About this recipe

Rich, creamy, and perfectly spiced — this classic homemade eggnog is the real deal. Made with a cooked custard base for food safety, it's silky smooth with warm notes of nutmeg and vanilla. Far superior to anything from a carton, it's a beloved holiday tradition that's surprisingly simple to pull off at home. Serve it chilled and spiked (or not) for a crowd-pleasing seasonal treat.

Instructions

1. 1

   Separate the eggs, placing the yolks in a medium heatproof mixing bowl and the whites in a large, clean mixing bowl. Set the whites aside at room temperature.

2. 2

   Whisk the egg yolks with 1/2 cup of sugar until the mixture turns pale yellow and slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.

3. 3

   In a medium saucepan over ^[medium heat], combine the whole milk and 1 cup of heavy cream. Heat until steaming and just beginning to simmer around the edges — do not boil. Remove from heat.

4. 4

   Temper the eggs: very slowly pour about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture in a thin, steady stream, whisking constantly. This gradually raises the temperature of the eggs without scrambling them.

5. 5

   Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture, whisking to combine. Return to ^[medium-low heat] and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon and reaches %[160°F] on an meat thermometer, about 5–7 minutes. Do not let it boil.

6. 6

   Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt. If desired, stir in the bourbon / rum / brandy now. Pour the custard through a sieve into a large mixing bowl or pitcher (Large) to remove any cooked egg bits.

7. 7

   Press a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours or up to overnight.

8. 8

   Once the custard is fully chilled, beat the reserved egg whites with a hand mixer or stand mixer on ^[medium speed] until foamy. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and continue beating until soft, glossy peaks form.

9. 9

   Gently fold the whipped egg whites into the chilled custard base using a spatula, using wide, sweeping motions until just incorporated. This gives the eggnog its signature light, airy body.

10. 10

    In a separate mixing bowl, beat the heavy cream cold with the powdered sugar until soft peaks form.

11. 11

    Ladle or pour the eggnog into glasses or a punch bowl. Top each serving with a dollop of whipped heavy cream and a fresh grating of nutmeg. Serve immediately and enjoy!