Vanilla Eggnog - Easy Eggnog Recipe (2024)

ByLaura BaisPosted onUpdated on

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Even hearing the word “eggnog” makes me excited, but making and drinking it brings a lot of nostalgic feelings. While doing my small research, I noticed that many eggnog recipes include vanilla extract instead of vanilla bean. That seemed odd at first since my grandma always said that nothing can replace a good vanilla bean. So, today, I decided to share with you a simple vanilla eggnog recipe that my family loves the most!

How to Make Vanilla Eggnog?

Making homemade eggnog was a game changer for my friends after I shared this recipe with them. Like many other people, they didn’t know that eggnog is so simple to make at home. Let me first tell you which ingredients do you need to make vanilla eggnog.

  • Eggs – Surprise, surprise! Eggnog is made of eggs. Kidding aside, eggnog is not eggnog without eggs. It is creamy and semi-thick thanks to them.
  • Milk – If you ever tried this traditional holiday drink, you know that the milky taste defines it.
  • Whipping Cream – Some people use heavy cream, and that’s perfectly fine. However, I am a fan of sweetened whipping cream and decide to add it to almost every dessert I make. For that reason, I add less sugar.
  • Sugar – Because vanilla eggnog is a sweet drink.
  • Vanilla Bean – Vanilla bean brings the best vanilla flavor you can find. No extract or vanilla paste can replace it.
  • Rum and Bourbon – Traditional eggnog always incorporates alcohol. If you want to keep it light, feel free to skip it.
  • Spices – Spices are here to make this drink warm and create some kind of a cozy feeling and atmosphere around us. When you try this vanilla eggnog, you will see what I’m talking about. The spices I used are cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Once you have all ingredients ready, you can start with preparation.

1. Step: Beating egg yolks with sugar

Of course, you will need to separate egg yolks from egg whites first. Egg whites are not needed in this recipe, so I used them to make homemade eggnog macarons. Beat egg yolks alone first, and then start with adding sugar. Mix at the high spread until you get a nice and fluffy texture. It will take you about 3 to 4 minutes in total.

Vanilla Eggnog - Easy Eggnog Recipe (2)

2. Step: Heating the milk with vanilla and spices

In a sauce pan, add milk, whole cloves, a dash of nutmeg and a dash of cinnamon. Open vanilla bean and use its inside. Add it to the milk. Heat the milk mixture until it starts steaming. Be careful not to boil the milk. To avoid boiling and a burned bottom, heat the milk over medium heat.

3. Step: Adding hot milk to eggs

When is milk hot enough, add half of the mix to the fluffy eggs. When you are doing this, make sure you are constantly whisking. Gradually add the rest of the milk.

4. Step: Cook the eggnog

Return the vanilla eggnog to the stove and cook it over medium heat until it thickens. Whisk it constantly to avoid boiling and burning. This step will take you between 5 and 10 minutes.

5. Step: Adding the rest of the ingredients

Let the eggnog chill for 1 hour. Remove the cloves with a spoon or strain the eggnog if it has some curdled parts. Now is also time to add the rest of the ingredients: whipping cream, Bourbon and rum.

6. Step: Keep vanilla eggnog in the refrigerator

Vanilla eggnog is the best when served cold. So, put eggnog in the fridge and use it within 4 days. That’s approximately how long vanilla eggnog lasts. If you wish to warm eggnog up, do that on a stove over medium heat. Just make sure you warm up only the quantity you are planning to drink immediately. Reheating eggnog twice is not a good idea.

Vanilla Eggnog - Easy Eggnog Recipe (3)
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Vanilla Eggnog - Easy Eggnog Recipe (4)

Vanilla Eggnog

Author: Laura Bais

Easy vanilla eggnog recipe that will leave you speachless.

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Resting Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 4 people

Calories 359 kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 egg yolks
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 vanilla bean
  • 2 pinches cinnamon
  • 1 pinch nutmeg
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 2 tbsp rum
  • 2 tbsp bourbon
  • 1 cup whipping cream or heavy cream

Instructions

  • Separate egg yolks from egg whites first.

  • Beat egg yolks alone first, and then start with adding sugar. Mix at the high spread until you get a nice and fluffy texture. It will take you about 3 to 4 minutes in total.

  • In a saucepan, add milk, whole cloves, a dash of nutmeg and a dash of cinnamon. Open vanilla bean and use its inside. Add it to the milk. Heat the milk mixture until it starts steaming. Be careful not to boil the milk. To avoid boiling and a burned bottom, heat the milk over low to medium heat.

  • When is milk hot enough, add half of the mix to the fluffy eggs. When you are doing this, make sure you are constantly whisking. Gradually add the rest of the milk. You are practically cooking the egg yolks in this step.

  • Return the vanilla eggnog to the stove and cook it over medium heat until it thickens. Whisk it constantly to avoid boiling and burning. This step will take you between 5 and 10 minutes.

  • Let the eggnog chill for 1 hour.

  • Remove the cloves with a spoon or strain the eggnog if it has some curdled parts. Now is also time to add the rest of the ingredients: whipping cream, Bourbon and rum. Whip them well into your vanilla eggnog.

  • Let it cool completely and serve in glasses. Enjoy!

Notes

Keep eggnog in the refrigerator and drink it within 4 days.

If you wish to warm eggnog up, do that on a stove over medium heat, but only the quantity you are planning to drink immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1personCalories: 359kcalCarbohydrates: 20.9gProtein: 8.8gFat: 26.7gSaturated Fat: 15.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 8.7gTrans Fat: 0.8gCholesterol: 313.7mgSodium: 88.3mgPotassium: 252.9mgSugar: 20.5gVitamin A: 317IUVitamin C: 0.6mgCalcium: 216mgIron: 0.6mg

Keyword easy eggnog recipe, homemade vanilla eggnog, vanilla eggnog

Vanilla Eggnog - Easy Eggnog Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I mix with store bought eggnog? ›

While brandy is the most traditional alcohol to pair with eggnog, according to traditional recipes, you can also use a mixture of dark rum and Cognac. If you like your eggnog with more of a kick you can also add bourbon, but we recommend sticking to rum and Cognac to preserve the 'nog's flavors.

Does eggnog contain vanilla? ›

A traditional holiday drink dating back hundreds of years, eggnog is made with eggs (hence the name), milk, cream, spices like nutmeg and vanilla, and fortified with rum, whisky, and/or brandy.

Why is my homemade eggnog so thick? ›

The distinct flavors of egg, cream, and liquor meld together even after just a day or two in the fridge, making a smoother, more balanced cup of nog. The proteins in the eggs also start to thicken, giving eggnog its signature spoon-coating thickness.

What makes eggnog taste better? ›

Add a splash of vanilla or almond extract, or turn your eggnog into an iced eggnog latte by pouring a shot of espresso into the shaker. Either way, you'll feel the spirit of the holidays!

Do you heat store bought eggnog? ›

Eggnog is usually served cold, but you may choose to heat it, especially if you're coming in from making snowmen or ice skating. And you can spike eggnog with a splash of brandy, rum or your spirit of choice, but it's also delicious simply spiked with vanilla or cinnamon.

How much alcohol do you put in store-bought eggnog? ›

The golden ratio for this little holiday cheer is 1 to 5. Just to be clear, that's 1 part booze to 5 parts eggnog (definitely not the other way around). And once you've mixed it all up, ensure you serve it with flair. Top each glass with a dash of freshly grated nutmeg and maybe a cinnamon stick for added flavour.

What are the ingredients in Hood vanilla eggnog? ›

Ingredients: MILK, CREAM, SUGAR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, EGG YOLKS, FAT FREE MILK, VANILLA EXTRACT, GUAR GUM, SALT, CARRAGEENAN, MONO & DIGLYCERIDES. Allergens: MILK, EGGS.

What is Starbucks eggnog made of? ›

Ingredients. EGGNOG [VARIES BY REGION - INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL STORE], MILK, BREWED ESPRESSO, NUTMEG.

Why can't you drink a lot of eggnog? ›

Traditionally made with eggs, cream, milk, and sugar, no one would say that eggnog is a healthy drink. Even a small serving can pack significant amounts of calories, fat, saturated fat, and added sugars. And then there's the fact that homemade eggnog made with raw eggs can be a food-poisoning risk.

What do you call eggnog with alcohol in it? ›

"Tom and Jerry is a form of hot eggnog [co*cktail] that was once popular." The Tom and Jerry was invented by British journalist Pierce Egan in the 1820s, using brandy and rum added to eggnog and served hot, usually in a mug or a bowl. It is a traditional Christmastime co*cktail in the United States.

Why doesn't eggnog go bad? ›

The reason eggnog can age despite its dairy content is twofold. One half is that contamination of American dairy products is, thankfully, quite rare. The other is that alcohol inhibits bacterial growth. In pre-pandemic times, you may have joked that “alcohol kills everything” while sharing co*cktails in a crowded bar.

What is the best flavor of egg nog? ›

Best Eggnog to Spike: Southern Comfort Traditional Eggnog

It's worth noting that Southern Comfort also makes a vanilla flavored eggnog, but we found that version overpowering in its sweetness. If you're looking for a SoCo eggnog, go for the original.

Why you should be careful with that eggnog? ›

Refrigerated eggs with clean, uncracked shells can still be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. Eggs must be cooked to 160 degrees F to kill bacteria such as Salmonella that may be present. If your eggnog recipe calls for raw eggs, it may not be safe.

What liquid goes with eggnog? ›

Rum is the classic alcohol to splash in a glass of eggnog. This pairing is so iconic that rum is often listed in many traditional eggnog recipes. If you'd like to add rum to your mugful, opt for a golden or dark rum. These kinds of rum have more depth of flavor than white rum.

What goes well with eggnog? ›

And while chocolate cake is at the top of the list of desserts that pair well with eggnog, you can't go wrong with any sweet. Pumpkin pie and apple crumble are the next two on the list.

What do you mix with Trader Joe's eggnog? ›

It's a sweet, convivial, ready-to-enjoy concoction that puts guests in the holiday spirit the moment it's poured into their glasses. It adds some much-needed luxury when stirred into a latte, and blends beautifully with ice cream for a magnificently merry adult milkshake.

What alcohol do you beat with eggnog? ›

Brandy: Makes the Most Traditional Eggnog

For the most traditional holiday experience, reach for brandy (specifically, Cognac) to spike your 'nog. It's important to note, though, that both brandy and eggnog are quite sweet.

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