Coquito is the perfect delicious and creamy holiday drink. A "Puerto Rican eggnog" made with coconut milk and spices, this virgin twist on the drink is sure to be a hit at any party!
If you love sweet cinnamon treats, you'll want to try my Dulce de Leche Snickerdoodles next!
Move over, eggnog; it's time to give Coquito the spotlight! This "Puerto Rican eggnog" recipe is made without eggs and alcohol, so anyone can enjoy it. It's so easy and can be whipped up in seconds. It's the perfect virgin drink to serve at your next holiday party.
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🥛 What is Puerto Rican Coquito?
Puerto Rican Coquito is a creamy, coconut-based drink that is similar in consistency and taste to eggnog. It is a traditional holiday drink in Puerto Rico that is usually served on Christmas Eve (Nochebuena.) It is made with a blend of coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Some recipe variations also include rum or brandy for an added kick.
🥘 Ingredients
- Sweetened condensed milk: Use sweetened condensed coconut milk for a vegan substitute.
- Evaporated milk: Use non-dairy milk, such as almond milk, as a vegan substitute.
- Cream of coconut: Don't mix this up with coconut cream, which is not sweetened and has a different consistency.
- Coconut milk
- Vanilla
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Rum extract
- Nutmeg and star anise for garnish
🔪 Instructions
- Add all coquito ingredients to a blender.
2. Blend until ingredients are well-blended.
3. Pour the virgin coquito into a glass.
4. Top coquito with garnishes (i.e. star anise, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, etc) before serving.
🌟 Top Tip
Make the coquito with one can of coconut milk to start out. After blending the coquito, transfer it to a pitcher and add more coconut milk until the desired taste is reached. Adding the remaining coconut milk later prevents the blender from being over-filled and allows you to adjust the taste of the drink to your liking.
🍴 Storage
Coquito can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week in an airtight container.
💭 FAQs
Coquito and eggnog are similar in that they are both creamy, spiced holiday drinks. However, there is a main difference between the two. Coquito is made with coconut, evaporated, and sweetened condensed milk, while eggnog is made with whole milk sweetened with sugar. This gives coquito a distinct coconut flavor and a smooth, velvety texture, while eggnog has a more traditional dairy flavor and a thicker, richer consistency.
Yes, this coquito recipe can be made vegan by swapping out the sweetened condensed milk for sweetened condensed coconut milk and swapping out the evaporated milk for non-dairy milk such as almond milk.
📋 Recipe
Virgin Coquito (Puerto Rican Eggnog)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 14 fluid ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 12 fluid ounce can evaporated milk
- 2 - 13.5 fluid ounce cans coconut milk
- 2 cups cream of coconut
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon rum extract
- Nutmeg star anise, and cinnamon sticks for garnish, optional
Instructions
- 1. Add all ingredients to a blender, reserving one can of coconut milk for later.
- 2. Blend ingredients until smooth and creamy, about 1-2 minutes.
- 3. Transfer coquito to a pitcher. Taste and add the additional can of coconut milk until desired taste has been reached.
- 4. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving (the colder the better.)
- 5. Pour into glasses and top with a sprinkle of ground nutmeg, cinnamon stick, and star anise, if desired, before serving.
Cathleen says
I love this drink so much!! I made it so much over the holidays. Thank you so much for a great recipe 🙂
Jenny says
I’m sure many will enjoy this virgin Coquito recipe. Some may want to consummate their joy with a drop of rum. Enjoy!
Sandhya says
I am not a big fan of eggnog but we loved the virgin coquito. The coconut milk and the cream of coconut just bring such a tropical flare to the whole drink. I will be making this often!
Natalia says
So festive! And it tasted great! If you love a good sweet drink, then this is the recipe for you! Very yummy!
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says
This was a huge hit at our holiday party! So easy and everyone loved it! Definitely a keeper!
Amy Liu Dong says
One of the perfect holiday drinks to make for everyone.
My husband loves it so much!
Moop Brown says
Eggnog is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season and this version of it seems really tasty.
Jamie says
Awesome! This coquito is absolutely delicious and such a masterpiece! Everything just looks perfect. Totally love it!
Sharon says
This virgin coquito is a wonderful cocktail that lets everyone enjoy a classic drink without alcohol.
Ann says
My husband is a huge fan of egg nog, so I had to make it for him. He loved it! Told me to keep the recipe to make again!
Lauren Michael says
I loved that this recipe is egg free so my little one with an egg allergy could try it too! It turned out delicious - a new favorite for the holidays!
Tammy says
I've never had this before but I'm definitely making it! Such a perfect winter cocktail 😀
Loreto and Nicoletta Nardelli says
This virgin coquito looks easy, cozy, and delicious. A new type of eggnog to try. Thank you for sharing!
Rene says
Do you really use 2 cups of coconut cream? The bottle shows 42g of sugar per 2oz.serving.
Ashley says
Yup! 2 cups of cream of coconut is correct. This drink can be pretty sweet, but I don't think it would hurt to cut it back to 1 cup if you prefer!