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Old-Fashioned Eggnog Recipe

Forget the store-bought stuff—Grandma's homemade eggnog is in a league of its own! This rich, creamy holiday classic takes just minutes to whip up and tastes like Christmas in a glass. Fair warning: once your family tries this version, they'll never go back to the carton kind!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar divided
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg plus more for garnish
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 large egg whites
  • Pinch of salt

Method
 

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar until light and creamy, about 2 minutes.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine milk, heavy cream, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Heat over medium heat until it just begins to simmer, stirring occasionally.
  3. Slowly pour about 1 cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture while whisking constantly to temper the eggs. Then pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan.
  4. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon (about 160°F), approximately 5-8 minutes. Do not let it boil.
  5. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  6. Just before serving, beat egg whites with salt until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
  7. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the chilled eggnog mixture. Serve immediately with a sprinkle of freshly grated nutmeg on top.