Coquito - Puerto Rican Coconut Eggnog
A delicious Puerto Rican treat traditionally made around Christmas and the New Year, coquito is a coconut-and-dairy-based sweet drink with rum, cinnamon and (in this recipe!) egg yolks. The eggs are friction-cooked with a high-speed blender, but instructions are given for a stove top tempering method as well.Coquito is easy to adapt to your own desired level of sweetness, and can easily be made without the rum for kids and those who abstain from drinking.Because the egg yolks are cooked, this coquito will keep well in the fridge for at least a week.
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 5 min
- Yield
- 16 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 4 large egg yolks
- 3.25 cups coconut milk ((preferably high-fat content))
- 1.25 cups sugar ((see notes 1 & 2))
- 10 oz sweetened condensed milk ((~1.25 cups))
- 12 oz evaporated milk ((~1.5 cups))
- 1 tsp cinnamon (freshly ground, plus more to garnish)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup rum (or to taste (see note 3))
Instructions
- 1
Combine all of the ingredients, minus the rum, in a high speed blender (e.g. a Vitamix or Ninja). Blend at the highest setting for 5 minutes.
- 2
Allow coquito to cool somewhat, then add the rum as shown above, or to taste. (See note 3 below if omitting rum). Chill overnight. Serve cold, garnished with a little cinnamon or nutmeg, if you like.
- 3
Heat the coconut milk and sugar in a small pot over medium heat. Bring it to a near-simmer, stirring regularly to prevent scorching and to dissolve the sugar.
- 4
Whisk the egg yolks together in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Once the coconut milk and sugar mixture is hot (but not boiling), pour it into the eggs a little bit at a time while whisking vigorously. Take care not to pour too fast, or the eggs will cook all at once and scramble. Do not stop whisking until all of the liquid has been added.
- 5
Combine the tempered mixture with the remaining coquito ingredients, minus the rum, in a blender or food processor. Blend until well combined.
- 6
Add the rum as shown above, or to taste. (See note 3 below if omitting rum). Chill overnight. Serve cold, garnished with a little cinnamon or nutmeg, if you like.