It’s not the holiday season without a festive glass of Homemade Eggnog! Sweetened egg yolks are whisked into a creamy beverage, and flavored with those comforting Christmas spices you know and love. In no time, you’ll have a batch of this easy eggnog recipe ready for serving at holiday parties, gifting in jars, or enjoying with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top!
Reasons You’ll Love This
Homemade Eggnog Recipe – Pre-made eggnog you get at the store is great in a pinch, but nothing beats the taste of a homemade eggnog.
Simple to Make – What is in eggnog you ask? It’s pretty simple actually! Just eggs, sugar, cream, milk and flavoring / spices.
Safe to Drink – Some people feel a little hesitant about making eggnog at home, but the eggs are gently heated and tempered during the process, so you don’t have to worry about drinking anything raw.
Great for the Holidays – Not only is this a fun drink to have on Christmas, it can make a great gift as well.
Impressive – Impress all your friends and family this Christmas with a batch of this homemade eggnog recipe.
Whether you prefer sipping your eggnog straight from the glass or using it in your holiday baking, this homemade eggnog takes everything to the next level. Its rich, creamy flavor adds such a special touch to any recipe. I love using this version in my eggnog cookies, eggnog pie, eggnog cake, and even eggnog bread.
Ingredient Info
This is a discussion about the ingredients. For the actual recipe with amounts, please see the recipe below.
- Egg Yolks – Regular large egg yolks are perfect. Organic or brown egg yolks work as well.
- Sugar – Granulated white sugar is ideal.
- Heavy Whipping Cream – Also known as just heavy cream. Any cream with a fat percentage of over 30% will work.
- Milk – Whole milk will give you the creamiest results, but 2% works just fine.
- Spices – Nutmeg, cinnamon and salt is all you’ll need.
- Alcohol (Optional) – Adding a splash of alcohol to this recipe makes a fabulous eggnog cocktail. Brandy, bourbon, rum or whiskey gives this recipe a fun kick!
Step by Step Instructions
This is a discussion about the recipe. For the actual recipe with amounts, please see the recipe below.
- Whisk egg yolks and sugar until smooth.
- Combine cream, milk, nutmeg and salt in a saucepan over heat. Stir frequently until simmering.
- Whisk the hot liquid over the eggs slowly until a warm liquid forms. Pour the eggnog back into the saucepan, and whisk a little longer.
- Add vanilla and optionally alcohol.
- Pour the eggnog through a strainer into a container and store in the fridge.
- Chill until completely cool, then serve with some whipped cream and cinnamon on top. Enjoy!
Tips & Advice
Storage – You can store the leftover eggnog in a pitcher or jar that has an airtight lid for about a week in the fridge.
You can freeze the eggnog as well by storing it in a freezer-safe container. Leave space in the container before freezing. To thaw, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. You may have to shake it or blend it before drinking as it could separate.
Equipment
How do you make eggnog? You start with a few of these handy kitchen items. Here’s everything you need to make this eggnog recipe:
FAQs
Eggnog has a thick and creamy texture with a sweet and spice-filled flavor. It has a unique thickness that comes from the eggs that some people love and some people don’t care for. It’s fairly sweet and has a strong nutmeg flavor.
If you want to add alcohol to your homemade eggnog, I suggest something warm tasting like a brandy, rum or whiskey. Truly, you can add any alcohol. I use vodka for my eggnog martinis!
It’s very important to correctly temper your eggs. If you pour too much hot liquid over the eggs without vigorously stirring, it can scramble the eggs and ruin the texture of your eggnog. Go nice and slow when tempering, patience is key.
Recipes You’ll Love
Here are plenty more eggnog recipes you’ll absolutely love, as well as some other Christmas-themed drinks to serve at your next holiday get-together. I hope you check them out!
- Eggnog Bread
- Eggnog French Toast
- Eggnog Cupcakes
- Eggnog Pancakes
- Eggnog Crumb Cake
- Eggnog Cookies
- Eggnog Cake
- Easy Eggnog Pie
More Holiday Drink Recipes You’ll Love!
Homemade Eggnog
Ingredients
- 6 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- pinch of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ground cinnamon to sprinkle on top
- alcohol optional*
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add the egg yolks and white sugar. Whisk this together really well until smooth and creamy.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add the heavy whipping cream, milk, nutmeg and salt. Stir this frequently as it heats up to a soft simmer.
- Once the liquid is hot, stream a ladle full of the cream slowly over the egg mixture while quickly whisking. This is a technique used to temper the eggs without cooking them into a solid. Keep repeating this step until a large amount of the milk has been added to the eggs, and the mixture is warm enough, and whisked properly.
- Pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan, and whisk generously for about a minute until everything is evenly combined, and slightly thicker.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat, add a splash of vanilla and optionally, ¼ a cup of alcohol of your choice. Stir to combine and set aside to cool.
- Once it has lightly cooled, pour the eggnog through a fine mesh strainer into a jar, or pitcher that can be stored in your fridge. Press the remaining liquid through the strainer and store in the fridge until the drink has completely cooled.
- This will come out very thick, if you like it that way, serve with some whipped cream, and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. Additionally, you can blend the eggnog with a tablespoon or two of milk to thin it out before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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