Coquito Recipes: Cocktail, Mocktail and Vegan

Have you ever heard of comfort food? Of course you have. But, have you ever heard of comfort drinks? Ahh, probably not, right? If so, it’s time to change that – with the Coquito! Oh, this drink is good; I kid you not. It’s often referred to as Puerto Rican eggnog, but I believe if more people tasted the coquito, they’d forget all about eggnog. I was never a big fan of eggnog anyway, but after becoming vegan, it was definitely off-limits. By the way, even if you and your guests aren't vegan, some might be lactose intolerant, so making a veganized coquito might still be a good idea.

You can veganize either drink (coquito or eggnog), but easier and tastier to veganize the coquito. The vegan version is also better for your health. So, for today, I’m going to share a cocktail and mocktail and a veganized cocktail. They are all kind of thick and sweet, so a coquito isn’t really the kind of drink you have too many of in one sitting. Keep that in mind, if you’re planning a holiday party. Definitely add the coquito the drink list, but be sure to have a few lighter drinks too. Just make enough coquitos for each guest to have two or three. More than that would be overkill.

Whether you try these recipes or not, I really hope you try the coquito – you won’t be disappointed. You’ll always remember your first coquito. For me, it was in my college years. At the time, I was temping as an administrative assistant at a major insurance company. The rest of the party wasn’t so memorable, nor was the job itself, now that I’m thinking about it, but the coquito? That, I remember.

Coquito Recipe

1 750-ml bottle of vanilla rum

1 13-1/2 ounce can coconut milk

1 15-ounce can cream of coconut

2.5 12-ounce cans evaporated milk

1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

Blend ingredients and refrigerate. Sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish with cinnamon sticks before serving.

(Virgin) Coquito Mocktail Recipe

Follow the recipe above, but substitute the vanilla rum for 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract.

Vegan Coquito Recipe
1 can Coconut milk

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 can Cream of Coconut
1 cup Almond milk
2 cups Bacardi rum

Blend ingredients and refrigerate. Sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish with cinnamon sticks before serving.