Few things scream “New Year”, like a cold cup of eggnog. If you have ever thought about what
makes the festive drink so delicious, you have come to the right place.
What Is Eggnog?
Eggnog is a rich, milk, and egg-based beverage that’s generally served to kick-start the festive season from Thanksgiving, right up to New Year’s Day. Eggnog is generally made with cream, milk, eggs, sugar, and is seasoned with spices like vanilla, cinnamon, or nutmeg. Often, but not always, brandy, sherry, whisky, or rum is added to eggnog to add a boozy kick.
The Origins of Eggnog
References to eggnog go back to the 19 th century, when, just like today, it was served as a refreshment during the holiday season. Eggnog in the 1800s consisted only of milk, sugar, eggs, rum, and brandy. The beverage was prepared and consumed cold, wasn’t as sweet as contemporary eggnog, and usually contains higher levels of alcohol. The actual history of this beverage is not known. However, there are a couple of theories. Eggnog might have developed from a couple of other similar drinks of its time, egg flip, or the posset. Egg flip is a drink similar to eggnog, which comprises eggs that were “flipped” or mixed with spirits. However, it didn’t contain any dairy or milk. On the other hand, posset is a spiced mix of ale and milk that was heated until the milk curdles. Sometimes, eggs were also added to posset, and this might have ultimately led to the creation of eggnog. The drink made its way to the US sometime in the 1900s. Wine and brandy from overseas were taxed heavily, so Americans took to spiking their eggnog with rum, and eventually whiskey or bourbon. The drink swiftly gained popularity in the US. In fact, even George Washington served a similar refreshment to guests on special occasions.
Method
Step 1
- Whisk the sugar, eggs, and egg yolk in a large bowl until mixed properly.
- Heat half a cup of heavy cream and milk in a mid-sized pan over medium heating until it begins to simmer – don’t boil.
- Remove the pan from heat. Whisk the heated mixture of milk into the egg mixture.
- Whisk the egg mixture back into the saucepan. Cook the combined mixture over medium flame and use a wooden spoon to stir continuously.
- Keep stirring till the mixture is sufficiently thick to coat a spoon.
Step 2
- In this step, you need to pass the mixture through a sieve into a big bowl and add in the nutmeg and vanilla.
- Allow the mixture to cool for around 60 minutes.
- Cover the bowl and keep it in the refrigerator until it is cold for a minimum of two hours or up to seven days.
Step 3
- Whisk the half cup of heavy cream in a big bowl until firm peaks start forming.
- Gradually whisk the whipped cream into the now cold eggnog mixture.
- Next, add in the brandy or rum.
- Pour the mixture into the glasses, sprinkle some nutmeg on top, and use cinnamon sticks when serving.
Last Few Words
The eggnog is a New Years’ staple drink that you must have heard of and even enjoyed. Make sure you try out the recipe given above, and we guarantee you will never enjoy eggnog more. If you’re looking for another delicious eggnog recipe you might want to check out my recipe for eggnog ice cream as an addition to your New Year’s Eve celebrations.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!