Midweek Cocktails: Coconut

Remember when I told you I would come up with some tropical cocktails to use the leftover Coconut Simple Syrup from the Toasted Coconut Cake? I always keep my promises.

Granted, there's nothing new about these. They're both adapted from a variety of other recipes to fit my personal tastes. Because the truth is, I'm not much of a tropical cocktail person, generally speaking. I find them overly sweet and not nearly potent enough. So, if you're like me...then...you'll like these. I've tested both of these recipes (multiple times), and, you know, I'm good. Neither of them is too sweet. The lime cuts through the sweetness of the pineapple in the Piña Colada, and frankly, the Coconut Lime Rickey may be my new favorite summertime drink.

Here are all the recipes:

Coconut Simple Syrup *click here for printable version*

adapted from Throwdown's Toasted Coconut Cake by Bobby Flay

1-1/2 c. water

1 Tbls. + 1 c. granulated sugar

3/4 c. sweetened flaked coconut

1/2 tsp. coconut extract

Bring water and 1 Tbls. sugar to a boil. Stir in the coconut, remove from the heat and let sit for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours. Strain the liquid into a clean saucepan, add the 1 c. sugar and extract, bring to a boil and let cook until the mixture is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Let cool.

Piña Colada *click here for printable version*

Serves 4

1/2 pineapple, cut into small chunks

juice of 2 limes

4 oz. heavy cream

2 oz. coconut simple syrup

8 oz. coconut rum

Place all ingredients in blender, pulse until smooth. Pour over ice.

Coconut Lime Rickey *click here for printable version*

adapted from Atomic Cocktails

Serves 1

1-1/2 oz. coconut rum

1 oz. fresh lime juice

1 oz. coconut simple syrup

1 oz. half and half

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add all ingredients. Shake vigorously to blend and chill.

Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass (either straight up or over ice). Garnish with lime wedge, if desired.

A couple of things: a--both of these drinks would be tasty even without the rum. I made them for my kids and they loved them. And 2--if you like your tropical drinks frozen/slushy (I don't) and you have the kind of blender that will support that (again, not me) you can put all the Piña Colada ingredients and the ice together in the blender and...there you go.