Here I go again turning a drink into a cake. This one brings back memories from almost 30 years ago. It is the drink, a Pina Colada, that reminds me of the time right after I got married. We went on our honeymoon to Panama City Beach. It was hot and we were cooling down with that frozen, creamy, tropical beverage. Oh those drinks were so good! Who knew many years later I would be baking a Pina Colada Bundt Cake. I certainly never thought of it back then.
We returned from our honeymoon to our little apartment. We were the first of our friends to be married and on our own. So you can imagine our place became the hangout. Keep in mind I was 18 and my husband was 19. Our friends were the same age and back then the legal drinking age was 18. I made pina coladas like crazy. I cleaned out the store of pineapple juice and cream of coconut almost every week. I can’t believe I didn’t wear out my blender. It’s still going strong today.
Tropical is the theme for March #BundtAMonth. When it was first announced, I wasn’t sure what to bake. It took me a few days until I thought about pineapple and coconut. All the memories started flooding in and I knew it had to be a pina colada bundt cake. I searched for recipes and so many of them used a boxed cake mix. I decided to adapt the recipe I used for the Citrus Cocktail Mini Bundt Cakes. The result is exactly what I wanted. A moist, dense cake with pineapple and coconut flavors. The flavors are more subtle than strong. The cake is topped off with a pineapple-flavored glaze and coconut flakes are sprinkled on top.
Ready for a taste trip to the tropics? Take a look at these recipes by the #BundtAMonth bakers:
- Bananas Foster Bundt by Anita from Hungry Couple
- Blue Hawaiian Bundt Cake by Tara from Noshing With The Nolands
- Chocolate Bundt With Coconut Cream Cheese Filling by Karen from In The Kitchen With KP
- Caramelized Mango Tropical Bundt Cake by Paula from Vintage Kitchen
- Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake by Kim from Cravings Of A Lunatic
- Coconut and Rum Tea Cake by Anuradha from Baker Street
- Coconut Banana Bundt Cake with Rum Glaze by Lora from Cake Duchess
- Coconut Bundt Cake by Holly from A Baker’s House
- Coconut Lime Bundt Cake by Kate from Food Babbles
- Hummingbird Bundt Cake by Heather from Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks
- Hummingbird Bundt Cake by Jennie from The Messy Baker Blog
- Lime Glazed Bundt Cake by Carrie from Poet In The Pantry
- Mini Pineapple Bundt Cakes with White Chocolate Ganache by Alice from Hip Foodie Mom
- Pina Colada Bundt Cake by Renee from Magnolia Days
- Pineapple Bundt with Kuih Tat Filling by Stacy from Food Lust People Love
- Strawberry and Banana Bundt Cake by Veronica from My Catholic Kitchen
- Vanilla Orange Bundt Cake with a Hint of Coconut by Laura from The Spiced Life
- White Chocolate Guava Cake by Kim from Ninja Baking
Here’s how you can be a part of Bundt-a-Month:
- Simple rule: Use any tropical fruit – and bake us a Bundt for March
- Post it before March 31, 2013
- Use the #BundtaMonth hashtag in your title. (For ex: title could read – #BundtaMonth: Papaya Bundt)
- Add your entry to the Linky tool below
- Link back to our announcement posts
Even more bundt fun! Follow Bundt-a-Month on Facebook where we feature all our gorgeous bundt cakes. Or head over to our Pinterest board for inspiration and choose from over 400 Bundt cake recipes.
Happy Baking!

Pina Colada Bundt Cake
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks, at room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 6 eggs large, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons rum
- 3/4 cup low-fat pineapple yogurt at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
- 1/2 cup crushed pineapple drained and juice reserved for glaze
- Sweetened coconut flakes for garnish
For the glaze:
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Reserved pineapple juice and/or milk
Instructions
For the cake:
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 12-cup bundt cake pan.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
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In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar using an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the coconut milk and rum. Beat until combined. Add the flour mixture in three additions, alternatively with the yogurt in two additions, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not over mix. Stir in the vanilla, coconut extract, and crushed pineapple.
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Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour.
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Cool cake in the pan for 10 minutes. Invert cake on to a cooling rack and cool completely. Place a sheet of parchment paper under the cooling rack. Pour the glaze over the cake. Garnish with coconut flakes if desired.
For the glaze:
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In a small bowl, add the confectioners sugar, melted butter, vanilla, and 3 tablespoons pineapple juice and/or milk. Stir to combine. Add more pineapple juice or milk to desired consistency (should be pour-able but not too thin).
Recipe Notes
A recipe for a pina colada bundt cake. Pineapple and coconut flavors give a tropical flair to a cake baked in a bundt pan.
The Ninja Baker says
Wow! Shots of your Pina Colada Bundt seem to come straight out of Saveur magazine, Renee. And your creation looks mighty tasty =)
P.s. Very much appreciate your sharing your honeymoon story and the start of a longtime marriage.
Renee says
Thank you so much Kim! You made my day with your kind compliment of my photography.
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen says
A good piña colada is such a wonderful drink. Your bundt is so gorgeous Renee! And I love that you have so many different molds. You remind me of my mother who was married at 19, you were so young! A long-lasting marriage, I don´t have time for that in this lifetime…jaja! And Panama City as a honeymoon destination is so interesting.
Renee says
Thanks Paula! My bundt pan collection seems to keep growing too. We went to Panama City because of being young, it was inexpensive, and the place to go at the time.
Heather @girlichef says
Oh boy, does this sound amazing! I can’t believe your blender is still going strong. And I do like a good piña colada. (And getting caught in the rain…)
Renee says
It will be a sad day when my blender breaks. It’s been a real workhorse for all these years.
Dorothy at ShockinglyDelicious says
Your cake is stunningly beautiful! Great story, too!
Renee says
Thanks Dorothy!
Anita at Hungry Couple says
Wow, you were so young when you got married. 🙂 It must have been a blast, hanging with all your friends, your new hubs and the blender humming with pina coladas. Your cake looks and sounds magnificent!
Renee says
Yes, we certainly were young. We are fortunate to have a wonderful and loving marriage after all these years.
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
This sounds like a fantastic cake and you decorated it so nice. I’m happy that I discovered your blog.
Renee says
Thank you Karen and I’m very happy you discovered my blog too.
COOLINARNA STREFA says
Wonderful recipe! I have to bake this cake. 🙂
Renee says
Thanks and I hope you enjoy the cake when you bake it.
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
Renee,
I already told you this but your bundt is absolutely gorgeous. Just perfect! Wow, have you been married for 30 years?! if so, I think that is so wonderful! and I love that you are turning drinks into cakes! hey, why not?! Love it!
Renee says
My 30 year wedding anniversary will be in June, only a few months away.
Tara says
This is gorgeous Renee and a perfect combination of flavors!! I love Pina Coladas!!
Renee says
Thanks Tara! You have no idea how much this cake made me crave one of those drinks too. It’s been a long time since I’ve had one.
Jennie @themessybakerblog says
I can have my drink and eat it too! Yum! I love this cake. It’s beautiful, and pina coladas are one of my favorite cocktails.
Renee says
Thanks Jennie & Cheers!
Hezzi-D says
I like how you used the pineapple yogurt to give more pineapple flavor to the cake. I love pina coladas and this sounds delish!
Renee says
I thought the pineapple yogurt would give it an extra bit of flavor. You can use plain if you can’t find pineapple.
Holly says
Beautiful cake! And a wonderful story of the start of a life together, thanks for sharing your happy memories through this cake.
Renee says
Thanks Holly! I had a big smile writing the post. It brought back so many wonderful memories.
Carrie @ poet in the pantry says
Coconut and pineapple are always a great flavor pairing! (And pina coladas are darn tasty, too!) Lovely addition to the group this month!
Renee says
Thanks Carrie!
Lora @cakeduchess says
I loved reading about you as a newlywed making pina colada’s:)) Your cake is gorgeous, Renee. The pineapples must’ve made this cake incredibly moist. Perfect for our Tropical Theme!
Renee says
It is a very moist cake. It’s dense too like a pound cake. One piece goes a long way.
Stacy says
Piña coladas were also my honeymoon drink of choice (not quite as long ago as yours but close!) so your cake, and story, bring back happy memories. How beautiful it is, with the dripping glaze and flaked coconut!
Renee says
How interesting that pina coladas were your honeymoon drink of choice too. I’m glad it could bring back great memories for you.
Rosie @ Blueberry Kitchen says
Oh yum I love the idea of a Pina Colada cake, this looks delicious!
Renee says
Thanks Rosie
Kate | Food Babbles says
I am a HUGE fan of pina coladas so this bundt cake is definitely calling my name! Love the pineapple and coconut together. YUM! Definitely making this one. Great job Renee!
Renee says
Thank you Kate!
Octavia says
I love turning drinks into a cake. This way it pairs really well.
Renee says
Yes, it pairs well with the drink or if you prefer, coffee or tea.
a farmer in the dell says
I love everything about this recipe! Hand me a beach towel, my favorite sunglasses, and a slice of this cake!
Laura says
I love cakes based on mixed drinks. Well done.
Renee says
Thanks Laura!
Katherine G says
This looks so delicious!!!
Renee says
Thank you Katherine
Jen @ Jen's Favorite Cookies says
Pina colada cake sounds amazing! So tropical and summery! This is going on my to-do list.
Renee says
Thanks Jen!