Coquito (Puerto Rican Coconut Rum Drink)
In short: A chilled Puerto Rican holiday drink of coconut milk, cream of coconut, condensed milk, rum and warm spices, blended and bottled ahead. It takes about 10 min in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Resting
- 4 h
- Total
- 10 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 320 kcal
Coquito is the creamy coconut drink that appears in Puerto Rican homes from Thanksgiving until after Three Kings Day. Coconut milk, cream of coconut, condensed and evaporated milk are blended with cinnamon, cloves and white rum, then chilled in bottles. Families guard their proportions closely and hand out bottles as gifts. This version has no eggs, so it keeps well and is simple to make.
Instructions
- Pour the coconut milk, condensed milk, evaporated milk and cream of coconut into a blender. Add the cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla and salt.
- Blend on medium speed for 30 seconds until completely smooth, with no streaks of coconut cream.
- Add the rum and blend for 5 seconds more. Taste, and add a little more rum or evaporated milk to suit your preference.
- Pour into clean glass bottles or jars, leaving a little space at the top. Seal and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Shake well before serving, since the coconut fat can separate. Pour into small glasses over a few ice cubes if you like, and add a cinnamon stick.
Tips
- For a nonalcoholic version, leave out the rum and add 120 ml (1/2 cup) more evaporated milk. It will keep for about 5 days in the fridge.
- Use good white rum, or aged rum for a darker, spicier drink. Always keep the finished coquito refrigerated and shake it before every pour.
Questions and answers
How long does coquito last?
Store it in sealed bottles in the fridge for up to 1 week. The rum helps preserve it, but because it contains dairy it is best finished within a week.
Why did my coquito separate?
Coconut fat rises as the drink chills, which is normal. Shake the bottle hard before serving, or give it a quick whirl in the blender to bring it back together.
Does coquito have eggs?
Some family versions use egg yolks, but this recipe does not. Without raw eggs it is safe to store and to share with guests.
How long does it take to make Coquito (Puerto Rican Coconut Rum Drink)?
About 10 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Coquito (Puerto Rican Coconut Rum Drink)?
About 320 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 35 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 320 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 35 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 33 g |
| Sodium | 180 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
