Have yourself a merry little Christmas with this non-alcoholic holiday eggnog! Thick, rich, and creamy, it brings the perfect touch to snuggly nights by the fire or contemplative moments by a sparkling Christmas tree. It’s so delicious and easy to make that you’ll want to make holiday eggnog a part of your family’s Christmas traditions!
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Growing up, my Christmas Eves were just as busy and festive as my Christmas Days. Each year, I’d wake up early on Christmas Eve day to head to work with my dad. I loved taking the train in to the Chicago Loop and feeling very grown up, matching my brisk pace with train commuters rushing to their offices. After participating in the holiday family activities and potluck lunch, we’d return home, only to depart again to attend church with my extended family. Religious services done, we’d all gather at my grandmother’s for dinner, gifts, and a sing-along. I loved the celebration, but I always looked forward to going home for my Christmas Eve treat – cookies and eggnog.
In most homes, it’s traditional to put out milk and cookies for Santa. But in our house, we left out cookies and eggnog. My brother and I would pick out the best cookies for Santa, pour a glass of eggnog for him, then settle down to enjoy our own portions of his favorite snack.
Store-bought eggnog was too expensive for our family, so my father made homemade holiday eggnog each year. He used to make two batches – one for my brother and I, and a batch with an extra kick of rum for himself, my mom, and Santa. My brother and I looked forward to that little glass of nutmeg-y deliciousness so much that we were convinced that Santa liked our house best because we shared our eggnog with him!
Many years later, when my dad passed the recipe on to me, I was shocked at how easy his eggnog was to make and how few ingredients were in it. At first I thought the recipe was missing an ingredient or two. But when I tasted it, I was instantly taken back to being a kid who was filled with anticipation on Christmas Eve. The best part was when I made it for my own kids and one of them exclaimed, “This is even better than the stuff from the store!”
I really love using the wire whisk attachment on my Kitchen Aid stand mixer for eggnog. I lean (heavily, I admit) toward being the accident-prone type. I’ve had more than one hand mixer disaster in which the bowl goes whizzing off the counter, so I let my Kitchen Aid take care of mixing for me. The bowl locks in place so I don’t have to worry about my yummy eggnog ending up on the floor. And I love that I can chill the metal bowl just before I mix my recipe. I don’t think I’d cook nearly as much as I do if I didn’t have my Kitchen Aid!
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Directions
- In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and fluffy.
- Add sugar and salt. Beat until thick and lemon colored.
- Stir in half and half. Chill at least three hours. Sprinkle with nutmeg just before serving.
Grandma always said that a recipe is just a guideline. Feel free to adapt my recipes to suit your family’s needs. Be sure to comment below to let us all know how you made this recipe your own!
If you’re looking for a more grown-up eggnog recipe, try Blitzen’s Boozy Eggnog for a Christmas drink that really packs a punch! And don’t forget to bake some cookies to go with your nog. Traditional Peanut Butter Blossoms always hit the spot, but if you’re looking to fill a whole cookie tray, check out our Cookie Monster Pinterest board for Christmas cookie recipes from all over the web!
Holiday Eggnog
Difficulty: Easy6
servings10
minutes3
minutesHave yourself a merry little Christmas with this non-alcoholic holiday eggnog! Thick, rich, and creamy, it brings the perfect touch to snuggly nights by a sparkling Christmas tree.
Ingredients
6 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 quart half and half
Nutmeg for sprinkling
Directions
- In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and fluffy.
- Add sugar and salt. Beat until thick and lemon colored.
- Stir in half and half.
- Chill at least three hours. Sprinkle with nutmeg just before serving.
Notes
- If you’d like to make a grown-up version of this eggnog, add 1 cup of spiced rum with the half and half.
- Please use caution, as always, when consuming foods and drinks that contain raw eggs, like this one.
