Name: Eggnog
Ingredients: 6 Large eggs, yolks only; 75 g Caster sugar, or granulated sugar; 1 tsp Vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste; 250 ml Cream; 400 ml Whole milk; Freshly grated Nutmeg, to taste, to taste; 200 ml Vodka, alternatively Bourbon, rum, or a combination of spirits; 50 g Dark chocolate (finely chopped or broken into pieces) double the amount if you would like to make a full batch; Extra freshly Grated Nutmeg; Ground Cinnamon; Grated Dark Chocolate; Reserved egg whites from the 6 eggs

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The recipe

Eggnog

Learn how to make a rich, creamy homemade eggnog recipe from scratch, using a classic custard base.

Takes a bit of care

Times and difficulty are our estimates from the method, not stopwatch figures.

Quantities

Measurements

Method

Separate the eggs

Step 1
Crack the eggs and separate the yolks from the whites.
Step 2
You can do this by passing the yolk between the eggshell halves, or crack the egg into your hand and allow the whites to fall through your fingers, leaving the yolk behind.
Step 3
Place the yolks into the bowl of a stand mixer. Reserve the egg whites and refrigerate them for another recipe (such as meringues or pavlova), or to incorporate later into the eggnog if desired.

Whisk egg yolks and sugar

Step 1
Add the sugar and vanilla to the egg yolks. Whisk until the mixture becomes light and fluffy and leaves a visible trail on the surface when the whisk is lifted. A stand mixer works well, you can also use an electric hand mixer or a hand whisk will work, but will take longer.

Heat the dairy

Step 1
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the cream (250 ml) and whole milk (400 ml). Add a generous grating of fresh nutmeg. Place over medium heat and warm gently until just steaming.
Step 2
Stir occasionally to prevent the mixture from catching on the bottom and do not allow to boil. Once steaming, remove from the heat.

Temper the eggs

Step 1
Ladle a small amount of the hot milk (400 ml) and cream (250 ml) mixture into the egg yolk mixture and whisk well. This tempers the eggs, gently warming them and preventing scrambling.

Cook the custard

Step 1
Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk (400 ml) and cream (250 ml). Return to the heat and cook gently. For accuracy and food safety, heat the mixture to 71-77°C (160-165°F) using a thermometer.

Strain the mixture

Step 1
Remove from the heat and strain the custard through a sieve to remove any lumps, ensuring a smooth texture.

Add the alcohol

Step 1
Stir in the vodka (200 ml) (or your chosen alcohol).Mix well to combine.

Optional chocolate eggnog

Step 1
While the mixture is still warm, pour half of the eggnog back into the saucepan. Add the dark chocolate and stir until fully melted and smooth. This creates a chocolate eggnog variation.

Chill or serve warm

Step 1
Allow both eggnogs to chill before serving if desired. Alternatively, serve warm. The alcohol provides a naturally warming effect either way.

Optional: incorporating egg whites

Step 1
If using the reserved egg whites, whip them to soft peaks. Once the eggnog has cooled, gently fold the whipped whites into the mixture. This creates a lighter, airier eggnog texture.

Serve

Step 1
Pour into glasses and finish with: Freshly grated nutmeg, a pinch of cinnamon, or grated dark chocolate.

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Also in Christmas dinner, start to finish.

Questions people ask

How much does this make?

The original recipe did not state a yield, so nothing has been invented for it. The scale control on the recipe card multiplies the quantities instead, which is the honest version of the same thing.

Can I see the ingredients in ounces and pints?

Yes. The metric and imperial switch on the recipe card converts every quantity, rounded to amounts you can actually weigh or measure rather than to four decimal places. Your choice is remembered for every recipe on the site.

Is it vegetarian?

Yes, as written. If you are cooking for a strict vegetarian, the one to check is the cheese: several hard cheeses are made with animal rennet.

Eggnog

Eggnog

Ingredients

Eggnog base

Optional chocolate eggnog

To serve (optional)