Coquito Ice Cream Recipe (2024)

By Krysten Chambrot

Coquito Ice Cream Recipe (1)

Total Time
45 minutes, plus overnight chilling
Rating
4(92)
Notes
Read community notes

It’s not Christmas in a Puerto Rican household without coquito, a deeply creamy coconut and rum co*cktail. Coquito recipes vary widely, but most include coconut milk, coconut cream, rum and sweetened condensed milk. Some have egg yolks, some don’t. Others skip the cinnamon in favor of nutmeg. This adaptation, inspired by an ice cream sold at Torico Ice Cream in Jersey City, N.J., skips the evaporated and condensed milks, which can weigh down a batter. Instead, it gets sweetness and heft from egg yolks, coconut cream and just enough sugar. Alcohol can also make freezing ice cream tricky, so rum extract steps in here for the traditional white rum, keeping it boozy without affecting the texture.

Featured in: Coquito, the Puerto Rican Holiday Drink, Available in Frozen Form

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Ingredients

Yield:4 cups

  • 1(15-ounce) can cream of coconut, preferably Coco López
  • 1(15-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk
  • ½cup heavy cream
  • 4teaspoons rum extract, plus more to taste
  • 2tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ¾teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 4large egg yolks

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

261 calories; 19 grams fat; 15 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 23 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 21 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 36 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Coquito Ice Cream Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Prepare your ice cream machine, freezing the insert bowl if needed.

  2. Step

    2

    In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream of coconut, coconut milk, heavy cream, rum extract, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cream of coconut melts down and all the ingredients are incorporated, making sure it does not come to a boil, about 5 minutes.

  3. As the coconut mixture cooks, place the egg yolks in a small bowl, add ¼ cup of the coconut mixture to the yolks and whisk quickly and vigorously. (This will temper, or bring up the temperature, of the eggs, so they don’t set.) Pour the yolk mixture into the saucepan with the remaining coconut mixture, and immediately start whisking over medium heat. Continue whisking until it thickens and tastes intense, about 2 minutes. If you dip a spoon in the custard, it should coat the back. Run your finger through that coating; the stripe should hold for 3 seconds. Stir in more rum extract if you’d like.

  4. Step

    4

    Set a fine-mesh strainer over a food storage container or a bowl with a lid that can hold at least 1 quart. Strain the ice cream base into the container, to catch any pieces of egg that may have solidified, cover and refrigerate overnight.

  5. Step

    5

    Set up your ice cream maker, add the ice cream base to its bowl and churn according to manufacturers’ instructions. It should increase in volume and look thick and creamy, the consistency of soft ice cream. Serve the ice cream right out of the machine, or for a better, more traditional texture (think store-bought ice cream), transfer the churned ice cream to a food storage container and freeze for 4 to 5 more hours.

Ratings

4

out of 5

92

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SC

Beware of cans of "cream of coconut" that are not Coco Lopez! That's what we did and it turns out that there was barely any sugar in it, so our final ice cream was not nearly sweet enough. We tried to sprinkle some sugar on top, but as our daughter said "It's not very good." No issues with hardening and we loved the cocount-cinnamon flavor, but this ended up being a big bummer. Maybe we'll try again in the future, but the recipe should have had a better warning regarding that particular product.

Su

Fat, sugar, and alcohol make ice cream softer. Water makes it harder. This recipe is incredibly soft because it contains so much fat -- easily rectified without touching the specific coconut flavors by replacing heavy cream with milk and cutting back on the egg yolks. I'm guessing, but I suspect that eliminating the egg yolks and using whatever milk you keep in the house should even allow for adding a bit of actual rum without preventing the mix from freezing.

Coconutey Flavor Akin To Tembleque

Really soft texture and nice coconutey flavor. A friend made a valid point that with the added spice it tastes a bit more like Tembleque ice cream than coquito, now that she pointed that out I agree. Tembleque is a Puerto Rican dessert made around Christmas. Now I can't eat this without thinking "mm nice Tembleque flavor".

Isabel

As has been commented, the recipe could explain the difference between cream of coconut (such as Coco Lopez, Coco Goya) which is extremely sweet, and coconut cream. I used cream of coconut. It wasn't even soft serve out of my ice cream maker, and it set up in the freezer, overnight, with a softer texture than regular ice cream. I don't know if that's how it's supposed to be but it tasted good! I added extra rum extract and also some coconut extract.

Monica

First of all, coconut cream and cream of coconut are two very different things! I took a bet that the recipe (versus the description) was correct, because cream of coconut would provide the sugar component for the ice cream. I'm not sure what the overnight refrigeration does. Even after freezing overnight, the ice cream has a softer than typical texture. I didn't love the rum extract flavor, and would do much less next time, or try to incorporate actual rum instead.

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Coquito Ice Cream Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make a coconut ice cream? ›

Directions
  1. Combine cream of coconut and milk in a food processor or blender; mix thoroughly. Stir in cream and flaked coconut until combined.
  2. Pour into the container of an ice cream maker; freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Store covered in the freezer.
Nov 15, 2023

Which liquor is best for coquito? ›

Rich, creamy Coquito is a classic Puerto Rican co*cktail made with coconut cream, coconut milk, baking spices and, most important, rum. It is a centerpiece of the year-end festivities for many families on the Caribbean island.

Is coquito supposed to be frozen? ›

You can freeze this coquito recipe if you want it to last longer. As there's rum in this, the drink will not freeze solid. Be sure to use a freezer-safe container. Just add it back to the blender when ready to serve without thawing it first.

Why did my coquito harden? ›

Note: the Coquito can be stored in cold conditions (refrigerated at a medium temp) and are best served chilled, but not too cold. The milk will solidify and will need to warm up before serving if the mix gets too cold, so just be aware! Always give a good shake before serving, and garnish with fresh nutmeg.

Is coconut milk or cream better for ice cream? ›

See our other top picks for coconut cream and milk here. Coconut cream tends to yield creamier results due to the higher fat content.

Can you substitute coconut cream for heavy cream in ice cream? ›

Swap an equal amount of heavy cream for coconut cream and use it in recipes for your favorite sweets and baked goods. You can even use it to make coconut ice cream or whip it and use it as a tasty topping for desserts.

How much should a bottle of coquito cost? ›

It's even developed a bit of a seasonal business boom with several people selling their homemade versions during the holidays. What is this? Recently, I was getting that itch for some coquito and I started asking around what the price for a 750ml bottle of it cost. The going price ranged from $20-$35.

What is Puerto Rican coquito made of? ›

Coquito is a Puerto Rican beverage made with vanilla, coconut milk, coconut cream, rum and spices that is traditionally served during the December holidays. Coquito means "little coconut" in Spanish, and coconut provides the majority of the drink's flavor and texture.

Why is my coquito so thick? ›

Why is my Coquito so thick? The coconut may have thickened in the fridge. You can thin it out by adding a little purified water slowly until it gets to a consistency you prefer.

How to tell if coquito is bad? ›

A few key signs can identify spoiled Coquito: - Change in Smell: A Coquito that has gone bad may develop an off smell. If it smells sour, yeasty, or just not quite right, it's best to discard it. - Change in Texture: If the Coquito has become lumpy or unusually thick, it may have spoiled.

Does Puerto Rican coquito go bad? ›

Every recipe for these holiday drinks, including Puerto Rican coquito, uses some kind of milk in the recipe, from evaporated to condensed. And as soon as any of those cans are opened, the clock starts ticking before bacteria start to grow to unsafe levels, she said.

Why is my coquito foamy? ›

The foam results from the additives in the canned milk, and the fat from the coconut milk gets excited. You can strain the coquito into the bottles if the foam or chunks bother you.

How do I keep my coquito from getting chunky? ›

**THIS STEP YOU DON'T WANT TO SKIP**

This will give you a smooth Coquito. Put it in the refrigerator for at least a day before drinking. Coquito settles and separates due to the fat content in the milk and cream, so before pouring, poke it with a straw close it and shake vigorously so everything is combined thoroughly.

Why is my coquito watery? ›

As your coquito chills in the fridge, it will thicken. If you have already let it chill in the fridge and it is still too thin that usually means the coconut milk you used was one without the thick coconut cream on top.

What is coconut ice cream made of? ›

Ingredients
80gWhole milk
200gCoconut milk
90gGranulated sugar
20gDextrose
2gIce cream stabiliser (optional)
2 more rows
Jun 24, 2015

Is coconut ice cream better for you than regular ice cream? ›

Coconut is popular among manufacturers because its saturated fat makes for decadent, creamy vegan frozen desserts. That said, it can pack in more saturated fat than a dairy version of your favorite frozen treat.

Is coconut ice cream healthy? ›

It's true that coconut contains a healthier type of saturated fat, but it's still not doing you any major health favors. Both frozen yogurt and coconut milk ice cream are packed with added sugar, so portion control is key when you feel like treating yourself.

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