Homemade Salted Caramel Eggnog Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

Is there such a thing as hot eggnog? ›

As the holidays draw near and temperatures drop, we welcome a warm drink to help us feel snug and cozy. Nothing hits the spot better than that iconic blend of eggs, milk, sugar, and spices, fortified, perhaps, with a splash of spirits: hot eggnog.

“For a lot of people, it's the richness of the fat and flavor of the custard that gives eggnog its sensory appeal.”

Alton Brown prefers four to six months, while Bennett thinks eight to 12 months is the “sweet spot.” Though, I'm pushing that one in my fridge as long as I can, I think aged eggnog merely two weeks old is quite extraordinary—caramely, minty and just a bit funky, while smooth as silk.

Here's your golden ratio for pop-up holiday cheer: Combine 1 part of your selected spirit to 5 parts prepared eggnog. Want us to make it even easier on you? If you buy a 1-quart container of eggnog, you should use 6.5 ounces of liquor, total.

Is Eggnog Served Hot or Cold? Eggnog is traditionally served as a punch at parties, and as such, is usually chilled or room temperature. However, warmed eggnog is also a delightful treat. In this case, we say "to each your own!" Enjoy your eggnog however you like it.

The warm eggnog with rum was so yummy, it tasted like a liquid dessert. The warm temperature of the drink mellowed its unique taste a bit (eggnog could be an acquired taste if you're not used to it), and immediately warms up your body. The rum definitely helped. It was perfect to enjoy and sip on a cold November night.

“While there are different eggnog recipes, most eggnog will typically contain high amounts of fat from cream and milk, and added sugar for sweetness,” said Cohn. The American Heart Association recommends that people consume no more than 5% to 6% of calories from saturated fat every day to support heart health.

Traditionally made with eggs, cream, milk, and sugar, no one would say that eggnog is a healthy drink. Even a small serving can pack significant amounts of calories, fat, saturated fat, and added sugars. And then there's the fact that homemade eggnog made with raw eggs can be a food-poisoning risk.

Eggnog is typically made with rum, brandy or bourbon, and Brown likes to start with a combination of dark rum and cognac. But there's no need to go premium; he recommends using an affordable, high-proof VS cognac. The higher alcohol level will cut through the sweetness of the rest of the ingredients.

Century eggs prepared in traditional ways are generally safe to consume.

Can 2 year olds drink eggnog? ›

When can babies have eggnog? After 12 months of age, if the eggnog is pasteurized and free of alcohol. While we generally recommend waiting until age 2 to introduce sugar into a toddler's diet, a small taste of pasteurized, alcohol-free eggnog on a special occasion after a child's first birthday is just fine.

The more liquor you add, the longer it will keep — non-alcoholic eggnog should be consumed within 1 day; eggnog with 1/2 to 1 cup of liquor will keep for several days; and eggnog with 1 1/2 cups of liquor will keep for several weeks and continue aging and thickening quite nicely.

For the best of both classics, pour both brandy and rum, splitting them equally in the eggnog. Try at least two styles of whiskey. Remember that whiskeys vary greatly from one style to the next and even within each style.

If you're looking for a traditional approach, spike store-bought eggnog using your favorite liquor like brandy, bourbon, or rum. This super-simple recipe makes six 6½-ounce servings.

Chairman's Reserve Spiced Rum

"When choosing a rum, I personally find a spiced rum to be the best for the flavors incorporated in eggnogs," he said. "Chairman's Reserve Spiced Rum is best for its quality and flavor profile.”

Eggnog is very sweet and creamy, somewhat like a custard. Some have a little bit of sweet spice thanks to the cinnamon added to eggnog. You can also add vanilla to your drink for a special touch in your drink.

Specialty stores: Some specialty stores may carry eggnog throughout the year. These could include gourmet food stores, specialty dairy shops, or local farmers' markets. It's worth checking with these types of stores in your area to see if they have eggnog available.

There's holiday nog made with milk and eggs but can't be called eggnog because of added booze, for example. Same goes for nog made of dairy alternatives, like almond or soy milk. But straight up milk and cream with no eggs—well, that's considered to be poor cousin of the real deal.

Considering a serving of hot chocolate is 8 ounces and a serving of eggnog is 4 ounces, per serving each drink has about 175 calories, similar amounts of saturated fat (4 in the eggnog, 3 in the hot chocolate) and sugar (21 grams-about 5 teaspoons). The hot chocolate has an edge, though, in the calcium department.