Try this rich and sweet Puerto Rican punch this holiday.
Every December I throw our annualChristmas cookieswap.
Its a simple event that weve honed to turnkey tradition over the years.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Drink-wise I keep it simple:mulled wineand this coquito.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
What Is Coquito?
Coquito is an easy cocktail to make.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
As the host, I feel its my merrymaking duty to introduce people to it.
Coquito is a traditional punch from Puerto Rico.
I like to sweeten mine with sweetened condensed milk and cream of coconut.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Good brands are Coco Lopez or Goya.
Can You Make This Vegan?
I would recommend using almond milk or soy milk in place of the evaporated milk.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Start slow with adding the sugar, and taste as you go until you reached the desired sweetness.
Suggestions and Substitutions
Anything after those basic ingredients is up to you.
Like so many dishes, coquito doesnt have an exact recipe.
This means that coquito is a recipe that you shape to your taste.
Have fun, experiment, and make the recipe yours.
It will quickly become part of your holiday tradition, too.
you might also keep coquito indefinitely in the refrigerator since the amount of alcohol keeps it preserved.
But it begins to separate and look dodgy after more than three days, which may make you nervous.
Can You Age Coquito?
Our longtime contributor and Puerto Rican cooking expert Marta Rivera offered this advice about storing coquito.
“If you use alcohol, it will keep indefinitely.
The alcohol will kill the bacteria that could potentially cause a threat.
The longest I’ve aged my coquito is two years.
It develops a deep, complex flavor and the alcohol mellows out dangerously well.”
Looking for More Holiday Cocktails?
Warm over medium-high heat until just starting to simmer.
Remove from heat, cover, and let infuse for 30 minutes.
Add 1 cup of rum and taste; add more rum for a stronger punch.
I usually stick to around 2 cups as I prefer it strong.
Chill this in the fridge for at least 2 hours or for up to 3 days.
Serve neat or over ice in small portions.
Garnish with grated nutmeg or ground cinnamon as desired.
