Eggnog | Origins, Ingredients, Holiday Traditions, & Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional eggnog made of? ›

Eggnog is traditionally made with eggs, egg yolk, sugar, milk, heavy cream and vanilla extract. It's often spiked with brandy, rum or other liquor, and topped with freshly grated nutmeg and/or cinnamon sticks.

The eggnog base starts by beating egg yolks with sugar until light and fluffy. Then you slowly whisk in hot milk that's been infused with cloves and cinnamon, which tempers the eggs so they don't curdle. Finally, you warm the eggnog on the stovetop until it thickens. It's essentially a custard.

“One-quart cream, one-quart milk, one dozen tablespoons sugar, one-pint brandy, ½ pint rye whiskey, ½ pint Jamaica rum, ¼ pint sherry – mix liquor first, then separate yolks and whites of 12 eggs, add sugar to beaten yolks, mix well. Add milk and cream, slowly beating.

It was thought that the use of “luxury” ingredients such as cream and alcohol would invite prosperity into the household for the coming year. In most households today, a cup of eggnog ushers in the good cheer of the holiday more so than any belief in impending wealth.

The difference between the two varieties is that “old fashioned” eggnog is creamier and more strongly spiced than “classic,” Darigold spokesperson Erin Byrne said. “Classic” eggnog has 6% butterfat and is spiced with nutmeg, whereas “old fashioned” eggnog has 7% butterfat and is spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger.

Today, eggnog is usually made of some combination of eggs (either just the yolks or the yolks and the whipped egg whites), sugar, milk, cream, nutmeg, and sometimes booze. We're all familiar with the cartons of store-bought eggnog that grace supermarkets every December.

(What's the difference between eggnog and Holiday Nog? Eggnog must have a minimum 6 percent butterfat and a minimum 1 percent egg yolk by weight; Holiday Nog, which Spangler called a flavored milk product, has 2 percent butterfat and less than 1 percent egg yolk by weight.)

The Food and Drug Administration suggests consuming commercial eggnog within three to five days of opening a carton, and you should drink homemade eggnog within two to four days of making. If you're unsure whether eggnog has gone off, give it a whiff, and check for these signs: lumpy texture. spoiled milk smell.

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.

A decadent blend of real dairy cream, rum, eggs, brandy and blended whiskey topped with Pennsylvania Dutch's favorite holiday spices.

What does nog stand for in eggnog? ›

The English name's etymology however remains a mystery. Some say “nog” comes from “noggin,” meaning a wooden cup, or “grog,” a strong beer. By the late 18th century, the combined term “eggnog” stuck. Eggnog purists argue that those who don't like the Yuletide drink have simply never tasted the real thing.

Canadian chef Heidi Fink states that one of the reasons people are making less homemade eggnog is that the beverage is expensive to make, due to its use of substantial quantities of cream, eggs, and spirits.

Dairy plants could produce small batches of eggnog off-season for hard-core nogheads, but they don't because it's not cost-effective. Even a small run involves processing the ingredients, cleaning the machinery out, and updating the labels and packaging.

Sugar's addictive properties have been studied, and ice cream mix used to make eggnog contains its fair share, both from the milk sugar lactose and from added sugars.

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.

Eggnog (/ˈɛɡˌnɒɡ/), historically also known as a milk punch or an egg milk punch when alcoholic beverages are added, is a rich, chilled, sweetened, dairy-based beverage. It is traditionally made with milk, cream, sugar, egg yolks, and whipped egg whites (which gives it a frothy texture, and its name).

Eggnog is made with a combination of eggs, milk or cream, and sugar. Generally, it's served cold, and it has a custard-like color and texture. Sometimes, bourbon or whiskey or rum is added, which might be one reason it gets broken out around the holidays.

Some recipes call for whipped egg whites, which help make the light, frothy texture many enjoy in their eggnog. The yolks also help bind the liquids and fats together in the beverage to avoid separation and give the eggnog a rich, creamy taste.