Make your own eggnog
Jonathan Goodall shares his recipe for eggnog, the traditional Christmas drink that’s a velvety mixture of egg, milk, cream and brandy.
Jonathan Goodall shares his recipe for eggnog, the traditional Christmas drink that’s a velvety mixture of egg, milk, cream and brandy.
By trying classic recipes I’ve long known about from Dickens and Shakespeare, but never tasted, I’ve been exploring the spirit of Christmases past. I’ve so far been wary of drinks containing eggs and dairy produce, but I decided it was time to give them a try.
Eggnog – a descendant of the medieval posset, a mixture of ale, eggs and hot milk – takes its name from the practice of adding beaten egg to a noggin (a wooden mug) of beer. Since the 17th century, rum and brandy have become the mixers of choice rather than beer.
A quick-and-easy, cold eggnog can be made by mixing all the ingredients (see recipe, below) in a shaker with some ice, but this misses the point, like cold cocoa.
The recipe I’ve given here requires whisking and washing-up but the sweet-smelling froth, like snowdrifts flecked with nutmeg, is worth the effort. Adjust the sugar and cream according to taste. Eggnog is a soft, fluffy drink with a deep concealed bite. Think of a cashmere cardigan wrapped around a crocodile.
Me, I’m an eggnog convert. On tasting it, it was as though I’d discovered a secret recipe for home-made Baileys. It’s that good.
(Hero image credit: Getty)
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