Homemade Eggnog Recipe (2024)

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Why buy eggnog when you can make homemade eggnog in under 5 minutes? This easy Amish recipeis versatile…sweeten and season to your liking. {And there’s a cooked eggnog option, too!}

Homemade Eggnog Recipe (1)

Homemade Eggnog Recipe

As I was planning my editorial calendar for the holiday season, I knew homemade eggnog had to be top on the to-make list. It’s one of Matt’s favorite holiday traditions, yet I had never made it for him because, well….it wasn’t one of my holiday traditions. He grew up enjoying glasses of eggnog alongside snickerdoodle cookies and this was a memory I wanted to bring back for him.

I flipped open my tattered, well-loved cookbook, looked up how to make eggnog and found an old traditional eggnog recipe. 7 eggnog ingredients that I already had in my refrigerator and pantry? No problem. I whipped it up in under 5 minutes, poured a glass for Matt {the official taste tester}. He thought it was amazingly delicious and fell in love with me all over again with just one taste.

End of sweet story, right?

Nope.

Homemade Eggnog Recipe (2)

How to Make Eggnog Safely

I was originally working on this story about 2 weeks ago and while typing, thought…maybe I should check and see how people deal with the raw eggs in eggnog? I mean, I eat raw eggs in cookie dough all.the.time {don’t send hate mail, please}. But I want to share recipes that are safe for you.

After a quick look at FoodSafety.gov, I knew I needed to rethink the completely raw eggs going in this special, creamy drink.

I’ve studied and tested recipes for the past week and have three options for you.

  1. Make the easy eggnog recipe with regular raw eggs. This is NOT recommended by FoodSafety.gov because of the risk of salmonella. That risk is relatively small, but is still there.
  2. Make the eggnog recipe with pasteurized eggs. Although this heating process kills any salmonella that might be present, the FDA and USDA still recommend cooking your eggnog. Sigh.
  3. Which brings us to the cooked eggnog recipe option. The homemade eggnog is totally safe for you to drink when it is cooked.

Homemade Eggnog Recipe (3)

I know that there will be some of you who say “Heck with it…I’m making it with raw eggs.” And I know there are some of you who will shout from the rooftops that you should NOT be drinking homemade eggnog that has not been cooked.

So I’ll share with you a quick 5-minute version that you can make using raw, pasteurized eggs….and then I’ll tell you how to make cooked homemade eggnog for the ultimate in food safety. Either way, this is the best

For the Quick Easy Homemade Eggnog Recipe:

Crack the pasteurized eggs into a bowl and whip them with a hand mixer until they are frothy on top and lemon in color. Only about 1-2 minutes. Add the sugar, nutmeg, lemon juice, salt, milk and cream. Beat it again for another 1-2 minutes. And you’re done. Pour yourself a tall glass of this cold eggnog and enjoy every sip.

For a Cooked Eggnog Recipe:

This recipe takes just a little more time but has only 6 ingredients. Do not add the lemon juice to the cooked eggnog. Trust me. It will curdle. Don’t ask me how I know.

Heat the milk and cream in a saucepan over medium heat until it is about 115-120 degrees F. In another bowl, use a hand mixer to beattogether the eggs for 1-2 minutes or until they are lemon in color. Scoop ¾ cup of the heated milk and pour it slowly into the eggs, whisking constantly. This is called “tempering” the eggs. Now pour the egg/milk mixture slowly into the heated milk, whisking constantly. Add the sugar, nutmeg and salt. Heat over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until the temperature reaches 160 degrees F. This is a safe temperature for the eggs. The last step is chilling the eggnog. The cooked version will thicken as it cools, so I recommend drinking the eggnog sooner rather than later. If the cooked eggnog thickens too much, you can add milk (plus a bit more sugar and nutmeg) to get it to the consistency you like.

And that my friends….is all I have learned about eggnog in the past few weeks. It was more of a lesson than I thought I would learn.

But the recipe itself? Matt said it reminds him of his Grandma and that is a priceless reaction for me.

Be sure to read all of the notes to make this eggnog exactly how you like it!
If you love eggnog, try Eggnog Cream Cake!

Can you bake with eggnog?

Yes! Homemade eggnog might have a little bit of a different thickness than store bought milk or store bought eggnog, so a recipe might need a little tweaking. But in general, you can often replace milk with eggnog in baked goods. We’ve also found you can reduce the sugar slightly since eggnog is already sweetened.

What can you make with leftover eggnog?

Try making cheesecake, cinnamon rolls, bread, pancakes, muffins or even coffee cake or pumpkin pie. The possibilities are endless!

Homemade Eggnog

4.98 from 35 votes

Why buy eggnog when you can make homemade eggnog in under 5 minutes? This easy Amish recipe is versatile. Sweeten and season to your liking.

Servings 6 servings

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 4 large pasteurized eggs
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups 2% milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, beat the eggs until they are thick and lemon colored.

  • Whisk in the sugar, nutmeg, lemon juice and salt.

  • Add the milk and cream.

  • Beat with a hand mixer for 1-2 minutes or until the eggnog is frothy.

  • Serve with ice. Makes 6 large glasses.

Video

Notes

  • Adjust the sugar to your liking. Add more or less.
  • You can also add a bit more nutmeg or even cinnamon if you'd like.
  • Want your eggnog creamier? Use more cream and less milk.
  • For a cooked eggnog, follow these instructions {the only ingredient you will not use is the lemon juice}:Heat the milk and cream in a saucepan over medium heat until it is about 115-120 degrees F. In another bowl, use a hand mixer to beattogether the eggs for 1-2 minutes or until they are lemon in color. Scoop ¾ cup of the heated milk and pour it slowly into the eggs, whisking constantly. This is called "tempering" the eggs. Now pour the egg/milk mixture slowly into the heated milk, whisking constantly. Add the sugar, nutmeg and salt. Heat over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until the temperature reaches 160 degrees F. This is a safe temperature for the eggs. The last step is chilling the eggnog. The cooked version will thicken as it cools, so I recommend drinking the eggnog sooner rather than later. If the cooked eggnog thickens too much, you can add milk (plus a bit more sugar and nutmeg) to get it to the consistency you like.

Nutrition

Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 163mg | Sodium: 177mg | Potassium: 291mg | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 630IU | Vitamin C: 4.2mg | Calcium: 220mg | Iron: 0.6mg

Author Julie Clark

Course Drink

Cuisine American

Calories 240

Keyword christmas morning, cooked eggnog, easy eggnog recipe, how to make eggnog

Have you tried this recipe?

Share a review below or share on Instagram with the tag #tastesoflizzyt.

Homemade Eggnog Recipe (6)

Homemade Eggnog Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in eggnog? ›

A traditional holiday drink dating back hundreds of years, eggnog is made with eggs (hence the name), milk, cream, spices like nutmeg and vanilla, and fortified with rum, whisky, and/or brandy.

What's the best alcohol for eggnog? ›

Rum is the classic alcohol to splash in a glass of eggnog. This pairing is so iconic that rum is often listed in many traditional eggnog recipes. If you'd like to add rum to your mugful, opt for a golden or dark rum. These kinds of rum have more depth of flavor than white rum.

How long does homemade eggnog last? ›

Cover and refrigerate.

The more liquor you add, the longer it will keep — non-alcoholic eggnog should be consumed within 1 day; eggnog with 1/2 to 1 cup of liquor will keep for several days; and eggnog with 1 1/2 cups of liquor will keep for several weeks and continue aging and thickening quite nicely.

What makes eggnog unhealthy? ›

Traditionally made with eggs, cream, milk, and sugar, no one would say that eggnog is a healthy drink. Even a small serving can pack significant amounts of calories, fat, saturated fat, and added sugars. And then there's the fact that homemade eggnog made with raw eggs can be a food-poisoning risk.

What kind of rum for eggnog? ›

Avoid white rum because it's too light and transparent. Instead, choose a gold or aged rum. For a fun twist similar to rye whiskey, go with spiced rum. For the best of both classics, pour both brandy and rum, splitting them equally in the eggnog.

What percentage of alcohol is in eggnog? ›

A concentration of at least 20% of alcohol (about the same amounts of alcoholic spirits and milk or cream), and refrigeration are recommended for safety.

What do you call eggnog with alcohol? ›

Rumchata Eggnog is an alcoholic beverage made with eggnog and RumChata® served in a glass with a cinnamon-sugar rim. It's the perfect co*cktail to serve at your Christmas and New Year's Eve parties! And, I even have copycat Rumchata and homemade eggnog you can use in the drink.

Is rum or bourbon better for eggnog? ›

Bourbon: Eggnog With a Kick

If you're looking for a spiked drink that packs a punch, bourbon's the way to go. Eggnog drinkers from the American South are likely used to the flavorful addition, but people who aren't expecting the strong kick might be a bit taken aback.

Does alcohol make eggnog safe? ›

Eggs must be cooked to 160 degrees F to kill bacteria such as Salmonella that may be present. If your eggnog recipe calls for raw eggs, it may not be safe. Adding alcohol inhibits bacterial growth, but it cannot be relied upon to kill bacteria.

Why is eggnog not sold year round? ›

Most plants keep producing eggnog through New Year's, and start dumping their unsold product in January. Although associated with the holidays, eggnog doesn't need to be seasonal. Dairy plants could produce small batches of eggnog off-season for hard-core nogheads, but they don't because it's not cost-effective.

What makes eggnog taste better? ›

Add a splash of vanilla or almond extract, or turn your eggnog into an iced eggnog latte by pouring a shot of espresso into the shaker. Either way, you'll feel the spirit of the holidays!

Can you freeze homemade eggnog? ›

Luckily, you can freeze eggnog and enjoy it safely past the holiday season.

Why do I feel sick after drinking eggnog? ›

“Eggnog is made with 'heavy' ingredients that, eaten in exclusion of anything else, might cause stomach distress,” registered dietitian Barbara Ruhs said. “Cream is full of fat and that takes longer to digest.

Is eggnog bad for your kidneys? ›

Eggnog can be considered a higher potassium and phosphorus food. Due to these nutrients, this drink food may be limited for those with kidney disease who are on a low potassium, low phosphorus diet.

Can you gain weight from eggnog? ›

A piece of pecan pie or glass of eggnog can set you back by more than 400 calories. To stay in maintenance mode, enjoy just a few bites of such rich foods. Or choose lower-calorie alternatives (like pumpkin pie or low-fat eggnog) so your 200 extra calories will give you more to enjoy.

What are the ingredients in favorite day eggnog? ›

Ingredients: milk, sugar, cream, skim milk, whey, egg yolks, guar gum, natural and artificial flavor, carrageenan, spices, salt, gelatin, annatto-turmeric color.

What is store bought egg nog made of? ›

What Is Eggnog Made Of? Today, eggnog is usually made of some combination of eggs (either just the yolks or the yolks and the whipped egg whites), sugar, milk, cream, nutmeg, and sometimes booze. We're all familiar with the cartons of store-bought eggnog that grace supermarkets every December.

Why does eggnog taste alcoholic? ›

So real that our recipe for eggnog calls for a whopping six eggs, which are mixed vigorously with whole milk, heavy cream, and sugar into an extremely indulgent, extra-rich drink that's reminiscent, as Al Culliton once wrote, of “melted ice cream mixed with booze.” Recipe developer Amiel Stanek adds a full two cups of ...

Why is eggnog a Christmas drink? ›

In the 1700s, rum from the Caribbean was the American eggnog alcohol of choice. But it was scarce during the revolution, so it was traded out for moonshine. This might explain why it became associated with the Christmas season. It warmed up drinkers in the cold weather, and true eggnog called for expensive liquor.

References

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