Description
Make a thick, rich, and creamy homemade eggnog with a perfect balance of spices. This recipe includes options for serving it spiked with spirits or keeping it non-alcoholic.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large egg yolks
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 quart whole milk
- 1 pint heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Optional: 1 cup bourbon, dark rum, or brandy
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, and salt until the mixture is pale yellow and thick.
- In a saucepan, combine the whole milk and heavy cream. Heat over medium heat until small bubbles form around the edges; do not boil.
- Slowly pour about one cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture while whisking constantly. This tempers the eggs.
- Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture.
- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon (about 170°F). Do not let it boil.
- Remove from heat immediately. Stir in the vanilla extract, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl.
- If making the alcoholic version, stir in your chosen spirit now.
- Cover the surface directly with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming. Chill for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve cold, garnished with extra grated nutmeg or cinnamon on top.
Notes
- For a thicker eggnog, you can gently heat the milk and cream mixture with two cinnamon sticks and two whole nutmegs, then steep for 30 minutes before tempering the eggs. Remove spices before proceeding.
- If you prefer a non-alcoholic version, simply omit the spirits and use an extra 1/2 cup of milk.
- You can make this recipe up to three days ahead of time.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 30
- Sodium: 110
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 10
- Cholesterol: 250