COQUITO - a decadent coconut Christmas drink!

Today we’re making Coquito! This is a popular Puerto Rican Christmas drink, but it’s actually enjoyed from mid November to Dia de Reyes (Jan 6). Most versions of Coquito are family recipes, but since my family doesn’t make Coquito, I thought I’d create a recipe of my own. It’s rich and sweet with subtle spices - what’s not to like? If you want to try this dairy-free, sub out the evaporated and sweetened condensed milks for nondairy alternatives (coconut or oat). Hope you enjoy the Coquito, and happy holidays!

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Video/editing/illustrations by Azusa Inaba 🎥 🎨

TIME STAMPS
Intro: 0:00
A Puerto Rican Drink: 1:08
The Ingredients: 3:19
The Spice Tea: 4:16
The Build: 5:43
Sips & Sign Off: 8:01

THE COQUITO RECIPE 5:53
8 oz. (240 ml) coconut milk
4 oz. (120 ml) evaporated milk
4 oz. (120 ml) sweetened condensed milk
2 oz. (60 ml) cream of coconut*
1/4 oz. (7.5 ml) vanilla extract
2 oz. (60 ml) chilled spice tea**
Pinch of salt
4 oz. (120 ml) Don Q Gold Rum
Grated nutmeg for garnish

1.75 cups (420ml) white sugar
13.5 oz. (400ml) unsweetened full fat coconut milk (1 can)
Pinch of salt
In a medium sauce pan, combine sugar, coconut milk, and salt. Stir over heat until sugar is completely dissolved.

**SPICE TEA RECIPE
4 cinnamon sticks
25 whole cloves (1 tsp)
1 whole star anise
1 cup (240 ml) water
- Boil water with spices until volume is reduced by half. Chill in fridge or freezer.

THE TOOLS

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[anthonypena]

As a Boricua, thanks for not using eggs 😂, but seriously I can’t overstate the excitement of seeing this recipe after following you for a couple of years!

[JeronimoColon]

Puerto Rican here, nice job nailing the basics. Super happy to see you showing some love for our holiday drink.

Our family recipe, passed down about 4-5 generations, uses eggs - a metric ton of them. I think the classic rendition, as I understand it also used them - hence the moniker Puerto Rican eggnog. But, as you mentioned, everyone does it a bit differently and there’s nothing wrong with that. 🙂

A tip if you’d like to try an egg based recipe. For my family’s recipe, we blend equal amounts of egg with 151 rum. We let that mixture “marinate” in the fridge for a couple of days to kill off any potential pathogens, then use it to make our coquito.

Cheers!

[curtisridenour]

My coworker is from Puerto Rico. We made some and it is delicious! Remember, what one rum can do, 3 can do better.

[galoki]

My wife is PR. Her recipe is almost the same as yours here. I came up with a boost for it. After you pour into a glass hit it with some coffee liquor. My father in law loved it.

[davelafontaine]

You are spot on with the familial variations and secrecy and, to be honest, rivalry! My grandma (Tata) added egg yolk as many others did. It is common to make Coquito weeks in advance to let it “cure.” I suspect the raw egg was the reason for this. Last comment: thanks for using Don Q rather than the ubiquitous Bacardi or some exotic shi-shi rum. Well done señor!

[CT-_RX]

I approve! Some minor tweaks I’ve made over the years is to sub out the evaporated milk for half and half, and play with the ratios of Coco Lopez and condensed milk. The close friends and family bottles get real vanilla bean too. It’s great with a high proof bourbon as well (or Don Q Reserva 7).

[robbvaneck]

First ingredient is love. Everything else is flexible. A non-dairy version is super easy with high fat coconut milk and sugar almost like making creme of coconut. btw... this stuff is bomb in hot cocoa, coffee, or warm by itself

[esoler]

Great Recipe, It's very true that in Puerto Rico every family has their own recipe also there are MANY variations that add different flavors to what it's considered the "base" recipe such as almond, pistacho and the ever-popular Nutella among others. The predominant choice of alcohol is white rum or pitoro (moonshine) if you can find it. Technique wise we usually pour the creamier ingredients first then rinse with the other ingredients also not everyone makes "The tea".

[stew]

Totally loved this video because my neighbor that unfortunately moved away, used to make this every Christmas for us and we absolutely loved it. Might have to try and make this on my own next Christmas

[cristianrodriguez]

Don Q is the king in PR when it comes to rum. That's a nice coquito recipe.

[skyllalafey]

Wow, that looks tasty! Mom voice: for those who don't know, though it's reasonably safe(ish) with Pyrex like he used here, please do not pour boiling liquid into glass then put directly in the freezer; the possibility of shattered glass would not be a fun holiday treat.

[manmanda]

My grandfather (my first Christmas without him) when he didn’t use the powdered spices would scald some milk and add the whole spices and let it simmer super gently and use the milk in coquito and to make arroz con dulce

Then he would add extra powdered spices before blending/garnish
But the spiced milk added extra depth to the beverage!
So the tea with water is not too far from what some people do on the island!

[rafaelnadal]

Wow!!! I remember commenting about this a while back and you did it! There's a joke en PR that there's 3 million Puerto Ricans... so there's 3 million recipes, and they're all the best.😂

This is mine and it's the best:
- 1 can condensed milk
- 2 evaporated milk cans (small cans)
- 2 cans coco lopez coconut cream
- 1 cup white rum
- 1 cup dark rum
- vanilla to tastee
- generous amount of cinnamon

[joserosado]

Being Puerto Rican myself, I appreciate you covering one of my favorite Christmas Cocktails! Great recipe my family would also approve of. Merry Christmas and keep the awesome cocktail content flowing! 👏🏽💪🏽🇵🇷

[jaspervangheluwe]

Just made a vegan Coquito bottle for NYE, my god! Tastes amazing... Added 1oz (to 500ml of Coquito) of bitter cacao liqueur, just to balance the sweetness a little bit.

Vegan: I used unsweetened soymilk to make the evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk.

Thanks for the recipe! Happy New Year!

[phrclru]

Tried this last night, first time making coquito, and I gotta say this is 💣

[nicksowards]

I had the good fortune of getting to try a couple batches from locals when we were restoring and upgrading AT&T's network after Hurricane Maria. Good stuff, thanks for including. Happy Holidays, may you and yours make 2024 your best year yet.

[znachkiznachki]

I too was overwhelmed when I tried to find a recipe for Coquito. So, thanks for your efforts to make it easier for all of us! Can't wait to try this.

[kronyn]

Because of you, friends now want me to make drinks for their get together events. I will present this version to group and see what they have to say. One more thing, I made your version of the Espresso Martini and they can not get enough of it. Thanks.
Happy Holidays!

[CypherusMcClain]

I may not be Puerto Rican, but with family coming from Puerto Rico, I can confirm that this recipe (while not one I am familiar with) is absolutely amazing. I must give it a try this year.