You wont believe how easy and DELICIOUS homemade Eggnog is, and this recipe really is the best! Thick and creamy with the perfect mild flavor and hint of nutmeg. You'll never buy store-bought eggnog again!
Eggnog
I absolutely love eggnog! I have nothing against store-bought eggnog–we have it all the time in our fridge this time of year–but this homemade eggnog recipe is truly what dreams are made of! If you've ever thought you didn't like it, you just have to try it made from scratch.
Several years ago I sought out to make homemade eggnog. My first attempt was not a success and left my husband cringing. Let's just say that the completely “raw egg” method of making eggnog is just not for me.
I pressed forward, determined to succeed, and ended up loving this recipe from Cuisine at Home. I used ground nutmeg instead of fresh, because I always have ground on hand. I also ignored their ice-water bath suggestion and just refrigerated it instead.
The end result was liquid gold, and it's become our family's favorite eggnog recipe ever since! Seriously, this homemade recipe will “WOW” even the biggest eggnog snob!
This eggnog recipe is thick, sweet, creamy and smooth, with the perfect flavor. It doesn't contain alcohol (if you'd like to add some, read on for my suggestions), but we are non-alcohol drinkers at my house, and I wanted an eggnog recipe my kids can enjoy too.
How to make eggnog:
Start by whisking the egg yolk and sugar together in a small bowl. Then, in a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine cream, milk, salt, and nutmeg and stir the mixture until it just reaches a simmer. Next temper the eggs by adding small spoonfuls of the hot mixture to the egg mixture.
Stir each spoonful and once most of the hot mixture has been added, add the entire mixture back to the saucepan. Continue cooking and whisking for just another minute or two until it barely thickens. It will continue to thicken as it cools. Then remove it from the heat and add the vanilla. Refrigerate the eggnog mixture until chilled.
We like to serve it with a some whipped cream and an extra little dash of cinnamon and nutmeg on top.
What type of alcohol goes in eggnog?
If you would like to add alcohol to your eggnog, choose a drink with a high alcohol concentration to help counterbalance the sweetness of the eggnog. Common choices of alcohol to add to eggnog include brandy, rum, bourbon or whisky.
Don't miss my Eggnog French Toast!
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Recipe
Homemade Eggnog
Ingredients
- 6 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- pinch of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ground cinnamon , for topping
- alcohol optional, see note
Instructions
- Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a medium bowl until light and creamy.
- In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the cream, milk, nutmeg and salt. Stir often until mixture reaches a bare simmer.
- Add a big spoonful of the hot milk to the egg mixture, whisking vigorously. Repeat, adding a big spoonful at a time, to temper the eggs.
- Once most of the hot milk has been added to the eggs, pour the mixture back into the saucepan on the stove.
- Whisk constantly for a minute or so, until the mixture is just slightly thickened (or until it reaches about 160 degrees F on a thermometer). It will thicken more as it cools.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, and alcohol*, if using.
- Pour the eggnog through a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher or other container and cover with plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate until chilled. It will thicken as it cools. If you want a thinner, completely smooth consistency, you can add the entire mixture to a blender with 1 or 2 tablespoons of milk and blend until smooth.
- Serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg, and fresh whipped cream, if desired.
- Store homemade eggnog in the fridge for up to one week.
Notes
Nutrition
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Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
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I made this eggnog for Christmas Eve. It is out of this world delicious!
Oh. My. Word. So delicious and so easy! As others have said…I’ll never buy eggnog again! Thank you so much for sharing!
Oh wow!!!! This is awesome!!!! My husband loved it!!
Awesome! I doubled the nutmeg and plan on adding bourbon to mine. Great flavor!
I didn’t have whole milk so I used what I had – vanilla almond milk. That was my only substitution for this recipe and it was so delicious! I came out just thick enough and so tasty! Yum!!!
I’m so glad you added this!! My friends are lactose and I was hoping this would be a good substitute!
I have never enjoyed Egg Nog until now. Great taste, not thick and gluggy. I will continue to make it over the Holiday Season.
I made this yesterday following every step but it turned out very thin. It didn’t thicken up at all. What can I do to thicken it up? The taste was fine but I was hoping for more of a shake consistency.
The longer you let it cook the thicker it will be!
I absolutely love eggnog, and this recipe is the best. I can have eggnog year round now, if I want it. And my dogs love the egg whites
Absolutely delicious! I wanted to make a bread pudding with Egg Nog and didn’t have any on hand. Your recipe delivered great flavor and made an excellent holiday bread pudding. Thank you!
What kind of milk do you recommend using? Whole or 2%?
Whole milk will make it creamier but any kind will work!
I tried it. The 2X recipe. Way too eggy taste. The dogs liked it. Maybe should leave out a few yolks and or add more vanilla extract. No alcohol ever used in my eggnog. I buy at least 2 gallons of it every year. Prairie Farms is preferred, can do southern comfort.
The flavor is perfect, mine didn’t thicken up though, any tips? Again: love the recipe, it’s as good as, or better than, my favorite store-bought; and I am a nog connoisseur
Is the secret to whip up those egg whites after separating and then fold into mixture to make it thick? I wonder if a step was left out….
Some eggnog recipes call for adding in whipped egg whites, this one does not. This recipe is easy and delicious. But if you want to incorporate your egg whites, you can easily google eggnog recipes and you will find those as well.
I did this eggnog 3-times already and it is very good. I had it with and without alcohol, I mixed it in before serving according to alcohol level preferences. The only disadvantage is, that it is gone in no time. And that I need to find different purpose for 6 egg whites each time 😀
Pavlova!
I make macaroons with my leftover egg whites. 🙂