Family Friendly Non-Alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe (2024)

By

Peggy Trowbridge Filippone

Peggy Trowbridge Filippone is a writer who develops approachable recipes for home cooks. Her recipes range from Grandma’s favorites to the latest food trends.

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Updated on 12/12/22

Tested by

Diana Rattray

Family Friendly Non-Alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe (1)

Tested byDiana Rattray

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

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Prep: 50 mins

Cook: 45 mins

Chill Time: 4 hrs

Total: 5 hrs 35 mins

Servings: 8to 10 servings

Yield: 5 cups

233 ratings

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For many holiday and Christmas celebrations, eggnog is an essential festive beverage. But because of raw eggs and alcohol, families may shy away from the creamy drink. However, there is no need to fear raw eggs in this recipe, as the eggs are gently cooked to 160 F kill any potential bacteria. And because it is alcohol-free, everyone can enjoy this quintessential Christmas drink. Consider making a big batch of this eggnog to enjoy throughout the holiday season.

For any adults who do choose to partake in alcohol, add liquor to individual mugs or half of the batch of eggnog. Brandy is the most traditional alcoholic add-in for eggnog, but if you prefer, you could try a mix of dark rum and cognac; another option is bourbon.

Family Friendly Non-Alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe (2)

"This non-alcoholic eggnog was rich, creamy, and delicious. Mine registered 160 F after 30 minutes, and I gave it about 5 minutes longer to thicken a bit more and coat a spoon. The recipe made about 5 cups. You could use the custard mixture to make eggnog ice cream as well." —Diana Rattray

Family Friendly Non-Alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe (3)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Family Friendly Non-Alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe (4)

  2. Combine the eggs, egg yolks (use the egg whites in another recipe), sugar, and salt in a heavy 3-or 4-quart pan, whisking until well-combined.

    Family Friendly Non-Alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe (5)

  3. Continue whisking while pouring the milk in a slow, steady stream until completely incorporated.

    Family Friendly Non-Alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe (6)

  4. Place the pan over the lowest possible heat setting; stir the mixture continuously until an ​instant-read thermometer reaches 160 F and the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Be patient—this should take about 35 to 45 minutes.

    Family Friendly Non-Alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe (7)

  5. Once the mixture has thickened, strain it through a fine sieve into a large bowl to remove any possible small cooked bits of egg.

    Family Friendly Non-Alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe (8)

  6. Add the vanilla extract and nutmeg, stirring to combine.

    Family Friendly Non-Alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe (9)

  7. Carefully pour the mixture into a glass pitcher, decanter, or container and cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Refrigerate the egg custard mixture to fully chill the eggnog, at least 4 hours or up to 3 days.

    Family Friendly Non-Alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe (10)

  8. When ready to serve, pour the heavy cream into a bowl and whip until it forms soft peaks. Fold the whipped cream into the cold custard mixture until combined.

    Family Friendly Non-Alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe (11)

  9. Serve the eggnog in chilled cups or glasses and garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg. If anyone is adding alcohol to their glass, make sure to leave some room.

    Family Friendly Non-Alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe (12)

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs poses a risk for food-borneillness.

Tips

  • While tempting, avoid turning up the heat to speed up cooking the egg mixture; the increased heat will cook the eggs, leaving you with a chunky instead of a smooth beverage.
  • If you do not have a low heat burner, you can cook the eggnog in a double boiler over gently simmering water.
  • If you have a lot of drinkers, it may be helpful to use two types of cups or add a cute garnish to the boozy eggnogs so that no one gets confused.

Recipe Variations

  • Give the eggnog warm spice flavor by adding 2 cinnamon sticks and 4 whole cloves to the milk and egg mixture. Cook and strain as directed.
  • Serve the eggnog with a dollop of whipped cream, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
  • For a more traditional eggnog flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of rum extract along with the vanilla.

How to Store Homemade Eggnog

  • Refrigerate eggnog in a covered container and consume within 2 days.
  • To freeze homemade eggnog, transfer it to a freezer container, leaving 1 to 2 inches of headspace to allow for expansion. Label the container with the name and date and freeze for up to 6 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.
  • Whisk the defrosted eggnog until smooth or process it in a blender. If desired, heat the eggnog over low heat until warm.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
195Calories
10g Fat
18g Carbs
9g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8to 10
Amount per serving
Calories195
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g12%
Saturated Fat 5g23%
Cholesterol 184mg61%
Sodium 154mg7%
Total Carbohydrate 18g7%
Dietary Fiber 0g0%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 139mg11%
Iron 1mg4%
Potassium 194mg4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Article Sources

The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Brandt, Kathy. “Making Homemade Egg Nog That's Safe.” UMN Extension, extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/making-homemade-egg-nog#:~:text=Refrigerated%20eggs%20with%20clean%2C%20uncracked,it%20may%20not%20be%20safe.

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Family Friendly Non-Alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK for kids to 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.

What is eggnog made of without the alcohol? ›

Non-Alcoholic Eggnog Print Me
  • 2 large eggs (at room temperature, if you can)
  • 75g dark brown sugar, or 113g of house brown sugar syrup.
  • 4 oz (120 ml) milk (room temperature is good here, too, if you can)
  • 10 oz (300 ml) heavy cream.
  • 2 tsp (10 ml) vanilla extract.
  • ½ tsp (2.5 ml) freshly-grated nutmeg, plus more for garnish.
Nov 21, 2021

How long is non-alcoholic eggnog good for after opening? ›

The Food and Drug Administration suggests consuming commercial eggnog within three to five days of opening a carton, and you should drink homemade eggnog within two to four days of making. If you're unsure whether eggnog has gone off, give it a whiff, and check for these signs: lumpy texture. spoiled milk smell.

What is Christmas eggnog made of? ›

What Is Eggnog Made Of? Today, eggnog is usually made of some combination of eggs (either just the yolks or the yolks and the whipped egg whites), sugar, milk, cream, nutmeg, and sometimes booze. We're all familiar with the cartons of store-bought eggnog that grace supermarkets every December.

What makes eggnog unhealthy? ›

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.

What's the difference between eggnog and holiday nog? ›

(What's the difference between eggnog and Holiday Nog? Eggnog must have a minimum 6 percent butterfat and a minimum 1 percent egg yolk by weight; Holiday Nog, which Spangler called a flavored milk product, has 2 percent butterfat and less than 1 percent egg yolk by weight.)

Why don t you get Salmonella from eggnog? ›

Eggs must be cooked to 160 degrees F to kill bacteria such as Salmonella that may be present. If your eggnog recipe calls for raw eggs, it may not be safe. Adding alcohol inhibits bacterial growth, but it cannot be relied upon to kill bacteria.

What is a good substitute for eggnog? ›

If you are really looking to knock out some calories, consider purchasing soy nog or rice nog. These alternatives to regular eggnog contain less fat and nearly half the calories of regular store-bought eggnog. Vanilla chai tea is also a great holiday alternative for those with non-dairy diets.

What does non alcoholic eggnog taste like? ›

Non-alcoholic homemade eggnog is thick, sweet, creamy, and smooth. This popular Christmas drink is cooked on the stove, made without alcohol, and loaded with eggs for that classic holiday flavor.

Is eggnog good for your stomach? ›

“Eggnog is made with 'heavy' ingredients that, eaten in exclusion of anything else, might cause stomach distress,” registered dietitian Barbara Ruhs said. “Cream is full of fat and that takes longer to digest.

Can you freeze eggnog for later use? ›

Eggnog may be frozen for up to six months. For best results, freeze eggnog in a container with a little extra room (about 1/2-inch of space from the top) to allow for expansion during freezing. Frozen egg nog should be good for about 6 months, whether it is store bought or home made.

What is in Evan Williams egg nog? ›

Evan Williams Egg Nog

Our Original Southern Egg Nog is made with smooth Kentucky Bourbon and real dairy cream.

Why is eggnog only in December? ›

The History of Eggnog

The custom of toasting to the new season with this festive co*cktail actually began during Britain's early medieval years, and the drink later became popular in the American colonies by the 19th century. However, per TIME, eggnog has been associated with Christmas since the 1700s.

Why is eggnog only sold at Christmas? ›

Why don't dairy manufacturers make eggnog all year long? It doesn't sell. Demand for eggnog follows traditional consumption patterns that date back hundreds of years. The drink was a wintertime favorite of the British aristocracy, who took it warm, mixed with brandy or sherry to prevent spoilage.

Can 11 year olds drink eggnog? ›

“According to the American Heart Association, kids ages 2-18 should have less than 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day,” says Silverman. “Eggnog has a good amount of sugar in the drink that could bump a kid's intake for the day. The fat can also be high if a large dose of cream is part of the recipe.”

What happens when you age eggnog? ›

They found, unanimously, that aged nog was mellower and smoother than fresh nog. Similarly, Alton Brown says that "the longer the nog ages, the more mellow it will get." In The Art of Eating, Holly Jennings found three-week nog to be "rounder, smoother, and noticeably more complex."

Can you drink straight eggnog? ›

Serve your eggnog chilled and plain for a classic treat.

The most classic way to serve eggnog doesn't involve any prep, and it's perfect as an after-dinner treat around the holidays. All you have to do is pour chilled eggnog into a glass. It pairs nicely with sweets, especially baked goods make with milk or cream.

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