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Authentic Coquito Recipe Puerto Rico, North America
JUMP TO RECIPEWe strongly advise you to read the cooking tips before jumping to the recipe though
Tips
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alcohol
Traditionally, pitorro, a type of moonshine rum, was used. However, rum is the standard today. There are many options to choose from — dark or light, higher or lower proof; the choice is yours. Still, if you want to go old-school, dark, 151-proof rum is the way to go. In any case, if you ask Puerto Ricans, always go for Puerto Rican rum. -
method
There are many preparation methods. In the past, coconut milk was made from scratch from raw coconut, but today, coconut milk and other coconut products can be bought ready-made which makes it easier and faster to prepare coquito. Roughly speaking, coquito recipes based on preparation method can be divided into two groups: those that are prepared with tea (a spice-infused water) and cooked (or, more ... Read more -
spices
Coquito is made with warming spices, as it's usually prepared during the holiday season. Some of the spices you will find in coquito recipes are nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and vanilla. -
diy cream of coconut
If cream of coconut is hard to come by in your area, we offer a recipe to make your own. You will need three ingredients — full-fat coconut milk, sugar, and salt. To make, add 400 ml (1 2/3 cups) full-fat coconut milk into a saucepan, place it over low heat, then add 375g (about 1 ⅓ cups) sugar and a pinch of salt. Optionally, you can also add 12g coconut powder (incorporate it using a stick blender)... Read more -
storage and serving
Typically, coquito is bottled, refrigerated, and best used within a week. It is usually served in small glasses as it's very potent. When it comes to garnishes, you can sprinkle the drink with cinnamon or nutmeg, or serve it with a cinnamon stick inside the glass if you're serving it in larger glasses.
Recipe variations
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Creamy Coquito with Egg Yolks
Ready in 2h 20minAlthough there's some debate about whether or not eggs are part of a coquito recipe, as many would refer to a coquito made with eggs as ponche, some Puerto Ricans swear by it. This recipe shows how to prepare a coquito with egg yolks, which gives the drink creaminess. Supposedly, the rum is said to ward off any bacteria, but if you're wary, you can leave out the yolks or use egg beaters. The recipe is adapted from the YT channel of Oswald Rivera, an author of Puerto Rican descent.
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Coquito with Sweet- and Spice-forward Tea
Ready in 2h 35minThis recipe gives instructions on how to prepare a coquito with a spice-infused water locals call tea. The premise behind infusing the water with spices is that the spices will release more flavor when heated, resulting in a more flavorful coquito than one where you add the spices directly to the drink without heating.
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Coquito with Pitorro
Ready in 2h 15minThis is the recipe for the traditional, old-school coquito, which was prepared with pitorro, a type of moonshine rum. However, unlike the traditional recipe, this one does not ask you to prepare coconut milk from scratch but takes a shortcut by using canned coconut products.
Traditional 1950s Style Coquito
PREP 10min
COOK 10min
RESTING 30min
READY IN 50min
This is the recipe for a traditional 1950s-style coquito. All the ingredients, except rum, are simmered and, once cooled, mixed with rum.
Ingredients
12 oz (355 ml) can evaporated milk
15 oz (445 ml) can cream of coconut
4 cinnamon sticks
2 whole cloves
1 star anise
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
grated nutmeg, to taste
10 oz (300 ml) Don Q gold dark rum
Preparation
Step 1/4
Add all the ingredients except rum to a stainless steel saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat and cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
Step 2/4
Strain the mixture, then let it cool.
Step 3/4
Once cooled, add the rum and stir.
Step 4/4
Serve over ice in a rocks glass.
Other Variations
-
Creamy Coquito with Egg Yolks
Ready in 2h 20minAlthough there's some debate about whether or not eggs are part of a coquito recipe, as many would refer to a coquito made with eggs as ponche, some Puerto Ricans swear by it. This recipe shows how to prepare a coquito with egg yolks, which gives the drink creaminess. Supposedly, the rum is said to ward off any bacteria, but if you're wary, you can leave out the yolks or use egg beaters. The recipe is adapted from the YT channel of Oswald Rivera, an author of Puerto Rican descent.
-
Coquito with Sweet- and Spice-forward Tea
Ready in 2h 35minThis recipe gives instructions on how to prepare a coquito with a spice-infused water locals call tea. The premise behind infusing the water with spices is that the spices will release more flavor when heated, resulting in a more flavorful coquito than one where you add the spices directly to the drink without heating.
-
Coquito with Pitorro
Ready in 2h 15minThis is the recipe for the traditional, old-school coquito, which was prepared with pitorro, a type of moonshine rum. However, unlike the traditional recipe, this one does not ask you to prepare coconut milk from scratch but takes a shortcut by using canned coconut products.
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