Family recipe: The best Coquito (Puerto Rican Eggnog) recipe - Fab Everyday (2024)

FAQs

What is the best rum for Puerto Rican coquito? ›

My favorite white rum to use here is Bacardí Superior—it's light and aromatic, with floral and fruity notes. This infusion comes together in seconds and can be done the day before folks come to gather. Spiced rum doesn't end with coquito either. After you make a batch for coquito, go ahead and make another.

Another traditional nog: coquito

It's nutritionally similar to eggnog but has more added sugars thanks to the sweetened condensed milk. You might wonder whether this recipe can be lightened up. The answer is yes! But it's a little tricky.

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.

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.

Coquito should be smooth, but it can become chunky if you use coconut milk instead of cream of coconut. The fat in coconut milk can separate and solidify towards the top of the container.

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. You can also make coquito WITHOUT rum for kids to enjoy and then serve the coconut co*cktail to the adults with the shots of the rum next to it.

Traditionally made with eggs, cream, milk, and sugar, no one would say that eggnog is a healthy drink. Even a small serving can pack significant amounts of calories, fat, saturated fat, and added sugars. And then there's the fact that homemade eggnog made with raw eggs can be a food-poisoning risk.

People with diabetes, lactose intolerances, or egg and dairy allergies, as well as those abstaining from alcohol would all find this drink to be problematic. For the rest of people who don't mind ice cream and whipped cream every so often, imbibing a glass or two can still raise a red flag to the digestive system.

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.

As your coquito chills in the fridge, it will thicken. If you have already let it chill in the fridge and it is still too thin that usually means the coconut milk you used was one without the thick coconut cream on top.

What does coquito mean in English? ›

Coquito ( lit. 'little coconut') is a traditional Christmas drink that originated in Puerto Rico. The coconut-based alcoholic beverage is similar to eggnog, and is sometimes referred to as Puerto Rican Eggnog (though incorrectly, as coquito does not call for eggs).

The foam results from the additives in the canned milk, and the fat from the coconut milk gets excited. You can strain the coquito into the bottles if the foam or chunks bother you.

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.

It's just the coconut fat solidifying. You can either scoop it out and discard it or try to whisk it back in. You can also blend it again for a few seconds before serving.

You can freeze this coquito recipe if you want it to last longer. As there's rum in this, the drink will not freeze solid. Be sure to use a freezer-safe container. Just add it back to the blender when ready to serve without thawing it first.

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

BACARDÍ Coquito is made with BACARDÍ Superior Rum and a mix of vanilla, cinnamon and other festive spices.

Don Q. Don Q, manufactured by the Serrallés family in the town of Ponce, is the most popular rum in Puerto Rico, but it doesn't have a distillery open to the public. You can, however, visit the Serrallés Castle Museum.

Rich, creamy Coquito is a classic Puerto Rican co*cktail made with coconut cream, coconut milk, baking spices and, most important, rum. It is a centerpiece of the year-end festivities for many families on the Caribbean island.