If there’s one thing that can make our traditional holiday coquito recipe even more delicious, it’s adding a dash of pistachio. In case you’re unfamiliar with coquito, it’s a traditional Puerto Rican holiday drink that is similar to eggnog, but with coconut.
My mom used to make coquito when I was growing up, and she never added eggs to hers since she wanted to keep it more shelf stable to bring it to parties and to give bottles of it as gifts. It became a holiday tradition at our house, one that I continue to this day.
Pistachio Coquito Recipe
But the first time I sipped pistachio coquito was actually at a friend’s baby shower. I was instantly hooked! Looking online, I found a lot of recipes for pistachio coquito called for pudding mix and green food coloring. And adding food coloring would definitely give it a festive green look.
But, I prefer to keep a more subtle, natural pistachio flavor. So I simply added real ground pistachios and a bit pistachio ice cream to modify our own coquito recipe.
Tips For Making Pistachio Coquito
You can pulse the shelled pistachios in a food processor, or grind them in a mortar and pestle too.
And if you would like a non-alcoholic version of this pistachio coconut holiday drink, just exclude the rum.
When serving, you can drink it plain, or top with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg. I sometimes like to add a cinnamon stick for garnish too.
The recipe below makes a pitcher (about a liter), which is quite a lot and perfect for a party. But if you’re giving them as gifts, you can use smaller bottles, such as a 16 ounce flip top. Add a little note to let them know that pistachio coquito also makes an excellent coffee creamer with kick.
You Might Also Like
Here are a few of our other favorite holiday recipes, such as the original (plain) coquito, a creamy pumpkin flan, and a hot gin drink that’s perfect for winter. Enjoy!
PrintPistachio Coquito
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 12-14 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 can evaporated milk
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 can coconut milk
- 3/4 cup shelled pistachios
- 1 cup pistachio ice cream
- 1 cup rum
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Pour the pistachios into a food processor or high-speed blender and pulse until it becomes the consistency of a paste.
- Add the pistachios and all other ingredients together in a blender and mix well.
- Refrigerate for at least one hour.
- Serve in small glasses and garnish with a dash of cinnamon.
- Category: Drinks
- Cuisine: Puerto Rican
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[…] If you’ve got a blender, it’s pretty easy to make. Just pour the ingredients in, mix, chill, then serve! You might also want to try our pistachio coquito recipe. […]