Best Coquito Recipe (Puerto Rican Coconut Eggnog) (2024)

FAQs

What is the best rum for Puerto Rican coquito? ›

Best Rum For Coquito

Coquito is made with two different types of rum. Barcardi white rum provides a light and balanced flavor and, Captain Morgan provides a delicious nutty, caramel-like flavor.

But there's one key Coquito element that remains entirely non-negotiable, according to Holguin. “There is always one important ingredient that must be in Coquito, and that is Puerto Rican rum.”

It's because the fat from the coconut is solidifying. If this happens to you, I would pop it in the blender right before serving. That should dissolve any bits that might've solidified.

Egg Yolks.

Egg yolks are an emulsifier, which helps keep the coquito from separating while chilling in your fridge, and they are a thickener so if you like the thickness of eggnog, adding fresh egg yolks will give you that.

Inés calls for white rum here—ideally Puerto Rican rum, like Bacardí or Don Q—but you can swap in dark rum for more syrupy, spiced notes (just avoid coconut rum, which has a more artificial coconut flavor). If you have time, soak a few cinnamon sticks in the bottle of rum for a few days to infuse it with woodsy spice.

Don Q. If you're a spirit-lover visiting Puerto Rico, you're probably looking forward to enjoying the many popular varieties of rum. The top-selling rum on the island is Don Q, a favorite of the locals. It's produced in the Destilería Serrallés in Ponce, and it can be found in a variety of co*cktails all over the island ...

Coquito should be smooth, but it can become chunky if you use coconut milk instead of cream of coconut.

Note: the Coquito can be stored in cold conditions (refrigerated at a medium temp) and are best served chilled, but not too cold. The milk will solidify and will need to warm up before serving if the mix gets too cold, so just be aware!

It's even developed a bit of a seasonal business boom with several people selling their homemade versions during the holidays. What is this? Recently, I was getting that itch for some coquito and I started asking around what the price for a 750ml bottle of it cost. The going price ranged from $20-$35.

Eggnog, as its name implies, is made using eggs along with other staple ingredients. Meanwhile, coquito (which means “l*ttle coconut” in Spanish) requires coconut instead. While traditional Puerto Rican coquito does not include eggs, it is still a common ingredient in some versions, especially in Mexico.

Does coquito ever go bad? ›

Does Coquito Need To Be Refrigerated? Coquito should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator; kept that way, it can keep for anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks. The ingredients may settle between servings, particularly if you used eggs, so be sure to stir before you pour.

Every recipe for these holiday drinks, including Puerto Rican coquito, uses some kind of milk in the recipe, from evaporated to condensed. And as soon as any of those cans are opened, the clock starts ticking before bacteria start to grow to unsafe levels, she said.

A few key signs can identify spoiled Coquito: - Change in Smell: A Coquito that has gone bad may develop an off smell. If it smells sour, yeasty, or just not quite right, it's best to discard it. - Change in Texture: If the Coquito has become lumpy or unusually thick, it may have spoiled.

Goya. Goya was a must for this list. Goya, the premiere brand for authentic Latino food products, also carries coconut milk. This is not surprising as there are many Latino recipes that call for this ingredient, like the popular drink, coquito.

Tip. Add a teaspoon of cornstarch to a dish to prevent curdling of coconut milk. Adding cornstarch will also thicken the sauce, so don't use it if you're making a dish that requires a thin sauce.

The main ingredients in this coquito recipe are full-fat coconut milk, a spice tea, cream of coconut, sweetened condensed milk, light rum, gold or dark rum, spiced rum, pure vanilla extract (optional), ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg.

Don Q is Puerto Rico's top-selling rum.

A cream-based coconut liqueur, Coquito is a traditional Puerto Rican Holiday co*cktail. BACARDÍ Coquito is made with BACARDÍ Superior Rum and a mix of vanilla, cinnamon and other festive spices.