Eggnog as most of us enjoy it is an American creation, but creamy, egg-based drinks — especially those spiked with a hefty dose of booze — are common around the world.
American eggnog is closely related to English posset and Scottish Auld Man's Milk (to be drunk on New Year's Day after a night of revelry). In Germany there's eierpunsch and eierlikor (egg punch and egg liqueur). In the Netherlands you'll find advocaat, based on a Brazilian beverage called "abacate" made with avocados, rum and sugar cane. In Mexico and other Latin American countries, there's rompope, an eggnog-like drink cited as being created in the 17th century by nuns at the Santa Clara Convent in Puebla, Mexico.
It isn't a (far) stretch to include Italian zabaglione and French sabayon in this group, although these are generally thought of as desserts and not drinks.
Americans tend to reserve eggnog for the winter holidays, but in many places these drinks are consumed year-round with slight adjustments based on the season. Drinking custard, for example, is essentially the same as eggnog but without the warming spices of nutmeg and cinnamon.
Nutmeg (like cilantro) can evoke a strong response — people either love it or hate it — and adding too much can ruin a recipe for everyone. If you're in the hate camp, consider substituting cinnamon and/or cardamom for the nutmeg in the following recipes. A little clove is nice, too.
Although alcohol is optional, varying the type used is a great way to tweak the flavor.
Whisky, bourbon, rum (gold, dark or spiced), brandy and sherry are popular options. Our favorite nogs often include a mixture of bourbon, rum and brandy in equal parts.
Some of the following recipes contain uncooked or lightly cooked eggs, which sometimes contain salmonella bacteria, which can cause serious illness. We've included cooking instructions or alternatives whenever possible.
Many of the following recipes use whole eggs; others use just the yolks. In today's Front Burner, you'll find a recipe for using all those egg whites.
Classic Eggnog served dusted with ground cardamom (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Kelly Brant) With a full dozen yolks and a pint of heavy cream, this nog is ultra rich and creamy.
Classic Eggnog
- 6 cups milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg or cardamom or cinnamon, plus more for garnish
- 12 egg yolks
- 1 to 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- Whiskey or whiskey liqueur such as Southern Comfort, optional
In a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, cook the milk, cream and nutmeg, cardamom or cinnamon until mixture is steaming or a thermometer registers 150 degrees. Reduce heat to low.
In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. The mixture will be somewhat coarse and grainy at first; keep whisking until it smooths out. Gradually whisk the hot milk into the egg yolks. Return mixture to saucepan and continue cooking, whisking frequently, until mixture reaches 160 degrees. Remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes. Transfer to a pitcher and refrigerate until well chilled, 3 to 24 hours.
To serve, pour a small amount of whiskey in each glass, if desired, and top with eggnog. Garnish with a light sprinkle of nutmeg, cardamom or cinnamon.
Makes about 9 cups.
Recipe adapted from "Southern Living Christmas All Through the South"
No-Egg Nog is rich and creamy from almond and coconut milks. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Kelly Brant) We were tempted to call this recipe veggnog (because it's vegan — get it?).
No-Egg Nog (aka Vegan Eggnog)
- 3 cups plain, unsweetened almond or cashew milk
- 1 (14-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
- 4 to 6 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom, optional
- 6 ounces bourbon, optional
- Non-dairy whipped cream such as Reddi-whip Almond
In a high-speed blender, combine nut milk, coconut milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, ground nutmeg, vanilla extract and cardamom (if using).
Blend on high until creamy and smooth. Then taste and adjust sweetness and spices as needed. Stir in bourbon. Chill until ready to serve. Stir well before serving. Serve garnished with whipped cream, if desired.
Makes about 6 cups.
Recipe adapted from minimalistbaker.com
Rompope can be served warm or chilled. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Kelly Brant) This eggnog-like drink is popular in Mexico and other Latin American countries. It is pronounced rahm-poe-pay. This version is made with almonds, but pecans, pistachios and pine nuts are also common.
Rompope (Mexican-style Eggnog)
- 6 cups milk
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 whole clove
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/3 cup (about 1 ½ ounces) slivered or blanched almonds (see note)
- 8 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ to 1 cup dark rum, for serving, optional
In a large saucepan, combine milk, sugar, cinnamon stick, clove and ground nutmeg. Whisking frequently, cook over medium-low heat until mixture is steaming, but not boiling. Remove from heat.
In a small bowl, combine about 1 cup of the hot milk mixture and the almonds; let the almonds soak in the hot milk mixture for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, let the remaining milk steep with the cinnamon stick, clove and nutmeg.
Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and clove from the sweetened milk. If necessary, pass the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any pieces of clove or cinnamon stick.
In a blender or food processor, puree the almonds and their soaking liquid until completely smooth.
In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the vanilla.
Return the saucepan to medium-low heat and add the pureed almond mixture.
Heat the milk to about 160 degrees — it should be quite hot and steaming, but without bubbles breaking the surface.
Whisking constantly, slowly ladle about ½ cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks. Continue adding hot milk, one ladle at a time, whisking constantly, until you added 2 to 3 cups to the egg yolks.
Slowly pour the egg yolks, whisking constantly, into the saucepan with the remaining hot milk. Continue cooking over medium low heat, whisking frequently, until mixture reaches 165 degrees and has thickened slightly.
Stir in rum, if using.
Serve warm or let cool at room temperature for 1 hour and then chill until ready to serve.
Serve garnished with a sprinkle of cinnamon, if desired.
Makes about ½ gallon.
Note: To blanch whole almonds, bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add almonds and boil for 1 minute. Drain and rinse with cold water. When almonds are cool enough to handle, slip off skins.
Recipe adapted from isabeleats.com
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Brown Sugar Eggnog
- 8 cups whole milk
- 8 eggs
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups spiced rum, bourbon, brandy or a combination, optional
- Whipped cream, optional
In a large saucepan, over medium heat, heat milk, stirring occasionally, just until bubbles start to break on the surface.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat eggs, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla until mixture is thick and pale yellow. Remove milk from heat. Slowly whisk 1 cup of the hot milk into egg mixture. Beat in remaining milk, 1 cup at a time. Transfer milk-egg mixture to saucepan in which milk was heated. Stirring constantly, heat mixture to 160 degrees over low heat. Remove from heat and let cool.
Once cool, stir in the alcohol. Cover and chill at least 4 hours. Stir well before serving. Float the whipped cream on top, making sure a little of it slips in each glass as you pour.
Will keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Makes about 3 quarts.
Spiced Chocolate Eggnog (Democrat-Gazette file photo) This drink combines two seasonal favorites: hot chocolate (well, in this case it's cold) and eggnog. It is delicious with or without the alcohol.
Spiced Chocolate Eggnog
- ½ gallon whole milk
- 1 ¼ to 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (see notes)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped, pod reserved
- 2 ½ tablets (about 8 ounces) Mexican hot chocolate such as Nestle Abuelita brand, chopped
- 12 egg yolks (see notes)
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 ¼ cups spiced rum, optional
- Ground cinnamon or nutmeg, for garnish
In a large saucepan, heat the milk, sugar, salt, vanilla seeds and pod, and chopped chocolate over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves, chocolate melts and the mixture is hot, but not scalded. Remove from heat. Let stand 30 minutes.
Whisk yolks in a medium bowl until pale, about 2 minutes. Whisk 1 cup of the hot milk mixture into yolks in a slow, steady stream. Then whisk the yolk mixture into remaining milk mixture. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches 160 degrees, about 4 minutes. Do not let mixture boil.
Remove pot from heat and discard vanilla pod. Pour mixture into a large pitcher or punch bowl and refrigerate until chilled.
To serve: Whip cream to soft peaks. Add the rum (if using) to the eggnog, then top each serving with a dollop of whipped cream sprinkled with cinnamon or nutmeg.
Makes 12 servings.
Notes: If you plan to serve this without alcohol, use less sugar. The egg whites can be frozen for later use.
Butterscotch Eggnog (Democrat-Gazette file photo) Butterscotch Eggnog
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, divided use
- 8 eggs, separated (see note)
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups whiskey, rum or a combination
Combine the heavy cream and milk in a spouted bowl or measuring cup; set aside.
In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine ½ cup water and 1 cup of the granulated sugar over medium-high heat. Cook, swirling (not stirring) the pan occasionally, until sugar turns dark amber. Reduce heat to medium and carefully add the cream-milk mixture — it will sputter and bubble vigorously — whisking constantly until mixture is smooth and creamy. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, brown sugar and vanilla until thickened. Whisking constantly, add ½ cup at a time of hot caramel mixture to the egg yolks, whisking until well incorporated. Pour the whiskey or rum into a pitcher or punch bowl, then add the egg yolk mixture, whisking to mix well; set aside.
In a separate bowl, whip egg whites (or 1 cup heavy cream) with an electric mixer on medium speed to soft peaks, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the remaining granulated sugar and continue whipping until firm, glossy peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes more.
Fold the egg whites (or whipped cream) into the egg yolk mixture. Serve immediately, or cool to room temperature and refrigerate until well chilled.
Makes about 2 quarts.
Note: The egg whites in this recipe are uncooked. If desired, 1 cup whipped heavy cream can be substituted for the egg whites.
Recipe adapted from "Winter Cocktails" by Maria del Mar Sacasa