Deck the halls with this heavenly homemade eggnog! Yuletide celebrations aren’t complete without a cup of traditional eggnog. Spiked or not, raise a cup of traditional eggnog to toast the season! How long it takes: 25 minutes plus chilling time (overnight) Equipment you’ll need: blender, saucepan, fine-mesh strainer Servings: 8 (4 oz. servings) If you’ve never had homemade eggnog, you’re missing a real treat. Homemade and store bought don’t even taste like the same product. Really, there’s no comparison. I encourage you to give this homemade eggnog recipe a try. My son, who’s notoriously picky, took a very small sip, and said, “It tastes like pudding!” He proceeded to drink it all and ask for more. My mom, who’s notoriously not picky at all, didn’t even want to try it, being burned out on lousy eggnog. She braved a sip, and loved it! Wait ’til Christmas, mom, when the brandy comes out.
About this Homemade Eggnog
Nothing artificial.Take a look at the ingredients on a carton of store-bought eggnog and you’ll see things like high fructose corn syrup, natural and artificial flavors, carrageenan, annatto, turmeric. While turmeric is great in curry, I’m not sure I want it in my eggnog, replacing the golden yellow of real egg yolks. Spike it or not. You may add as much or as little alcohol to your eggnog as you like; however, this luscious homemade eggnog easily stands alone as a delightful creamy beverage. It’s a doable recipe. Homemade eggnog isn’t difficult to make but takes a little bit of time. The end result is totally worth it!
Equipment You’ll Need
blender saucepan fine mesh strainer
Ingredients
You’ll love the simplicity of the natural and wholesome ingredients in eggnog. Perhaps all of the ingredients are already in your pantry and fridge!
Milk: Use whole milk for this recipe. For a creamy beverage like eggnog, low fat or nonfat milks just don’t yield the same result. Use unsweetened almond milk for non-dairy eggnog. Eggs: Just the yolks! Save the whites to make meringue cookies. Sugar: White granulated sugar, nothing fancy here. Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Cloves: You’ll be using both ground spices and whole spices. Pure Vanilla Extract: For a smooth sweet flavor. Vanilla bean paste can be substituted if you prefer.
How To Make Homemade Eggnog
Making eggnog is pretty easy. Add the ingredients to a blender and blend until they’re nice and creamy. Pour the mixture into a saucepan, add the cinnamon stick and whole cloves, and slowly, slowly, slowly cook for about 10 minutes. Don’t try to hurry it along over high heat. Low and slow is the key here. Why? If you boil the mixture, the eggs cook too quickly and you’ll get curdled, lumpy eggnog. Not what we’re looking for here! Once the mixture has thickened, remove it from the heat, and strain out the cinnamon stick, cloves, and any bits of cooked egg. Chill overnight, if you can wait that long. We usually sample a bit (okay, maybe quite a bit) after an hour or two of chilling. Remember George’s advice, “Taste frequently.” To serve, pour into small glasses or cups and garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon. A bit of whipped cream on top (or stirred in) is wonderful, too.
What To Serve With Eggnog
For those with a sweet tooth, a plate of cookies like Snickerdoodles, Brigadeiros (fudge balls), ginger sparkles, homemade Lofthouse cookies, or double cinnamon crinkle cookies are perfect. For more savory treats, try baked Brie with cranberries and bourbon pecans, sausage pinwheels with apple, sage, and Gruyère, or easy slow cooker spinach artichoke dip.
Adding Alcohol (Optional)
Brandy, rum, or whiskey (bourbon) are most commonly added to eggnog. Each has its own unique flavor so experiment to see which one you like the best. Begin by adding a small amount — you want the wonderful flavor of your homemade eggnog to shine. For best results, stir in the alcohol of your choice with the vanilla, and chill.
Make It Your Own
Lactose free: Replace the milk with almond milk. Natural sweetener: Substitute honey or agave for the sugar, if desired. Use the same amount.
Storage Tips
Store eggnog in the fridge in an airtight container. It will keep three to four days.
More Holiday Beverage Recipes
Toast the season! Looking for more festive holiday beverages? Try:
Jack Frost Mimosa the perfect winter cocktail! Vanilla Bourbon Fizz (Bourbon Champagne Cocktail) Cranberry Margaritas Orange Gin and Tonic with Cinnamon Red Wine and Cherry Spritzer Pomegranate Punch White Russian Recipe or Hot White Russian Ginger Spiced Hot Chocolate — make it in your microwave! Orange Hot Chocolate Recipe Cherry Martini with Elderflower and Lime
Quick-Start Guide!
