No drink spells Christmas more than a classic eggnog!
It’s Christmas Day; a day of celebration and togetherness. And, yes, if you’re lucky, lots of presents, copious amounts of food, and plenty of eggnog!
This classic drink originated in medieval England so it has been a tradition for a very long time! This drink consists of an egg custard spiked with bourbon and topped with whipped egg whites.
In this version, we chose to cook the egg custard and we’re glad we did as we much preferred the thicker consistency.
This is the perfect drink to get you into the Christmas spirit!
Why you will love this Eggnog recipe…
Eggnog (cooked)
Ingredients
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy or double cream
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 vanilla bean pod, split and seeds removed
- 1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg, plus more for garnish
- 5 eggs, separated
- ⅔ cup caster (superfine) sugar
- ¾ cup 175ml bourbon (I used Jim Beam)
Instructions
Ingredients
- In a saucepan, combine milk, cream, cinnamon, vanilla bean & seeds, and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer over a medium heat. Once boiling, remove from the heat and allow to steep.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat egg yolks and sugar until combined and thick ribbons form when the whisk is lifted.
- Slowly whisk in the milk (a little at first to temper the mixture) and continue to mix until the mixture is combined and smooth. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and heat over moderately low heat, stirring continuously.
- Cook the mixture until thickened (if you have a thermometer, take it to 160°F (71°C), but no higher.*
- Remove from the heat immediately and stir in the bourbon. Decant into a medium mixing bowl, and set in the refrigerator to chill overnight.
- Beat the egg whites in a large bowl or stand mixer until soft peaks form. Gently fold into eggnog until combined.
- Serve immediately and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg. NB: The mixture will eventually separate; if so, simply give it a whisk.
Notes
Nutrition
Serving Suggestions
Eggnog is traditionally served at Christmas time during festive celebrations or Christmas dinner. This is also the ideal beverage to whip up for a Christmas party, especially when paired with cinnamon rolls for the perfect cozy treat!
🧑🍳 Expert Tips
Storage Suggestions
Eggnog (cooked) FAQs
Is eggnog alcoholic?
Traditionally, eggnog is alcoholic but you can easily make it alcohol-free by leaving out the bourbon. This also makes it suitable for children to enjoy.
Is it safe to heat up eggnog?
Although this beverage is usually served cold, it can be heated if you prefer. We recommend doing this on low heat in a pot on the stovetop to prevent it splitting.
Is eggnog supposed to be cooked?
There are many versions of eggnog that don’t require cooking but we prefer to cook it as it creates a thicker texture and removes the risks of contracting salmonella from the uncooked egg.
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