Pineapple Mojito Recipe

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/24/23
Tested by
Laurel Randolph
Photo of Laurel Randolph
Tested by Laurel Randolph
A fervid lover of the culinary arts and all things Instant Pot, Laurel has been writing about food for 10 years. One of her cookbooks was the #2 cookbook of 2017.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Pineapple Mojito in a glass

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Syrup: 30 mins
Total: 35 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

Give your mojito a tropical fruit twist with this intriguing pineapple mojito recipe. It's a fun summer cocktail that's easy to make, and the pineapple's sweet taste is a perfect match for the mojito's sparkling mint-lime flavor.

The pineapple mojito is made similarly to the classic Cuban mojito: Muddled pineapple, lime, mint, and a sweetener are topped with a shot of rum and club soda in an ice-filled glass. This recipe skips the mojito's commonly used sugar (or plain simple syrup), opting instead for a homemade raw sugar pineapple syrup. It's a breeze to make, and the recipe yields just over one cup. The syrup is a terrific sweetener for all sorts of summer drinks, from iced tea to other cocktails. You can even top it with sparkling water for a quick pineapple soda.

You can make the syrup in advance, but the cocktail itself is best when made right before serving. There are many ways to customize it, and you can make one pineapple mojito, a full round, a pitcher, or even a mocktail. Serve it on hot summer days or during a backyard barbecue, and it's sure to keep everyone refreshed.

"A fruity, thirst-quenching cocktail that's great for summer. I used an extra-ripe lime from my front yard and fresh pineapple for a bright yellow drink. This would be great with aged rum." —Laurel Randolph

pineapple mojito/tester image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

For the Raw Sugar Pineapple Syrup:

  • 1/2 cup water

  • 1/2 cup pineapple juice

  • 1 cup raw granulated sugar

For the Pineapple Mojito:

  • 1 1/2 ounces raw sugar pineapple syrup

  • 1/4 cup fresh or canned pineapple chunks

  • 4 lime wedges

  • 4 to 6 torn fresh mint leaves, plus a sprig for garnish

  • 2 ounces light rum

  • 2 to 3 ounces club soda

  • Fresh mint sprig, for garnish

  • Small pineapple wedge, for garnish

  • Lime slice, for garnish

Steps to Make It

Make the Pineapple Syrup

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Pineapple Syrup ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the water and pineapple juice to a low boil. Add the raw sugar and stir until completely dissolved.

    Water, pineapple juice and raw sugar mixture in a saucepan on a burner, with a wooden spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Remove from the heat. The light foam caused by the warm pineapple juice will dissipate after a few minutes; stirring speeds this up.

    Syrup in a saucepan on a wooden board, with a wooden spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Let the syrup cool completely before bottling in a jar with a tight seal. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

    Syrup in a jar

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Make the Pineapple Mojito

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Pineapple Mojito ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a collins glass, add the raw sugar pineapple syrup, pineapple chunks, lime wedges, and torn mint leaves. Muddle well to mash the fruits.

    Raw sugar pineapple syrup, pineapple chunks, lime wedges, and torn mint leaves muddled together in a glass

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Add the rum and fill the glass with ice.

    Rum and ice added to the muddled mixture in the glass

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Top with club soda.

    Club soda added to the mojito mixture in the glass

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Garnish with a sprig of mint, pineapple wedge, and lime slice.

    Pineapple Mojito in a glass, garnished with a piece of pineapple

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Tips

  • Light rum is often considered the best alcohol for a mojito, and aged rum is an excellent alternative. Pour your favorite brand of rum or explore other options; mid-range to top-shelf are preferred in a fresh fruit cocktail like this. If vodka's your preference, it makes a nice pineapple mojito as well.
  • Some mojito drinkers prefer a cocktail that doesn't have pieces of mint and fruit in the glass. While not the typical method for mixing mojitos, you can shake and strain the cocktail over fresh ice; double straining traps the finer herb and fruit bits.
  • To make a few drinks at once, line up all of the glasses and work your way down the line as you build the cocktails.

Recipe Variations

  • Raw sugar gives the syrup a rich, dark background that's fantastic against the bright taste of pineapple juice. You can use another sweetener, including white granulated sugar or coconut sugar. To make a low-sugar syrup, use an allulose monk fruit sweetener and replace half the water with pineapple juice (even unsweetened pineapple juice is not sugar-free or keto-friendly).
  • Skip the flavored syrup entirely and use 3/4 ounce each of plain simple syrup and pineapple juice.
  • For a pitcher of mojitos, add 1/2 cup of fresh mint leaves to the pineapple syrup and strain them out once the syrup cools. Add 1 cup of the mint-pineapple syrup to a pitcher along with 1 1/2 cups of light rum, 1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh lime juice, and 2 cups of soda. It can be made in advance and kept chilled, but hold the soda until you're ready to serve.
  • For a virgin pineapple mojito, replace the rum with pineapple juice and switch from club soda to ginger ale.

How Strong Is the Pineapple Mojito?

Typical of any mojito, the alcohol content of the pineapple mojito is around 10 percent ABV (20 proof). You can make it weaker by pouring less rum or more soda, though it's always going to be a little lighter than a glass of wine.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1160 Calories
1g Fat
275g Carbs
4g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 1160
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 69mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 275g 100%
Dietary Fiber 11g 41%
Total Sugars 235g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 212mg 1,058%
Calcium 314mg 24%
Iron 4mg 24%
Potassium 891mg 19%
*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.)