Key Lime Colada

Whipping up a batch of Key lime coladas either means I’ve been listening to the “put the lime in the coconut” song too much or I’m ready for an afternoon poolside—or both. Adding lime juice to a classic pina colada may not seem like a huge deal, but from the moment I took my first sip of this drinkable Key lime pie, I wouldn’t want it any other way. The creamy richness of coconut, the bright tartness of Key lime, and the tropical sweetness of pineapple all come together like a tropical dream in the blender. Top it all off with crushed graham crackers, and I’ll catch you at the pool.

Key Lime Pina Colada Ingredients

• Cream of coconut: Cream of coconut is the key to this rum cocktail. I use Coco Lopez, which is thick, sweet and coconut-forward in a way that canned coconut milk just isn’t. It’s the same stuff you’d use in a pina colada, and here it plays perfectly against the tartness of the Key lime. The contents may separate in the can, but you can just warm it up to and you’ll be good to go.
• Key lime juice: Fresh-squeezed Key lime juice is ideal if you can find Key limes (they’re smaller and more floral than Persian limes), but the bottled stuff from Nellie & Joe’s is a reliable stand-in that’s widely available. The tartness here is what makes the drink sing, so don’t be shy with it.
• Rum: A light or white rum works well here. It blends into the background and lets the coconut and lime do the talking. If you want a touch more spicy complexity, a dark rum can totally be swapped in, but it does steal some of the spotlight from the fruit flavors.
• Pineapple juice: We include just enough pineapple juice to keep this recipe grounded in pina colada territory. Pineapple and Key lime are a natural pair, and the juice adds tropical sweetness that rounds out the coconut.
• Graham crackers: Crush the graham crackers finely, then swipe the rim of the glass with lime and press it into the crumbs. This is not optional if you’re going for the Key lime pie experience. The subtle sweetness and crunch against the cold, creamy cocktail is everything.
• Lime wheel: A thin slice of lime perched on the rim looks great and gives guests an opportunity for an extra squeeze of citrus if they want it.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the glass

Dip the rim of a cocktail glass in lime juice or moisten it with a lime wedge.

Crush the graham crackers into fine crumbs and spread them on a small plate. Dip the rim into the crumbs.

Step 2: Blend the cocktail

Add the cream of coconut, Key lime juice, pineapple juice and rum to the blender with 8 to 10 ice cubes. Puree the ingredients until they’re smooth.

Editor’s Tip: Start with about a cup of ice and blend until it’s completely smooth. If the texture is too thin, add more ice and blend again. If it’s too thick to pour, add a splash of pineapple juice to loosen it up.

Step 3: Pour and garnish the cocktail

Carefully pour the blended cocktail into the prepped glass. Garnish it with a lime wheel on the rim, and serve it immediately.

Key Lime Pina Colada Variations

• Swap cachaça for the rum: Brazil’s national spirit is made from fresh sugarcane juice, and brings a grassy, slightly earthy note that plays beautifully with the coconut and lime. It’s worth trying if you have a bottle.
• Use frozen pineapple: Replace the pineapple juice with frozen pineapple chunks to add more body and an extra-thick, frosty texture. This also keeps things nice and cold without watering down the flavor.
• Float dark rum on top: Once the cocktail is poured, add a slow float of dark rum over the back of a spoon. It creates a beautiful layered look and adds a deeper, more caramel warmth to the first few sips.

Key Lime Pina Colada Tips

What’s the best glass for a frozen cocktail?

A hurricane glass or a tall pint glass is ideal for a frozen cocktail. You want a cocktail glass with enough volume to hold the whole blended cocktail without overflow, and it should have an opening that’s wide enough to show off that graham cracker rim. Stemless wine glasses work beautifully for parties, and are a lot harder to knock over.

Can you make Key lime coladas ahead of time?

Frozen cocktails are best made fresh, but you can combine the cream of coconut, rum, lime and pineapple mixture in advance. Refrigerate the mixture, then blend up the Key lime coladas to order.

What can you serve with Key lime pina coladas?

This drink is all-in on tropical vibes, so lean into it. Fish tacos, shrimp skewers, ceviche and anything with a citrus marinade are all natural partners here.