Piña Colada Cake

5 from 11 votes
10 Comments

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This Piña Colada Cake is bursting with coconut and pineapple. The topping on this cake is simple, yet so delicious. It is the perfect summer dessert!

Three slices of Pina Colada Cake in a row. Fresh pineapple, cherries and toasted coconut on the side.

Piña Colada Cake

I love poke cakes because they are so simple, yet taste like they are much more involved. They are always so moist and usually taste even better the next day. I like serving them when they have chilled for several hours and they are nice and cold all the way through. This cake pan is perfect for baking and freezing in.

Top view of three slices of Pina Colada Cake. Garnished with cherries, sliced pineapple and toasted coconut.


This cake has all of the delicious flavors of the classic Piña Colada cocktail – pineapple and coconut. These tropical flavors are abundant in every bite of this luscious cake. It is the perfect dessert on hot summer nights, or when you want to serve something cold and refreshing.

Slice of Pina Colada Cake on a plate. Fresh pineapple, cherries, toasted coconut and pineapple slices on the side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What flavor is Piña Colada?

Piña Colada is Spanish for strained pineapple. A Piña Colada is a cocktail made with pineapple juice (strained pineapple), coconut milk, and rum. To give this cake an extra Piña Colada flavor, add a teaspoon of rum extract to the cake mix. Yum!

Where can I find Cream of Coconut?

You can usually find cream of coconut (or coconut cream) at your local grocery store. It is typically found in the “mixed drinks” section near the alcoholic beverages. It is usually with the flavored syrups and mix-ins. The brand that we use most is “Coco Lopez” but we have seen other brands. Most of the time it comes in a can, but we have also seen cream of coconut in squeeze bottles.

Are there additional toppings I can add to this cake?

If you want to add a little more color for presentation, you can add a maraschino cherry to the top of each slice of cake when serving. You can also toast some coconut and sprinkle it over the top.

Does Piña Colada Cake have to be refrigerated?

Yes! Keep this cake in the fridge until ready to serve, and refrigerate any leftovers.

Can I freeze this cake?

This cake does not freeze well once prepared. The Cool Whip in the topping has already been frozen once, and the crushed pineapple will not come back to the same consistency after freezing. If making the cake ahead is needed to save time, the cake mix can be baked according to package directions in a cake pan and then frozen. Allow the cake to cool completely, then cover it with a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil. Thaw the cake for a few hours before adding the filling and the topping.

Top view of Pina Colada Cake with garnishes on the side.

More Delicious Summertime Desserts

  • Fresh Strawberry Cake: Strawberries and Cream Cake is a great summer dessert, loaded with fresh strawberries in both the cake and frosting! Perfect for a family get together.
  • Hawaiian Guava Cake: Guava cake is a tasty, traditional Hawaiian dessert. It is a guava flavored cake with a whipped cream cheese layer and guava gel glaze. Easy and delicious!
  • Coconut Cream Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting: This Coconut Cream Cake is a coconut lovers dream! It is a coconut infused cake, with a rich and creamy coconut cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with even more toasted coconut. You will be in coconut heaven with every bite.
  • Raspberry Lemon Cake: This is another Jell-O poke cake bursting with flavor. Lemon and raspberry are so refreshing together, and this cake is no exception.

How To Make Piña Colada Cake

Three slices of Pina Colada Cake side by side. Garnished with cherries, pineapple and toasted coconut.

Piña Colada Cake

5 from 11 votes
This Piña Colada Cake is bursting with coconut and pineapple. The topping on this cake is to die for! It is the perfect summer dessert!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Hawaiian
Servings 12

Video

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 vanilla cake mix prepared according to box directions
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk 1 can
  • 10 ounces cream of coconut (see notes above)

For the Topping:

  • 15 ounces crushed pineapple 1 can
  • 8 ounces Cool Whip or Whipped Cream
  • 1 cup coconut shredded, sweetened

Instructions

  • Prepare cake mix according to box directions for 9×13 glass baking dish.
    Cool whip, cake mix, sweetened condensed milk, can of crushed pineapple, can of cream of coconut, coconut, pineapple and cherries to make Pina Colada Cake.
  • Allow cake to cool about 10 minutes, then poke cake with the back of a wooden spoon so there are holes evenly poked over the cake.
    Cake in a 9x13 pan with holes poked throughout to make Pina Colada Cake.
  • Combine sweetened condensed milk and cream of coconut until well mixed. 
    Cream of Coconut and sweetened condensed milk combined in a mixing bowl. Whisk on the side.
  • Pour mixture evenly over the top of the cake, trying to get the mixture in all the holes. 
    Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (tastes best if refrigerated overnight). 
    Remove cake from refrigerator. 
    Cake poked with holes in a 9x13 pan with coconut mixture on top.
  • Drain crushed pineapple and spread evenly over the top of the cake. 
    Crushed pineapple spread on top of a 9x13 cake.
  • Combine Cool Whip (or whipped cream) with shredded coconut and spread evenly over the top of the pineapple.
    Pina Colada Cake in a 9x13 pan with a Cool Whip and coconut frosting.
  • Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. 
    Three slices of Pina Colada Cake side by side. Garnished with cherries, pineapple and toasted coconut.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 343kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 5gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 356mgPotassium: 238mgFiber: 2gSugar: 45gVitamin A: 139IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 215mgIron: 1mg

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About the author

Erica Walker

Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. Beyond the world of recipes, she loves adventuring with everything from kayaking, to cruising, to snowboarding and taking the family along for the thrill ride.

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5 from 11 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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Comments

      1. Oh my goodness! I just realized I had somehow clicked the 2X button not knowing I did. So I was reading a double recipe thinking it was a regular recipe. Thanks for answering me in my silliness!

  1. 5 stars
    This looks ah-mazing! I love how light and easy this cake is! I can see myself putting some maraschino cherries on top and serving it at a festive holiday cake.