Christmas isn't Christmas without a glass of cold Coquito. This Traditional Puerto Rican Coquito recipe is a thick, creamy and rich coconut-based cocktail. A delicious holiday drink loaded with spices and rum!
While some may love the traditional holiday eggnog, I could never get over the idea of having eggs in my drink. So if you're like me and you're also not a fan of eggnog, then I highly suggest you try this Traditional Puerto Rican Coquito recipe.
Coquito is a great make-ahead holiday drink to have on hand for your guest. It's a quick and easy drink to make that's creamy, delicious and perfect for the holiday season. It's full of coconut flavors and all of its sweetness comes from the sweetened condensed milk and cream of coconut. This drink is usually spiked with some Puerto Rican rum and is served chilled. It's sure to put you and your guest in the festive holiday spirit!
For another drink perfect for the winter holidays, try my pomegranate mocktail or my hot chocolate recipe.
Is Coquito the Same as Eggnog?
Coquito (co-kee-to) is a traditional Puerto Rican coconut-based drink that is usually made around the holidays for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Coquito literally translates as "little coconut". It is sometimes referred to as the "Puerto Rican Eggnog" due to its similarity to the egg-based holiday drink, but it contains no eggs.
What's in a Traditional Puerto Rican Coquito recipe?
While there are many variations of Coquito, every recipe starts with similar base ingredients:
- Coconut milk - full fat coconut milk will give your drink the best flavor, however for a lighter version you can opt for lite coconut milk
- Cream of Coconut - it's sweetened, pureed coconut and comes in a can. Make sure to shake the can before adding it to the blender.
- Sweetened condensed milk - helps to add sweetness to the drink and make it extra creamy.
- Evaporated milk - makes the drink rich and creamy
- Spices and flavorings - cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla is used in this drink to add warming seasonal flavors
- Rum - typically white rum is used in coquito. I like to use Don Q or Bacardi as a substitute. You can also use spiced rum or coconut-flavored rum.
How to make the Coquito:
- Combine in a blender the coconut milk, cream of coconut, condensed milk, and evaporated milk.
- Add in the cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla.
- Pour in the rum and blend until all is well combined.
- Transfer the Coquito into an large mason jar and place inside a refrigerator to chill for a minimum of four hours. Shake the bottle before serving.
- Serve chilled in a drink glass. You can sprinkle some cinnamon and nutmeg on top and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
What Kind of Rum to Use in Coquito
This boozy holiday drink is typically made with white rum. Although everyone has their preference on brands of rum, I prefer to use Don Q or Bacardi white rum, which is used for traditional Coquito. I always suggest starting with a small glass because it's very rich but it's so hard to only have one glass.
How to Serve Coquito
Let the Coquito chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours. Serve your coquito in small drink glasses and add a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg on the top. I would suggest not to add ice to your drink since it will dilute the drink as the ice melts. For serving a larger crowd, pour the Coquito into a pitcher so that everyone can help themselves to a nice cold glass.
Recipe FAQ
You'll find that most recipes, like this one, use the method of blending up your ingredients in a blender, which is perfect if you're in a time crunch or simply do not want to dirty up dishes.
Other recipes involve a bit of simmering to infuse flavors and spices prior to mixing in the rum. I personally like to keep things simple, so throwing everything into the blender works great for me.
Yes, the Coquito can be made without alcohol since the rum isn't really the main star of this recipe. But I must admit, it tastes so much better with alcohol! To make a non-alcoholic version, you can leave out the rum all together or you can substitute the alcohol by adding in rum extract, to taste. It will still taste creamy and delicious, but without the alcohol.
No, you can serve the Coquito over ice however it is best to chill the Coquito for at least 2 hours. The longer it sits, the better it will taste.
When the drink is properly stored in a large mason jar or an airtight container, a batch of Coquito will last up to 1 month however good luck with having any leftovers after sharing this drink with others!
More Recipes You May Like:
Soft Baked Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread Oat Flour Pancakes
Traditional Puerto Rican Coquito
Equipment
Ingredients
- 13.5 ounces coconut milk (1 can)
- 13.2 ounces cream of coconut (1 can)
- 12 ounces evaporated milk (1 can)
- 7 ounces sweetened condensed milk (1/2 of a can)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup white rum (Don Q) or to taste
- Cinnamon sticks for garnish optional
Instructions
- Start by mixing all ingredients, except the cinnamon sticks, into a blender. Blend ingredients until the mixture is well-combined.
- Pour the Coquito into an airtight / sealed container and place inside the refrigerator to chill for a minimum of four hours. Shake the bottle before serving.
- Serve chilled in glass and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Although HalfPastHungry.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on which products you use, the brand that was purchased, or in other unforeseeable ways. HalfPastHungry.com will not be held liable for any reliance on given nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your physician first.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to receive 6 Free exclusive homemade healthy smoothie recipes. You'll also get a sneak peak at upcoming recipes and nutrition and wellness tips.
I'd love to know if you try this recipe! Please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest , Facebook Tik-Tok and Twitter for updates, recipes, and more!
Roc says
This is the perfect recipe and most authentic recipe. There are many others out there but the 1 each of the 4 liquids is the way to go. Silky smooth and delicious. Thank you for posting. Cheers!
Briana says
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe. Cheers!!
Amanda says
🙌🏼✨
Peggy Sue says
Oh, my word, but this is yummy!!! I took a small taste as soon as it was mixed, and now I can’t wait to have some tomorrow. Thank you for this recipe!
Briana says
This is my favorite drink for the holidays! I'm so happy you enjoyed it.