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Classic Coquito: Easy Puerto Rican Christmas Drink Recipe

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This classic coquito is a thick, creamy, and perfectly spiced Puerto Rican Christmas drink that comes together in just 15 minutes of active time. It’s the taste of the holidays in a glass, perfect for sharing with family and friends.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cans (13.5 oz each) full-fat coconut milk
  • 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
  • 1 cup cream of coconut (e.g., Coco López)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 cup white rum (optional, e.g., Bacardi or Don Q)
  • Pinch of salt
  • Cinnamon sticks (for garnish, optional)
  • Toasted coconut flakes (for garnish, optional)
  • Fresh nutmeg, grated (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Gather your ingredients. Take everything out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature for about 10 minutes.
  2. Blend the coconut base. In your blender, combine both cans of coconut milk, the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and cream of coconut. Blend on low for about 30 seconds until everything is combined.
  3. Add the spices. Pour in the vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and a pinch of salt. Blend again on low for another 20 seconds.
  4. Add the rum (if using). Pour in the rum and blend on low just until combined. Do not over-blend.
  5. Taste and adjust. Adjust sweetness or spices to your preference.
  6. Strain (optional but recommended). Pour the coquito through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl for an ultra-smooth texture.
  7. Bottle it up. Use a funnel to pour the coquito into bottles or jars, leaving about an inch of headspace.
  8. Chill. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but overnight is better for flavors to meld.
  9. Shake before serving. The coconut cream may separate; just give the bottle a good shake before pouring.

Notes

For a dairy-free version, replace evaporated milk with another can of coconut milk and use dairy-free sweetened condensed milk. For a non-alcoholic version, omit the rum and add an extra splash of vanilla or more coconut milk. The flavors improve after a day or two in the fridge. Coquito keeps for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator and can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: coquito, Puerto Rican Christmas drink, coconut drink, holiday drink, eggnog alternative, creamy drink, rum drink

Find it online: https://perkypan.com/classic-coquito-easy-puerto-rican-christmas-drink-recipe/