Strawberry Colada Float Drink Recipe -Sweet, Creamy & Totally Sip-Worthy

Ingredients

50 ml Malibu Original

50 ml Coconut Milk

50 ml Pineapple juice

5 whole fresh strawberries

Juice of ½ lime

10 ml Strawberry Syrup

1 scoop Strawberry ice cream

Buttercream

Love heart sweets

Ice cubes

1 part Malibu Original

1 part Coconut Milk

1 part Pineapple juice

5 whole fresh strawberries

Juice of ½ lime

0.2 parts Strawberry Syrup

1 scoop Strawberry ice cream

Buttercream

Love heart sweets

Ice cubes

2 oz Malibu Original

2 oz Coconut Milk

2 oz Pineapple juice

5 whole fresh strawberries

Juice of ½ lime

0.4 oz Strawberry Syrup

1 scoop Strawberry ice cream

Buttercream

Love heart sweets

Ice cubes

Instructions

Add the strawberries and Malibu to a shaker and gently muddle before adding the remaining ingredients.
Pour in the coconut milk, pineapple juice, lime juice and strawberry syrup.
Add ice and shake well for 8-12 seconds.
Using a spoon, rim your glass with buttercream and decorate with love heart sweets.
Fill the glass with ice, strain in the cocktail, then top with a scoop of strawberry ice cream.
Garnish with a strawberry cut into a heart and serve.

Tools you’ll need

Shaker
You need this for mixing and chilling the ingredients with ice. If you don’t have one, don’t stress, we’re certain you have something in your kitchen cupboards that will work just as well. We suggest using a mason jar, or any jar with a lid that’s tight-fitting. As long as it doesn’t spill when you shake it.

Jigger or Measuring Tool
This is for measuring the exact amounts of ingredients. Here’s our tip, you can also use a shot glass or a tablespoon for the measurements.

Muddler
You’ll need this to gently crush the strawberries and release their juice. If you don’t have a muddler, no problem – the end of a wooden spoon or even a rolling pin will do the job. Just muddle lightly; you’re aiming for juicy, not pulpy.

Strainer
For straining your drink into the glass, ensuring a smooth texture by removing the ice. Don’t have a strainer? You can use a slotted spoon, a shaker lid or cover, or even a fine-mesh sieve or small kitchen strainer. Basically anything that you can hold over the shaker to keep the ice out of the drink while letting the liquid flow through it.

Bar Spoon or Teaspoon
You’ll need this for rimming the glass with buttercream and helping stick the love heart sweets in place. A regular teaspoon is absolutely fine.

Knife
For cutting your strawberry garnish into a heart shape. It doesn’t have to be perfect – it’s the thought (and the flavour) that counts.

Glass
Serve this in a coupe, stemmed glass or a tall glass – whatever you have to hand. The most important thing is that there’s room for plenty of ice and a generous scoop of strawberry ice cream on top.

OUR TIPS FOR MAKING THE STRAWBERRY COLADA AT HOME

1. Go easy when muddling

Gently muddle the strawberries just enough to release their juice. Over-muddling can make the drink cloudy and overly pulpy – less is more here.

2. Shake hard, then strain clean

Give the shaker a good, energetic shake to properly chill and blend the flavours. Straining well helps keep the texture smooth before you add the ice cream on top. We tried various shaking times for you and found that 8-12 seconds is the ideal amount to get that perfect texture. Be sure not to shake for too long to avoid ice dilution.

3. Add the ice cream last

Always pour the drink first, then gently place the scoop of strawberry ice cream on top. This keeps the float looking neat and gives you that creamy, dessert-style finish.

4. Chill your glass before serving

Pop your glass in the fridge or freezer for 10–15 minutes before making the drink. A properly chilled glass helps keep the cocktail colder for longer, slows the ice cream from melting too quickly, and gives you that crisp, frosty finish that feels extra special.

Close up of pink Strawberry Colada Float

The Flirtiest Float in Town

The Strawberry Colada Float is a dreamy, dessert-style twist on the classic Piña Colada – the iconic tropical cocktail that originated in Puerto Rico in the 1950s. Made with Malibu, coconut milk, pineapple juice and fresh strawberries, this pink drink keeps the sunshine flavours of the original while adding a fruity, romantic spin. Topped with a scoop of strawberry ice cream that slowly melts into the glass, it becomes part cocktail, part ice cream drink — perfect for Valentine’s, Galentine’s and any celebration that calls for something sweet and a little extra. This creamy Strawberry Colada Float (recipe by @chinchin_mobilecocktailbar) brings tropical indulgence and playful charm together in one irresistible serve.