Homemade eggnog is a holiday favorite that’s ultra-creamy, perfectly spiced, and spiked for a good time. And this foolproof version comes together in less than 5 minutes with just a blender – no whisking involved!
With holidays revolving around nostalgic things, a classic eggnog is a must. It’s delectably creamy, has a hint of spice, is slightly boozy, and screams winter wonderland in one chilled cup.
Eggnog has a magical way of setting the tone for a cozy night in. It brings a little extra fun to our get-togethers, and helps us get through some of that holiday stress. And this recipe in particular will help alleviate holiday stress, because it’s incredibly easy to make. It takes less than 5 minutes in your blender!
What Is Eggnog?
Thanks to the colonial United States adopting “eggnog” from the British, this cozy cocktail has become a major holiday tradition. It started off as a combination of frothy eggs, milk, and ale, with the addition of spices or honey. Over the years, the boozy part has ranged from expensive bourbon to moonshine, but I personally prefer brandy and rum.
Regardless, eggnog is a symbol of celebrating prosperity and health. Making it the perfect cocktail to enjoy during the holidays. Because there’s nothing better than toasting to life with good friends and family by your side!
Ingredients in Homemade Eggnog
Although this recipe uses eggs, it doesn’t taste like eggs, trust me! The eggs are essentially turned into a custard, and once it’s blended with milk, spices, and alcohol, all you’ll taste is a deliciously creamy cocktail.
- Eggs: I recommend using pasteurized eggs. See my note on tempering the eggs below.
- Maple Syrup: My favorite option for a sweetener.
- Spices: A blend of nutmeg and cinnamon is like Christmas in a cup!
- Alcohol: Bourbon, brandy, and rum are ideal choices. I use a mix of alcohols, but if you have only one, that’s fine too.
- Milk: Any type of milk works, whether it’s dairy or dairy-free, such as almond milk, oat milk, or cashew milk.
- Heavy Cream: An essential for making this extra creamy. But if you’re keeping it dairy-free, coconut cream works great.
Drinking Raw Eggs Safely
How To Make Eggnog From Scratch
Are you ready for the easiest eggnog recipe you’ll ever make? All you need is five minutes. Just blend, chill, and serve!
Blend the eggs. Add the eggs and maple syrup to a high-powered blender, like my favorite Vitamix, and blend for exactly 4 minutes. Yes, exactly 4 minutes and not a second more.
Add the remaining ingredients. In goes the milk, heavy cream, alcohol, and nutmeg. Then blend for another 10 seconds.
Let it chill then serve. Pour the eggnog into a sealed container and refrigerate it until it’s nice and chilled. This will help the flavors meld together and it will thicken up as well. Once it’s cooled, give it another stir, pour it into glasses, sprinkle a little cinnamon on top and serve!
Tips For The Best Eggnog
- Don’t blend past 4 minutes. This is VERY important. When tempering your eggs, make sure not to go past 4 minutes as this will cause the egg mixture to cook and start to curdle. You want to reach 160°F, but not go over it. Additionally, if you’re not sensitive to raw eggs and you’re using pasteurized eggs, you can blend for just 2-3 minutes for a creamy consistency.
- No need to use good alcohol. Because this cocktail is mixed with sugar and cream, there’s no need to use premium alcohol.
- Use coconut cream for a non-dairy cream. To maintain a creamy texture without heavy cream and full-fat milk, blend your favorite non-dairy milk with coconut cream. Coconut cream is much thicker, richer, and will give you the right amount of creaminess.
How To Store This
If you’re not drinking the eggnog right away, store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for up to 4 days.
When you’re ready to enjoy it, pour it into glasses, and place the pitcher back in the fridge to keep it chilled. Or you can place it in an ice bucket if you’re serving at a party.
Tasty Eggnog Variations
While a classic eggnog is my favorite way to enjoy this recipe, there’s a few fun ways to spruce up the flavors.
- Pumpkin Spice: Blend in 1/3 cup of pumpkin puree and 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin spice for just the right amount of spice.
- Sea Salt & Caramel: Stir in a teaspoon of salted caramel sauce and a sprinkle of salt in each cup.
- Mexican Inspired: For tequila lovers, mix in Mezcal, crème de cacao, and top it off with cocoa powder and cinnamon.
- Non-Alcoholic: This recipe tastes just as delicious without alcohol. Simply omit it and continue the recipe as is.
Want to turn this drink into a dessert? Whip up my eggnog chia pudding or eggnog overnight oats! It’s delicious, especially with a dollop of whipped cream.
Homemade Eggnog Recipe (In 5 Minutes)
Ingredients
1x
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 ½ cups milk dairy or dairy-free
- 1 cup heavy cream or coconut cream
- ⅓ cup brandy or bourbon
- ⅓ cup rum
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- ground cinnamon or cinnamon sticks for garnish
2x
- 8 large eggs
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 3 cups milk dairy or dairy-free
- 2 cup heavy cream or coconut cream
- 0.67 cup brandy or bourbon
- 0.67 cup rum
- 2 teaspoon nutmeg
- ground cinnamon or cinnamon sticks for garnish
3x
- 12 large eggs
- 1.5 cup maple syrup
- 4.5 cups milk dairy or dairy-free
- 3 cup heavy cream or coconut cream
- 1 cup brandy or bourbon
- 1 cup rum
- 3 teaspoon nutmeg
- ground cinnamon or cinnamon sticks for garnish
Instructions
- Add the eggs and maple syrup to a high-powered blender and blend for exactly 4 minutes on high speed. Make sure to use a timer.
- Add the milk, heavy cream, brandy, rum, and nutmeg. Blend for an additional 10 seconds just to combine.
- Pour the eggnog into an airtight container and refrigerate until it's chilled.
- When ready to serve, give the eggnog a stir before pouring. Then garnish with cinnamon sticks or a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.
