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Classic Homemade Eggnog

9

  • Prep Time15 min
  • Total Time4 h 15 min
  • Makes6
Three coupe glasses of cooked eggnog on a green tray, with a woman's hand stirring a cinnamon stick into one glass.

(Photo: Christie Vuong. Food styling: Eshun Mott. Prop styling: Rayna Marlee Schwartz. Produced by: Sun Ngo)

There’s something deeply satisfying about the ritual of making eggnog from scratch. It’s creamy and rich, with just the right amount of spice and a silky texture that puts the carton stuff to shame. Whether you spike it or not, it’s a cozy classic worth slowing down for.

Ingredients

  • 6 large egg yolks

  • ½ cup granulated sugar

  • 2 cups 3.25% milk

  • 1 cup 35% cream

  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg

  • Pinch of salt

  • 1/3 cup rum, brandy or bourbon (optional)

  • 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  • Beat egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium, until thick and pale, about 1 min. (Or 2 min done by hand with a whisk.)

  • Combine milk, cream, nutmeg and salt in a medium saucepan set over medium. Heat just until mixture steams (do not boil).

  • Slowly whisk hot milk mixture into yolk mixture to warm it up, then return mixture to saucepan.

  • Reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula, until it reaches 160F on a thermometer. (It will be steaming and thick enough to coat the back of the spoon.)

  • Remove from heat, then stir in rum and vanilla. Strain into a bowl through a fine mesh sieve. Set aside to cool, then cover and refrigerate until chilled, 4 hrs or overnight. Stir well before serving. Pour into glasses and garnish with a cinnamon stick and a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg. Leftover eggnog will last in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Jennifer Pallian is a food scientist, recipe developer and blogger at Foodess. She lives in Vancouver.

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