Pina Colada Cupcakes Recipe
This Pina Colada Cupcakes recipe combines soft coconut-infused cupcakes with a sweet pineapple-rum filling and creamy tropical buttercream frosting. Inspired by the classic piña colada cocktail, this dessert brings bright island flavors into a fun, handheld treat. Featured on Flour Power and created by host Jessica McGovern, this cupcake recipe is perfect for summer parties, celebrations, and tropical-themed gatherings.
Light, fluffy, and bursting with coconut and pineapple flavor, these cupcakes deliver a refreshing dessert experience that feels both playful and indulgent.
The Inspiration
The piña colada is a world-famous tropical drink known for its blend of pineapple, coconut, and creamy sweetness. This cupcake version transforms those iconic flavors into a baked dessert that captures the feeling of a beach vacation in every bite.
On Flour Power, Jessica McGovern often creates recipes that reimagine familiar flavors in creative and approachable ways. These cupcakes follow that style perfectly by combining simple baking techniques with bold tropical ingredients that are easy to find and even easier to love.
The coconut milk in the batter creates a moist, tender crumb, while shredded coconut adds texture and aroma. The pineapple filling brings a bright, tangy sweetness balanced by a hint of white rum for depth. Finished with a soft pink coconut-pineapple buttercream and toasted coconut flakes, these cupcakes are visually charming and full of tropical personality.
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (120 ml) sugar
- ½ cup (120 ml) brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla
- 2 cups (470 ml) flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons (7.5 ml) baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) coconut flakes
- 1 cup (240 ml) coconut milk
Filling
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) sugar
- 1 can (19 ounce/538 ml) crushed pineapple, drained (juice reserved)
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) white rum
Icing
- ½ cup (120 ml) butter
- 4 cups (1 L) icing sugar
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) pineapple juice (reserved from can)
- 2 drops red food colouring (plus more if needed)
- Toasted coconut flakes, to garnish
Method
- Let’s get baking!
- Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C).
- Cream butter with sugar and brown sugar in a bowl.
- Add eggs and beat in.
- Add vanilla and mix in.
- In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and coconut flakes.
- Pour flour mixture into butter mixture, beating.
- Add coconut milk and incorporate.
- Fill cupcake liners ¾ full of cupcake batter.
- Bake 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
To make the filling
- Melt sugar in a saucepan.
- Add pineapple.
- Simmer until reduced.
- Take off heat and stir in rum.
To make icing
- Cream butter in a bowl.
- Add icing sugar a bit at a time until fully incorporated.
- Add coconut milk and pineapple juice and stir in.
- To get a light pink icing colour, add red food colouring to buttercream and mix through.
To assemble
- Use a small knife or small round cookie cutter to cut out the centre of cupcakes – making sure not to cut all the way to the bottom.
- Use a spoon to fill holes with pineapple filling.
- Top with icing and toasted coconut flakes.
- Share.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these cupcakes chilled or at room temperature alongside tropical drinks such as fruit punch, lemonade, iced tea, or mock piña coladas for a coordinated theme. They also pair beautifully with fresh fruit platters featuring mango, pineapple, kiwi, and berries to enhance the tropical flavor profile.
For entertaining, display the cupcakes on a tiered dessert stand decorated with fresh flowers or palm leaves for a vibrant island-inspired presentation. Because they are individually portioned, they are ideal for buffet tables, picnics, and grab-and-go dessert stations.
Final Thoughts
This Pina Colada Cupcakes recipe is a bright and joyful celebration of tropical flavors, combining coconut, pineapple, and creamy frosting into a soft, fluffy cupcake that feels like a mini vacation in every bite. Each layer delivers balance, sweetness, and texture, making it a perfect dessert for both casual gatherings and special occasions.
Featured on Flour Power and created by host Jessica McGovern, this recipe showcases how simple ingredients can be transformed into fun, creative desserts that bring people together.
Whether you’re baking for a celebration or simply craving something tropical and uplifting, these cupcakes deliver freshness, flavor, and happiness in every bite.