Happy National Eggnog Day! And Christmas Eve!

Dec 24, 2020 | Christmas, Food, Gallery, Holiday | 0 comments

It’s Christmas Eve! It’s also National Eggnog Day, so today I’m sharing my favorite eggnog recipe. I’ve pieced it together from several different recipes I’ve come across over the years, until it’s just how I like it. This makes about a quart. I usually double everything to make about a half gallon. If more eggnog lovers are going to be around, I’ll make several double batches. Of course, it doesn’t matter how much there is, I’ll always find a way to finish it off!

Many people like to add liquor to their eggnog, whether it’s bourbon, rum, brandy, or something else. Feel free to add whatever you want. I prefer to leave it out, to get the full taste of the eggs and cream and vanilla. It’s almost like drinking egg custard, which is one of my favorite desserts.

This is not a low calorie recipe. It isn’t supposed to be. I believe in enjoying all the yummy things in moderation, instead of changing them to something less yummy just so I can have more. Eggnog is only a once a year thing for me, so I fully enjoy it at Christmas, then don’t have it again until the next year.

I hope you enjoy this yummy beverage whether you’re trimming the tree, lighting the Kinara, reciting Gita verses, reminiscing about this year’s Menorah, or doing something else to celebrate this time of year.

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Candy’s Eggnog Recipe:

Eggnog Ingredients:

• 6 egg yolks (*See note below about the egg whites.)
• 1/2 cup sugar (you can use up to 3/4 cup if you want it sweeter)
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• whole nutmeg

You’ll also need:

• mixer – a stand mixer makes this super easy because you have both hands free, but any mixer will do. Or a whisk if you’re into that sort of thing.
• heavy saucepan
• whisk
• wooden spoon
• wire mesh strainer – not too fine or the thick eggnog will take forever to go through
• nutmeg grater, or any fine grater
• food thermometer, optional

Eggnog Directions:

• Beat the egg yolks until they are lighter in color.
• Slowly beat in the sugar.
• Heat milk and cloves on medium heat until steamy hot, but not quite boiling.
• Temper the eggs: Slowly whisk about half of the warm milk into the eggs, to warm them up without curdling them.
• Add the egg mixture back to the pan with the rest of the milk, and add the cream.
• Heat on medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it reaches 160 degrees F or until it coats the back of the spoon.
• Strain and let cool about an hour.
• Stir in the vanilla and chill thoroughly.
• Grate fresh nutmeg onto each serving.

* Some people like to whip the unused egg whites into a meringue, then fold it into the cold eggnog. This is not my preference, for multiple reasons. One reason is that I just prefer it without. Another reason is that I don’t want raw egg in my nog. The yolks in this recipe are cooked just enough so there’s nothing to upset my tummy. (I can’t drink eggnog from a store for that reason.)

Tip: To serve this in a punch bowl, pour some eggnog into a mold/molds and freeze it. That will keep it cold without watering it down with ice. Last year I set up an eggnog bar, with a big punchbowl of nog, a nutmeg grater, and an assortment of liquors. Bailey’s Irish Cream, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, Amaretto, and Kahlua were popular add-ins, along with the regulars listed above.

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