The pineapple cooler is a creamy, boozy beverage is perfect for a hot summer day and loaded with pineapple flavor (and rum, of course)! Try a tequila sunrise or salty dog cocktail next.
Guys, it’s summer. I know that the calendar says it’s not until Thursday the 21st, but Massachusetts has never been one to… oh, I don’t know, pay attention in the least to where seasons actually fall.
It was 85° yesterday, and today it’s going to be the same, and if it started snowing tomorrow, there’s no part of me that would be surprised at this point.
Speaking of yesterday’s weather, I ran around like a bunny in it! Okay, maybe not so much like a bunny because I had a path I had to follow and some semblance of direction in life.
It was the Spectacle Island 5K which is a beautiful Boston Harbor Island and it’s becoming an annual tradition for Bill and I to participate. Last year I just photographed him because it was his first race ever (!), and this year I ran with him.
He’s faster than I am, so finished well before me and grabbed a few shots when I was crossing the finish line:
What I’ve learned, is that evidently I am a descendant of hover cat and my feet never actually touch the ground. So why do my feet hurt so much?!
My uterus has been a real moody jackass for the last week, so the fact that I was able to run this at all was a small miracle for me. AND I finished 58 seconds shy of my personal best.
I have no idea how that is possible, because if you look at a picture of Spectacle Island, you’ll notice that it’s a bunch of hills. And I hate hills. And my uterus also hates hills.
So to honor my completion of the race and the unofficial start of summer here in the Bay State, today’s recipe is bright and sunshine-y – much like my lemon poppyseed dressing recipe (which p.s.: you guys have fallen in love with it and it makes my heart sing).
These pineapple coolers are also full of booze, which is important for a good summer cocktail. Say what you will about alcohol and dehydration in summer heat, but… well, okay, yeah, that’s a real thing.
So don’t go nuts and chug six of these, but sip and enjoy while you sit on your porch, basking in the sun. Like a lizard. If lizards drank booze.
There’s no rule that says you have to garnish this with anything. Not a damn thing, if you don’t want to. But I’m all about adding fruit to my drinks because 1) that gives it more color and makes me feel fancy, and 2) it’s food, and I like food.
You know those crazyass milkshakes that they “garnish” them with something like a strip of bacon, a donut, and an entire ice cream sandwich?
That’s using the term garnish extremely loosely. So I don’t (usually) go that crazy with it, but I do love me some maraschino cherries. I’d eat an entire container of those in one sitting if I didn’t need them for recipes it were socially acceptable.
You can even add a straw if you want to be fancy schmancy. Or if you just like to drink out of straws.
Either way.
A few tips:
- Try a piece of the pineapple before you blend it to see how sweet it is. That’ll give you a good idea of how much sweetener, if any, you’ll want to add during the blending process.
- Speaking of pineapple, save a chunk or two if you want to use them as garnish (like, for real garnish, not ridiculous milkshake garnish). I promptly forgot when I was shooting this recipe and I will regret it until the day I die.
- Use a good blender (aff link). I probably should have started with this one. Our blender (aff link) is… not great, so we end up with a thicker and more toothsome drink when we make it. I’m actually totally good with that because I enjoy it that way, but if you have the Vitamix blender of my dreams you can get it smooth and creamy.
Aside from advising you to make these immediately, I really don’t have much else to say about them.
So… just… go do that, okay?
Pineapple not your thing?
Well then why are you here?! Just kidding – thanks for sticking around. But if pineapple’s not your favorite, here are some other options for your summer indulgence:
- A Strawberry Rhubarb Sangria that’s prettier than most beautiful humans
- This festive Red White and Blue Moscato Sangria
- Or one of the other drinks I have on here! Tequila Sunrise, Salty Dog, Watermelon Margaritas, Blood Orange Sangria, Raspberry Rosé Sangria and French 75 Cocktail are all winners!
After you’ve made this recipe, please consider coming back to share your experience with others by leaving a comment below with a star rating!
Pineapple Coolers
Ingredients
- 1 pineapple, sliced into chunks (about 4 cups)
- 1 ½ to 2 cups ice cubes
- ½ cup coconut milk
- ⅓ cup rum
- Simple syrup or honey, optional
- Maraschino cherries, pineapple chunks, lime slices (for garnish)
Instructions
- Blend pineapple chunks, ice, coconut milk and rum in a blender or food processor until combied and smooth.
- Taste test and if you'd like it sweeter, and add honey or simple syrup a little at a time, blending again to combine.
- Pour into glasses and garnish with cherries, pineapple chunks, and/or lime slices and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Kathy
If using canned pineapple do you drain it?
Leslie Kiszka
Yes, you’d want to drain it – otherwise, you’ll have too much liquid. However, you could also *not* drain it and offset the extra liquid by reducing the amount of coconut milk you use. Hope you like it!
Heather
You had me at pineapple and RUM!! This looks so refreshing!! This would be my summertime life saver down here in Florida .. love the recipe and coconut milk too? Yes Please!! PS.. Laughed out loud at ‘uterus being a moody jackass’ … (been there, done that,got rid of that!) .. :)
Saima
I love pineapple drinks in the summer! And paired with coconut milk, I can just imagine the flavour explosion. Thanks for posting this lovely recipe. Perfect for the season!
Jessica Knott (swanky recipes)
Omgosh, this is always a refreshing drink to make during the summer. Last summer I made these all the time only I used sweetened condensed milk and more pineapple juice, yum!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme
This looks amazing!! I am going to make a non-alcoholic version for my bbq next weekend!!
Anne Murphy
The flavors of pineapple and rum were made for each other! That sounds lovely. (And your description of the race was delightfully amusing! Keep running like a bunny – but with direction!)
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
The weather here in Toronto has been all over the place. I guy burned so bad 2 weeks ago, but now it is dreary and rainy :( This looks perfect for our hot days :)
Anne Lawton
Yum! This is perfect for sipping by the pool this summer. Thanks for sharing.
lauren
HILLS ARE THE WORST. WHY ARE THERE HILLS? The BAA 5k is the best race in the world because there is literally one measly little hill running the Charlesgate underpass. Every race should be like that. ANYWAYS…I hope you had like 5 of these because they sounds amazing!
Renee Gardner
This is gorgeous! As much as I want to go to the beach this summer, this cocktail in my newly overhauled backyard will have to do it. I could drink these all summer long.
aditi bahl
Its summer time here and i so loved your recipe. Coconut milk and honey, liked the idea and its also very healthy.
Kat Jeter
OMG, this is the perfect summer drink! I’m a rum girl so I can’t wait to give this a try!
Gloria
This reminds me of my honeymoon in Hawaii (many, many ) years ago. I LOVE fresh pineapple…and luckily I do have a Vitamix blender. This looks like the perfect party drink for backyard parties this summer.