A great eggnog recipe can really go a long way in making your holiday event more enjoyable. Eggnog is one of the most popular drinks to serve at holiday get-togethers. It’s delicious, creamy, frothy, and can be spiked with tons of different flavors. And what’s more: leaving the spiking up to your guests can ensure that everybody can have their drink of choice, even if they aren’t partaking in alcohol. First, you’ll need to collect all of your ingredients and then begin the process of whipping up your eggnog recipe. You can choose to add different kinds of alcohol to it, or let your guests serve themselves. And finally, make sure that you serve it in proper glassware to really make the experience memorable. Hopefully, it’ll be the hit of the party and your guests will keep coming back for more!
Delicious Eggnog Recipe for the Holidays: Be the Hit of the Party
Collecting Your Ingredients
First, you’ll need four large eggs. Using pasteurized eggs can be helpful to avoid any potential for harmful germs. You’ll want to go ahead and separate the yolk from the egg whites for later use. The yolks give the drink the creamy smooth finish, while the whites you’ll use to add some frothiness on top. You’ll also need 1/3 cup plus one tablespoon of granulated sugar, two cups of whole milk, and two cups of heavy cream, divided. For garnish, you’ll need a half teaspoon of freshly grated nutmeg, and then your spirits for spiking the drink.
Making Your Eggnog
To start. beat the egg yolks until they are pale yellow in a medium mixing bowl. Slowly add in the 1/3 cup of sugar until it’s dissolved. Then, in a separate saucepan on medium heat, bring your milk, one cup of heavy cream, and nutmeg just to a simmer. Then, while whisking constantly, pour your egg yolk mixture in with your warm milk mixture. Stir constantly until the mixture thickens and reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Pour into a bowl or pitcher and chill in the fridge, covered. Just before serving, beat the egg whites with a beater until soft peaks form. Add in the last tablespoon of sugar and stir. Then, fold the egg whites into your chilled drink mix. Beat the remaining one cup of cream until soft peaks form, and then fold that into your mixture as well. Serve garnished with some freshly grated nutmeg.
Spiking It
Your eggnog recipe doesn’t necessarily have to include alcohol. If you want to go the traditional route, add in one third cup of liquor into your recipe before chilling it. You can use bourbon, brandy, cognac. or rum. Alternatively, some recipes call for vodka, whiskey, tequila, or Baileys. Using spiced rum can also enhance the flavors of your drink. If your party includes guests who might not be drinking, or children, consider letting guests add the alcohol in themselves by providing a few options on the table with the punch bowl.
Serving It
Make sure you keep your eggnog recipe chilled until ready to serve. Traditionally, eggnog is served in a chilled punch bowl with a ladle for guests to serve themselves. Vintage eggnog sets even have tiny glasses made specifically to match the bowl. However, in modern times, it’s perfectly acceptable to serve in a lowball glass, or martini glass. You can garnish it with different spices including freshly grated nutmeg, cloves, or cinnamon.
A perfect eggnog recipe will serve you very well and make you a popular guest at holiday functions. This delicious and creamy drink is a staple during the holidays, and taking a few extra minutes to make it from scratch will make it taste so much better than the store-bought versions. Collect all of your ingredients and then begin preparing your eggnog early. You can let it rest, chilled in the refrigerator for several hours, or even overnight. You might choose to spike your eggnog before you begin to chill it or allow your guests to add their own preference for alcohol at the party. This can be a popular option if you have children or guests who won’t be partaking in alcohol. You can use different spirits like rum, whiskey, vodka, or cognac to add flavor to your drink. Finally, top it off with some freshly grated spices and serve it chilled to really make your taste buds sing. Hopefully, you can create a delicious drink for your guests, and enjoy the holidays together.