You have to discover the eggnog if you don't know it yet! Eggnog is what we call here eggnog or Christmas punch , a sweet drink made from eggs and milk, and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, a good dose of ginger and cloves . It is a really special drink, which you have to try if you want to have an alternative drink to a good glass of chocolate to sweeten the afternoon or you want to offer your guests a drink to finish the meal and accompany some cookies. I have fallen in love with this punch!

Eggnog is one of the most popular drinks in the United States. It is very common to drink during Christmas celebrations and cold seasons, and in fact it is also traditional to make it and pack it in small bottles to give as gifts to friends and family.

There are several recipes for making eggnog. All of them logically incorporate egg yolk and milk, but among them they vary in the amounts of spices, in the fact of incorporating or not evaporated milk or cooking cream, and in the final presentation. You also have the option of making it with or without rum (or other liquor), you'll see both options later.

The recipe that I bring you is the one that, after long investigations, seems to be one of the recipes with the most traditional preparation and proportions . The truth is that at home, and especially the older ones, we have fallen in love. I hope you like it as much as we do, and that the curiosities and notes that I leave you below will serve to fill the Christmas table with curiosities about this Christmas punch if you dare to do so.

What you should know about Eggnog or Eggnog

The eggnog is a creamy drink , flavored with eggs, milk and many spices (especially ginger and cinnamon stand out); it's creamy and it's super easy to prepare (you have it done in less than 30 minutes).

It is a drink that arouses great passions, especially for lovers of sweet drinks and spices (on the other hand, if there is someone who does not like ginger, I do not recommend it).

This punch can be made with or without alcohol - you'll see how to do it in both cases in the recipe.

Luigi Bormioli Double Walled Glasses and Set of 4 Zassenhaus Serving Boards

History and curiosities about the eggnog

The eggnog is one of the most popular in the United States, but it does not come from there: it was actually born in England in the Middle Ages and comes from the posset (a drink based on cooked milk, which apart from beer, cereals or bread, was sweetened with spices and sugar). Thus, it was the immigrants to the United States who introduced the drink there, where it became popular.

The drink originally incorporated some wine or liqueur (like so many other hot drinks, which were born in Europe based on wine or liqueurs and spices to help combat the cold of winter).

In Europe, this punch went from carrying wine to incorporating sherry, and became a traditional drink for celebrations. However, it was when the first versions of this punch arrived in the United States that cheaper alternative liquors were used. That is why today the traditional recipe incorporates rum .

In the United States, Eggnog is so popular that it is found packaged in supermarkets and specialty stores (safely during the cold months of the year).

On the elaboration of Eggnog or eggnog

• The first part of the preparation will remind you of how pastry cream is made. So you know how easy it is!
• The recipe incorporates spices in significant amounts. It is not an error and, in fact, I have slightly reduced the amount of ginger in the traditional recipe, as it was excessive for my taste and, in my opinion, for the palate of many in our country.
• You can make Eggnog with rum and without rum. Obviously without rum it is suitable for all children, as it is simply a drink based on eggs and milk.
• In case you want to add rum , the truth is that the note of alcohol, due to the amounts that are added, is not appreciated, but all the notes of the punch become more defined and I think that, if you can, it is worth adding it - and as I was recommended to do, I recommend you try it (you can also, as I did, divide the amount of punch in two, and make the version with and without rum.
• After preparation, it is advisable to keep it in the fridge for a few hours, to settle flavors (although you will see that this delicacy is making eyes at you when you finish it).

Eggnog recipe, eggnog or Christmas drink

Ingredients

• 710ml whole milk
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract (6 g)
• 6 egg yolks
• 220g white sugar
• 1 tablespoon (2g) cinnamon
• 2 level tablespoons (4 g) ginger powder
• 1.5 level tablespoons (3 g) ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon (1 g) cloves (usual, but optional)
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) rum, brandy, or cognac*
• 350 ml of kitchen cream (you can use whipping if you want it thicker and sweeter).

*You can do it without liquor, but the truth is that it is highly recommended. If you want, you can make the base mixture and, when you have it done, separate it into two parts, and apply half of the rum (30 ml) to one of the parts.

Preparation

1. Put the milk in a saucepan over low heat. You must heat it without boiling. Leave a few minutes and stop the fire so that it tempers a little.
2. Meanwhile, separate the whites from the yolks with a white separator . Transfer them to a bowl and mix with the sugar (if you do it with the KitchenAid, use the flexible side spade accessory), until the mixture is more whitish.
3. Pour a few tablespoons of milk into the bowl with the yolks, continuing to mix (we are not interested in the yolks curdling). After slightly diluting the yolks with the milk, pour all the mixture of yolks and sugar into the saucepan with the hot milk. Put on a gentle heat.
4. Add the vanilla extract.
5. Leave the fire until it is reduced, until it thickens a little. When it has a napa consistency, the preparation will be ready (when passing a finger along the back of the spoon, the path traced by the finger is drawn).
6. Transfer it to a bowl, passing it through a fine mesh strainer.
7. In another bowl or pot, add very cold water (or water and ice). The idea is to put the bowl with the eggnog on top of that pot, so that the bowl with the eggnog cools (Be careful! We do not want water to enter the punch, we only want to cool the bowl and the preparation).
8. Add the cinnamon, cloves, ginger powder, nutmeg, cooking cream and rum* to the punch. Mix everything with a few rods and place in a bottle to let cool. Your Christmas punch is ready!

Presentation: When serving, assemble the egg whites. In a tall glass like Bormioli's or in a mug, fill halfway with the eggnog and complement with the whipped egg whites. Add a cinnamon stick and sprinkle with cinnamon and/or cocoa powder.

Tricks and tips

• Take advantage of the clear ones! When serving, you'll often see Christmas punch served as is in a glass or mug, and with a cinnamon stick. However, if you want to follow the traditional version in which nothing was wasted, use the whites that you have separated from the yolks to mount them, and serve the eggnog with a top layer of foam that you will decorate with cinnamon. This is how you will make an eggnog that marks the tradition!

• The eggnog is eaten hot , which is why it has always been ideal and typical of cold times. But cold is delicious! It reminds me of a spiced milkshake, try it and you won't know how you like it better!
• You can also serve the punch directly in glasses, without foam. Simply apply a cinnamon stick and you will be luxurious.
• Use the eggnog to spice up your coffee: See what a delicious spice-flavored latte you get if you add this punch to your coffee!
• It is common, when making this homemade punch, to store it in small bottles and jars to give as gifts to guests. What a beautiful tradition! Do we follow her?