Making + drinking eggnog is one of my most favorite holiday season traditions, and really the only tradition my family has right now since we are sort of starting over with Christmas traditions since selling the restaurant! Today I am sharing my family’s recipe. It started with my grandfather (my mom’s dad) and now my dad makes it for us every year. This is NOT a healthy recipe, so be forewarned. In fact, it’s so thick and creamy that you have to eat it with a spoon! This is a great recipe from our family archives and it’s sort of top secret. We make it every year but never really share the recipe.
I will add that I definitely recommend starting to make it the night before you plan to serve it (so, maybe today… Christmas Eve Eve?) so that you can let the liquor/egg white/sugar mixture soak overnight. It makes a difference. But it’s still good if you have to make it all the day of.
How to Make Eggnog At Home
Of course you can buy eggnog at the store but it’s not nearly as good as homemade eggnog. This one tastes so much better and though it requires a little work, the results are so, completely delicious and worthwhile. We make it for Christmas Eve and always end up having the leftovers on Christmas day. You could use a stand mixer if you have one… I don’t, and growing up my dad always used a whisk (but he’s a professional chef so… it’s a lot of work for us regular people!)
Ingredients for Homemade Egg nog
- 12 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup confectioners (powdered) sugar
- 1/2 quart good bourbon (we use Early Times)
- 1/2 pint dark rum (we use Myers)
- 2 quarts heavy cream
Instructions for Homemade Egg nog
Separate 12 raw eggs.
Set aside and refrigerate egg whites in a medium sized bowl.
Beat egg yolks + sugar in a large bowl.
Beat until light and fluffy and then add alcohol (mix in bourbon and rum). Stand for at least five hours (ideally the night before!)
Beat egg whites vigorously.
Whisk the egg whites and beat until peaks form. Gradually add 1/2 cup powdered sugar.
Fold egg white mixture into egg yolk mixture.
Carefully combine the whipped egg whites and egg yolk/booze/sugar mixture.
Make whipping cream!
Whip two quarts heavy cream until stiff, stir into egg/sugar/booze mixture and
Serve!
We serve in little mugs, but you can put it in anything… even a bowl (LOL) You will definitely need a spoon!! The next day, we like to thin it out with a little milk. I love eggnog so much. We only make it once a year but that’s what makes it so special!
I’ve never tried eggnog before (I know!) so I’m definitely making this this year! Can’t wait! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Oh you must! I know you said in another comment that you don’t drink – you could definitely make this without alcohol!
Mmm this sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing, Grace!
you’re so welcome! hope you make it and enjoy!
I’m definitely saving this recipe! I love pouring eggnog into all my drinks in winter, from cocktails to coffee, and homemade definitely beats store bought. Thanks for sharing this!
-Helen
http://wwww.sweethelengrace.com
Oh good! If you make it let me know how it goes!
I have never liked eggnog as I always just thought of it as the stuff you can buy in cartons in the grocery store during the holidays. But a few years ago my dad decided to start making his own and he makes the aged kind where you make it at least a few weeks ahead of time, but can make it even farther out than that. It. is. delicious. He varies the alcohol he uses and this year he put rum, whisky and cognac in it. So good!
Yum! Homemade eggnog is definitely best!!!
When you let the yolk, sugar, and alcohol mixture stand for five hours, is that in the fridge or on the counter? I didn’t want to ruin it. Thanks! Excited to make this!
Fridge!
I was today years old when I realized there were raw eggs in eggnog.
Hahhaha, in fairness I don’t think ALL eggnogs have raw eggs but (i.e. storebought probably does not!) but yeah, ours does!
Ok, in light of last weeks episode I’m making this today with my mom. Thank you for sharing!! We’re going to decorate our tree with the kiddos.
A few questions:
Is it a total of 2 cups sugar – 1 1/2 in yolk and alcohol batch and 1/2c in egg whites?
What do you store in it once finished?
Thank you!!
YAY! Enjoy! And yes. 2 cups total.
We usually keep ours in a big glass bowl, covered, in the fridge.
I’m going to give this a try! Wish me luck 🙂 Question – how many servings does this make?
I’m not really sure… a big bowl… a lot! As it’s an old family recipe there’s no official serving sizes!
Oh my goodness Grace – I made this for Christmas this year for my boyfriend’s family. His mom NEVER drinks liquor and usually sticks to 1-2 glasses of wine MAX. She had FOUR GLASSES (I’d thinned it out with milk) in the hour of unwrapping presents, and then FINISHED THE PITCHER FOR BREAKFAST THE NEXT MORNING. She was obsessed, it was amazing. Thank you! New family tradition.
Aw, YAY!!!! But was she okay? It is STRONG!!!!!!! I am worried, hahahahaha! 😉
Hi Grace! Excited to make this – is it a cup of each type of alcohol or a pint? Thanks!
Hi! Per the recipe above its 1/2 quart bourbon and 1/2 pint rum. Enjoy!
The egg nog was a HUGE hit!! BEYOND delicious and creamy. I will probably make this every year now!! Thanks for clarifying – my brain was clearly fried and unable to properly read a recipe haha. 🙂
I needed to grab the ingredients for this recipe again and figured I should 100% comment… this is SO good. I made this for the first time in 2020, and have continued to make it every year since. It is delicious and the fluffy/thick consistency makes it feel so special. Please thank your dad for us! xo
Oh GOOD! That makes me really really happy. I love how fluffy it is too!
This looks delicious! I want to make it for Christmas, but is it safe to drink the egg raw? Do you have to buy them from a local farm stand or something like that?
There is always a risk when you use raw eggs.
Sounds Delicious.