Puerto Rican Holiday Drink: Coquito

Coquito is a traditional holiday drink popular in Puerto Rico. Similar to eggnog, the creamy drink is often made with rum, but what sets it apart is the Coquito's rich coconut flavor. Coquito can be prepared with a variety of spices including vanilla, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, or cloves depending on your taste. The most common recipes call for nutmeg or cinnamon.

Coquito is often served in small glasses, or even shotglasses, although expect your guest to come back for numerous refills. Coquito is sometimes served over ice and garnished with sprinkles of powdered nutmeg or cinnamon.

The following recipe serves four to six people.

Don't be afraid to adjust this recipe to your liking. Some prefer a thicker mixture, others may favor a richer coconut taste. Coquito is traditionally made with raw eggs, but this recipe does not require it. The drink can be made with or without rum. Using coconut flavored rum can give it an extra kick.

2 cans of coconut cream (8 ounces)

1 can of sweetened condensed milk (12 ounces)

1 can of coconut milk (12 ounces)

Add white rum according to your taste (or Coconut Rum)

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

About one teaspoon of powered cinnamon

Add all of the ingredients in a blender and mix well. After mixing, pour the drink into a large bottle and refrigerate it for about an hour. It is best to store the mixture in a bottle with a lid so that it can be shaken well before pouring. For extra flavor, some add a cinnamon stick or two to the bottle. If you don't happen to have an empty glass bottle on hand, you can store the mixture in milk container with a tight cap, (please make sure it is on tight, nothing puts a damper on a holiday get-together like having to clean Coquito off the ceiling!)

Coquito can be served over ice, though some prefer Coquito served at room temperature.

Although this recipe does not use raw eggs, if you chose to go that route, be aware that ingesting raw eggs has been linked to Salmonella. Consuming raw eggs should be avoided by children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. If you have your heart set on the "egg" flavor, you can substitute the sweetened condensed milk for store-bought and pasteurized eggnog. Just remember to adjust the other ingredients accordingly, to balance out the egg-nog flavor with the coconut flavor.