Coquito, a drink typically made with coconut cream, rum, and milk is a popular part of Christmas in Puerto Rico. Families often pass down recipes that call for special blends of spices and rum as well as additional extracts and essences. Because everyone has their own special way of making Coquito, it is sometimes difficult to find an basic recipe to start with.

According to Puerto Rican historian Israel Meléndez Ayala, the “standard recipe is coconut milk and cream and condensed milk, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla and rum”. With this in mind, he offers a Classic Coquito recipe;

2 cups coconut cream (unsweetened)
1 cup white rum
1 cup aged rum
1 cup condensed milk
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Bottle and refrigerate overnight.

Rum Creams of Caribbean Christmas