6 Tasty Eggnog Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to make eggnog better? ›

Here's my game-changing (and free!) trick for turning it into a delightful holiday drink: I shake the eggnog in a co*cktail shaker with lots of ice—with or without alcohol—to dilute it a bit, make it light and frothy, and make it extra cold.

Choose The Right Spirit

While brandy is the most traditional alcohol to pair with eggnog, according to traditional recipes, you can also use a mixture of dark rum and Cognac. If you like your eggnog with more of a kick you can also add bourbon, but we recommend sticking to rum and Cognac to preserve the 'nog's flavors.

The distinct flavors of egg, cream, and liquor meld together even after just a day or two in the fridge, making a smoother, more balanced cup of nog. The proteins in the eggs also start to thicken, giving eggnog its signature spoon-coating thickness.

From 'The Philosophy of Housekeeping' By Joseph Bardwell Lyman, 1859. Egg Nog. — Teaspoonful of sugar well beaten with an egg; add a gill of milk, and then, by degrees, one or two tablespoonfuls of good French brandy; spice with grated nutmeg.

Traditional eggnog today is made up of a mixture of milk, cream, sugar, eggs (both yolks and whipped egg whites), and rum, bourbon, or brandy. They can also call for warm spices (like cinnamon and nutmeg), along with vanilla extract. It's a classic Christmas drink that's creamy, sweet, and typically served chilled.

Eggnog is very sweet and creamy, somewhat like a custard. Some have a little bit of sweet spice thanks to the cinnamon added to eggnog. You can also add vanilla to your drink for a special touch in your drink.

Egg-cellent Eggnog Tips

Rum – I like dark rum in eggnog (Myers's is what I usually buy), but spiced rum would also be fabulous. Whiskey – I typically use Crown Royal, but use what you like or keep on hand.

"Tom and Jerry is a form of hot eggnog [co*cktail] that was once popular." The Tom and Jerry was invented by British journalist Pierce Egan in the 1820s, using brandy and rum added to eggnog and served hot, usually in a mug or a bowl. It is a traditional Christmastime co*cktail in the United States.

If you'd like to add rum to your mugful, opt for a golden or dark rum. These kinds of rum have more depth of flavor than white rum. You can also add spiced rum if you want to add a kick to your drink, but know that spiced rum may overwhelm the flavor of your homemade eggnog.

Traditionally made with eggs, cream, milk, and sugar, no one would say that eggnog is a healthy drink. Even a small serving can pack significant amounts of calories, fat, saturated fat, and added sugars. And then there's the fact that homemade eggnog made with raw eggs can be a food-poisoning risk.

Why is my eggnog gritty? ›

It's important to constantly stir the custard to keep the proteins in motion as they rise in temperature between 140-170ºF (60-77ºC) and begin to coagulate. This gentle coagulation will thicken the sauce, but if it isn't kept in motion the protein can take on a grainy texture, so keep stirring!

If it's too sweet, you can mix in heavy whipping cream and/or any kind of milk to dilute it.

Why don't dairy manufacturers make eggnog all year long? It doesn't sell. Demand for eggnog follows traditional consumption patterns that date back hundreds of years.

However, the recipe may be apocryphal. In an email to USA TODAY, Melissa Wood, director of communications at Mount Vernon said no eggnog recipe has been definitively linked to Washington. He was known to make a cherry bounce, a brandy-based drink popular in the eighteenth century, she said.

Eggnog is called eggnog everywhere English is spoken. It originated in medieval Britain, derived from posset, a drink made of milk and wine.

The best side dishes to serve with eggnog are biscuits, tapioca pudding, almond milk yogurt, chocolate cake, creme brulee donuts, candied pecans, cornbread, cinnamon rolls, fruitcake, pumpkin pie, pecan pie and chocolate fondue.

How can I fix it? This one is pretty easy and there's no fuss at all. If it's too thick, add more milk and heavy cream. If it's too thin, you can dissolve about 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in cold milk, add it to the mixture over the stove, and stir until it thickens to your liking.

While it was very subtle, it was a bit more pronounced on the back end than the brandy. Overall, the eggnog was delicious and just sweet enough so you could taste that there was alcohol beyond the creamy egg mixture.

How Long Does Aged Eggnog Last? Once the milk and cream have been mixed with the egg base, the amount of alcohol won't keep it shelf stable. Simply store it in the refrigerator in the glass jar for up to a week. Trust me; it won't make it long because it tastes so good!