Coquito – Puerto Rican Holiday Coconut Drink

This holiday coconut rum drink is rich, creamy, smooth, and gently spiced, bringing together coconut milk, cream of coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and rum in a silky, festive blend. Known as coquito, this Puerto Rican classic is traditionally enjoyed during the holidays, offering a coconut-forward alternative to eggnog with a tropical, warmly spiced character.

Hey, folks – I hope you all are doing well!

As the holiday season settles in, it feels like the perfect time to share drinks that are meant to be made ahead, poured generously, and enjoyed slowly. This recipe is one of those quiet classics that doesn’t need much fuss, just good ingredients and a little patience. So, let’s dive into Coquito – coconut rum holiday cocktail from Puerto Rica.

Coquito: Holiday Coconut Rum Drink

Coquito is a traditional Puerto Rican coconut rum holiday drink (also known as coconut eggnog) most often served during Christmas and New Year celebrations. While its exact origins are debated, it’s widely considered a Caribbean counterpart to eggnog, shaped by local ingredients such as coconut milk and rum.

Unlike dairy-heavy eggnog, coquito is defined by its coconut base. It’s thick but pourable, lightly sweet, and perfumed with vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The combination of white and spiced rum adds warmth without overwhelming the coconut, making it smooth, aromatic, and deceptively easy to sip.

Why You’ll Love This Holiday Coconut Eggnog

• Make-ahead friendly: This drink improves as it chills, making it ideal for holiday prep.
• Rich yet smooth: Creamy without being heavy, thanks to its coconut base.
• Festive and elegant: A beautiful alternative to traditional eggnog.
• Customizable: Easy to adjust sweetness, spice, or rum strength.

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Holiday Coconut Rum Drink

This creamy coconut holiday drink relies on a short list of classic ingredients, each playing a clear role.

• Cream of coconut: Thick and sweet, this forms the backbone of coquito’s luxurious texture.
• Coconut milk: Adds fluidity and reinforces the coconut flavour without making the drink too heavy.
• Sweetened condensed milk: Traditionally used to sweeten and thicken the drink; I used sweetened coconut condensed milk for extra coconut depth.
• White rum: Provides clean alcohol warmth without overpowering the coconut.
• Spiced rum: Adds complexity and subtle spice notes that complement nutmeg and cinnamon.
• Ground nutmeg: A classic holiday spice that brings warmth and aroma.
• Cinnamon: Used lightly for gentle background spice.
• Vanilla extract (optional): Softens the sweetness and rounds out the flavour.

How to Make Coquito

This creamy coconut holiday drink comes together easily with a blender and a bit of chilling time.

Add the cream of coconut, coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla extract (if using), and any optional additions to a blender. Blend until completely smooth and well combined.

Pour the blended mixture into a large bottle or container with the white and spiced rum. Seal tightly and shake well to fully incorporate the rum into the coconut mixture.

Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably longer, to allow the flavours to meld and the coquito to thicken. Shake again before serving and pour chilled into small glasses, with freshly grated nutmeg if desired.

More Delicious Creamy Cocktails

Are you looking for more holiday creamy cocktail recipes, like this holiday coconut rum drink? Be sure to check more recipes below:

• Eggnog Brandy Alexander Cocktail
• Festive Brandy Alexander Dessert Cocktail
• Festive White Chocolate Martini – A Luxurious Holiday Dessert Cocktail
• Creamy White Christmas Cocktail with Vanilla

I hope you enjoy this festive Holiday Coconut Rum Drink and will give the recipe a try. If you do, please let me know in the comment section below, send me a message on Instagram, or share your photos using the hashtag #havocinthekitchen.e your photos by adding the hashtag #havocinthekitchen.

Cheers!

Coquito – Creamy Puerto Rican Coconut Drink

Recipe by Ben | Havocinthekitchen

Coquito – a creamy coconut holiday drink from Puerto Rica, also known as coconut eggnog, a rich and festive cocktail.

Course: ChristmasCuisine: Puerto Rican, AmericanDifficulty: Easy

5.0 from 1 vote

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Servings

8-10

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Chilling time

4

hours

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups (360 ml) rum – the combination of white and spiced or golden rum

• 1 (14 oz / 396 g) can sweetened condensed milk (traditional ingredient) – I used sweetened coconut condensed milk

• 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can cream of coconut

• 1 (13.5 oz / 400 ml) can coconut milk

• ½ tsp. (about 1 g) freshly ground nutmeg, plus more for serving

• ½ tsp. (about 1 g) ground cinnamon

• ½ tsp. (2.5 ml) vanilla extract, optional

• cinnamon sticks, optional – for serving

Directions

• Add the sweetened condensed milk, cream of coconut, coconut milk, evaporated milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and any optional additions to a blender. Blend – using a blender or simply a whisk – until completely smooth and well combined.
• Pour the mixture into the bottle of rum, seal, and shake well to combine. At this stage, taste and adjust the strength or sweetness as needed, adding a little more rum or milk to suit your preference. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours to allow the flavours to meld and the coquito to thicken; the cream of coconut will naturally help it set as it chills.
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several weeks. Shake vigorously before each serving, then pour chilled into glasses and finish with a light sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg before serving. Typically it’s served with a cinnamon stick, but I forgot to do that when shooting. Enjoy!