by Vanessa
Learn how to make the best Coquito recipe. Coquito is a Puerto Rican eggnog-like drink prepared with coconut milk that is traditionally served on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve). Easy and quick to make, it’s wonderfully creamy and perfectly festive.
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Coquito
Coquito is a favorite from Puerto Rico. This eggnog-like drink is prepared with coconut milk and is traditionally served on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve). Easy and quick to make, it’s wonderfully creamy and perfectly festive.
For Latinos, the Christmas Holidays are more than just opening presents on Christmas morning. It is about family, food, festivity, happiness, laughter, joy, music, dance, and being loud. Yes, LOUD! It’s in our nature. We can’t help it, sorry!
The festivities run all the way up to New Year, but my favorite of all is Nochebuena (Christmas Eve). On this day, families get together for a big home gathering with lots of food, drinks, music, dancing, and overall fun.
Presales are open!
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With its creamy texture, warming flavors from the spices, and delicate coconut flavor, this is one delicious sip.
For more Latin Christmas recipes, be sure to check out my Pasteles en Hoja and Roasted Pork Shoulder!
Ingredients
- Sweet Condensed Milk
- Evaporated Milk
- Coconut Milk
- Cream of Coconut
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Vanilla Extract
- Light Rum
How to make this coquito drink
- In a blender, combine condensed milk, evaporated milk, coconut milk and coconut cream.
- Add the cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla.
- Finally, add the rum. Blend until all is well combined.
- Pour into glass bottles, seal tightly and refrigerate.
- Shake the mixture well before serving. Serve cold in small drink glasses and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg, or place cinnamon sticks into glasses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Coquito?
Coquito is a Puerto Rican eggnog-like drink prepared with coconut milk that is traditionally served on Nochebuena. There are many variations to this drink, but the base ingredients are always the same: coconut milk, coconut cream, sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and Caribbean Rum.
For this recipe, I used evaporated milk, sweet condensed milk, coconut milk, coconut cream, and Bacardi light rum. For the spices, I used cinnamon and nutmeg and added a little vanilla extract for some extra flavor.
I did not use eggs because I wanted to keep the recipe light and simple.
Does Coquito have eggs?
Some coquitos do use egg, though I prefer it without. Omitting the eggs means that the drink also has a longer shelf life, so it’s perfect to enjoy across the holiday season.
What’s the difference between Coquito and Eggnog?
Coquito doesn’t contain any sugar as you get the sweetness from the condensed milk and coconut cream. It’s similar in many ways but has more of a tropical flavor.
Which rum should I use for this drink?
Light rum, also known as silver or white rum is ideal for this coquito recipe. It is filtered several times and is very light in color and flavor so it doesn’t overpower the flavor of the coconut and spices.
Can Coquito be made without Rum?
To make a virgin coquito, you can leave out the rum to make a kid-friendly holiday drink. It will still taste creamy and delicious, but without the alcohol.
How to store Coquito
Once you have blended together with your ingredients, pour the drink into sealable mason jars or bottles. Close the lid and keep refrigerated till ready to serve.
How long does Coquito last?
Because my Puerto Rican coconut eggnog is made without eggs, it has a longer shelf life and is a great make-ahead holiday drink. It will keep well in the fridge for up to a week, so it’s a great make-ahead drink to enjoy throughout the holidays.
Serving Coquito
Serve your coquito cold in small drink glasses, add a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg on the top and enjoy. I prefer not to add ice as it dilutes the drink. If you are serving a larger crowd, you can pour it into a pitcher and let everyone help themselves!
Coquito Variations
You can easily make different flavored coquitos. Make my chocolate coquito by adding in some dark chocolate, or try making different flavors like pistachio or strawberry! This is a great base recipe to add your own twist! I prefer not to add cloves to my coquito recipe, but add a little pinch if you like the flavor.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- If your blender is a regular size blender like mine, you will have to separate in two batches and pour into a large pitcher as you go.
- Leftovers can be kept refrigerated for about a week.
- Use light rum in this recipe, not dark.
More Drinks Recipes
- Pomegranate Holiday Sangria
- Cranberry Mojito
- Grapefruit Lime Margaritas
- Black and White Bourbon Milkshake
Coquito (Coconut Eggnog)
Author: Vanessa
Coquito is a Puerto Rican eggnog like drink prepared with coconut milk that is traditionally served on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve).
4.63 from 189 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course co*cktail, Drinks
Cuisine Latino, Puerto Rican
Servings 20 servings
Calories 288 kcal
Ingredients
- 14 oz (1 can) sweet condensed milk
- 12 oz (1 can) evaporated milk
- 13.5 oz (1 can), unsweetened, coconut milk
- 15 oz (1 can) cream of coconut
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups light rum
Instructions
In a blender, combine condense milk, evaporated milk, coconut milk and coconut cream.
Add the cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla.
Finally, add the rum. Blend until all is well combined.
Pour into a glass bottles, seal tightly and refrigerate.
Serve cold in small drink glasses and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg. Shake well before serving.
Notes
If your blender is a regular size blender like mine, you will have to separate in two batches and pour into a large pitcher as you go.
Leftovers can be kept refrigerated for about a week.
Nutrition
Calories: 288kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 3gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 57mgPotassium: 167mgFiber: 1gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 94IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 105mgIron: 1mg
The nutritional information of this recipe and all recipes on mydominicankitchen.com is only an estimate. The accuracy of any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
KeywordCoquito, How to make coquito, Puerto Rican Coquito
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