Welcome the holiday season with a traditional Christmas drink- Coquito, also known as Puerto Rican Egg Nog. This decadent and authentic Coquito recipe is loaded with tons of coconut flavor and vanilla then topped off with white rum and a cinnamon stick.
This Coquito recipe has been a Foodie and Wine reader favorite since 2017!
What Is Coquito
Coquito is the Puerto Rican version of eggnog. This traditional Puerto Rican holiday drink is typically made with coconut milk, coconut cream, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and rum. Its creamy texture and rich coconut flavor is complemented by the warmth of the rum and the aromatic spices.
The drink is often served chilled and is especially popular during the Christmas season. I typically serve it next to a batch of warm mulled wine.
Egg Nog vs Coquito
Egg Nog and Coquito are both traditional holiday drinks, but they have distinct differences rooted in their cultural origins and ingredients:
Egg Nog is a popular drink in the United States and Canada during the holiday season. The festive drink recipe includes milk, cream, sugar, whipped eggs, and spices like ground nutmeg or cinnamon. It’s often spiked with brandy, rum, whiskey, or bourbon. Egg Nog has a creamy, rich texture, and the taste can vary from quite sweet to mildly spiced.
Coquito, meaning “Little Coconut” in Spanish, is a classic Puerto Rican drink, often served on Christmas Eve and Christmas. While referred to as “creamy coconut eggnog”, its flavor profile is quite different. The main ingredients are coconut milk, coconut cream, condensed milk, vanilla, cinnamon, eggs, and rum. Coquito has a distinct coconut flavor and is generally creamier and richer than traditional Egg Nog.
Puerto Rican Coquito
Here are the ingredients required to make Puerto Rican Eggnog!
- Full-fat Coconut Milk (fresh coconut milk or canned)
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Cream of Coconut (I like the Coco Lopez brand)
- Evaporated Milk
- Eggs
- Ground Cinnamon
- Pure Vanilla Extract (or Vanilla Bean)
- White Rum
- Optional Garnish: Cinnamon Sticks and Coconut Flakes
Tip – use the leftover spices to make a Christmas Simmering Pot. Use the leftover condensed milk to make Thai Milk Tea.
How To Make Puerto Rican Eggnog
It’s surprisingly simple to make this complex flavored drink. Make a batch or two before the holiday’s so it’s ready to go come party time.
Blend The Coconut Mix –Add the evaporated milk, condensed milk, cream of coconut and coconut milk to a large blender and blend until combined. Make sure to include the coconut fat from the cream of coconut.
Add the Froth –Add the egg yolks and blend for 10 seconds.
Add the Flavor –Add the rum, vanilla, and ground cinnamon, and blend until combined.
Refrigerate –Transfer the mixture to a pitcher and refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours (until cold).
Serve – When ready to serve, pour a small amount over ice and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Best Rum
The best rum to use to make creamy coquito is light rum, however you can always use coconut rum, spiced rum or even dark rum. It will alter the flavor, obviously, but the essence of the drink will be intact. I usually use Bacardi and make a Bacardi Coquito. If you make rum co*cktails often, you probably already have a favorite brand/type you can use.
Alcohol Content
Before moving on to the recipe, I have (2) warnings for Coquito Virgins: Remember the first time you had a sip of wine and swore you were tipsy? Yeah, this recipe will do just that. It’s strong. It’s meant to be poured over ice and sipped. If you’re not a sipper (HELLO!) you can cut back on the rum. Or not. Just know it’s one boozy drink.
Variations
While the recipe is perfect as is, there are a few variations you can make to account for different dietary needs or preferences:
Virgin Coquito
To make it alcohol-free, just omit the rum altogether. No replacement is needed.
Coquito Without Eggs
Don’t eat raw eggs? Just leave the raw egg yolks out of this Coquito drink. This Puerto Rico Coquito Recipe is just fine without them – it just won’t be frothy.
Other Warm Spices and Additions
The best thing about this rum co*cktail is it’s adaptability. Sprinkle in some cocoa, orange zest, nutmeg or the like to adjust to your preference.
Tips
- Store in an airtight container until ready to serve. Give it a good shake or stir before pouring.
- Cans of cream of coconut have a layer of thick coconut fat on the top. This is normal – do not throw it out. It does go into the blender!
- Use the leftover ingredients to make an Eggnog Martini!
Without Further Ado…the best Coquito recipe! For Christmas, make sure to check out our huge list ofChristmas Party Themes.
This recipe was originally posted in December 2017, but has been updated with new photos and additional text. Below is one of the original photos.
Coquito (Puerto Rican Coconut Eggnog)
Welcome the holiday season with a traditional Christmas drink- Coquito, also known as Puerto Rican Egg Nog. This decadent and authentic Coquito recipe is loaded with tons of coconut flavor and vanilla then topped off with white rum and a cinnamon stick.
4.09 from 23 votes
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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cooling: 3 hours hours
Total Time: 3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 10 Drinks
Calories: 531kcal
Author: Darcey Olson
Cost: $15
Ingredients
- 1 can Evaporated Milk ((12 oz))
- 1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk ((14 oz))
- 1 can Sweetened Cream of Coconut ((15 oz))
- 1 can Coconut Milk ((14 oz))
- 1½ cup White Rum or Coconut Rum
- 2 Medium Egg Yolks
- 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
Add the evaporated milk, condensed milk, cream of coconut and coconut milk to a large blender and blend until combined.
1 can Evaporated Milk, 1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk, 1 can Sweetened Cream of Coconut, 1 can Coconut Milk
Add the egg yolks and blend for 10 seconds.
2 Medium Egg Yolks
Add the rum, vanilla, and ground cinnamon, and blend until combined.
1½ cup White Rum or Coconut Rum, 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon, 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
Transfer the mixture to a pitcher and refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours (until cold).
When ready to serve, pour a small amount over ice and top with a dash of ground cinnamon.
Notes
Nutritional information is only estimated.
Nutrition
Calories: 531kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 116mg | Potassium: 344mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 54g | Vitamin A: 243IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 218mg | Iron: 2mg
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