12 Classic and Modern Eggnog Recipes

If you're seeking a very traditional eggnog recipe, this is the one for you. It includes all the basics and requires you to beat in the eggs the old-fashioned way.

As you'll see, a made-from-scratch eggnog does not require any fancy or secret ingredients. It's likely that you already have the eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla, and milk in your kitchen. Add a couple cups of brandy and it's a perfect way to keep holiday party traditions alive.

On a smaller scale, you can make eggnog for just one or two people. This recipe also opts for rum, which makes the cocktail a little sweeter than the other liquor options.

Again, the recipe requires very common ingredients, including heavy cream and extracts of almond and vanilla. There is also an alternative recipe that uses a ruby port and simple syrup. Both create tasty eggnogs and are easy to whip up.

When you just have to have a glass of eggnog but don't want to waste any time, this brandy eggnog is a great option. It's a recipe that you'd likely find bartenders mixing up were you to order it at the bar.

For this recipe, brandy is the base and it requires just three other ingredients. If you thought eggnog was too difficult to make at home, think again and give this one a try.

A variation of the traditional eggnog recipe, this bourbon eggnog is filled with layers of flavor. It's designed for a small party and creates about eight servings. You can also make it the night before.

This recipe is intriguing because it features both Bulleit Bourbon and Hennessy VSOP Cognac. By combining whiskey and brandy, you get both a robust and sweet flavor profile, a perfect background for all our favorite holiday spices.

Eggnog is a beverage that everyone can enjoy. While you can simply skip the liquor in any other nog recipe, this one is designed to be non-alcoholic from the very start.

If you've been in the habit of picking up a carton of eggnog at the store, try this recipe this holiday season. It has a fresher taste and you can even store it for up to three days before whipping in the cream. Also, if you're worried about drinking raw eggs, you'll find a way around that here.

All of those recipes are very traditional and it's time to put a few twists on our eggnog. The Texas farm nog is an excellent place to begin and it can easily become your new favorite.

An aged tequila and nutty sherry form the base for this recipe. Add to that farm-fresh eggs, sugar, milk, and cream, then spice it up. The recipe serves four people and is anything but boring.

Very similar to the traditional recipes, the gingerbread eggnog is a fantastic addition to any holiday party. It's an eggnog with tons of delicious flavors and can easily get any nog-hater to flip to the other side.

The rum is optional in this recipe, so it can also be non-alcoholic. The essential ingredients that give it that gingerbread flavor are ginger and molasses along with the typical spices like allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. It really is fabulous and worth trying.

By starting out with a homemade toffee syrup, you can offset some of the egginess of eggnog. That's why this quick toffee eggnog is perfect for both dedicated nog fans as well as anyone who's on the fence.

The toffee syrup is easy to make and brings the brown sugar and butter of toffee into a cream-based sweetener. From there, it's as easy as shaking it with an egg and milk. Keep it non-alcoholic or spike it with rye whiskey or aged rum. It's tasty either way.

We're not going to say that cartons of eggnog are completely worthless. In fact, there are some pretty good options out there. If you have a favorite and are looking for a new way to enjoy it, you have to try this recipe.

The white Christmas is an incredibly easy eggnog-based cocktail. It pairs Southern Comfort and a white chocolate liqueur with a healthy dose of pre-made eggnog. The spirits tame that eggy flavor, so it's a nice alternative for anyone who's not fond of eggnog.

That's right, an eggnog without eggs! It seems like an oxymoron, but even people who follow a vegan diet can enjoy the taste of this holiday favorite.

The key to replicating eggnog without animal products is a combination of silken (soft) tofu and soy milk. These are blended with a sweetener, ice, water, vanilla extract, and rum or brandy. It's surprisingly tasty and you might not even notice the difference.

Another eggless option, the coquito is Puerto Rico's spin on eggnog. Rather than using eggs, this drink relies on coconut and it's a holiday tradition on the island.

The recipe makes a full punch of about six servings and it's best served cold. You'll need cream of coconut and condensed and evaporated milks along with a little rum. Add the traditional spices and enjoy this Caribbean favorite.

For the Mexican take on eggnog, look no further than rompope. This old-fashioned egg punch dates back to the 17th century and it's a luscious beverage you'll definitely want to try.

Rompope is unique in that it begins with blanched almonds, which are added to a warm blend of milk, sugar, and cinnamon. Egg yolks are used and the entire brew is heated slowly and rum is added later. It's quite interesting, rather simple, and worth trying.