Malibu Bay Breeze is a tropical cocktail featuring Malibu rum, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice. This Caribbean-inspired drink is perfect for summer and brings the beach vibes home.

Malibu Bay Breeze hero image
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Malibu Bay Breeze Recipe

The Malibu Bay Breeze recipe combines fruit juices and coconut rum for a delightful, beach-inspired drink featuring pineapple and coconut flavors.

This light, sweet pineapple rum cranberry cocktail is perfect for summer daytime drinking with a delightful kick.

Achieving the beautiful layered look is effortless, relying on density and following simple steps. Ideal for warm weather gatherings and poolside events, the Malibu Bay Breeze adds a tropical twist to the classic Sea Breeze and Bay Breeze cocktails, making it an easy choice for entertaining.

Malibu Bay Breeze vs Sea Breeze Cocktail

A Malibu Bay Breeze is similar to a Sea Breeze, but it is made with pineapple juice and cranberry juice instead of grapefruit juice.

A Malibu Bay Breeze cocktail takes the classic formula of a Bay Breeze and uses coconut rum instead of vodka.

Why we love this Bay Breeze Recipe

  • Quick and easy to make in 2 minutes.
  • Uses only 3 ingredients.
  • Coconut rum drinks will remind you of the tropics and taste delicious.
  • Cold, refreshing, and filled with fruity flavors.
  • Lovely layered look makes a pretty presentation.
  • Perfect for pool parties, warm weather gatherings, and backyard barbecues.
Malibu Bay Breeze ingredients

Malibu Bay Breeze Drink Ingredients

  • Ice
  • 100% pineapple juice: I used Dole pineapple juice, but feel free to use your favorite brand. You can use canned, bottled or fresh pineapple juice.
  • Malibu coconut rum
  • Lite (50% less sugar) cranberry juice cocktail: I used Ocean Spray brand to make my cocktail.

Bay Breeze Drink Substitutions and Additions

  • Replace The Rum: If you do not like the flavor of coconut, you can substitute a white/clear rum or even a spiced rum in this recipe. Pineapple rum or coconut or pineapple-flavored vodkas could be used instead of the coconut rum.
  • Other Fruit Flavors: For other fruit flavor combinations, you could try swapping out the pineapple juice for orange juice or grapefruit juice. 
  • Garnish Your Glass: Garnish your glass with a lime slice, maraschino cherry, or a pineapple wedge.
Malibu Bay Breeze in a glass

How to Make Malibu Bay Breeze

  1. Fill: Fill a glass with ice and slowly add the pineapple juice followed by the rum.
  2. Layer: Place a small spoon, flipped upside down, into the glass at an angle just above the coconut rum. Slowly pour the cranberry juice onto the center of the upside-down spoon so that it layers on top of the pineapple juice and rum.
  3. Serve: Garnish a slice of lime and enjoy! (you can also garnish with a sprig of mint or a slice of fresh pineapple)
    Pro-Tip: The Malibu Bay Breeze is best served in a highball glass, which is tall and straight-sided, perfect for iced cocktails, and allows for easy stirring and cool presentation of the colorful layers.
Malibu Bay Breeze collage process

Bay Breeze Recipe Tips

  • I like to keep the mini cans of 100% pineapple juice in my refrigerator when making drinks like this one. If I get the big cartons, they tend to go bad before using them.
  • Be sure to keep your ingredients in the refrigerator to keep cold until you are ready to make your Malibu Bay Breeze.
  • I like to squeeze my lime slice into my drink before consuming it. I think that a little splash of tartness from the lime helps to cut the natural sweetness of this drink. This is not necessary but is tasty.
  • You will want to serve this Malibu Bay Breeze while the layers are still separate. Before enjoying your drink, you will want to stir it with your straw or a cocktail spoon for the best flavor.
  • You can make this a single-serve cocktail by just adding the juices and rum to a single tall glass with ice. Or make a pitcher for a crowd by mixing together equal parts of the ingredients.

How to store a Bay Breeze Cocktail

  • To Store: If you have leftovers in a pitcher, you can store them up to 1-2 days in the refrigerator.
  • If a Malibu Bay Breeze cocktail is stored in the refrigerator for more than 2 days, the ingredients may separate, and the flavors might lose their freshness, leading to a decrease in overall taste and quality. Consuming the cocktail within 1-2 days of preparation for optimal flavor is best.
Malibu Bay Breeze with smaller glasses

More Easy Cocktail Recipes

How To Make a Virgin Malibu Bay Breeze

For those who don’t consume alcohol but still want to enjoy the flavor of coconut in their Malibu Bay Breeze, there are a few non-alcoholic substitutes that can mimic the flavor of coconut rum:

  1. Coconut Water: This natural and refreshing option can provide a subtle coconut flavor to the cocktail. It’s also a great hydrating ingredient.
  2. Coconut Milk or Coconut Cream: These can provide a richer coconut flavor and a creamy texture to the cocktail. However, they will also make the drink more opaque and less fruity.
  3. Coconut-Flavored Syrup: This is a sweetened, concentrated coconut flavor that can be used in small amounts to mimic the flavor of coconut rum. Brands like Monin or Torani offer these types of syrups.
  4. Non-Alcoholic Coconut Flavor Extract: This can be found in most grocery stores in the baking aisle and can provide a strong coconut flavor to the cocktail.

Remember, the key is to start with a small amount and adjust to taste, as these substitutes can vary in sweetness and coconut intensity.

Malibu Bay Breeze FAQs

Can I use the original cranberry juice cocktail instead of the lite version?

You can use the original cranberry juice cocktail instead of the lite (50% less sugar) option. You will want to note that this will make your drink very sweet. Also, the higher sugar in the standard cranberry juice cocktail tends to blend with the other ingredients and not float on the top. The higher sugar-content liquids will sink to the bottom, so you will want the less sugar-content liquids on top when layering your drink.

Can I make my drinks in advance?

If you don’t care about the layers, this Malibu Bay Breeze can be made ahead. You can prepare a big pitcher of this drink and store it in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

How to make My Bay Breeze Less Sweet?

For a less sweet Malibu Bay Breeze, use unsweetened pineapple juice and tart cranberry juice, add more lime juice for tartness, reduce the amount of coconut rum, and consider adding a splash of sparkling water to dilute the sweetness while adding a refreshing fizz. Adjust gradually to maintain flavor balance.

What type of Ice Should Be Used?

Cubed ice is typically used for a Malibu Bay Breeze as it melts slowly, keeping the drink cool without diluting it too quickly, and contributes to the visual appeal of the layered cocktail. Crushed ice, while it can be used, may dilute the drink faster due to its larger surface area.

2 glasses of Malibu Bay Breeze

Other Easy Adult Beverages

5 from 4 votes
Malibu Bay Breeze featured image

Malibu Bay Breeze (Cocktail Drink Recipe)

Serves — 1
Malibu Bay Breeze is a refreshing summer cocktail, blending Malibu coconut rum, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice for a delightful tropical experience.
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup ice
  • ounces 100% pineapple juice (Dole)
  • ounces Malibu coconut rum
  • ounces lite (50% less sugar) cranberry juice cocktail (Ocean Spray)
  • Garnish with a slice of lime

Instructions
 

  • Fill a 10-ounce beverage glass with ice (approximately 1 cup).
  • Slowly add the pineapple juice to the ice-filled glass, followed by the Malibu coconut rum.
  • Place a small spoon, flipped upside down, into the glass at an angle just above the coconut rum. Slowly pour the lite cranberry juice onto the center of the upside-down spoon, allowing the cranberry juice to layer on top of the pineapple juice and Malibu coconut rum. The spoon helps to disperse the liquid so that it does not mix with the other liquids as much.
  • Garnish your glass with a slice of lime on the rim of the glass.

Jenn’s Notes

Storage:
  • To Store: If you have leftovers in a pitcher, you can store them up to 1-2 days in the refrigerator.
Tips:
  • I really like to keep the mini cans of 100% pineapple juice in my refrigerator for use when making drinks such as this one. If I get the big cartons, they tend to go bad before I can use them up.
  • Be sure to keep your ingredients in the refrigerator to keep cold until you are ready to make your Malibu Bay Breeze.
  • I like to squeeze my lime slice into my drink before consuming it. I think that a little splash of tartness from the lime helps to cut the natural sweetness of this drink. This is not necessary but is tasty.
  • You will want to serve this Malibu Bay Breeze while the layers are still separate. Before enjoying your drink, you will want to stir it with your straw or a cocktail spoon for the best flavor.
  • You can make this a single-serve cocktail by just adding the juices and rum to a single tall glass with ice. Or make a pitcher for a crowd by mixing together equal parts of the ingredients.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 174kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 53mg | Potassium: 54mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 21IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.1mg

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