Pineapple Coconut Margarita

This Pineapple Coconut Margarita is the perfect tropical drink for when you can't decide between a margarita and a pina colada! It uses the classic margarita building blocks of tequila, lime and Triple Sec, but adds cream of coconut syrup and tangy pineapple juice for a delicious twist. It's such a tasty summertime drink!

Sometimes this drink is called a Margarita Pina Colada, a Pina Colada Margarita, or a Coconut Pineapple Margarita. Pineapple and coconut are always a delicious tropical flavor pairing, and the tangy lime of the margarita goes perfectly too. I love drinking this one outside on the patio!

If you're looking for more summer drinks, check out the Painkiller cocktail, an absolutely delicious rum based classic cocktail with pineapple, coconut and orange juice. Or, try out a Pineapple Whiskey Smash for a great whiskey-based option!

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you'll need to have on hand?

• Tequila - the main liquor in this drink is blanco tequila, which is unaged tequila (also called silver tequila). This will give a really fresh agave flavor to the cocktail. I used Yave brand blanco tequila.
• Triple sec - this sweet orange liqueur is a staple in any margarita. You can also use Cointreau liqueur.
• Pineapple juice - canned pineapple juice works great. Fresh juice is even better if you can get your hands on it!
• Cream of coconut - this is not the same as coconut cream or coconut milk. Cream of coconut is a sweetened syrup with coconut solids in it, whereas the cream and milk are made from unsweetened coconut. My favorite brand is Coco Real cream of coconut.
• Lime juice - preferably fresh lime juice!
• Dried shredded coconut - this is optional, to add to the rim of the glass as a garnish. It gives a great extra coconut flavor, and you can even make toasted coconut for some deeper color and flavor.
• Pineapple fronds - these are optional garnishes, taken from the top of a fresh pineapple.

Substitutions

Here are some ways you can substitute the ingredients in this cocktail:

• Tequila - if you don't have tequila, try using vodka or white rum.
• Triple Sec - if you don't have triple sec liqueur, you can use Orange Curacao liqueur or Grand Marnier liqueur. These will give the finished drink a little bit of an orange or brown color.
• Cream of coconut - you can make this drink with unsweetened coconut cream or even coconut milk. For the cream, use about a tablespoon, plus add in a half ounce of simple syrup. For the milk, use about a half ounce plus a half ounce of simple syrup or agave nectar.
• Pineapple juice - not much will substitute for pineapple juice, but orange juice will work in a pinch.

Variations

Here are some variations on this recipe:

• Strawberry version - add in some fresh strawberries to the cocktail shaker and muddle them to make a delicious strawberry version. You could do this with any other berry too!
• Non-alcoholic version - if you're avoiding alcohol, try using a tequila substitute, like Lyre's Agave Blanco. Or, you could always use seltzer or soda in place of the tequila. For the triple sec, try either an orange syrup, or Lyre's Orange Sec.
• Fresh Pineapple Puree: If you're a fan of fresh fruit, blend some chunks of fresh pineapple to create a vibrant and slightly chunky puree. This adds an extra layer of texture and some natural sweetness.
• Frozen Pineapple Coconut Margarita - the frozen version of this drink is just as delicious! Add everything to a blender along with about a cup of ice, and blend it all together.

Equipment

Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Stone bakeware takes longer to heat up than metal pans, and also retain heat for longer, which could make the recipe more watery, or burnt on the outsides.

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Instructions

Start out by prepping the rim of your serving glass, if you're planning to use the dried coconut rim.

If you want to add some extra flavor and color, toast the coconut first. Spread it onto a small baking dish, and toast it either in a toaster oven or under the broiler of an oven. Make sure to keep an eye on it, as it'll toast quickly!

Then, add it to a small dish, and add some cream of coconut to another small dish. Dip the rim of the glass into the cream of coconut until it is coated.

Then, dip the rim of the glass into the coconut, so that it coats all of the spots where there is cream of coconut.

Set the glass aside and then start making the drink. Add your lime juice to a cocktail shaker.

Then, add in the cream of coconut and triple sec liqueur.

Next, add in the tequila and pineapple juice.

Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously, about 15 to 20 times. You'll want to shake it pretty hard so that all of the cream of coconut gets mixed in instead of sticking to the bottom of the shaker.

Then, fill your serving glass with fresh ice.

Strain your drink into the serving glass. Finally, add in the pineapple fronds, and serve. Cheers!

Hint: if you want to make an easy garnish but don't have pineapple fronds, just take a slice of your fresh lime, or a lime wedge. Make a notch and add it to the rim of your glass.

Frequently Asked Questions

Top tip

The cream of coconut is a pretty thick syrup consistency. So, it'll tend to sink to the bottom of your cocktail shaker. Make sure to shake it up really well! If your shaker is part glass like mine, you can check to make sure that there is no layer of white at the bottom before straining it.