Homemade Eggnog
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Homemade Eggnog is the ultimate holiday treat. It’s creamy, rich, and easier to make than you think. With our simple recipe, you’ll never buy store-bought versions again.
Homemade Eggnog Recipe
Eggnog is one of the quintessential drinks of the Christmas season. Admittedly, I’m guilty of buying a carton or two each year for my kiddo.
Not too long ago, John reminded me that we haven’t made homemade eggnog in a while. So this year, I decided not to buy the store-bought version and make our homemade version instead.
Y’all, I forgot how good it was! Our homemade eggnog recipe is rich, creamy, and has just the right amount of nutmeg. You can make it alcohol-free by leaving out the bourbon, but I like to add a little for flavor.
If you’re looking for other Christmas drinks to get you into the holiday spirit, try our Chambord and Prosecco, Snickerdoodle Martini, or an eggnog latte. Or, serve a mug of our eggnog with a slice of eggnog pie or eggnog bread pudding!
Homemade Eggnog Variations
- Whole Milk: If you don’t have whole milk, you can use 2% milk or even almond milk. The almond milk may change the taste a bit, but it’ll still taste really good.
- Heavy Cream: Heavy cream makes the eggnog rich and creamy. If you don’t have it, use half-and-half or even coconut cream or coconut milk. Using coconut products will give the eggnog more of a coconut flavor.
- Bourbon: Bourbon is what makes eggnog for grown-ups! But if you don’t want alcohol or are making it for kids, just leave it out. If you are using alcohol but don’t have bourbon, try black or dark rum. Try to steer clear of spiced rum, because the flavors don’t always mix well with the other flavors in the drink.
- Nutmeg: Nutmeg gives this drink its classic holiday taste. If you don’t have ground nutmeg, use ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.
Storage
Store leftover eggnog in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Homemade Eggnog Tips
- Mix the Sugar and Eggs Properly: Add the sugar to the egg yolks and whisk until it’s completely mixed in. The mixture should be well combined and light in color.
- Heat Milk Gently: Warm your milk and cream in a pot over low-medium heat, but don’t let it boil. Boiling can cause the dairy to scorch and separate.
- Combine Slowly: When you add the warm dairy to the egg mixture, do it slowly while whisking the egg yolks. This is called tempering. It keeps the eggs from cooking too fast and turning into scrambled eggs.
- Cook over Low Heat: After everything is mixed, cook it over low to low-medium heat and stir often. Don’t let the mixture boil. The goal is to get the eggnog to 160°F. It will thicken slightly as it cooks and even more so as it cools.
- Add Bourbon Last: If you’re using bourbon, add it after the mixture cooks and is removed from heat. This keeps the alcohol from evaporating.
- Chill Before Serving: Homemade eggnog needs to chill to thicken. Let it cool completely to set and allow the flavors time to marry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ingredients
- 6 large egg yolks
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg, plus extra for garnish
- ⅓ cup bourbon, or black rum (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until well combined.6 large egg yolks½ cup granulated sugar
- In a large saucepan over low-medium heat combine the milk, cream, and nutmeg. Stir often until the mixture begins to steam and tiny bubbles form around the edge. Remove from heat.3 cups whole milk1 ½ cups heavy cream½ teaspoon nutmeg
- While whisking, add small amounts of the hot milk into the egg mixture. Repeat, adding small amounts at a time until the egg mixture and the milk mixture are the same temperature. This is called tempering.
- Pour the tempered eggs back into the saucepan over low-medium heat.
- Stir constantly until the mixture is just slightly thickened or until it reaches 160°F on an instant read thermometer. Don't let it come to a boil! It should coat the back of a spoon and be slightly thicker than milk when it's ready. The mixture will thicken more as it cools.
- Remove from heat, and pour the hot eggnog through a mesh strainer into a heat-safe bowl. Stir in the bourbon if using. Cover with plastic wrap making sure the plastic wrap touches the eggnog.⅓ cup bourbon
- Optional: place the covered bowl of eggnog into a larger bowl filled with ice to create an ice bath. This will help cool it down before transferring it to the fridge. Let it sit in the ice bath for about 30 minutes before transferring to the refrigerator.
- Refrigerate the eggnog until completely chilled, about 2-3 hours. It will thicken a little more as it cools.
- Serve with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg. Scroll up and see the post for tips, answers to frequently asked questions, and storage information.
Suggested Equipment
Notes
*The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of 3/4 cup of eggnog. Actual calories will vary.
*For more information, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions, please refer to the post.
*This recipe makes about 6 cups total.
*I prefer to use a stand mixer with a heat-safe bowl to whisk the egg yolks and sugar then slowly drizzle in some of the hot liquid to temper the eggs. If you choose this method, it’s important to make sure that your bowl is heat-safe (check with the manufacturer), and don’t add so much liquid that it sloshes over the sides. The other option is to use a large mixing bowl and whisk by hand.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.75cup | Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 207mg | Sodium: 54mg | Potassium: 195mg | Fiber: 0.03g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 999IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 160mg | Iron: 0.4mg
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