Blue Hawaiian Recipe: Creamy Tropical Tiki Cocktail That Wows (64) 2026

The Blue Hawaiian is a tropical tiki cocktail famous for its striking turquoise color, a vivid hue that comes from blue curaçao blended with white rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream. It belongs to the tiki tradition, a style of bartending known for pairing rum with bright tropical flavors and eye-catching garnishes.

Blue curaçao is an orange liqueur similar to triple sec, named after the island it comes from, with its famous blue tint simply added for color. Its flavor blends sweet, citrusy and slightly bitter notes, while coconut cream brings a welcome touch of creaminess. If you prefer a lighter body you can swap in coconut milk, or use coconut liqueur for an even more intense turquoise.

Don't confuse it with the Blue Hawaii: the two look almost identical and have very similar names, but the Blue Hawaii uses vodka and lemon and skips the coconut, making it bluer. Traditionally the Blue Hawaiian is served in a hurricane glass, one of the icons of tiki cocktail culture thanks to its narrow middle and elegant curves, though a highball, collins or even a whiskey glass works perfectly well.

Ingredients for Blue Hawaiian

This recipe makes 1 cocktail.

• Ice
• 30 ml white rum
• 30 ml blue curaçao
• 60 ml pineapple juice
• 30 ml coconut cream (coconut milk or coconut liqueur)
• 1 pineapple leaf
• 1 piece of pineapple slice
• 1 cherry

How to Make Blue Hawaiian Step by Step

1. Chill the shaker with ice

Start by filling the shaker with plenty of ice and let it sit for a moment. This chills the shaker thoroughly so the cocktail stays cold and gets as little dilution as possible during preparation.

2. Add the liquids

Once the shaker is cold, discard the ice and pour in all the liquids. The standard Blue Hawaiian proportions are 30 ml white rum, 30 ml blue curaçao, 60 ml pineapple juice and 30 ml coconut cream, though you can easily adjust them to your taste.

3. Refill with ice

Fill the shaker with ice once more so the drink gets properly chilled while it is shaken.

4. Shake well

Close the shaker and shake it vigorously for about 15 seconds so the cocktail emulsifies nicely.

5. Fill the serving glass with ice

Next, fill the serving glass with fresh ice. Avoid reusing the ice from the shaker so the cocktail stays cold longer and doesn't dilute too quickly.

6. Strain the cocktail

Remove the shaker cap and strain the cocktail into the glass, leaving the shaker ice behind.

7. Top up with ice

Top the glass up with more ice if needed, since the cubes may have shifted and the volume dropped after pouring in the liquid.

8. Garnish and serve

Finally, garnish the glass with 1 pineapple leaf, 1 piece of pineapple slice and 1 cherry. Make a small incision at the base of the pineapple pieces so they slide easily onto the rim of the glass. Serve immediately.

Tips for the Best Blue Hawaiian

Choose your coconut cream wisely

Coconut cream gives this cocktail its creamy body, but coconut milk makes a lighter version and coconut liqueur delivers an even more intense turquoise. Pick whichever texture you enjoy most, keeping the same 30 ml measure.

Keep the ice fresh

Chill the shaker first, then use new ice in the serving glass rather than the ice from the shaker. This keeps the drink colder for longer and prevents it from turning watery too fast.

Don't mix it up with a Blue Hawaii

Despite the similar look and name, the Blue Hawaii uses vodka and lemon and leaves out the coconut, so it turns out bluer. Stick to rum, pineapple and coconut for a true Blue Hawaiian.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to rotation that covers cozy comfort plates, well-known dishes from around the world, and sweets that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, my picks are usually this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

Tapas and Mediterranean cooking are a mood I return to often, and I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, these crackly Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This chilled Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also makes the table when I feel like something a bit more elevated.

Come lunch or a slow dinner at home, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When hunger runs bigger, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, golden Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also work nicely as a light starter or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a jug of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or ending with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of trying, tweaking, and remaking dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the ones that stick around are built on straightforward steps, methods you can trust, and serious flavor.

What follows is the set of recipes I keep circling back to—whether it's a fast plate just for me or a bigger spread for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something that feels fancy without much fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and uncomplicated, I'll usually reach for the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for heavier comfort plates, my usual picks are the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm just as happy sharing dishes with roots in other countries, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's own Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I use all the time, since it cuts down on effort while still giving you excellent results. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a baked pasta classic can still be creamy, cheesy, and completely satisfying without any gluten.

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