Jack Frost Cocktail

This Jack Frost cocktail is a visually stunning frozen drink that combines tropical flavors with winter aesthetics. Featuring vodka, blue curaçao, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice blended into an icy slush, this bright blue cocktail is topped with a snowy coconut rim that creates the perfect festive presentation. The tropical piña colada-like flavor profile contrasts beautifully with the wintry appearance, making this the ideal holiday party cocktail that’s as delicious as it is Instagram-worthy.

What makes the Jack Frost cocktail truly special is the striking visual presentation combined with refreshingly tropical taste. The vibrant blue color from the blue curaçao evokes winter skies and icy landscapes, while the coconut-rimmed glass mimics fresh snow. Yet one sip transports you to a tropical paradise with creamy coconut, tangy pineapple, and smooth vodka creating a balanced, not-too-sweet frozen cocktail. It’s the perfect conversation starter at holiday parties and brings a fun, unexpected twist to traditional Christmas beverages.

Why You’ll Love This Frozen Blue Cocktail

This cocktail is remarkably easy to make—simply blend all ingredients together and serve. No shaking, no complicated techniques, and no special bartending skills required. The entire process takes less than 5 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for serving crowds at holiday parties. You can even batch-blend several servings at once.

The flavor is perfectly balanced. The cream of coconut provides richness without being cloying, the pineapple juice adds bright acidity, and the blue curaçao contributes subtle orange notes alongside that stunning color. Vodka serves as a neutral base that lets the tropical flavors shine. The result is a cocktail that’s refreshing, not overly sweet, and dangerously easy to drink.

The versatility is impressive—serve it at Christmas parties, New Year’s Eve celebrations, winter birthdays, or frozen-themed parties. Make it virgin for kids or non-drinkers, substitute rum for vodka to create a tropical variation, or serve it on the rocks instead of blended. The recipe adapts easily to different preferences and occasions.

Ingredients for Jack Frost Cocktail

Cocktail:

• 1.5 oz vodka
• 1 oz blue curaçao liqueur
• 1 oz cream of coconut (Coco Lopez or similar)
• 2 oz pineapple juice
• Handful of ice (about 1 cup)

Garnish:

• Shredded coconut for rim
• Pineapple wedge (optional)
• Maraschino cherry (optional)
• Fresh mint sprig (optional)

Understanding Key Ingredients

Vodka: This neutral spirit provides alcohol content without competing with the tropical flavors. Choose a quality vodka—mid-range brands work perfectly. The smoothness of vodka makes this cocktail easy to drink and appeals to a wide range of palates. Vodka can be substituted with white rum or coconut rum for a more tropical profile.

Blue Curaçao: This vibrant blue liqueur is essential for the Jack Frost’s signature color. Blue curaçao is orange-flavored liqueur made from the dried peel of the laraha citrus fruit, colored blue for cocktail appeal. The orange flavor is subtle and complements the tropical ingredients beautifully. Don’t substitute with blue food coloring—you’ll lose the flavor complexity.

Cream of Coconut: This is sweetened coconut cream sold in cans (Coco Lopez is the most common brand). It’s much thicker and sweeter than coconut milk or coconut water. Cream of coconut provides the rich, creamy texture and tropical sweetness that makes this cocktail special. Shake or stir the can before using as it separates. Don’t substitute with coconut milk—it’s not sweet enough and lacks the proper consistency.

Pineapple Juice: Fresh or canned 100% pineapple juice both work excellently. The pineapple provides tangy, tropical flavor and acidity that balances the sweetness of the cream of coconut. The juice also helps create the smooth, slushy texture when blended with ice.

Shredded Coconut: Sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut works for rimming the glass. The coconut rim creates that snowy, frosted appearance that gives the cocktail its “Jack Frost” name. For a more dramatic effect, you can tint the coconut blue with a few drops of food coloring.

Ice: Use plenty of ice for a thick, slushy consistency. Crushed ice blends more easily than large cubes, but either works. The ice should create a frozen, snow-cone-like texture rather than a thin, watery drink.

How to Make Jack Frost Cocktail

Step 1: Prepare the Coconut Rim

Creating the frosted rim is essential for presentation and adds subtle sweetness to each sip.

Spread shredded coconut on a small, shallow plate. Pour a thin layer of water, pineapple juice, or light corn syrup onto another small plate.

Dip the rim of your cocktail glass into the liquid, rotating to coat evenly. Immediately press the wet rim into the shredded coconut, rotating and pressing gently to ensure even coverage. The coconut should stick to the rim creating a snowy, frosted appearance.

For colored coconut (festive blue to match the drink), place shredded coconut in a zip-top bag with 2-3 drops of blue food coloring. Seal and shake vigorously until evenly colored. This creates a stunning monochromatic presentation.

Set the prepared glass aside while you blend the cocktail.

Step 2: Blend the Cocktail

Add vodka, blue curaçao, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice to a blender. If your cream of coconut is thick, use a spoon to scoop it—it should measure 1 ounce or 2 tablespoons.

Add a generous handful of ice—about 1 cup or more. More ice creates a thicker, slushier consistency; less ice makes a thinner drink. Start with 1 cup and adjust to your preference.

Blend on high speed until completely smooth with no ice chunks remaining. The mixture should be thick, icy, and uniformly bright blue. If too thick, add a splash of pineapple juice; if too thin, add more ice and blend again.

Step 3: Pour and Garnish

Carefully pour the blended cocktail into your prepared glass, being careful not to disturb the coconut rim. The drink should fill the glass with a beautiful, frosty appearance.

Add garnishes for a festive presentation:

• Slide a pineapple wedge onto the rim
• Add a maraschino cherry (skewer with pineapple for an elegant look)
• Add a sprig of fresh mint for color and aroma
• Insert a colorful straw or cocktail umbrella

Serve immediately while frozen and slushy. The drink will begin to melt within 10-15 minutes, so enjoy promptly.

Pro Tips for Perfect Jack Frost Cocktails

Freeze Your Glass: Pre-freeze the serving glass for 15-30 minutes to keep the cocktail colder longer and enhance the frosty presentation.

Use Crushed Ice: Crushed ice blends more smoothly and quickly than large cubes, creating better texture with less blending time.

Don’t Over-Blend: Blend just until smooth. Over-blending can make the drink watery as the ice breaks down too much.

Adjust Sweetness: If you find the drink too sweet, add extra pineapple juice or a squeeze of lime juice for balance.

Batch Blending: For parties, multiply the recipe and blend in batches. Keep extra servings in the freezer until ready to serve.

Alternative Rim Options: If coconut isn’t your preference, rim the glass with white sanding sugar for a sparkly, snowy effect.

Creative Variations

Jack Frost Rum Cocktail: Replace vodka with white rum or coconut rum for more pronounced tropical flavor. Coconut rum intensifies the coconut notes beautifully.

Extra Creamy Jack Frost: Add 1 oz of heavy cream or half-and-half for an even richer, creamier texture similar to a frozen piña colada.

On the Rocks Version: Not a fan of frozen drinks? Shake all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker, then strain over fresh ice in your prepared glass.

Jack Frost Mocktail: Create a virgin version by omitting vodka and blue curaçao. Replace with blue raspberry soda or blue sports drink for color, plus an extra splash of pineapple juice. Still blend with cream of coconut and ice for that slushy texture.

Tropical Jack Frost: Add 1 oz of coconut milk or coconut water for even more coconut flavor without additional sweetness.

Spiked Blue Punch: Multiply the recipe by 4-6 and serve from a punch bowl for parties. Prepare individual servings as guests arrive.

Mint Jack Frost: Add 4-5 fresh mint leaves to the blender for a refreshing minty twist.

Berry Jack Frost: Add a handful of frozen blueberries for natural color enhancement and berry flavor.

Serving Suggestions

Holiday Parties: This cocktail is perfect for Christmas parties, New Year’s Eve celebrations, or winter birthday parties. The blue color and snowy rim fit the season beautifully.

Frozen-Themed Events: Ideal for Frozen movie watch parties or winter-themed celebrations. Kids love the appearance (make mocktail versions for them).

Pool Parties: Despite the winter appearance, this tropical cocktail is refreshing on hot days too. Serve at summer pool parties for a fun contrast.

Brunch Cocktails: Include in a holiday brunch spread alongside mimosas and bloody marys for variety.

Perfect Pairings

Savory Foods:

• Coconut shrimp with sweet chili sauce
• Hawaiian pizza or sliders
• Cheese and crackers platter
• Buffalo chicken wings
• Mini quesadillas

Sweet Treats:

• Pineapple upside-down cake
• Coconut macaroons
• White chocolate truffles
• Sugar cookies
• Lemon bars

Tropical Dishes:

• Jerk chicken skewers
• Mango salsa with chips
• Teriyaki meatballs
• Poke bowls
• Fruit kabobs

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Individual Prep: Rim glasses with coconut up to 2 hours ahead. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.

Batch Preparation: Mix the liquid ingredients (vodka, blue curaçao, cream of coconut, pineapple juice) ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, blend with ice.

Freezer Storage: Don’t try to freeze the blended cocktail—it will separate and become icy. Always blend fresh for best texture.

Leftover Handling: These cocktails are best fresh. If you have leftover blended mixture, it will melt and separate within 30 minutes. Can’t be effectively re-frozen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this without a blender? You need a blender for the proper frozen, slushy texture. However, you can make an “on the rocks” version by shaking ingredients with ice and straining.

What if I can’t find cream of coconut? Cream of coconut is sold in the cocktail mixer section (Coco Lopez brand). Don’t substitute coconut milk—it’s too thin. Coconut cream (from a can of coconut milk) mixed with simple syrup can work in a pinch.

Is blue curaçao necessary? The blue color is part of the Jack Frost appeal, but you can use regular (orange) curaçao or triple sec and add blue food coloring if needed.

How alcoholic is this cocktail? With 1.5 oz vodka and 1 oz blue curaçao, this is a moderately strong cocktail. The cream and juice dilute the alcohol, making it smooth and easy to drink.

Can kids have a virgin version? Absolutely! Omit the alcohol and use blue raspberry soda or blue Hawaiian Punch for color and flavor.

How do I make multiple servings? Most blenders hold 2-3 servings at once. Multiply the recipe and blend in batches, keeping finished cocktails in the freezer while preparing more.

Why is my drink too thin? Add more ice and blend again. You want a thick, slushy consistency, not a thin shake.

This Jack Frost cocktail brings tropical vacation vibes to winter celebrations with its stunning appearance and delicious flavor. Easy to make and guaranteed to impress, it’s the perfect festive cocktail for your next holiday gathering!