Winter Sunshine Coconut Rum Cocktail
A sunny winter rum cocktail to brighten up the winter blahs! Made with Malibu Rum, Coconut Milk and Orange Juice. A refreshing twist on a Piña Colada.
Updated from 2017 to include more information and tips
Do you ever wish you could just make your own sunshine? Like on those drab dreary days and weeks during the winter?
With this delicious and lively coconut rum cocktail recipe, you will feel like you are being transported straight to a tropical beach!
I am not sure how you feel about winter but for me living in Canada and being a non-skier I can do without it. Don’t get me wrong I like a white Christmas like everyone else but then I fully expect the snow to melt the very next morning! Scram!
I was driving home the other day … it was freezing outside but the sun had the most magnificent warm orange glow over the horizon. For just a brief second I imagined that I was driving in the summer heat on my way home to get my bikini ready and bask in the sun for the afternoon.
Well, that dream ended about the second I opened my car door and got blasted with freezing temps… cold enough to make a polar bear feel right at home. I would much rather be slurping a tropical beachside drink like this Skinny Strawberry Mojito.
People never really talk about Winter Cocktails but I think they should. Hell for those of us living in cold climates a little cocktail to warm us up is just what we need! That and to help us through cabin fever!
So I got to thinking about the warm-looking but totally misleading sunshine I was blessed with today and turn it into this “Winter Cocktail” aptly named Winter Sunshine.
This coconut rum cocktail recipe is just as misleading as it sounds… It looks all snowy and cold but is brought to life with summer flavours of coconut and orange juice. Kinda how I felt misled by that sunshine in my car that promised warmth.
This sunny Malibu rum drink is a little bit like a traditional Piña Colada. A little lighter because it uses coconut milk instead of the heavy coconut cream and with orange juice which let’s face it is much easier to find!
The Winter Sunshine Rum Cocktail is a sinch to make. Easily double or triple the recipe to share with friends.
All you need is a good blender that can crush ice well and in my opinion a fancy glass to make you feel like you are somewhere else away from the cold…. even if it is only while you enjoy this divine cocktail.
Maybe just sit in the sun in front of the window and pretend. What do they say to visualize what you want and it will manifest? Ha!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Coconut milk – look for the canned kind versus the milk substitute you find in the dairy section. Canned coconut milk has a higher fat content which you will find as a thick layer when you open up the can. Just mix it up with a spoon and then measure. This type of coconut milk has much more flavour and is creamier.
- Orange juice – pulp-free orange juice is best.
- Coconut rum – give this cocktail a tasty tropical flavour
- Shredded coconut – this is totally optional and is used to rim the glass making the cup look like it has just freshly snowed on the edges of this rum cocktail recipe.
What is Malibu Rum?
Malibu rum is a coconut liquor made with Caribbean rum which has a smooth sweet finish and goes great in many tropical flavoured cocktails. It is made in Barbados and is a staple in piña coladas and daiquiris.
How To Make A Winter Sunshine Cocktail
Place about 1/2 a cup of shredded coconut flakes on a plate or shallow dish. Rim the edge of a martini or wide-rimmed cocktail glass with a slice of orange or water.
Then dip the glass rim side down into the coconut flakes to rim the glass. You may need to gently roll the edges in the coconut.
Add 1 cup of ice then 1 oz of Coconut Rum, 2 oz of coconut milk and 1 oz of orange juice to a blender. Blend on high until the liquid is creamy and there are no large ice chunks. Should be the consistency of a smoothie.
Pour into coconut rimmed glass and serve immediately.
What if you don’t have Coconut Rum?
If you don’t have coconut rum or malibu liquor on hand you can easily replace this ingredient with any white rum. The cocktail may have a little less coconut flavour but will still be delicious.
Can you make This cocktail ahead of time?
I wouldn’t recommend doing so. Because this is a frozen cocktail the ice will melt and the drink will lose its creamy texture.
As well, this drink will separate over time with the coconut milk rising to the top. If this happens before you are finished with your cocktail simply use a cocktail mixer or straw to remix in the glass. This does take quite some time to happen but just in case.
if you Like this Recipe You May Also Enjoy…
Winter Sunshine Rum Cocktail
Equipment
- Blender
- Measuring Cups
- Martini Glasses
Ingredients
- 8 ice cubes
- 3 oz canned coconut milk
- 2 oz pulp-free orange juice
- 2 oz Malibu or Coconut Rum
- Coconut Flakes
Instructions
- Rim the edge of a martini glass with orange juice and coat rim with coconut flakes
- In a blender combine ice, orange juice, rum and coconut milk.
- Blend until a slushy texture.
- Pour blended drink into a prepared martini glass and serve immediately
Nutrition
Notes
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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For the step-by-step version of this recipe, check out the How To Make A Winter Sunshine Cocktail Story.
This cocktail sounds yummy, I will try it. However, I think I’ll try to to shake it rather than blend the drink with ice. I think that will make it less watery. I’ll let you know how it turns out. Email: mborkowski1123@gmail.com. Thanks for sharing.
I would love to hear how that works out for you Maria.
Fairly flat tasting, I will not be making this again
I am sorry this cocktail isn’t for you.
It looks wonderful, but I’ve tried every way I can think of and it’s just not very good. I tried it frozen with coconut rum and with Malibu and it tasted watered down. I tried it on the rocks and the OJ overpowers the coconut. It needs to be a little thicker and a little sweeter. I used unsweetened coconut milk, but maybe sweetened vanilla coconut milk would be better. Or go all the way to cream of coconut.
Hi Becky, regular coconut milk from a carton does not work and will result in a watered down drink. Canned coconut(see ingredient list) is what you need to use. It is much thicker and can be found in the International Section of most grocery stores.
I used canned coconut milk and got the same watered down flavour. Second attempt I used less orange juice but it still dominates in flavour
Hi Rose, This cocktail is one of the most popular and loved recipes on my blog so perhaps this recipe just isn’t for you. Everyone likes something different in a cocktail and we never know until we try but I am going to keep the recipe as it is. I love it and so do many others. Thanks so much for your feedback and I hope you try some of my other cocktails.
I totally agree. Disappointed. I’m going to try it with pineapple juice when I go to grocery store
The nastiest drink I have tried from Pinterest. No flavor at all! It’s pretty though
Hi Krystal, I am so sorry you didn’t like it. This recipe has been very popular and is my most popular cocktail recipe. Do you mind me asking what type of coconut milk you used? Was it canned coconut milk or from a carton?
That’s really refreshing! I didn’t have orange juice but had cranberry juice cocktail and it turned out great. I did add a splash of diet 7-up for a little sweetness and a bit more sparkle, and even without coconut rum (just regular Bacardi), it was just coconut-y enough.
I made my own sunshine! Ha! Everything that I love is in this drink. It was so delicious. I’m such a sucker for anything with coconut, so I couldn’t pass it up. Thank you!
I am definitely with you! After Christmas, the snow can just go away. Living in Newfoundland it tends to linger until April. So I’m going to need this winter sunshine cocktail for the next 6 months at least! Love the photos too. They really give off a sunshiny yet cozy winter vibe!
Thanks so much Leanne!
What a lovely cocktail – looks perfect for any season 🙂 I am non-drinker, do you think rum can be subbed with something non-alcoholic?
You can certainly make this into a mocktail. Add a little extra orange juice or some club soda and it will be just as delicious!
This was soooooo good!
I’m not a drinker, but if I was; I ‘d want this! 🙂 Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
In Texas we can sit out on the porch this time of year to enjoy this cocktail! Don’t envy you in Canada! Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing at The Blogger’s Pit Stop! Roseann from http://www.thisautoimmunelife.com
I love to try all the recipes for the winter drinks and cocktails but I can’t enjoy them myself as I am allergic to oranges and lemons. Do you think, I can change them with the lemon grass as it is also sour?!
To be really honest I am not a huge fan of lemon grass so don’t use it much to say if it will work but maybe cherry juice would work. Plus cherry juice is excellent for arthritis and inflammation. Runners drink it a lot and in the end it cherry juice is delicious.
This is a really cute cocktail! I was a bartender for 5 years, this recipe looks tasty. Coconut in the winter+cranking the heat on for me= pretending it’s summer time and warm!!!
I’m in central NY and it’s been freezing here! I know exactly where you’re coming from when you say the sunshine is a liar! This looks like the perfect antidote to the cold though, coconut and citrus always bring me back to summer
I’m with you…I could do without the cold!! It’s been in the 20’s here all week and I absolutely hate it. This looks delicious and super simple! Will have to try it out
Love the sound of this drink. Tropical ingredients to make your forget you car door is frozen shut. Ahhh Canadian winters. 🙂 Happy new year!