Ingredients
- 12 eggs, beaten
- 1½ cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 8 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1½ cups liquor (see different types below)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and salt.
- In a saucepan, bring the milk to a simmer on low heat, stirring constantly.
- Temper the egg mixture by adding the hot milk, a tablespoon at a time, whisking, until you've added about a cup of milk.
- Put the warmed milk back on low heat. In a thin stream, whisk in the tempered egg mixture, stirring constantly.
- Cook, stirring, until the mixture reaches a temperature of 160°F. Remove from the heat and place the pan in a bowl of ice water, whisking to cool.
- When cooled, whisk in the whipping cream.
- Add to a punch bowl with ice. Whisk in the liquor.
Yields 10 servings.
Storage Instructions
Store in the fridge for up to three days. To store, stop after step 6 and refrigerate in an air-tight container. Add to the punch bowl with ice and whisk in the alcohol just before serving.
What Alcohol to Use
You can use a number of brown spirits and liqueurs in your eggnog. Some spirits and liqueurs that work well include:
- Any type of whiskey, such as bourbon, scotch, rye, or whisky
- Dark rum or spiced rum
- Cognac, Armagnac, or another brandy
- Tawny Port
- Orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier
- Coffee liqueur, such as Kahlúa
- Cream liqueur, such as Bailey's Irish Cream or RumChata
- Nut-flavored liqueur, such as Amaretto or Frangelico
How Much Alcohol to Add to Eggnog
Whether you're using homemade eggnog or store-bought, the ratio is the same. The ratio of alcohol to eggnog is 1½ ounces alcohol to 8 ounces (1 cup) eggnog.
Garnishes for Alcoholic Eggnog
Make your alcoholic eggnog a little more special with a garnish. Some cocktail garnishes for eggnog include the following:
- Freshly grated nutmeg (use a rasp style grater)
- Ground cinnamon
- Orange zest
- Fresh cranberries
- Cinnamon stick
- Gingerbread cookie
- Small candy cane
- Candied ginger
- Whipped cream
- Sugar rim
- Meringue cookie
Non-Alcoholic Eggnog Add-Ins
If you like the consistency of alcoholic eggnog but don't want the booze, you can also add a few ounces of the following to create an eggnog mocktail:
- Ginger beer
- Ginger ale
- Lemon-lime soda
- Sparkling apple cider
- Cream soda
Fill Your Noggin With Alcoholic Eggnog
No matter how you like your eggnog, there's a way to make a delicious version of this festive holiday drink. So give these recipes a try and add some boozy, creamy goodness to your holidays.
