Homemade eggnog is a holiday tradition at my house. My aunt Frances' is out-of-this-world-delicious and our extended family Christmas gathering -- affectionately dubbed Smithmas -- wouldn't be the same without it.
My husband is quite fond of the recipe I created a few years back. But we're not picky. Though I prefer the flavor and texture of homemade, you'll often find a carton from the grocery store in my refrigerator this time of year.
My first taste of eggnog this season came when I tested this week's recipe. A publicist had sent me some samples of a peanut butter-flavored drink mix imported from the U.K. (made from American peanuts), Peanut Hottie. The mix is a combination of sugar, powdered milk, ground peanuts and various thickening agents, stabilizers and preservatives. Nothing you wouldn't find in the average hot cocoa mix, aside from the peanuts.
But as intriguing as it sounded, I just couldn't bring myself to drink hot peanut butter, which is what Peanut Hottie essentially is. So the samples sat in my kitchen for several weeks. I figured eventually I'd break down and give them a try, or, worst-case scenario, toss them in a basket with some coffee mugs packaged as a last-minute Christmas gift for someone I inadvertently left off my list.
But then I saw a recipe for Peanut Butterscotch Eggnog (from the same public relations agency that sent the Peanut Hottie samples), and I knew the time had come.
After dinner on a recent drizzly, chilly evening I whipped up a drink and shared it with my husband.
I must admit I only scanned the recipe, and upon consulting it to write this column I discovered I didn't follow the directions.
The result was surprisingly pleasant.
The flavor combination of peanut butter, butterscotch and creamy eggnog played well together. My husband particularly liked the butterscotch-peanut combination. I would have preferred a little less butterscotch and a little more rum. I'm still not sold on hot peanut butter and I can't say Peanut Hottie will become a part of my winter beverage lineup the way hot cocoa, apple cider, and whiskey are, but if you're a fan of peanut butter it's worth checking out. And if you love eggnog and peanut butter, I think you'll really like this.
Peanut Butterscotch Eggnog
4 heaping teaspoons Peanut Hottie peanut butter flavor drink mix
2 ounces hot water
1 cup eggnog, well chilled
1 ounce spiced rum (I used Bacardi Oakheart)
1 ounce butterscotch schnapps
Ground cinnamon
This is how I made it:
Dissolve the Peanut Hottie mix in the hot water. Set aside to cool while you prepare the rest of the drink.
In a spouted measure combine the eggnog, rum and butterscotch schnapps and stir well to combine. Pour into a lowball glass. Add the cooled Peanut Hottie mixture and stir again. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
These are the original instructions:
Dissolve the Peanut Hottie in the hot water, set in the refrigerator to cool. Meanwhile, pour eggnog, rum, and butterscotch schnapps into a shaker and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Pour cooled Peanut Hottie mixture into the shaker and shake for an additional 10 seconds. Pour over ice, sprinkle with cinnamon.
Makes 1 or 2 drinks.
Recipe adapted from Peanut Hottie
Food on 12/17/2014