Coquito Recipe!

Traditional Coquito Recipe made with coconut milk, coconut cream, cinnamon, and other warm spices for the perfect holiday drink!

Coquito is hands down the absolute best holiday drink! Today I’m sharing a traditional Coquito Recipe made with coconut milk, coconut cream, cinnamon, and other warm spices for a perfect holiday drink! 

Coquito is Egg Nog’s cooler, younger cousin. Both of these drinks are enjoyed during the holidays and each family usually has their own tried-and-true recipe. Coquito is a traditional Puerto Rican drink that is infused with the vibrant flavors of the Caribbean. 

Growing up in New York City, the holidays meant that every other neighbor was making, selling, and gifting coquito. It was a tradition that I always looked forward to especially as I helped my aunt create batches and batches of her famous coquito. There were even years where we would hold blind taste test competitions to see which of the neighbors had created the best coquito that year. 

In fact, I was once a coquito seller myself. It was a great way to generate extra income during the holidays. Nowadays, I make special small-batches of coquito strictly to hand out as gifts for friends and family. 

All in all, coquito is fairly easy to make. It’s also just as easy to customize to your liking. You can even experiment with different flavors! Just like Homemade Sofrito – no two coquitos will taste alike!

The best coquito is one that’s perfectly balanced. Not too sweet, not too strong, and not too heavily spiced! If you’ve never made Coquito before, here are a few tricks and tips to get you started – 

• Tip #1: When making the traditional cinnamon tea that serves as the base for this recipe – be sure NOT to burn the cinnamon. You want to steep the ingredients and just the right temperature – just as you would when making regular tea. The longer you steep the spices, the stronger the flavor will be. Keep in mind that this might extract too much of that spicy cinnamon flavor. I personally don’t like a tea that’s too strong. Because of this, I simmer 3 cinnamon sticks and 1 tsp of whole cloves. You can also add star anise if you’d like. Once the tea begins to simmer, turn off the flame and let it sit for 10-15 mins. This is optional but as it cools, remove the cinnamon sticks and other spices to prevent the tea from getting too strong 

• Tip #2: Make sure that you use a good quality coconut milk and coconut cream. These two ingredients are the star of the show. Therefore, it’s best that you’re using coconut products that you absolutely adore. 

• Tip #3: Next, taste test your coquito BEFORE adding the rum. You’ll have even better results if you taste your coquito over ice. This will give you a better idea of how it will taste once it’s properly chilled. Additionally, don’t be afraid to adjust the spices to your liking. This may mean adding more cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla extract, or sweetened condensed milk. 

• Tip #4: Lastly, use a mild rum that you actually like. When it comes to rum, you can use a dark or light rum. You can even mix the two! I prefer to use a rum that I actually enjoy since this can make or break your coquito. How strong you make your coquito is entirely up to you and your preference as well. When in doubt, I prefer to make the coquito with less alcohol since it’s easier for guests to add more rum to their personal drink if they wish 

The holidays are not complete without Pernil, Dominican Potato Salad, Beef Empanadas, and of course… coquito! It’s a staple in Hispanic households during this time of year. Just the mere mention of it brings a smile to my face! Now tell me… I can’t be the only one hungry! 

And now for the recipe….

Coquito Recipe | Holiday Cocktails & Drinks | Chef Zee Cooks

Serves: 6-8 Prep Time: 20 Mins Cooking Time: 15 Mins 15 Mins

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 3.3/5

( 7 voted )

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Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups Evaporated Milk
• 1 ½ cups Coconut Milk
• 1 ½ cups Coconut Cream
• ¾ cups Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 Cup Rum - Dark or Light*
• 1 ½ tsp Ground Cinnamon
• ½ tsp Ground Cloves
• ¼ tsp Ground Nutmeg
• ½ tbsp Vanilla Extract
• 3 Cinnamon Sticks
• ½ tsp Whole Cloves
• 2 Cups Water

Instructions

1. In a small sauce pan over medium heat, add water, whole cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Optional: you can add star anise as well. Once water begins to simmer, turn off flame and let sit for 10-15 mins until tea is formed. Afterwards, drain and set tea aside to cool.
2. In a large blender or stock pot, add evpaorated milk, coconut milk, coconut cream, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground cloves. Mix or blend until well combined.
3. Afterwards, taste coquito and adjust spices to your liking. You can also make it sweeter if you prefer. Then add rum. Mix until well combined. Transfer coquito into a glass container and chill for at least 2 hours before serving over ice.