Is it really a proper Christmas without eggnog?
If you're already on board with just how great eggnog is, you'll know just how much its silky smooth deliciousness brings to the holiday season. However, you're not a fan, I'm going to ask you to suspend your disbelief for just a moment.
That's because my eggnog recipe is here to show you just what you've been missing. For me, when it's made correctly, homemade eggnog is a truly sensational festive recipe that gets you in the Christmas spirit.
It's perfect for parties, ideal for a comforting winter evening treat, and is set to become a holiday staple in your home. Don't believe me... just one sip and you'll be won over. Trust me.
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Eggnog Recipe
- This eggnog is rich and delicious
- It’s smooth, velvety and creamy
- It's a million miles better than store bought eggnog
- The ingredients are totally natural with no additives
- It’s one of those great easy homemade Christmas recipes that makes the festive season extra special
Equipment Needed To Make Eggnog
There are a few key items you’ll need for this eggnog:
- High speed blender – any chef will tell you, a high speed blender is your best friend! For this recipe, it’ll help you get the perfect texture to your holiday drink.
- Serving glasses – a glass of delicious festive eggnog should be served in the very best way possible.
What to Serve with Eggnog
Accompaniments
This Christmas tipple is made all the more delicious with the addition of festive treats, fresh out of the oven. Try with these Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls, Mexican Pig Cookies, eggnog cookies or Gingerbread Apple Pie Cake.
Top Tip
Don’t over-blend the eggnog mixture, as you might end up with a curdled texture.
Recipe Variations
Non alcoholic eggnog
Want to keep this eggnog recipe alcohol free? Don’t worry, it can be easily adapted. Simply add an almond syrup or a similar kind of flavorful syrup in place of the rum and bourbon.
Spice things up
Eggnog is typically flavored with three key spices: ground cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Feel free to spice things up by adding a bit of allspice, pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice.
Serve warm
For me, eggnog is best served chilled. However, there’s definitely a case to be made for warm eggnog. It’s a wonderful winter warmer, especially in the evening when you need that extra little shot of comfort to get you all warm and cozy.
So, if you prefer your eggnog warm, you can simply heat it up in the microwave or on the hob.
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Go extra decadent
Fancy really getting into the Christmas spirit with a super indulgent holiday drink? Take things to another level with a helping of cream or whipped cream on top of your egg nog. You could also sweeten the deal with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Make it vegan
You can easily adapt this recipe to make it vegan. Just check out my vegan eggnog recipe.
Popular substitutions
If you’re missing certain ingredients or prefer a different ingredient over one listed in this eggnog recipe, you can use a substitution. Here are a few ideas:
Alternative alcohol
You don’t have to use bourbon and rum as the alcohol element in this eggnog recipe. Whisky and/or brandy are good alternatives, as are vodka, coffee liqueur, or dairy-free Kahlúa.
Vanilla extract
Don’t have any vanilla paste? Substitute in an equal amount of vanilla extract.
Alternative sweetener
I’ve gone for caster sugar in this recipe, but feel free to swap it for equal amounts of brown sugar, vanilla sugar, coconut sugar or a suitable sweetener. You could also use maple syrup.
For a healthier sweetener, try adding a handful of prunes to the mix before blending.
Top Tip
You can serve eggnog warm or cold, although for me it’s a lot better when chilled in the fridge for a couple of hours.
What is eggnog?
Traditional eggnog is a rich, creamy, alcoholic drink served during the Holiday season. It’s usually made with raw egg, milk, rum, brandy, sugar and spices, then blended up until smooth and velvety.
What does eggnog taste like?
Delicious! Homemade eggnog is like a rich, subtly spiced melted ice cream with a sweet kick of booze to make you feel all Christmassy inside.
What is eggnog made of?
It's made from eggs, sugar, milk and cream, together with alcohol such as rum and bourbon, as well as flavorings like vanilla.
How many egg yolks are in eggnog?
There are four large raw eggs in this eggnog recipe.
Who invented eggnog?
No one really knows the exact origins of this famous Christmas drink. It’s thought to have been created in Medieval Britain, when the upper classes would blend milk, eggs and sherry.
Soon spices were added and, over the years, it became one of the classic Christmas recipes.
How do I store eggnog?
Eggnog should be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge. Don’t forget to let your eggnog cool before storing it.
How long does eggnog last?
When stored in the fridge, you can keep eggnog for up to five days. Give it a shake or a stir before serving, as there’ll be some natural separation.
Can you freeze this recipe?
Yes! You can store the whole thing in an airtight freezable container or you can freeze it in individual ice cubes. Simply pour your eggnog into ice tray compartments and put the ice tray in the freezer. It will keep for up to a month.
How do you reheat eggnog?
Either in the microwave, with 30 second blasts until warm; or in a saucepan on the hob, on a low to medium heat while stirring constantly.
Can this holiday drink recipe be scaled?
Absolutely! If you’re having a big festive party and want extra eggnog servings, double the ingredients and make a big batch!
Is this hot milk mixture gluten free?
Yes, eggnog is completely gluten free!
Can this eggnog recipe be prepped ahead of time?
Absolutely. In fact, eggnog tastes even better when you let it sit for 24 hours. This is because the flavors have a chance to intwine and mingle, giving you an even more delicious Christmas tipple!
What kind of bourbon and rum should I use?
Any kind, although I would steer clear of cheap bourbon and rum.
I’d recommend bourbons like Wild Turkey, Bulleit, Knob Creek or Maker’s Mark, all of which are completely affordable.
When it comes to good rum, first of all make sure you use a dark rum for this recipe. You can’t go wrong with a nice spiced rum, something like Appleton, Havana Club or Kraken.
What can you do with leftover eggnog?
Why not turn it into ice cubes! It’s a quick and easy way to store your leftover eggnog.
Eggnog recipes you’ll love
These eggnog recipes are simply sensational:
- Eggnog French Toast – the perfect decadent breakfast recipe for the holidays!
- Eggnog latte – Christmas coffees don’t get better than this
- Eggnog waffles – another incredible breakfast / brunch recipe that the whole family will go bonkers for
- Eggnog mousse – a rich creamy dessert with a pleasant boozy kick
- Eggnog ice cream – pure heaven!
Don’t forget to come back and let me know how your recipe turned out!
Print📖 Recipe
Eggnog
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 portions 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A warming traditional winter time drink. This eggnog is easy to make and will get you in the Christmas spirit.
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 100g (½ cup) golden caster sugar
- 500ml (2 cups) milk
- 250ml (1 cup) cream
- 1 lemon, zest only
- 10 ml (2 tsp) vanilla paste
- 125ml (½ cup) rum
- 30ml (2 tbsp) bourbon
- 25g (⅛ cup) caster sugar
Instructions
- Place 4 egg yolks in a large mixing bowl along with the golden caster sugar. Whisk until light yellow ribbons are formed and it has doubled in size.
- Place the milk, cream, lemon zest and the vanilla paste in a large saucepan and heat over a low heat until just before a simmering point is reached.
- Temper the hot milk into the sugar yolk mixture, by slowly adding hot milk about 60ml (¼ cup) at a time, whisking to distribute heat. Once all the milk has been added, transfer mixture back into the saucepan.
- Pour in the rum and the bourbon, allowing it to thicken into a runny custard texture while stirring constantly.
- Once achieved, pour into a jar (preferably a mason jar) and set aside to cool and then place in the fridge for two weeks.
- Place your egg whites into an airtight container and place in the freezer.
- After two weeks, defrost the egg whites.
- Place the egg whites in a clean mixing bowl and whisk until you achieve soft peaks. While whisking slowly add the caster sugar until fully incorporated.
- Add the custard mixture to the egg whites and fold it through.
- Serve in glasses of your choice. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can use any alcohol you wish. I like the combination of rum and bourbon but you can use just one type of alcohol of the same amount if you so prefer.
- We also have a recipe on here for vegan eggnog which is great and means you don’t have to exclude your vegan friends and family.
- I used golden caster sugar but feel free to substitute with the sugar of your choice.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Boil
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 419
- Sugar: 39.7 g
- Sodium: 115 mg
- Fat: 15.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 8.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 40.8 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 9.8 g
- Cholesterol: 179.6 mg
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