Do You Like (Virgin) Pina Coladas?

I can hear that song playing in my head! 🎶🎶

Every time I have a Pina Colada beautiful memories fill my mind. Pina Colada’s are my favorite drink and it was my mom’s as well. Years ago mom and I took a trip to St. Thomas to visit my cousin, who was going to school there for a year. We enjoyed the tropical paradise for 10 days and went to the beaches that only the locals knew about. None of us like the touristy stuff.

I remember having our Virgin Pina Coladas and enjoying that beautiful island. Every time I have one I am instantly transported back to those warm sunny days of sand, parrot fish, gorgeous sunsets, and the smell of hibiscus flowers in the air.

I don’t drink so there isn’t alcohol in any of my drinks.

Many pina colada recipes call for cream of coconut, which is a sweetened version of coconut cream. This version doesn’t use refined sugar and uses the rich coconut cream found on the top of a can of unsweetened coconut milk.

A simple syrup made with powdered monk fruit provides the perfect touch of sweetness to balance out the other flavors. You can use fresh, frozen, or canned pineapple for this recipe. For the best flavor, I recommend using fresh pineapple that has been cut into chunks and frozen prior to blending.

Once your Simple Syrup is made the rest is very quick to make and you will be enjoying it right away.

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Yields: 2 drinks

Sugar-Free Simple Syrup:

¼ c. powdered monk fruit sweetener ½ c. water

Ingredients: 2 c. frozen pineapple chunks (see the note above) 12 oz. pineapple juice 1/3 c. coconut cream 6-8 ice cubes Garnish: Fresh pineapple slices

Directions:

1. Prepare the simple syrup by combining the powdered monk fruit sweetener and water in a small skillet. Stir to combine and heat until the sweetener dissolves completely, approximately 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
   

2. Place the frozen pineapple, pineapple juice, coconut cream, and one-quarter cup of simple syrup into a blender and blend until smooth.
   

3. While the blender is still running, add the ice a little at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
   

4. Turn the blender off and remove the lid. Taste and add additional simple syrup, if desired, and blend for another 30 seconds to combine.
   

5. To serve, pour into glasses and serve immediately garnished with fresh pineapple slices.

I hope that you enjoy this recipe and that it brings the tropics to your house.

Now, I am going to go whip this up, grab sun tan lotion, sit in the sun, play ocean wave sounds on my phone, and sip this wonderful drink while trying to forget that I am in Illinois.😎