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This authentic Puerto Rican Coquito is a classic cocktail made with cinnamon, coconut and rum, giving it a creamy rich flavor that’s similar to (but way better than) eggnog. The key to infusing this drink with bold cinnamon flavor is a super simple spice tea.

Coquito is a classic cocktail, typically enjoyed around the holidays on the island of Puerto Rico and throughout the diaspora. 

This festive drink features ingredients that are commonly used in Puerto Rican cuisine, like rum, cream of coconut, evaporated milk, cinnamon, and more.

There’s something so special about finishing off a holiday meal with a chilled glass of this sweet drink, shared with your family and friends.

A glass of coquito.

Step by Step Instructions

Spices being strained out of spice tea.
Simmer the water with the ginger, cloves, cinnamon sticks star anise, and all spice until light brown in color. Strain out the whole spcies.
Rum pouring into a blender of coquito.
Blend the spice tea with all the remaining ingredients until smooth and creamy.
coquito pouring into a bottle
Store in bottles with the remaining cinnamon sticks and chill overnight.
A glass of coquito.
Shake well before serving and garnish with a dash of cinnamon.

When you wake up, your coquito should be ready to serve! Not that I recommend starting the day with it… but I’m also not judging. 

Don’t Skip the Spice Tea

The key to infusing this cocktail with all of those warming spices is our super simple homemade spice tea. It’s a quick step that is guaranteed to take your coquito to the next level.

Bottles of coquito on a counter.

Perfect Puerto Rican Pairings

Puerto Rican Rice & Beans with Sofrito (Arroz con Gandules)

Puerto Rican Pasteles (Meat-Stuffed Masa Pockets)

Puerto Rican Flan Recipe

Crispy Puerto Rican-Style Tostones
A glass of coquito.

Buen provecho and please remember to always drink responsibly,

Salima written in cursive
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A glass of coquito.

Puerto Rican Coquito (Better Than Eggnog!)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
  • Author: Salima Benkhalti
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
  • Category: Cocktails, Cocktail, Beverage
  • Method: Raw
  • Cuisine: Puerto Rican, Latin, Vegan
  • Diet: Vegetarian
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Description

This authentic Puerto Rican Coquito is a classic cocktail made with cinnamon, coconut and rum, giving it a creamy rich flavor that’s similar to (but way better than) eggnog. The key to infusing this drink with bold cinnamon flavor is a super simple spice tea.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2 inch nob of fresh ginger, cut into discs
  • 2 cinnamon sticks + 2 more for later
  • 6 allspice balls
  • 10 cloves
  • 1 star anise
  • 1–2 cups rum (depending on your preference)
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 (14oz) can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 (12oz) can of evaporated milk
  • 1 (14oz) can of coconut milk
  • 1 (15oz) can of cream of coconut
  • Optional Garnish: cinnamon, coconut flakes, whipped cream

Instructions

  1. Make the spice tea. Start with the water, ginger, cinnamon sticks, allspice, cloves, and star anise in a pot over medium heat. Simmer until the color begins to turn brown and the spices become fragrant. Strain out all the spices and cool.
  2. Blend the coquito. In a blender, combine the rum, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, coconut milk, cream of coconut and cooled spice tea. Blend for 1 minute or until smooth and creamy. 
  3. Chill overnight. Pour the mixture into a glass pitcher or bottle with an air tight lid, add the remaining cinnamon sticks, and shake well. Let the coquito chill in the fridge for 4+ hours, or overnight.
  4. Enjoy! Shake well to mix before serving and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon. 

Equipment

Notes

Enjoy this recipe?

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