Easy Colada Recipe | A Healthier, Bubblier Take on a Classic Piña Colada

This Easy Colada recipe is something I originally created for Rochelle over at AdventuresFromElle.com. Rochelle writes from a Caribbean experience and is currently in Jamaica as a medical doctor. Her site is chock-full of tips for exploring and Jamaica “like a local on a budget”. You can also follow her adventures on Instagram.

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When I asked Rochelle what flavor direction she was wanting to go in for my guest post on her blog, she said a Jamaican cocktail with Caribbean flavors, like rum and coconut. Yep. I’m down for a drink like that.

With summer in full-force here in Texas, tropical drink ideas were swirling around in my head. I debated about creating something uber creative and original but instead decided to take *the* most popular tropical cocktail and make it a little easier and a little healthier.

Most people have had a Piña Colada. It’s probably the most well-known tiki cocktail out there, and for good reason. Pineapple and coconut are two flavors that were meant to be together. I remember making virgin Piña Coladas as a kid with my parents. They were a rare treat that I treasured. Come to think of it, maybe that’s where my love of cocktails truly began… 🧐 

Traditional Piña Coladas utilize coconut cream and while it’s delicious, Coco Lopez (the favorite choice for coconut cream) has 130 calories per 1 ounce. Eesh. I’m not usually a calorie-counter but when I was thinking of ways to transform this classic recipe, I knew this was the part that I could easily jazz up.

Enter sparkling coconut water. It’s got a light coconut flavor and is easy on the sugar and calories. In fact, 1 ounce only has about 7 calories. That’s a huge difference! OH, and did I mention it’s bubbly? I’m sure you got that from the “sparkling” part, but I just wanna highlight that. I think it’s my favorite trait of this Easy Colada recipe. If you want more nutritional info, you can check the notes portion of the recipe box at the bottom of the post.

It’s important to note here that I’m talking about coconut water that has been carbonated, not coconut-flavored sparkling water. While this would still probably taste good, it won’t be the same as if you use real coconut water. I can’t seem to find the plain sparkling coconut water online (I got mine at HEB, my local grocery store), but here’s an option that is flavored with pineapple and passionfruit. Sounds even more tropical!

To sweeten the drink, I used Demerara syrup. The first time I made this Easy Colada recipe, I used a makeshift Demerara syrup that I had made with 1/2 brown sugar and 1/2 white sugar. It was good, but I felt that this recipe called for the real deal. Demerara syrup is dark and it turned the once bright yellow elixir into a deep goldenrod. Just look at how gorgeous it is!

I hope this drink helps you take a quick getaway to the tropics while we’re all stuck at home during the pandemic. Cheers!

Ingredients for an Easy Colada

• 1 1/2 oz white rum
• 3/4 oz pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz Demerara syrup (click here for easy the recipe or to see what to use as a substitute)
• 1+ oz sparkling coconut water

How to Make an Easy Colada

Add the rum, pineapple juice, and Demerara syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, about 20-30 seconds. Pour into a glass filled with ice. Top off the rest of the glass with sparkling coconut water.

Love tropical drinks? Try the Campari To-Kill-Ya or a classic Daiquiri!