rum extract!
• Make it into a cocktail. If you’d prefer a cocktail, add 1-2 ounces of white rum. Like with the zero-proof rum option, reduce the amount of pineapple juice by the same amount to ensure you have the perfect frozen pina colada texture.
• Use coconut water instead of pineapple juice. If adding juice to your cocktail isn’t singing to you, coconut water is a great option too! Replace the pineapple juice 1-to-1 with coconut water.

Possible Dietary Restrictions?

This frozen pina colada mocktail recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free, and vegan as written. A great frozen mocktail option for many diets!

How to make a Pina Colada Mocktail

Note: the process shots shown below show a double batch (2x the recipe amount) to better illustrate what your mocktail will look like.

Step 1: Add frozen pineapple to the basin of a blender.

Step 2: Add cream of coconut.

Step 3: Add 100% pineapple juice.

Step 4: Place lid on the blender and blend until smooth.  If needed, use a rubber scrapper to remove any fruit that may have gotten stuck on the blades while blending.

Adjusting the Consistency

Everyone has a different preference when it comes to drink thickness and texture. Luckily, this is something you can alter easily to make it the perfect texture for you!

• To thin out your pina colada mocktail – add more pineapple juice. I recommend doing this in 1 ounce increments until you get to your desired consistency.
• To thicken your frozen pina colada mocktail – add more frozen pineapple. I recommend doing this in small amounts (¼ cup increments) until your perfect texture is achieved.

Note: adding more ingredients to thin or thicken your smoothie will alter the flavor. Take a sip and adjust as needed to create your perfect mocktail experience!

Recipe FAQs

Can I use fresh fruit instead of frozen fruit?

Absolutely! You can cut up and freeze fresh pineapple for use in this recipe (do this by placing cut up pineapple on a baking sheet and freezing overnight). Or if you can’t wait to freeze your fresh pineapple, add some ice to your recipe to ensure your virgin pina colada is nice and cold.

What’s the difference between coconut cream and cream of coconut?

Cream of Coconut and Coconut Cream are NOT the same (despite what the similar name may lead you to think). In a nutshell, Cream of Coconut is sweet and has a syruplike texture. Coconut cream is not sweet and is very thick. For mixing drinks, like a Pina Colada, you want to use cream of coconut. For cooking and baking things like soups, sauces, and desserts, coconut cream should be used.

What does piña colada mocktail taste like?

A pina colada mocktail is a delicious tropical drink that tastes like pineapple and coconut. This frozen version is blended up to have a consistency similar to a smoothie.

Is a piña colada Mexican?

This famous tropical drink was invented in San Juan, Puerto Rico! The pina colada’s creation is credited to bartender Ramón “Monchito” Marrero from the Caribe Hilton Hotel in 1954.

Can I turn this mocktail into a real piña colada?

Of course! Add 1-2 ounces of white rum per serving. If choosing to do this, reduce the amount of pineapple juice by the same amount.