Pumpkin Spice Coquito

Welcome the holidays with this Pumpkin Spice Coquito (Coquito de Calabaza)! The perfect blend of fall flavors with all the traditional greatness of the classic!

If you’ve been wondering what’s the perfect cocktail to start the holiday season with, search no more!

This spiced pumpkin coquito is the perfect way to welcome the holiday season.

A twist on the classic coquito, makes it perfect for this time of year.

Plus it’s quick to put together, super easy to make and done in under 5 minutes!

Filled with all the aromatic fall flavors we all start to crave as the holidays creep in.

Cinnamon, vanilla, pumpkin spice and all things nice!

You will absolutely fall in love with this Pumpkin Spice Coquito (Coquito de Calabaza)!

What is Pumpkin Spice Coquito?

The classic Puerto Rican Coquito is made with coconut milk, coconut cream, evaporated milk, condensed milk, and cinnamon. It’s a large part of the many traditions we look forward to in the holidays. Coquito is our version of eggnog.

However, just like many different flavors have been created from such recipes as our classic limber, we have also done the same with our traditional Christmas beverage, coquito.

Today you will find all sorts of flavors stemming from the classic.

Pumpkin Spice is just one of those variations and absolutely one of my most favorites.

Different Variations

Other variations include:

• Coquito de Fresa (Strawberry Coquito)
• Coquito de Pistachio (Pistachio Coquito)
• Coquito de Piña (Pineapple Coquito)
• Coquito de Café (Coffee Coquito)
• Coquito de Banana (Banana Coquito)
• Coquito de Oreo (Oreo Cookie Coquito or Cookies and Cream)
• Coquito de Guayaba (Grava Coquito)
• Coquito de Piña Colada (Piña Colada Coquito)
• Coquito de Nutella (Nutella Coquito)

These are just a few of the many that have been created from this delicious traditional classic holiday beverage.

Ingredients

• Cream of Coconut
• Coconut Milk
• Sweetened Condensed Milk – deliciously sweet and helps to give the coquito its creamy consistency.
• Evaporated Milk
• Rum – we normally use dark rum but light works fine too. (You can also exclude it from your coquito recipe if desired.)
• Pumpkin Puree – use only pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. (You can also buy a whole pumpkin and boil until tender and puree)
• Spices – pumpkin pie spice
• Vanilla Extract

Garnishes (optional)

• Cinnamon Sticks
• Coconut Flakes
• Crushed Pecans, Almonds or Walnuts

A Little Bit About the Spices

Some Puerto Rican homes add a combination of spices to their pumpkin coquito. Such as ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground anise, ground nutmeg and ground ginger.

Other homes make a “tea” using allspice, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves. Once the “tea” is done, it will be strained and then added to the coquito.

While other homes simply use a pumpkin pie spice blend.

All versions are delicious!

For this recipe, we will be using the pumpkin pie spice blend. You will find pumpkin pie spice in your baking aisle or condiment section of your supermarket.

Using pumpkin pie spice cuts out having to buy multiple condiments, and does not sacrifice any flavor whatsoever.

It is just as delicious as the other two versions because it is a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and ginger, all in one bottle. Making it perfect for this recipe.

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Coquito

Ingredients and Cans – gather all your ingredients and open all the cans (I always rinse the top of the cans under warm water to remove any residue from factory storage and transit)

Blender – add all the ingredients to a blender.

Mix – Blend all the ingredients for a few seconds or until well combined.

Note: If you do not have a blender, add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl and whisk together until well combined.

Refrigerate – Add the coquito to your desired air tight container like a glass bottle or mason jar.

Note: In Puerto Rico, we save old liquor bottles for exactly this purpose. So if you happen to have any old liquor or wine bottles in your home, use them! These work great. Simply rinse the bottle well with warm water and now you can repurpose them for your coquito!

Refrigerate for a few hours until the coquito is well chilled.

Serving – As the coquito sits in the refrigerator it will thicken, this is normal.

Before serving, shake the bottle to incorporate flavors again.

Because coquito is such a “rich flavored” drink, I prefer to serve it in smaller glasses and offer more to guests as they drink.

Garnishing Glasses for Coquito

Garnishing your glasses is optional but especially pretty for a holiday gathering.

Serve coquito in smaller glasses and rim the glass with coconut flakes, top with crushed walnuts, pecans, or almonds and insert a cinnamon stick. Serve.

To get the coconut flakes to stick to the glass, you will have to set a small plate with a little bit of maple syrup or chocolate syrup. Add about half a cup of coconut flakes to a separate plate.

Flip the glass over onto syrup and then onto the flakes.

Top with crushed nuts and cinnamon sticks if using. Serve.

Best Times to Serve Coquito

Although we traditionally serve coquito from the beginning of the season to well past Three Kings Day, who is to say you cannot have it anytime of the year!

I have family that always has a bottle stored in the refrigerator for a moment’s craving!

As far as when to serve it when you have company over for a holiday gathering, well that’s personal preference too but we normally serve our guests a glass before or after dinner.

In Puerto Rico, it’s common for us to just invite family over for a little coquito, including other drinks, and a few appetizers. We just sit around making jokes, some good chit-chat, and lots of laughter. In other words, a good time!

(If serving coquito after dinner, consider serving in tall shot glasses for a fun change.)

How to Store Leftovers

To store your coquito pour it into an airtight container such as a bottle or mason jar and refrigerate.

If you have added alcohol to your coquito, it will last much longer in the refrigerator than without. Usually a few weeks.

Storing coquito without alcohol lasts about a week in the refrigerator. Discard if you have not drunk it all by then.

Drinking Coquito After it Has Sat in the Refrigerator

Coquito will thicken and can sometimes separate as it sits in the refrigerator, so remember to shake it before serving again.

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