Frozen Chi-Chi (Vodka Colada)
The Chi-Chi is a piña colada made with vodka instead of rum. Frozen recipe and batch sizes for Margaritaville machines.
Jump to recipe ↓A Chi-Chi swaps the rum in a piña colada for vodka, so pineapple and coconut taste even cleaner.
Good for guests who don’t like rum.
Chi-Chi recipe
Ingredients (3 drinks)
- 4½ oz vodka
- 5 oz pineapple juice
- 3½ oz cream of coconut (paid link)
Plus: a full ice reservoir. Garnish: Pineapple wedge, cherry. Glass: Hurricane glass.
Instructions
- Fill the ice reservoir.
- Add all ingredients to the jar.
- Run the cycle.
- Garnish with pineapple and a cherry.
How much to make in your machine
Every Margaritaville frozen concoction maker is designed around a particular volume of liquid — the shaver portions ice for it. The table scales this recipe to the margarita liquid volume printed in each model’s manual (Key West DM1000 / DM1946 3 × 12 oz drinks: 9.75 fl oz; Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM2000 3 × 12 oz drinks: 13 fl oz; Tahiti DM3000 per 24 oz jar: 8.67 fl oz; Bali DM3500 half chamber: 11 fl oz; Bali DM3500 full chamber: 22 fl oz). Amounts are rounded to the nearest ¼ or ⅓ oz.
| Ingredient | Key West DM1000 / DM19463 × 12 oz drinks | Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM20003 × 12 oz drinks | Tahiti DM3000per 24 oz jar | Bali DM3500half chamber | Bali DM3500full chamber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vodka | 3⅓ oz | 4½ oz | 3 oz | 3¾ oz | 7⅔ oz |
| pineapple juice | 3¾ oz | 5 oz | 3⅓ oz | 4¼ oz | 8½ oz |
| cream of coconut | 2⅔ oz | 3½ oz | 2⅓ oz | 3 oz | 6 oz |
Scaling is our calculation, not a manufacturer recipe. Fruit- and ice-cream-heavy drinks vary more; adjust with the Shave Only / Blend Only controls. The Key West DM1900 isn’t listed because we haven’t verified its manual yet.
Machine notes for this drink
- Cream of coconut separates in the bottle; shake or stir it until smooth before measuring, or the batch will be unevenly sweet.
- This batch uses about 13 fl oz of liquid for 3 drinks. If your drink comes out watery, the manuals’ first fix is to follow the recipe volumes or manually shave more ice; if it’s too stiff, add liquid and Blend Only.
Why this recipe works
Vodka is neutral, so coconut and pineapple shine.
About coladas, tiki & rum drinks
Tropical rum drinks lean on pineapple, coconut, passion fruit and citrus. Cream of coconut is the secret to a smooth colada; it adds fat that keeps shaved ice silky. Most of these recipes include two or more juices, which makes them lower in alcohol per ounce than they taste — but the rum still adds up across a batch.
Tips for the best texture
- Shake coconut well.
- Chill pineapple juice.
- Garnish big.
- Lime squeeze brightens.
- Never put anything but ice in the ice reservoir, and don’t fill the jar past its maximum line — both are warnings in every manual.
- Too thin? Hold the toggle in Shave Only for a few seconds, then Blend Only to mix it in. Too thick? Add an ounce of liquid and Blend Only.
Serving & make-ahead
Garnish with pineapple wedge, cherry and serve in a hurricane glass. Tropical drinks shine with big garnishes — pineapple wedges, orange wheels, cherries on a pick and a paper umbrella. Hurricane glasses or tiki mugs hold the larger pours. For a crowd, a Tahiti lets you run a colada, a rum punch-style drink and a virgin version side by side.
Variations
- Coconut vodka: Use coconut vodka.
- Strawberry: Add strawberries.
- Blue: Add blue curaçao.
Mocktail swap
Skip vodka; add 3 oz pineapple juice.
Shop the ingredients
- Coco Real Cream of Coconut (paid link)
- Libbey Cool Cocktails Island Hurricane Glasses, 15 oz, set of 6 (paid link)
We link to mixers, syrups and juices only — alcohol isn’t sold through these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Chi-Chi vs piña colada?
Vodka instead of rum.
Strength?
1½ oz per drink.
Coconut milk?
No — cream of coconut.
How much ice should I put in the machine?
Fill the ice reservoir with ice cubes — the machine shaves the amount it needs for the cycle (dial models size it to the 1, 2 or 3-drink setting). The manuals recommend ice that has been out of the freezer for 10–15 minutes.
Will this work in a regular blender?
Yes — add about 1½–2 cups of ice per 12 oz drink and blend until smooth. The texture will be coarser than shaved ice.
Please drink responsibly. Alcoholic recipes are for adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). Never drink and drive.
