This Pineapple Coconut Margarita is a tropical twist on the classic cocktail. It combines sweet and tangy pineapple juice, creamy coconut milk, and zesty lime juice with tequila for a drink that will transport you straight to a beach vacation!
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Margarita
A pina colada alternative - If you like the combination of coconut and pineapple but you prefer tequila over rum, this is the drink for you! It has all the same flavors as a pina colada but with tequila!
Creamy and flavorful - Canned coconut milk makes the drink super creamy while pineapple juice adds sweetness and flavor.
Easy to make - This cocktail doesn't require any special homemade syrups which makes it super easy to make! If you don't want to make simple syrup, you can use agave syrup instead.
Ingredients
- Tequila - Blanco or reposado tequila can be used in this drink based on your preference and what you have on hand.
- Coconut liqueur - Malibu is the most popular one but there are lots of others on the market that you can use.
- Coconut milk - Use canned coconut milk, not the one from a carton. You can also use coconut cream to make the drink extra creamy.
- Pineapple juice - Choose a quality 100% pineapple juice, preferably not from a concentrate.
- Lime juice - Freshly squeezed lime juice is preferred.
- Simple syrup - You can make your own simple syrup by simmering together equal parts of sugar and water. Try this Strawberry Margarita, it uses homemade strawberry syrup!
Variations and Substitutions
Cointreau - If you don't have or don't want to use coconut rum so that you don't mix different types of alcohol together, you can use Cointreau or Triple Sec instead. It's an orange liqueur that's used in a regular margarita we all know and love.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- To prep your glass, brush the rim of the glass with agave syrup and set aside.
- On a small plate mix together the sea salt and lime zest. Dip the rim of the glass in the mixture to coat. Fill the glass with ice and set aside.
- Add tequila, coconut liqueur, freshly squeezed lime juice, pineapple juice, and coconut cream or coconut milk to a cocktail shaker. If you don't have a cocktail shaker, you can use a mason jar instead.
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Coconut milk pro tip: In order to make sure the coconut cream or coconut milk blends properly with the rest of the ingredients, I like using a handheld milk frother to mix the drink before adding ice and shaking it.
Some coconut milks tend to have a more grainy texture than others which makes them harder to mix with other liquids. If your coconut cream or milk is super smooth, this step is optional and not necessary.
- Add a handful of ice to the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for a few seconds.
- Strain into your prepared glass and garnish with a wedge of pineapple and a slice of lime. You can also add a pineapple leaf or two. They should be easy to just pull out of the pineapple. Make sure to wash them properly before adding them to the drink.
FAQs
A margarita is made with tequila and Cointreau, pina colada is made with white rum and coconut rum. I added coconut rum to this margarita to enhance the coconut flavor but you can use classic Cointreau.
You'll get the best flavor and creaminess with canned coconut milk or coconut cream. I don't recommend using coconut milk from a carton or light coconut milk.
More Flavored Fruity Margarita Recipes
A Classic Margarita is one of my all-time favorite cocktails and it's one of the easiest drinks you can make at home. There are so many different flavors you add too so I'll always be adding new variations to the website! Below are three of my summer favorites. Check out the Cocktails category to see all the latest ones!
📖 Recipe
Pineapple Coconut Margarita
This Pineapple Coconut Margarita is a tropical twist on the classic cocktail. It combines pineapple juice, coconut milk, and zesty lime juice for a drink that will transport you straight to a beach vacation!
- Total Time10 minutes
- Yield1 1x
- DietVegan
Ingredients
Glass prep
- 1 tsp agave syrup
- 1 tbsp fine sea salt
- Zest of ½ lime
- Ice
Pineapple Coconut Margarita
- 1 ½ oz tequila (blanco or reposado)
- ½ oz coconut liqueur (I used coconut rum) or Cointreau
- 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- ¼-½ oz agave syrup (or simple syrup)
- 1 oz canned coconut milk (or ½ oz coconut cream)
- Ice
- Garnish: pineapple wedge, lime slice, pineapple leaf (optional)
Instructions
- To prep your glass, brush the rim of the glass with agave syrup and set aside. On a small plate mix together the sea salt and lime zest. Dip the glass in the mixture to coat. Fill the glass with ice and set aside.
- Into a cocktail shaker add tequila, coconut rum, lime juice, pineapple juice, agave syrup, and coconut milk. If your coconut milk is too thick, you can use a handheld milk frother to mix it into the drink before adding ice.
- Add a handful of ice and shake vigorously for a few seconds.
- Strain into your prepared glass and garnish with a wedge of pineapple and a slice of lime. Enjoy!
Notes
I recommend using canned coconut milk over boxed because it has more flavor and makes the drink much more creamy than boxed coconut milk would.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
V says
John Cooper says
Sounds delicious! Let you know when I try it! Thanks for sharing!
Amy says
Has anyone made this with non alcoholic tequila like @Almalve or @Lyres?