Food & Cooking Recipes Drink Recipes Martha's Classic Eggnog 3.9 (225) 21 Reviews It's the recipe she makes every year. By Martha Stewart Martha Stewart Martha Stewart is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and lifestyle expert who has taught millions of people through generations the joy of entertaining, cooking, gardening, collecting, crafting, and home renovating via her eponymous magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Emmy-winning television shows, and 99 books (and counting). Based in Katonah, N.Y., where she helms her 156-acre Bedford Farm, Martha is America's first self-made female billionaire. Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 23, 2023 Rate PRINT Share Servings: 12 Jump to recipe Martha makes this eggnog recipe every year ahead of her annual holiday party. Her recipe is rich with cream and potent, since it's laced with three types of liquor—dark rum, bourbon, and cognac—so it's best served in small cups. Store-bought eggnog can have a long ingredient list, including fillers, preservatives, and artificial colors. Making your own eggnog lets you control what goes into the rich holiday drink. Martha's recipe calls for six eggs, sugar, heavy cream, milk, the alcohol, and nutmeg for garnish. It is not cooked; if you decide to make it use the freshest eggs you can find. Christmas What Is Eggnog? Eggnog tastes like a boozy custard. It's made with dairy, often a mix of milk and heavy cream like in Martha's recipe, sometimes with all milk and sweetened with sugar. Eggs give it a rich texture. There are eggnog recipes where the egg yolks are heated, and ones like this recipe where the yolks—and whites—are uncooked. Generally the yolks are added along with the dairy and the whites whipped separately and folded into the eggnog for serving. Eggnog is often spiked, with brandy, rum, whiskey or bourbon—or all three. Ground nutmeg is the finishing touch. The egg yolks and whites in this recipe are not cooked. This dish should not be prepared for pregnant women, the elderly, or anyone whose health is compromised. Make Ahead This eggnog is a two-day process, and mostly made the day before it will be served. The egg yolks, sugar, milk, and cream are combined and the alcohol added to allow the flavors to meld. Then, the egg whites are whipped and added just prior to serving 7 Dessert Cocktails to Finish Your Meal in Delicious Style Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 6 large eggs, separated ¾ cup superfine sugar 2 cups whole milk 3 cups heavy cream, plus more for garnish ½ cup bourbon, preferably Maker's Mark ¼ cup dark rum, preferably Mount Gay ¼ cup Cognac, preferably Remy Martin Grand Cru Freshly grated nutmeg, for sprinkling Directions Beat yolks and add sugar. Beat yolks in a very large bowl until thick and pale. Slowly beat in sugar. Add milk and cream: Whisk in milk and 2 cups cream. Add alcohol: Mix in bourbon, rum, and Cognac. Cover, and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Serve: Just before serving, beat whites until stiff peaks form. Fold whites into eggnog. Whisk remaining 1 cup cream until stiff peaks form, and fold into eggnog. (Alternatively, you can fold half the whipped cream into eggnog, and top with remaining half.) Sprinkle with nutmeg. How to Store Eggnog Store homemade eggnog in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The flavor and texture of the eggnog is best in the first day of making. Frequently Asked Questions Why do you drink eggnog? Eggnog is traditionally drunk around Christmas and New Year. A cup of the rich drink was thought to invite prosperity into your home, though today eggnog is more about good cheer and holiday indulgence. Eggnog is English and was brought to the U.S. by settlers where it became more popular than in its homeland. The drink itself is thought to be derived from posset, a holiday drink enjoyed by monks that is also made of milk and eggs, and laced with ale or wine rather than hard liquor. Why does store-bought eggnog taste different? Store-bought eggnog is a rich beverage, usually made without alcohol. Many brands include thickeners and stabilizers as well as colors and flavors and this is what makes it taste different to homemade eggnog. Some brands use high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetener so it pays to read the label before purchasing. Is eggnog served warm or cold? Eggnog is usually served like a punch, at room temperature or chilled. It can also be heated gently and enjoyed as a warming drink. Other Eggnog Recipes to Try: Cooked Custard EggnogPeppermint EggnogCoconut EggnogCoffee EggnogStout Eggnog Originally appeared: Martha Stewart Living, December 2008 Rate It PRINT Updated by Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years.