Coquito Season is Here: A Puerto Rican Holiday Tradition

The holiday season is finally here, and for us Puerto Ricans, that can only mean one thing—Coquito season! 🎉

Coquito is the ultimate Puerto Rican holiday drink that will fill you with all the festive cheer. For me, it's a nostalgic treat that instantly brings back memories of the holidays, especially when I was a kid sipping on the non-alcoholic version. While the Caribbean boasts different variations of this delicious drink, ours is the true original!

Now, let's clear up some confusion: Coquito is often called "Puerto Rican eggnog," but let’s set the record straight—Coquito does NOT contain eggs, and it is NOT eggnog (I’m pretty passionate about this...LOL).

This creamy, coconut-based drink has become a beloved holiday tradition across Puerto Rico. Its roots trace back to the 16th century when the Spanish brought rum to the Caribbean. Over time, Puerto Ricans mixed this spirit with local ingredients like coconut, cinnamon, and nutmeg to create the rich, velvety drink we adore today. Traditionally enjoyed during Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, coquito brings families and friends together to celebrate the season, with each home adding its own twist to the recipe. With its sweet flavor and a warm kick from the rum, coquito is the perfect toast to joy, love, and togetherness during the holidays.

The best part? Coquito is super easy to make and makes for the perfect festive gift. Every year, I grab a few cute bottles (shoutout to Target’s $3 bin!) and fill them with homemade coquito to share the holiday spirit with friends and family. And guess what? Not a single complaint! NEVER 😊

Here’s the recipe below—cheers to the season!

Yield: 1 Liter
Author:
Coquito de Puerto Rico

Coquito de Puerto Rico

Coquito is the ultimate Puerto Rican holiday drink that will fill you with all the festive cheer.

Ingredients

  • 2 cans (12 oz each) evaporated milk
  • 1 can (15 oz.) cream of coconut
  • 1 can (13.5 oz.) coconut milk
  • ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
  • ½ cup white rum (optional)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon, plus more for garnish
  • Cinnamon sticks
  • A small pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. In a blender, combine evaporated milk, cream of coconut, coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, rum and the spices. Blend until all ingredients are well combined, 1-2 minutes.
  2. Pour coconut mixture into glass bottles; cover and refrigerate.
  3. To serve, shake bottle well to combine, because it will thicken. Pour into small serving glasses. Garnish with cinnamon. And that’s it!
  4. This is a great gift during the holiday. Simply find some pretty glass bottles, add a tag and voilá! Enjoy!