If You Like Piña Coladas...

Photograph by: Brian Maker

and getting caught in the rain.

Isn't this song perfect for the summer ? I know it's old school, but it's still so sexy.

While my honey doesn't especially like taking walks in the rain, we have gotten into midnight swimming. It's such a great time to talk and unwind and have a little alone time with each other.

Obviously I was inspired to write up some Piña Colada recipes. Some old, some new. Try the ones you like and enjoy. So if you're taking a walk in the rain or enjoying a midnight swim, think of me. I'll be doing the same. :)

Let's start out with some Piña Colada Cupcakes. Rum, pineapple tidbits and coconut milk baked right into these luscious little cakes. And then, to top it off, a "Rummy" frosting, toasted coconut and pineapple slice and maraschino cherry. Very tasty.

Pina Colada Cupcakes
[This recipe comes from Miss Mermaid at
mermaid sweets, wonderful baker]

(Makes 24)

2 ½ cups cake flour or AP flour (what I used)
1-teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1½ sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
5 large eggs, room temperature
3/4-cup coconut milk
1/4-cup rum
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-teaspoon coconut extract
1/3 cup crushed pineapple, drained well

Combine coconut milk and rum.
Sift together flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
Cream butter and sugar in mixing bowl on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 4 to 6 minutes.
Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Scrape as needed.
Add vanilla, coconut extract and mix until incorporated.
Add one-third of the flour mixture and mix until incorporated.
Add a third of the coconut/rum mixture and mix until incorporated. Continue to alternate with flour and liquid two more times. Scrape sides of bowl.
With a rubber spatula, gently fold in the crushed pineapple.
Fill each one about 2/3 full. Bake until cake springs back when lightly pressed or skewer comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

Rummy Buttercream Frosting
(double the recipe to pipe frosting like in photos)

½ cup butter, softened to room temp
2-2 ½ cup confectioner’s sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons rum
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
coconut milk as needed

Beat butter, sugar, and rum together with a handheld mixer at low speed until moistened, then beat at high speed to cream. Stop after a minute to scrape bowl and add vanilla. Beat till thick, fluffy and creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Add small increments of confectioners’ sugar if too wet, dribble in a little coconut milk if too dry.
[This frosting recipe is ultra delicious. You really must try it.]

We move onto a Piña Colada Cake

Piña Colada Cake
[This recipe comes from How Stuff Works]
Ingredients:

1 package (18-1/4 ounces) white cake mix, plus ingredients to prepare mix

½ cup cold whipping cream
¼ cup dark rum
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
¾ teaspoon vanilla

2 cups cold whipping cream
¾ cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cut in half lengthwise and cored
2 cups sweetened shredded coconut, toasted

Preparation:
Prepare cake mix and bake according to package directions using 2 (9-inch) round cake pans. Cool in pans on wire racks 15 minutes. Remove cakes from pans; cool completely.

For rum filling, combine all ingredients in small bowl until well blended. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until ready to use.

For whipped topping, place 2 cups whipping cream in large bowl; beat 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; beat 20 seconds or until stiff peaks form. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until ready to use.

Place pineapple cut side down on cutting board; slice very thinly. Place slices on paper towels; pat dry.

Place 1 cake layer on serving plate. Spread half of rum filling evenly over cake. Spread 1 cup whipped topping evenly over cake. Sprinkle with 1 cup coconut; top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining rum filling evenly over cake. Spread remaining whipped topping evenly over top and side of cake; sprinkle top with remaining coconut.

Press pineapple slices around side of cake vertically, overlapping slightly. Reserve any remaining pineapple slices for another use. Refrigerate cake until ready to serve.
[This cake is very delicious. It's whipped cream frosting is temptingly cool with just the right flavors of the added pineapple slices. NOTE: Be sure and store in your refrigerator or it wil melt.]

The next two recipes are linked to other Piña Colada posts I've done in the past. This list of recipes will cerainly give you a variety to chose from.
This first one is Coconut-Pineapple Pudding. It's creamy, cool and tastes just like a piña colada - but in the form of pudding.

Here is Piña Colada Cheesecake. A tasty but elegant dessert for a summer night get-togethers.

And last but certainly not least, is your Piña Colada drink. You've got your alcoholic and non- alcoholic recipes...anything to keep the kiddos happy.
Piña Colada

3 ounces light rum
3 tablespoons coconut milk
5 tablespoons crushed pineapple
2 cups ice

Blend at high speed until smooth. Strain into a glass and serve with a straw. Top with a pineapple wedge and a cherry.

Piña Colada Smoothie

1 eight-ounce can crushed pineapple, chilled
1 medium banana, cut up
¾ cups skim milk
½ cup orange juice
2 tablespoons bottled or canned piña colada mix, chilled
ice cubes

In a blender, combine the undrained pineapple, banana, milk, orange juice, and piña colada mix. Cover and blend until nearly smooth. Serve over ice. Makes 2 servings.
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So...
If you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain...


(lyrics)

I was tired of my lady, we'd been together too long.Like a worn-out recording, of a favorite song. So while she lay there sleeping, I read the paper in bed. And in the personals column, there was this letter I read:

"If you like Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain. If you're not into yoga, if you have half-a-brain. If you like making love at midnight, in the dunes of the cape. I'm the lady you've looked for, write to me, and escape."

I didn't think about my lady, I know that sounds kind of mean. But me and my old lady, had fallen into the same old dull routine. So I wrote to the paper, took out a personal ad. And though I'm nobody's poet, I thought it wasn't half-bad.

"Yes, I like Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain. I'm not much into health food, I am into champagne. I've got to meet you by tomorrow noon, and cut through all this red tape. At a bar called O'Malley's, where we'll plan our escape."

So I waited with high hopes, then she walked in the place. I knew her smile in an instant, I knew the curve of her face. It was my own lovely lady, and she said, "Oh, it's you." And we laughed for a moment, and I said, "I never knew"

.."That you liked Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain. And the feel of the ocean, and the taste of champagne. If you like making love at midnight, in the dunes of the cape. You're the love that I've looked for, come with me, and escape."

"If you like Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain. If you're not into yoga, if you have half-a-brain. If you like making love at midnight, in the dunes of the cape. You're the love that I've looked for, come with me, and escape."

Enjoy!