This is the second beautiful and refreshing drink I’m sharing this week, just in case you need beverage inspiration for the upcoming 4th of July holiday – or anytime, for that matter.
The flavors of this drink are a combination made in heaven, if you ask me. Pineapple, coconut, and strawberry with a slushy, creamy undertone combine into a magically delicious, cold and wonderful drink. I made this drink a few months ago during a really warm spell in our unusually hot spring and my kids were crazy for it (don’t worry, my version is non-alcoholic!). I shooed them outside to slurp in wild abandon while I stayed in the kitchen and finished off all the pitchers…with wild abandon, too. Don’t judge me. I was about 11 months pregnant at that time.
Although it does require three components of readiness (and subsequently will require a bit of washing afterwards), it is well worth it. Mighty delicious, this lava flow drink!
Note: I have always found the cream of coconut in the mixed drinks aisle (the cream of coconut is non-alcoholic). Refrigerate each component after blending to keep them really cold before assembling the drinks but don't make too far ahead because the icy components in a few of the steps will melt.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups pineapple juice
- 2 cans (15-ounces each) cream of coconut (like Coco Lopez brand)
- 1 cup half-and-half, fat-free or regular
- 24 ounces frozen strawberries in syrup, slightly thawed until slushy in texture
- Ice
- Fresh pineapple for garnish, if desired
Directions
- In a blender, puree the slightly thawed strawberries with 1/2 cup water. The mixture should be syrupy and thick. Transfer to a liquid measure, bowl or pitcher and set aside. In a pitcher, whisk together the pineapple juice, cream of coconut and half-and-half. In a blender (washed from pureeing the strawberries), fill up halfway with ice. Pour in the coconut/pineapple mixture until it comes up to an even height with the ice. Blend until slushy (add more coconut/pineapple mixture if it is too thick to blend easily). Pour about an inch of the strawberry syrup mixture into a cup. Pour the icy coconut/pineapple mixture into the center of the strawberry mixture in the cup until the cup is filled. If desired, gently swirl the mixture with a straw. Garnish with fresh pineapple, if desired, and serve immediately.
This looks soooo yummy! We’ve been facing 100+ degree temps and this looks like the perfect solution
I could sure use this today! It’s 100+ here!
Oohh I want one of these right now! Looks amazing!
I did a little happy dance when I saw that cream of coconut was on the ingredient list. I can’t wait to try this!!
This looks great. I would love to see the BBQ make a menu, but it looks like the link it missing–or maybe I’m missing it?
Katie – sorry about that – the BBQ Make-a-Menu will be up tomorrow!
Ooh… this looks good! I just found your site and LOVE it… especially the “best recipe” section. I am guilty of looking up and comparing recipes forever, and I very frequently spring new recipes of things on my husband, to the point where he doesn’t ask anymore if it’s a new recipe: he just assumes it is.
I love your compilation, though – I’m definitely going to start cooking and baking my way through your lists to see if I can find some new favorites!
This may be a dumb question, but why can’t you just mix the pineapple/coconut concoction and the strawberry syrup all together in the blender?
Jill – you sure could but then you wouldn’t get the really cool layered, colored effect that makes it look like, well, lava!
This looks so good and sounds refreshing. I can use one now! Gotta give this a try this weekend.
Yay! This will make the perfect drink for a supper with the extended family on Canada Day this weekend. Glad I just got a Blendtec to help. Thanks Mel.
This looks and sounds amazing! I doubt I make it though because of the steps involved. I am sooooo lazy when it comes to drinks!!!! That’s why I love your orange julius so much! =) Oh, and your ’11 month of pregnancy’ comment made me laugh out loud. At 11:08 PM. Hope I didn’t just wake the kids up!
how cool, mel! this makes me want to throw a pool party, even though i have no pool and hate being a hostess!
Cool drink, love the name! Perfect summer fare
just needs some rum
I sipped on this to cool down while cooking your Steak and Veggie Kebabs on the grill, it was the perfect fruity concoction, LOVED IT!
Yum!! This looks amazing. Will have to try it ASAP.
My husband and I went to Hawaii six years ago and bought Lava drinks every day from this little shack by the road. This tasted just like those drinks we loved so much! Thanks for this recipe. We had them last night and it took us back to the tropics. I think this will become a new fourth of July tradition for us.
Made these yesterday when it was 101 outside. Delicious! Reminded us of our honeymoon in Hawaii where we first had lava flows in a restaurant we dined in.
For those wanting to add rum, I added 8 ounces of Malibu Coconut Rum and that was just right. Don’t be afraid of the steps in making this drink. It’s easier than it sounds and well worth the effort!
Thanks for the recipe, Mel! I have been looking for the right one since our trip and this is now it. Looking forward to making these again at a luau themed birthday party next month!
mmmmm…
Oh, my! This is delicious. My husband and I tried this Sunday night after a long, hot afternoon of working in the yard. Boy, did it hit the spot! We will definitely be making this again very soon. Thanks for sharing this recipe Mel!
Hi Mel,
Happy anniversary!!! I’m just wondering where you find the frozen strawberries in syrup? I can’t find them anywhere. Thanks!
Hi Kristen – I have found them anywhere from Walmart to my large grocery store. They are usually in plastic tubs not bags. Hope that helps!
You can never have too many cold drink recipes for the triple digit temps we have been having the past few weeks! Totally bookmarking this!
We made this again tonight for our family’s Valentines’ Day dinner (to go with heart shaped pizzas), and it was a hit as always. My toddler burst into tears when his was all gone. I didn’t have any frozen strawberries in syrup on hand, so I made some sugar syrup (1 cup water + 1/3 cup sugar, boiled for 3 minutes) and poured some (not all was needed) over some unsweetened frozen strawberries I did have. I didn’t need to add water to the strawberries as called for in the recipe, and it tasted the same to me. Sorry to post twice about the same recipe, but it really is that good!
Next time try throwing in a banana- it’s a delightful addition to the lava flow. We had these in Kuaui and Maui and then again in the Grand Caymans though they are called “Miami Vice” there.