A Classic Eggnog Recipe to Enjoy All Season Long
Rich with cream, milk and frothed-up eggs, our traditional eggnog recipe is spiked and spiced and ready to be the shining star of your next holiday shindig! It’s the perfect thing to sip on Christmas Eve after the kids are in bed, or to serve at a tree trimming party. Making homemade eggnog is a pretty exciting thing in its own right, too, so maybe the sheer fact that you made eggnog is reason enough for a party! Plus, the drink needs time to chill so it’s the ideal holiday party make-ahead.
What is Eggnog?
Eggnog is a very very old drink, at least in concept. There is evidence of British monks enjoying a celebratory drink made from eggs, milk and sherry as early as the 13th century, and it likely originated even earlier than that. In the U.K. eggnog is sometimes called “egg flip”, and while it was perhaps originally made with sherry, these days most eggnog recipes—ours included—call for liquor with a much higher ABV. Rum was an early favorite (and our favorite, too), and brandy is always a classic choice. Many people even like to spike their eggnog with a few different types of booze! But more on that later. In short, eggnog is a very creamy, rich, storied cocktail that definitely deserves a place in your holiday plans!
Let's Talk Booze! What Liquor Goes in Eggnog?
As we mentioned above, it’s likely that eggnog as we know it was first made (centuries ago!) in Britain and spiked with sherry. While sherry does indeed make for a delicious eggnog, it’s the holidays! We like our eggnog to pack a little more punch. Plus, with whole raw eggs in this drink, we like the added protection of a higher ABV! While there are recipes out there for non-alcoholic eggnog, classic eggnog is spiked within an inch of its life, and ours follows suit. Well, not exactly, but warn your guests that—despite the fact that it tastes delightfully like melted ice cream—eggnog is quite alcoholic! So make sure people have DDs and sip responsibly (as always). As for what liquor to use to ensure that your eggnog is truly the best eggnog anyone has ever tasted, we are very partial to the combination of aged rum and bourbon. Let’s talk options:
Rum! Aged rum is what we’re calling for here, because we love it’s warmth, sweetness and depth of flavor. We often reach for Rhum Barbancourt 4-year, which is usually in the $20 range, but the Flor de Caña 4-year is a great pick, too and will be in roughly the same price range. That said, the best rum for eggnog is...any rum that you love to drink! Beware the overproof rums, though—save those 151 rums for tiki drinks, OK?
Bourbon! Whiskey is always welcome in the wintertime and bourbon, with its boozy sweetness, is a terrific liquor to use when making eggnog. We always love Maker’s Mark, but use any bourbon that you adore.
And an honorable mention goes to: other booze! If you want to mix things up, there’s no harm in it! Brown liquors are the way to go with eggnog, but you can play around with what you’ve got or what you like. If you want to swap out the bourbon and try a different whiskey, go for it! Irish whiskeys like Jameson might be delightful here. Skip the peaty Scotches, though—when it comes to eggnog made with whiskey, stick to bourbon or super familiar Irish whiskeys, like Jameson or Bushmill’s. You could also play around with pouring some brandy into the mix if you’re really feeling adventurous. If you’re looking for a good vodka tipple, please visit our White Russian recipe.
How To Make Eggnog
Homemade eggnog is so easy to pull off, and it’s a sure-fire way to summon holiday cheer! Our recipe is probably the easiest eggnog recipe there is, and it’s the very best! Grab your trusty immersion blender (or regular old countertop blender) and get ready to blend! Here’s how to make homemade eggnog:
Blend the eggs.
Blend in the sugar.
Blend in the heavy cream.
Blend in the milk, bourbon, rum and nutmeg.
Pour the eggnog into a container. Pour it into a container you can seal (even if it's just a pitcher with foil on top) or the eggnog may take on the flavor of other things in your fridge (we're looking at you, onions!).
Chill! At least an hour, or overnight.
Fold in the froth that has risen to the top and serve!
Yes, You Can Make Eggnog Ahead of Time!
In fact, some people like to intentionally age their eggnog for months, or even years! We’re too impatient for that, but eggnog easily keeps in the fridge for a week, which means you can make a big batch and be ready to serve up a little festivity whenever a friend, carol-singer or family might happen to drop by.
Tools You’ll Need
Mugs or cocktail glasses for serving
A microplane grater for grating the fresh nutmeg
More Festive Holiday Cocktail Recipes to Try
Enjoy Your Christmas Vacation
Does eggnog remind anyone else of the movie “Christmas Vacation”? For better or worse, that’s one of our most ingrained associations. When you make our eggnog recipe, we want to hear about what you thought, who you shared it with and maybe even what holiday movie you watched while you sipped! Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!