Frozen Coquito
A frozen coquito with rum, cream of coconut, coconut milk, evaporated and condensed milk, cinnamon and vanilla — the Puerto Rican Christmas drink, made in a Margaritaville machine.
Jump to recipe ↓Coquito is Puerto Rico’s Christmas drink: a creamy blend of coconut, milk, rum and cinnamon, usually made in big batches, bottled and shared with family and friends through the holidays. It’s often called Puerto Rican eggnog, though most versions — including this one — contain no eggs.
Coquito is normally served ice-cold in small glasses. Run through a Margaritaville machine, it becomes a frosty, spiced coconut shake — a good companion to our Frozen Eggnog on the dessert table.
Frozen Coquito recipe
Ingredients (3 drinks)
- 4 oz white or gold Puerto Rican rum
- 3 oz cream of coconut (paid link)
- 2½ oz unsweetened coconut milk (canned, well shaken)
- 2 oz evaporated milk
- 1½ oz sweetened condensed milk
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Plus: a full ice reservoir. Garnish: Ground cinnamon, grated nutmeg, cinnamon stick. Glass: Small glass or holiday tumbler.
Instructions
- Shake the cream of coconut and coconut milk well before measuring.
- Fill the ice reservoir.
- Add rum, cream of coconut, coconut milk, evaporated milk, condensed milk, cinnamon and vanilla to the jar.
- Run the cycle (use the Slides setting if your machine has it).
- Pour and dust each glass with cinnamon and a little grated nutmeg; add a cinnamon stick.
How much to make in your machine
Every Margaritaville frozen concoction maker is designed around a particular volume of liquid — the shaver portions ice for it. The table scales this recipe to the margarita liquid volume printed in each model’s manual (Key West DM1000 / DM1946 3 × 12 oz drinks: 9.75 fl oz; Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM2000 3 × 12 oz drinks: 13 fl oz; Tahiti DM3000 per 24 oz jar: 8.67 fl oz; Bali DM3500 half chamber: 11 fl oz; Bali DM3500 full chamber: 22 fl oz). Amounts are rounded to the nearest ¼ or ⅓ oz.
| Ingredient | Key West DM1000 / DM19463 × 12 oz drinks | Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM20003 × 12 oz drinks | Tahiti DM3000per 24 oz jar | Bali DM3500half chamber | Bali DM3500full chamber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| white or gold Puerto Rican rum | 3 oz | 4 oz | 2⅔ oz | 3⅓ oz | 6¾ oz |
| cream of coconut | 2¼ oz | 3 oz | 2 oz | 2½ oz | 5 oz |
| unsweetened coconut milk (canned, well shaken) | 2 oz | 2½ oz | 1⅔ oz | 2 oz | 4¼ oz |
| evaporated milk | 1½ oz | 2 oz | 1⅓ oz | 1⅔ oz | 3⅓ oz |
| sweetened condensed milk | 1 oz | 1½ oz | 1 oz | 1¼ oz | 2½ oz |
| ground cinnamon | ¼ tsp | ¼ tsp | ¼ tsp | ¼ tsp | ½ tsp |
| vanilla extract | ⅓ tsp | ½ tsp | ⅓ tsp | ½ tsp | ¾ tsp |
Scaling is our calculation, not a manufacturer recipe. Fruit- and ice-cream-heavy drinks vary more; adjust with the Shave Only / Blend Only controls. The Key West DM1900 isn’t listed because we haven’t verified its manual yet.
Machine notes for this drink
- Dairy and cream liqueurs make a thick, shake-like drink. Use the Slides setting on the Fiji (the Tahiti manual also lists Mudslides), soften ice cream for five minutes first, and rinse the jar soon after serving.
- Cream of coconut separates in the bottle; shake or stir it until smooth before measuring, or the batch will be unevenly sweet.
- This batch uses about 13 fl oz of liquid for 3 drinks. If your drink comes out watery, the manuals’ first fix is to follow the recipe volumes or manually shave more ice; if it’s too stiff, add liquid and Blend Only.
Why this recipe works
Cream of coconut brings sweetness and coconut flavor, coconut milk adds body without more sugar, and the two canned milks give coquito its classic richness. Keeping the rum at 4 oz for three drinks lets the coconut and cinnamon lead. The total is 13 oz of liquid — the three-drink volume used for the Bahamas and Fiji.
About boozy milkshakes
Ice-cream drinks use the shaver differently: the fat and sugar in ice cream and cream liqueurs make the texture thick and creamy. Soften the ice cream for 5 minutes, measure it in tablespoons, and rinse the jar promptly afterward — dairy residue is harder to clean once it dries.
Tips for the best texture
- Cream of coconut (sweetened, like Coco López) and coconut milk (unsweetened) are different products — this recipe uses both.
- Canned coconut milk separates; whisk or shake it until smooth before measuring.
- Mix the liquids ahead of time and keep the pitcher in the fridge, then shake and blend to order.
- Rinse the jar soon after serving — condensed milk sets up as it dries.
- Never put anything but ice in the ice reservoir, and don’t fill the jar past its maximum line — both are warnings in every manual.
- Too thin? Hold the toggle in Shave Only for a few seconds, then Blend Only to mix it in. Too thick? Add an ounce of liquid and Blend Only.
Serving & make-ahead
Garnish with ground cinnamon, grated nutmeg, cinnamon stick and serve in a small glass or holiday tumbler. Serve boozy milkshakes in chilled glasses with whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate or crushed cookies. They are rich, so a 6–8 oz pour is plenty per person. Rinse the jar and blade soon after, following your manual’s cleaning steps, because dairy dries onto plastic quickly.
Variations
- Chocolate coquito: Add 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder to the jar.
- Pumpkin coquito: Add 2 tbsp canned pumpkin purée and a pinch of pumpkin pie spice.
- Spiced rum: Use spiced rum for a stronger vanilla-cinnamon flavor.
Mocktail swap
Skip the rum; add 3 oz extra coconut milk and 1 oz milk, and keep the cinnamon and vanilla.
Shop the ingredients
- Coco López Cream of Coconut, 15 oz cans (6-pack) (paid link)
We link to mixers, syrups and juices only — alcohol isn’t sold through these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Shopping for a frozen-drink fan? See our Margaritaville machine gift guide.
Making this for a holiday party, or giving a machine as a gift? Our Margaritaville Machine Gift Guide 2026 covers every model plus mixers, rim salt and glassware.
Frequently asked questions
Does coquito have eggs?
Many family recipes don’t, and this one doesn’t. Some older recipes use egg yolks, which is why coquito gets compared to eggnog.
What rum is best?
Puerto Rican white or gold rum is traditional. Spiced rum works if you like it sweeter.
Can I make it without condensed milk?
Yes, but it will be less sweet and less rich. Add ½–1 oz more cream of coconut to make up some of the sweetness.
How much ice should I put in the machine?
Fill the ice reservoir with ice cubes — the machine shaves the amount it needs for the cycle (dial models size it to the 1, 2 or 3-drink setting). The manuals recommend ice that has been out of the freezer for 10–15 minutes.
Will this work in a regular blender?
Yes — add about 1½–2 cups of ice per 12 oz drink and blend until smooth. The texture will be coarser than shaved ice.
Please drink responsibly. Alcoholic recipes are for adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). Never drink and drive.
