• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Charming Cocktails
  • Recipe Index
  • Tutorials
  • About
  • Amazon Shop
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Tutorials
  • About
  • Amazon Shop
  • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Tutorials
    • About
    • Amazon Shop
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home Classic Cocktails

    Aged Eggnog

    Published: Dec 5, 2021 · Modified: Dec 22, 2022 by Kimberly · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 6 Comments

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my newsletter and never miss a recipe! Cheers!

    eggnog in a glass goblet with the text "homemade eggnog" and Christmas decor

    Eggnog is one of the staples of every holiday season. Its rich, creamy decadence is perfect as a Christmastime indulgence. But it's even better when you make it at home, and not only that, when you make it weeks ahead of time! This Aged Eggnog recipe is even better after maturing in the fridge. The aging process not only makes the various flavors more pronounced, but it makes the drink taste smoother and richer (and cracking it open makes for a fun holiday tradition, too).

    glass goblet filled with eggnog and a cinnamon stick with christmas decor in the background

    If your only Eggnog experience so far has been grocery-store-carton Eggnog, this recipe will change your world! The carton stuff is full of thickeners, corn syrup and preservatives, and even sometimes food coloring. While sometimes I'm all about shortcuts, the payoff you'll get from making Eggnog from scratch by far outweighs any trouble you'll have making it.

    If you're looking for some other holiday cocktails to enjoy while it mellows in the fridge, give this easy and delicious Poinsettia Cocktail a try. And don't forget to include a Christmas mocktail for the non-drinkers: this festive Cranberry and Orange Juice Mocktail fits the bill perfectly.

    Want an indulgent Christmas drink without the egg? Try out the minty and delicious Candy Cane Martini!

    Jump to:
    • A Note about Using Eggs
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Instructions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    A Note about Using Eggs

    If you are wondering, yes, Eggnog has eggs in it! Uncooked eggs are an amazing way to give cocktails a silky feel and creamy texture as you drink. But, using raw eggs does put you at risk for getting sick with a salmonella infection.

    Luckily, there is a super easy way to kill off any salmonella bacteria (which, by the way, is most often found on the shell of the egg). This method is pasteurization, and the most reliable way to do it at home is with a sous vide machine.

    You can read more on how to pasteurize your eggs in my post here: How to Pasteurize Eggs Sous Vide.

    However, if you do plan to age this Eggnog longer than three weeks, you may not have to take the step of pasteurizing. The alcohol content will likely kill any salmonella present, although this has not been tested on a wide scale. You can check out an experiment done here with aged eggnog that had salmonella added to it on purpose. By the three week mark, the bacteria was gone.

    Ingredients

    Here are the ingredients you'll need to have on hand to get started with your Eggnog:

    • Eggs (uncooked, but preferably Pasteurized Eggs)
    • Sugar
    • Nutmeg (preferably whole)
    • Ground ginger (optional)
    • Ground cinnamon (optional)
    • Vanilla extract (optional)
    • Salt
    • White rum (80 proof)
    • Dark rum (84 proof)
    • Whiskey (80 proof)
    • Whole milk (3.5% milk fat)
    • Heavy cream (at least 36% milk fat)
    • Cinnamon stick (optional)
    ingredients for eggnog all together on a tabletop

    Substitutions

    If you need to make a substitution to one of the ingredients, here are some recommendations:

    • Eggs - The eggs give a lot of body and thickness to this recipe. If you have an egg allergy, you can try substituting in one packet of vanilla pudding mix plus an extra cup of milk.
    • Sugar - You can substitute in a different sweetener, but check to see how sweet it is compared to sugar. For example, Allulose is less sweet than sugar, so you'd need to substitute in 10 ounces (a little less than a cup and a half) for every 8 ounces of sugar.
    • Nutmeg and other spices - Nutmeg is pretty much the hallmark flavor of eggnog. But, you can switch around the spices based on what you personally like. Ground ginger, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and vanilla extract all go very well in this recipe.
    • Rum and Whiskey - Traditionally, Eggnog was often made with Cognac as well as rum. You can really substitute in whatever spirits you like, although try to stick to something in the realm of rum, whiskey or aged brandy (rather than gin or tequila).
    • Whole milk - You can substitute in a good quality almond milk or coconut milk if you have a dairy allergy. I don't recommend using skim milk, as it will make the final drink runny instead of creamy.
    • Heavy cream - Again, I don't recommend substituting in anything with a much lower fat content, because it will drastically change the texture of the drink. You can try using half-and-half if necessary.

    Variations

    There are a lot of ways to change this recipe around, and ultimately make it to your own taste!

    • Pumpkin Spice Eggnog - Yes, I totally went there. OK, I know most people are probably sick of pumpkin spice by the time Christmas rolls around, but there's nothing stopping you from adding half a can of pumpkin puree and a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice to this mix.
    • Non-alcoholic - You don't have to add the alcohol, but if you don't, I would for sure suggest pasteurizing the eggs. It will also not last as long, and you should use non-alcoholic eggnog within a week of making it.
    • Coconut Eggnog - Substitute coconut milk for the whole milk and coconut cream for the heavy cream. Also, substitute in a coconut flavored rum for the white rum.
    • Sugar Cookie Eggnog - this is a delicious and creamy version of eggnog with a milder flavor than the traditional. It has vanilla and almond flavors and a cute sugar cookie rim!

    Equipment

    You'll need to gather together a large mixing bowl, a whisk, a couple of smaller bowls for separating the eggs, and a bowl to measure the sugar. You'll also need a liquid measuring cup to measure out all of your liquid ingredients.

    If you're using whole nutmeg and grating it yourself (which I definitely recommend, it has a wonderful flavor and keeps for years!), you'll need a spice grater.

    Once you're done mixing, you'll also need an airtight container to store everything in. I prefer to use glass for this, since it is non-reactive. You'll need around a 50-ounce (1.5 liter) container.

    And when you're ready to serve, just grab your favorite cocktail glass or mug!

    Image of Anchor Hocking Batter Bowl

    Anchor Hocking Batter Bowl

    Buy Now →
    Image of Anchor Hocking Glass Mixing Bowls

    Anchor Hocking Glass Mixing Bowls

    Buy Now →
    Image of Pyrex Liquid measuring cups

    Pyrex Liquid measuring cups

    Buy Now →
    Image of Microplane Spice Grater

    Microplane Spice Grater

    Buy Now →
    Image of Bormioli Rocco Airtight Glass Jar

    Bormioli Rocco Airtight Glass Jar

    Buy Now →

    Instructions

    Making the Eggnog base

    To get started, you'll first need to separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. If you're using pasteurized eggs, the yolk can be a little more delicate, so just be careful when separating them. Don't worry if you get some of the egg whites in the mix.

    (Side note: as long as you don't get any broken egg yolks in them by accident, you can use your egg whites in many ways, including making a frothy-top cocktail like this Blueberry Gin Sour.)

    Next, measure out your sugar, nutmeg and salt, and then add them all to a large mixing bowl. Add ground ginger and ground cinnamon if you're using them.

    separate the egg yolks from the egg whites
    measure out the sugar and nutmeg

    Add the egg yolks, and whisk the mixture until it flows off the whisk like a ribbon. Then, measure out all of your alcohol, and whisk it in until combined. You can optionally add a teaspoon of vanilla extract at this point.

    whisk until the ribbon stage
    alcohol in a measuring cup

    Next, measure out the milk and cream, and add that to the mixing bowl. Whisk everything well until it is fully combined.

    Aging the Eggnog

    Transfer the mixture to an airtight container and seal it up. Make sure to label it, either with the date you made it or the date when you'd like to enjoy it!

    At this point, you can add a whole cinnamon stick to the mixture if you'd like it to be extra cinnamony. (Keep in mind that cinnamon comes through pretty strong when exposed to alcohol, though, and could take over the other flavors.)

    adding milk and cream to the mixture
    transfer mixture to airtight glass container

    Put the container in the refrigerator and let it chill. Although you can drink it right away, try to let it age for at least two weeks. You can even age it for up to a year, but I suggest starting with a couple of weeks to see if you enjoy what the aging does to the mixture. (Plus, it's just hard to wait so long!!)

    Serving it up

    When it's time to drink, just unseal the container, add it to your cocktail glass and serve. If you'd like, you can grate some fresh nutmeg on top and add a cinnamon stick as a garnish.

    ladeling eggnog into serving glass
    adding nutmeg to the top of the drink

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Eggnog safe to drink?

    If you are using pasteurized eggs, it is safe to drink. The USFDA advises against drinking eggnog made with raw eggs. See the section of this post about using eggs for more information.

    How long can you keep aged Eggnog?

    As long as it has enough alcohol, you can keep Eggnog in the refrigerator for a long time, even up to a year. It will change over time, so you can experiment to see how long your ideal aging time is. Two to three weeks of aging is a good timeframe to start testing.

    Is Eggnog better hot or cold?

    Eggnog must be stored in the refrigerator. It's usually served chilled, and is really delicious that way. If you want to heat it up before serving, you can do it gently, preferably in a double boiler while whisking, so the eggs don't start to cook.

    📖 Recipe

    side view of glass goblet filled with eggnog and a cinnamon stick with christmas decor in the background

    Aged Eggnog

    Kimberly Salem
    Eggnog is the perfect holiday cocktail, and letting it age in the refrigerator for a while makes it even better.
    5 from 4 votes
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Aging time 14 days d
    Total Time 14 days d 15 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, Drinks
    Cuisine American, European
    Servings 8 drinks
    Calories 405 kcal

    Equipment

    • Large mixing bowl
    • Whisk
    • Smaller prep bowls
    • Liquid measuring cup
    • Spice grater (optional)
    • Airtight container for storage (around 50 fluid ounces/6¼ cups/1½ liters in size)
    • Serving glass

    Ingredients

    • 6 egg yolks from 6 pasteurized whole eggs (see notes)
    • 8 oz sugar 1 ⅛ cups
    • 1 teaspoon nutmeg preferably freshly grated, plus more for garnish
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger optional
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
    • pinch salt
    • ½ cup dark rum
    • ½ cup white rum
    • ½ cup whiskey
    • 2 cups whole milk
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
    • 2 cinnamon sticks optional - one to add during aging and one for garnish

    Instructions
     

    • Separate the egg yolks from the whole eggs.
      6 egg yolks
    • Combine the sugar, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.
      8 oz sugar, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, pinch salt
    • Add the egg yolks and whisk until the mixture gets thick and runs off the whisk like a ribbon.
    • Add the dark rum, white rum and whiskey to the mixture and whisk to combine.
      ½ cup dark rum, ½ cup white rum, ½ cup whiskey
    • Add the cream, milk and vanilla extract and whisk to combine.
      2 cups whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Pour the mixture into an airtight container and seal it up. Optionally add one cinnamon stick to the mixture while it ages (only do this if you like it to be very cinnamony).
      2 cinnamon sticks
    • You could drink it right away, but it will get better as it ages. Try to refrigerate this for at least two weeks.
    • Store in the refrigerator until ready to drink.
    • When the aging is done, serve up the drink. Add a cinnamon stick garnish to each serving glass and fill the glass with the Eggnog. You can also grate some fresh nutmeg on top as another garnish.
      2 cinnamon sticks, 1 teaspoon nutmeg

    Video

    Notes

    A note about using raw eggs: read the section of this post about using eggs, or my post about how to pasteurize eggs.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 6.25fluid ouncesCalories: 405kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 5gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 193mgSodium: 45mgPotassium: 127mgFiber: 1gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 734IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 118mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword alcohol, bourbon, cognac, egg yolks, eggnog, rum, whiskey
    Subscribe for more!Join our email list for weekly recipes!
    Made with WP Recipe Maker plugin

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kathy says

      December 05, 2021 at 12:15 pm

      We are going to get all ingredients tomorrow and make the eggnog to take to friends who are having us for Christmas dinner. Making sure we have enough for us to enjoy 😊
      We’ll let you know how everyone enjoyed the eggnog !

      Reply
      • Kimberly says

        December 06, 2021 at 12:21 am

        Perfect! I can't wait to hear how everyone likes it! 😊🥂

        Reply
        • Kathy says

          December 12, 2021 at 9:20 am

          We made a double recipe .. to give as gifts when visiting friends during the holidays.. but we couldn’t wait for our batch to age and each had a small glass.. is was sooo yummy!!.. going to be hard to see it each day and not indulge .. must wait till it blossoms !!!
          Thanks for the recipe !!!!

          Reply
          • Kimberly says

            December 13, 2021 at 9:49 am

            Yum! So glad you liked it 🙂 Let me know if you like it better after it sits for a couple of weeks!

            Reply
    2. Mary Jo says

      December 22, 2021 at 6:36 pm

      5 stars
      FABULOUS recipe! It doesn't even really need to age. It's perfect on day one!!! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kimberly says

        December 22, 2021 at 9:43 pm

        Thanks so much, Mary Jo! I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed it 😊🥂 Happy holidays!!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    eggnog in a glass goblet with the text "homemade eggnog" and Christmas decor
    Subscribe to the Charming Cocktails email list
    Kim, the blog author

    I'm Kim, a cocktail enthusiast (and cold brew coffee lover). Here you'll find recipes, tips and tricks to make delicious cocktails at home! More about me →

    • Instagram
    • Link to Limoncello Kitchen YouTube channel.
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    2024 Charming Cocktails Wall Calendar - 30% off until December 6th. Images of the calendar are on a marble countertop.

    Seasonal Recipes

    • two cranberry and orange juice mocktails surrounded by cranberries and evergreens
      Cranberry and Orange Juice Mocktail
    • White Christmas Margarita cocktail on a gray countertop. The drink is white in color with red cranberries and rosemary as a garnish, and dried coconut is on the rim of the glass. The countertop has coconut sprinkled on it and a lime and cranberries are visible in the background.
      White Christmas Margarita
    • Side view of a Candy Cane Martini in a martini style glass. The drink is white and the rim of the glass is coated in crushed candy cane pieces. A mini candy cane is on the rim of the glass. To the left, a dish of crushed candy canes and some wooden coasters are visible. To the right, a white plate, a small glass filled with mini candy canes, and a white vase are visible.
      Candy Cane Martini
    • Overhead view of a Christmas Mule cocktail in a copper mug on a countertop. The drink is garnished with fresh cranberries, rosemary and a lime slice.
      Christmas Mule
    • Overhead view of a Rum Hot Toddy cocktail in a glass mug on a gray countertop with a cinnamon stick, star anise and lemon slice in the glass as a garnish.
      Rum Hot Toddy
    • Close up of a glass mug filled with a Sugar Cookie Eggnog cocktail. The rim is coated in sugar cookie crumbs and there is a sprinkling of nutmeg on top. Another mug sits slightly behind it and some sugar cookies are visible to the bottom left. Red and green decor is in the background.
      Sugar Cookie Eggnog

    Footer

    eggnog in a glass goblet with the text "homemade eggnog" and Christmas decor

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Subscribe
    • Privacy Policy

    Social

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Facebook

    Contact

    • Contact Me
    • Photo Portfolio

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020-2023 Kimberly Salem Photography, LLC

    eggnog in a glass goblet with the text "homemade eggnog" and Christmas decor
    Manage Cookie Consent
    We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
    Functional cookies Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}