Coquito - Classic Puerto Rican Christmas Drink Recipe (2024)

Posted: Nov 26, 2016 · Updated: Dec 5, 2023 · By Chrysa

Learn how to make Coquito – A Classic Puerto Rican Christmas Drink Recipe with rum, coconut and spices. DELICIOUS!

Every family has holiday traditions. A lot of those traditions often relate to food and drink!

When I joined my husband’s family, one of my favorite new-to-me traditions was Coquito, a classic Puerto Rican Christmas drink recipe!

My sister-in-law, Lauranela, is the one who is the EXPERT coquito maker in the family. Since we haven’t been able to be together for the last few years, I really miss it!!

Flip Top Glass Bottle with Stopper

If you’re not familiar with coquito, it is an amazingly delicious coconut and rum based drink flavored with holiday spices.

For families from Puerto Rico, coquito is a must during the holidays. You could almost think of it as a Puerto Rican eggnog.

Different families each have their own coquito recipe and make it in different ways, but the coconut flavor, rum and yummy spices are always a must.

This recipe calls for sweetened condensed milk, but if you don’t have it on hand you can use this recipe to make your own homemade sweetened condensed milk.

One key to getting the maximum flavor from your coquito is to make sure it sits before serving it.

A couple of hours is the minimum time to wait, but overnight is much better. Also be sure to serve it VERY cold!

Another key is using a good quality coconut milk and coconut cream. In our coquito recipe we recommend Coco Lopez.

If you can’t find it in your area, we have links below where you can find it online. Enjoy!

Whole ClovesMcCormick Ground NutmegMcCormick Ground CinnamonCoco Lopez Cream of CoconutCoco Lopez Coconut MilkCarnation Evaporated MilkEagle Brand Sweetened Condensed MilkStar AniseBall Mason Jar

Coquito – Classic Puerto Rican Christmas Drink Recipe

Coquito Ingredients:

See recipe card below for amounts and complete instructions.

• salt
• ground cloves
• nutmeg
• ground cinnamon
• coconut flavored Bacardi
• cream of coconut (Coco Lopez is the best!)
• coconut milk
• evaporated milk
• condensed milk
• anise stars
• water

How to Make Coquito:

1. In a small pot, add water and anise. Gently boil for 2-3 minutes. Let cool completely, remove star anise seeds and discard, saving the water.

2. In a blender, add all of the ingredients, minus the Bacardi. (Depending on size of the blender, you may have to do this in batches.)

3. Add mixture to a pitcher. Add in Bacardi, and with a large spoon, mix. Refrigerate for at least an hour or two before serving. Four hours is better.

How to Serve Coquito:

You can serve coquito in almost any kind of glass. It really doesn’t need a garnish, but if you want to get extra festive, you can sprinkle it with a little bit of cinnamon or nutmeg. You can also add in a cinnamon stick for stirring.

When serving Coquito you DO want to make sure that it is nice and cold.

What Kind of Rum Should I Use for Coquito?

You can use any type of good quality white rum, just make sure it is Puerto Rican rum! We opt for Bacardi. To make it extra coconutty, we love the Bacardi Coconut Rum.

How Long Can Coquito Be Stored?

Since this coquito recipe doesn’t have raw eggs, like eggnog often does, it can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks. My guess is that it won’t last that long because it’s just too delicious!

We hope you’ll love this coquito recipe as much as we do!