Portions: 8 shots Calories: 325kcal |
Coquito is a traditional Puerto Rican Christmas beverage. I show you how to make it 2 ways. This eggnog-style drink is traditionally made with rum and coconut milk, and here I bring you the ancestral coquito recipe, and the more modern, simple and quick method.
By - Revised . Original Nov 18, 2019.
How to Make Coquito Puerto Rican Recipe.
Why we ❤️ it
- You can find two ways to make coquito in this recipe, the ancestral way, and a modern simplified recipe that requires no cooking.
- This creamy, coconut-forward, christmasy drink is perfect to treat your friends dropping by on the holidays, or as an edible gift.
How to Make Coquito Puerto Rican Recipe
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Utensils and tools
- Blender for no-cook coquito, below for traditional coquito
- A bottle [1 liter] washed with hot water
Ingredients
Egg-free no-cook coquito
- 2 cups unsweetened coconut milk, [400 ml] 15-ounce can
- 1 cup condensed milk, [200 ml]
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup white rum
- Pinch freshly-grated nutmeg, for garnishing
Traditional coquito
- 2 cups coconut milk, [400 ml] 15-ounce can
- 1 cup condensed milk, [200 ml]
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 cup white rum
- Pinch freshly-grated nutmeg
Video
Preparation
1. Prepare coquito
- Making egg-free no-cook coquito:In a blender vase combine coconut milk, condensed milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and white rum. Blend until well mixed.- Making traditional coquito:In a large bowl, combine coconut milk, condensed milk, egg yolks, and rum. With the wire whisk, break the yolks and stir until it's all well combined.Sieve the mixture into the saucepan to discard undissolved solids.Take to the stove and heat to low temperature, stirring constantly until the liquid reaches a temperature of 165°F [73.89 °C] and maintains it for 10 minutes (15-20 minutes in total). ⚠️ It should not reach a boil because the egg yolks would overcook and ruin the texture.Remove from the heat and stir for about 3 minutes to lower the temperature slightly.
2. Bottle
Add the ground nutmeg and stir until it's combined.Using a funnel, pour the mixture into the clean bottle and screw the cap.
3. Chill and store
Chill in the fridge before serving (at least 4 hours).You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days if it's kept chilled at all times.
Top tips
- Picking rum: Pick your favorite white Puerto Rican rum, but any Caribbean white rum would work well. You don't need the most expensive stuff. There's plenty of good quality inexpensive rum you can use for this cocktail.
- Alcohol free version: If you do not partake in alcohol, you can make a virgin coquito by leaving out the rum. In that case, you should add an extra cup of coconut milk, because, without the extra liquid, it would be too thick.
- Shelf life: Coquito has a safe shelf life of 3-4 days if stored at a maximum temperature of 40°F [4.44 °C]. Once it reaches room temperature, it's not safe to return the drink to the fridge.
- Storing: If you won't consume a whole large bottle at once, it's best to store it in smaller bottles.
- Regalar: Coquito bottles make great Christmas edible gifts. You can make extra to give away.
Serving suggestions
This is traditionally served for Christmas, but it has also become a Thanksgiving drink for Puerto Ricans. Serve it in small shot glasses.
Shake the bottle a bit before serving, so it's uniformly smooth.
If you love coquito, you'll certainly love this coconut flan too!
Don't miss this pistachio coquito recipe!
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Alongside mofongo and piña colada, coquito is part of the trilogy of Puerto Rican dishes I can't live without. Ponche crema or rum eggnog is a traditional Christmas drink around Latin America, but coquito is a Puerto Rican eggnog that has tropical flavors we can't help but love.
This coconut eggnog recipe, the official Puerto Rican Christmas drink, is based on and inspired by the Puerto Rican coquito from the book Puerto Rican Cookery by Carmen Ahoy Valldejuli. A must-have for anyone who wishes to learn about the cuisine of Puerto Rico. It has the best coquito recipe I have ever tried: simple and with just a handful of ingredients, a no-fuzz method, and a rich and smooth coconut flavor.
There are many versions of this holiday drink, and the preferred spices vary from home to home. Some people add cinnamon sticks while it boils, some add cloves, some add small slivers of ginger, or a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and some garnish it with a sprinkle of cinnamon powder when served. I love the simplicity of the traditional recipe, but you can try playing with it.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutrition information.
Awesome recipe, my family is for Puerto Rico and we love coquito.
Oh, woah, this is exaclty what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing!