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 02/11/21
Lava flow cocktail

The Spruce

 
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
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.)

The lava flow is a colorful frozen cocktail that's a favorite in Hawaiian bars and emulates the look of real-life volcanos. This tropical drink is made with rum, strawberries, pineapple, and coconut cream. It's poured as two distinct layers of color and flavor that flow and combine as you drink. Festive and beautiful, it is usually garnished with fresh fruit.

Easy to create, the lava flow is blended in two parts. First, you'll blend light and coconut rums with strawberries. You'll then make a piña colada-like mix of coconut, pineapple, and banana that tops the strawberry mix. When it all comes together in the glass, you'll have a boozy slushy that looks stunning and tastes wonderful.

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce light rum

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

  • 2 ounces strawberries (fresh or frozen)

  • 1 small banana

  • 2 ounces coconut cream

  • 2 ounces unsweetened pineapple juice

  • 1 cup ice

  • Pineapple wedge, garnish

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
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  3. Rinse the blender.

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

    Blending bananas and coconut cream
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  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

By switching out a few ingredients, you can make other colorful lavas. Blend the rum with these options, then top it with the white mix.

  • 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.

How Strong Is a Lava Flow Cocktail?

The ice, fruits, and mixers tend to make frozen cocktails rather light. Though it's just an estimate, the lava flow is a low-proof drink, weighing in around 5 percent ABV (10 proof). It's similar to the average beer, but this drink is far more delicious.

How Do You Make a Virgin Lava Flow?

For a mocktail version, skip the rum, and you'll have a fun and delicious drink minus the booze. Blend the strawberries into a purée or add about 1/2 cup of water or coconut water for a thick, syrupy consistency. Alternatively, make a virgin Miami vice; the only additional ingredients are half and half, lime juice, and simple syrup.

What's the Difference Between Coconut Cream and Cream of Coconut?

Coconut cream is a high-fat, unsweetened cream that has less water than coconut milk. It is often used as a thickener in food recipes. Cream of coconut is much sweeter and richer, which is why it's often used in cocktails like the piña colada. While lava flow recipes often use coconut cream, you can use cream of coconut to make a sweeter drink.