Coconut Rum Mocha
Tropical drinks are usually fruity affairs, brightly colored and served in funky glasses that are topped with tiny umbrellas. Those tiki drinks are delicious, but they are not the only way to enjoy a taste of the tropics. This Coconut Rum Mocha is a delicious dessert coffee drink that is infused with coconut and rum, paired with just the right amount of chocolate. The combination may sound a bit strange, but once you have a sip and see how the creamy coconut, spiced rum and bittersweet chocolate blend together, you’ll find yourself making sure that you have the ingredients on hand at all times.
The coconut flavor comes from cream of coconut. This is a product that is usually found in the liquor aisle at grocery stores or with the rest of the pina colada ingredients at spirits stores. It is pre-sweetened, unlike plain coconut milk, and ready to use right out of the bottle/can. I used spiced rum – Bacardi Oakheart, in this case, though Captain Morgan, Sailor Jerry, The Kracken, etc. will all work – because it blends very well with coconut and chocolate, providing a nice bridge between the two elements. These two ingredients are a must, but you can be a little bit more flexible with the other elements of the drink and tweak them to suit your tastes. For instance, you can use any kind of hot cocoa mix in this drink (or make your own with sugar and cocoa powder) and any kind of coffee. Since this drink is meant as a nightcap, making it with decaf coffee is a good choice if you want to skip the caffeine before bedtime. One thing that I wouldn’t skip, however, is the whipped cream. It adds a hint of creaminess to the drink and helps meld all those other flavors together each time you take a sip. Plus, desserts are always nicer with a dollop of whipped cream!
Coconut Rum Mocha
6-oz hot coffee
3 tbsp hot cocoa mix
1 oz Cream of Coconut (such as Coco Lopez)
1 1/2 oz spiced rum
whipped cream
In a large mug, combine hot coffee and hot cocoa mix. Stir until hot cocoa mix is dissolved. Add in coconut cream and spiced rum and stir until well-combined. Top with whipped cream and serve immediately.