Name: Easy Egg Nog Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 large egg yolks; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 cup heavy whipping cream; 2 cups milk; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; pinch of salt; 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract; ground cinnamon , for topping

Print the Recipe

Making this easy egg nog recipe is quick and fun. It’s the perfect holiday drink to share at all your parties and gatherings!

I love making holiday recipes like this to share at our family gatherings and holiday parties. Things like Easy Eggnog Cookies, No Bake Nutella Reindeer Cookies, Grinch Rocky Road Candy, and even Sugar Cookie Fudge!

There is not shortage of holiday cheer when the egg nog starts making the rounds. This easy egg nog recipe is simple but it’s deliciously thick and creamy. You don’t have to work hard to make a delicious holiday treat the whole family will love.

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Pin showing finished easy egg nog recipe ready to serve

How many servings does this recipe make?

This recipe is for 6 servings of egg nog. If you need to serve a crowd you can easily double or even triple this recipe and it will come out great. Make sure you have a large enough container to store the finished egg nog, it will need to be refrigerated until you are ready to drink it!

You can cut the recipe in half if you just want a few servings as well. This recipe scales really easily and comes out great every time! Try it out and see for yourself how simple it is to make a tasty homemade egg nog.

What do I need to make a tasty egg nog?

If you have never made egg nog before you might be wondering what goes into this delicious holiday drink. Every recipe is just a little different but mine is pretty standard I think. There’s nothing too tricky or complex to it. You will need egg yolks, sugar, heavy whipping cream, milk, nutmeg, salt, vanilla extract, and cinnamon.

Most of those things you probably already have on hand which means you could definitely whip up a batch of this yummy and easy egg nog right now!

top down view of the finished egg nog recipe ready to serve

Kitchen Essentials For Drink Recipes:

You can store recipes like this in your favorite pitcher, or just make a batch and carry it with you in your favorite reusable water bottle to keep it chilled! I throw some ice in my tumbler if I’m taking it with me somewhere or just want to keep it extra cold while working around the house.

Some other drink making essentials we recommend are a muddler or wooden spoon to use. You can also use this great whisk set and ceramic sauce pans to avoid sticking and burning! You will need a thermometer for this recipe as well, we like this one.

How to make a thick and creamy egg nog:

Honestly this recipe is made from scratch but that doesn’t mean it is very difficult. You can buy egg nog ready to drink in the store but it’s just not the same. If you want a true thick and creamy egg nog you have to make it from scratch and this recipe will show you just how easy it is to accomplish.

First we need to whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until they are well combined, light, and creamy.

Next, over medium high heat we will combine the cream, milk, nutmeg, and salt. Make sure you keep stirring the mixture until it is just starting to simmer.

Now add a spoonful of the hot milk and seasonings mixture to your whisked eggs and quickly whisk to combine. Keep doing this, one large spoonful of hot milk at a time. This is how we temper the eggs to be sure they don’t just cook from the hot milk (and turn to scrambled eggs inside the milk mixture).

After you have added a majority of the hot milk to the eggs and whisked them together you can pour the entire mixture back into the saucepan on the stove.

Keep whisking the mixture for several minutes until everything is starting to thicken. The mixture should reach about 160 F and then you can remove it from the heat.

Now, stir in the vanilla extract and pour the egg nog recipe into a pitcher or drink container so it can go into the refrigerator to cool.

Keep refrigerated until chilled. This easy egg nog recipe will thicken more as it cools. If you are not looking for a very thick and creamy texture you can always pour some into the blender with some milk to get a thinner and totally smooth consistency.

Top with a dash of cinnamon if you like and you can also add some whipped cream for an extra indulgent treat.

featured image showing finished cup of easy egg nog recipe ready to drink.

How long will this egg nog recipe keep in the refrigerator?

This recipe for egg nog can be kept in the refrigerator for about a week. Anything more than that and it will become watery and go bad. I would suggest only making the amount you know you can use in a week.

This recipe doesn’t usually last too long in our home during the holidays so we don’t usually have to worry about it going bad. If you need to make it in advance a day or two is plenty and it will keep well.

A covered pitcher will work best for storing and serving this homemade easy egg nog recipe!

Looking for more delicious holiday recipes to try?

Here are some of the other holiday favorites we like to make this time of year. Check out some of these delicious treats to share at your next party or gatherings. You can also make these recipes to share as DIY gifts this year!

Printable Easy Egg Nog Recipe:

Yield: 6 Servings