The classic holiday beverage, spiced up, boozed up and with a fancy garnish for you to show off at the next holiday party. Creamy Gingerbread Eggnog is everything you love about traditional eggnog, with enough booze to make overbearing, awkward family conversations bearable, and the right amount of gingerbread syrup.
I feel like there are two types of holiday cocktail enjoyers - eggnog believers and eggnog loathers. It's not that hating eggnog makes you a Grinch, it just makes me sad that you're missing out on a sweet treat that's creamy, thick, sweet and boozy.
As a former eggnog loather converted into eggnog believer, these cocktails are ridiculously easy to put down. Like, I just found out my Christmas bonus is a jelly of the month club Griswold kind of throwing back eggnog.
What is eggnog?
What the heck is this golden goodness anyways? Most eggnogs are made from a combination of eggs, milk, cream, sugar, fresh nutmeg and traditionally rum, but bourbon can be used too.
Ok, but if there's eggs in it and I'm not supposed to eat raw cookie dough because of eggs and because people like to kill my dreams, why can I drink eggnog? Well, most if not all store bought eggnog is pasteurized so the risk of salmonella is taken out of the equation.
If you like living on the edge, eating raw cookie dough, romaine lettuce and all the other foods that were a big 'no no' this year then you can definitely whip up a batch of homemade eggnog, like this easy one.
Tempering the eggs to 160F will kill the potential salmonella bacteria, but I'm going to be 100% real with you and say that is too much work for me. So I'll be throwing that grocery store eggnog in my cart asap.
How to Make Creamy Gingerbread Eggnog
So how do we whip up this spicy, nutmeg, boozy bliss? Very. Simply.
Eggnog meet Gingerbread Syrup. Add booze. Shake in a shaker over ice. Pour into glass with or without ice. Garnish fancily to impress family and friends.
And also, because I will take any reason to break out the blow torch. like here and here, oh and here too.
Gingersnap and Meringue Cocktail Garnish
This meringue garnish is my favorite thing for sweet cocktails for so many reasons....
- It looks cool,
- tastes like marshmallow,
- you get to hit it with a blow torch,
- and it's sticky enough to hold up whole or crushed cookies without getting soggy.
The meringue makes a decent amount so you can either have LOTS of cocktails, or you can use the leftover and make some cookies. Hey, it's the holidays after all.
So what do you say? Shall we get festive?
If you're obsessively in love with all things gingerbread, be sure to check out all the gingerbread resources on the blog!
Creamy Gingerbread Eggnog
Ingredients
Gingerbread Syrup
- ¼ cup lightly packed brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup water
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Gingerbread Eggnog
- 2 ounces rum
- 1 ounce gingerbread syrup
- 4 ounces eggnog
Gingersnap + Meringue Garnish
- 1 cup gingersnaps
- 4 egg whites
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
GINGERBREAD SYRUP
- In a medium size saucepan, combine the ingredients. Heat over medium heat, stirring until combined.
- Bring to a slow boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes – stirring occasionally.
- Transfer to a heat proof storage container. Shake well before each use to redistribute the spices.
Gingerbread Eggnog
- In a martini shaker, add the rum, gingerbread syrup and eggnog. Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass or serve in a rocks glass over ice.
- If opting for the gingersnap + meringue garnish, 'paint' the glass with meringue prior to pouring the cocktail. Dip half the glass in the crushed gingersnaps and use the blow torch to brown the meringue on the other half of the glass.
Gingersnap + Meringue Garnish
- Place gingersnap cookies in a plastic bag and crush with a mallet or rolling pin. Pour out onto a small flat plate.
- For the meringue: In a heatproof bowl, add egg whites sugar and cream of tartar. Place the bowl over a saucepan with two inches of simmering water - the bottom of the bowl should not touch the water. Whisk the egg whites constantly until the sugar is dissolved, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Transfer the egg white mixture to a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Add the vanilla extract and whip the egg whites on high until stiff peak form, about 5 to 6 minutes.
Notes
- The meringue recipe is my go to, but it does make a fair amount. The leftover meringue can be made into cookies.
- Meringue Cookies: Transfer leftover meringue to a piping bag and pipe onto a baking sheet fitted with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated 300°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes.
Nutrition
Holly says
I'm such a huge fan of both gingerbread and eggnog so this is like my dream cocktail/dessert!! Your presentation looks so gorgeous too - I can't wait to try this!!
Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life says
This sounds SO delicious! And I love the way you used toasted meringue and cookie crumbs around the edges of the glass!
Julie says
I cannot get over that meringue garnish! Not only does it sound delicious, it just looks so beautiful!
Jessica (Swanky Recipes) says
Okay, I've heard of a few eggnog recipe varieties but I have never heard of a gingerbread nog recipe. This sounds soo good right now. I'm going to have to make this for our holiday party this weekend.
georgie says
this looks amazing! Coming from Australia, eggnog was never really a thing at Christmas but I'm obsessed with it in the states! It's on my to-do list to make this year and this gingerbread eggnog looks gorgeous!
Amy says
This sounds fabulous! My hubby just LOVES eggnog and I will be making this for him for the holidays. Great recipe—thanks!
Jagruti Dhanecha says
This drink looks fab, a perfect drink to prepare this holiday season, loving the addition of ginger here, simply love it.
Chef Markus Mueller says
Looks delicious! I love making my own eggnog from scratch though! It really isn't that much more work and in my opinion tastes much better then store bought stuff! And you can spice it the way you like!
Michelle says
These look and sound delicious and I love that garnish! They look almost too good to drink! Your photos are gorgeous too.
Allison says
That meringue garnish looks AMAZING! What a beautiful finishing touch! I can't wait to try this!
Dominique | Perchance to Cook says
This is the most beautiful holiday drink that I've ever seen! I love when holiday flavors combine like this. Eggnog and gingerbread really are meant to be together. YUMMM