Lava Flow Hawaiian Tropical Drink

Written by
John Fischer
John Fischer is a freelance travel writer and photographer who specializes in Hawaii and the South Pacific.
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John Fischer
Updated 10/27/20
Lava flow cocktail

The Spruce

 
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Mixing Time: 1 mins
Total: 6 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
458 Calories
10g Fat
71g Carbs
2g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 458
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 9g 44%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 26mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 71g 26%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 56g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 70mg 348%
Calcium 27mg 2%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 588mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This colorful Hawaiian drink emulates the lava flow of real-life volcanos, although much sweeter, more refreshing, and more flavorful. The lava flow is made with light rum and uses fruit to create two distinct layers of color and flavor that flow and combine together thanks to the difference in their density. Festive and beautiful, it is usually garnished with fresh fruit.

Although frozen cocktails like the lava flow are arguably not considered true tiki drinks, it's undeniable that more often than not, fruity and slushy concoctions appear on such menus. But what can be more tiki than a tropical drink that originated on an island and is flavored with local fruit? Purists will argue, but our decadent recipe will put the discussion to a sweet end. Rum based, fruit-forward, iced, and beautiful to look at, our lava flow is as festive as it gets.

Our recipe for this cocktail is easy and quick, and the only tool you'll need is a blender. For a mocktail version for kids, pregnant women, and people who can't drink alcohol, simply skip the rum and offer a fun and delicious drink minus the booze.

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce light rum

  • 1 ounce Malibu coconut rum (or 1 1/2 ounces of light rum)

  • 2 ounces strawberries (fresh or frozen)

  • 1 small banana

  • 2 ounces coconut cream

  • 2 ounces unsweetened pineapple juice

  • 1 cup ice

  • Garnish:

    Fresh pineapple wedge

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Lava flow Hawaiian tropical drink recipe ingredients
    The Spruce

  2. Blend the two rums and the strawberries in a blender until a smooth paste has formed. Pour this mixture into a tall Collins or hurricane glass.

    Blended strawberries and rum
    The Spruce

  3. Rinse the blender.

  4. Blend the banana, coconut cream, and pineapple juice with ice until smooth.

    Blending bananas and coconut cream
    The Spruce

  5. Slowly pour this mixture into the glass with the red rum mix. Watch the strawberry mixture oozing its way to the top along the sides of the glass creating the flowing lava effect. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and paper umbrella, if desired.

    Pour a lava flow cocktail into a glass
    The Spruce

  6. Enjoy.

Colorful Lavas

Here are a few ideas to make other colorful lavas in lieu of the strawberry color. Mix the fruit juice of your choice with the rums and follow the rest of the recipe as instructed:

  • Yellow lava: Use 3 ounces of fresh or frozen mango, pineapple, or frozen orange juice. Decorate with a chunk of fresh mango.
  • Green lava: Juice 4 leaves of kale, 1 stalk of celery, and 1 green apple to obtain a green mixture. Add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar if the juice is too tart. Decorate with a wedge of lime or a slice of green apple and a mint sprig.
  • Purple lava: Use 3 ounces of fresh or frozen blueberries or blackberries, or a mixture of both. Decorate with a few big blueberries speared on a cocktail toothpick.
  • Orange lava: Use 3 ounces of carrot extract to mix with the rums. Decorate with an orange slice.

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