Eggnog Milkshakes are ambrosial. That cool ice cream against the intoxicating flavor of eggnog is simply amazing.
At Christmas, we all called my papaw “Eggnod” because every year, without fail, sated by Christmas dinner and exhausted from buying presents, wrapping presents, and helping put together the more complicated presents I got (like Barbie houses, campers, and tents), he always nodded off during the after-dinner eggnog cocktails … probably because my mamaw made traditional homemade eggnog, with a potent medley of liquors.
But even without liquor, eggnog is a deliciously intoxicating beverage because eggnog begins with egg yolks, just like all my favorite French dessert sauces do … like crème pâtissière and crème anglaise.
And traditional eggnog tastes just as indulgent as those sauces do. Absolutely swoon-worthy.
So, just imagine the decadence of an eggnog milkshake, with that decadent eggnog against the welcoming, ice-cold sweetness of cold vanilla ice cream. Double swoon.
Plus, eggnog milkshakes are extremely fast and easy to make. Simply throw three ingredients into a blender, top with whipped cream and sprinkle on some cinnamon, and you have the most festive milkshake in the world—no matter what the occasion, or even if there is no occasion at all!
Just What Is Traditional Eggnog Made With?
The Joy of Cooking, a famous cookbook by Irma Rombauer, is what I consult for original recipes that work without the slightest risk of failure. Specifically, I prefer the sixth edition or before, the only ones still updated by Rombauer’s daughter, Marion Rombauer Becker.
Her recipe for traditional eggnog calls for 12 egg yolks beaten until pale, then slowly blended with a pound of powdered sugar, lots of heavy cream, and 2 to 4 cups of rum or whiskey with an optional cup of peach brandy. No wonder we called papaw “Eggnod.”
This potent mixture is blended with up to 12 stiffly beaten egg whites to form a drink that is so delicious (with or without the liquor) that everyone who sips it momentarily closes their eyes for their, yes, swoon moment.
You can see why I call eggnog milkshakes “simply ambrosial” because Zeus, Athena, and other beautiful entities would have loved them had they decided to deviate from their usual ambrosia and nectar.
Real homemade eggnog is sublime, but for these milkshakes, you can simply buy your eggnog online or at the store with or without liquor. Evan Williams has an alcoholic version that some claim is the best, hands-down. For non-alcoholic eggnog versions, C. F. Burger Creamery’s Eggnog is called by some reviewers “the bomb sha-hizzle.”
With or without spirits, eggnog milkshakes are one creamy, dreamy concoction one can make any time of year. They’re too yummy to wait for December to experience … because once you sip this magical elixir, you’ll realize that your life has been missing one tasty beverage that you could be treating yourself to—and not just at Christmas but any celebratory occasion or just because.
A pitcher of spiked eggnog for you and your adult family and friends, another pitcher full of creamy, non-alcoholic eggnog for the kiddies, with their individual glasses decorated, perhaps, with a sprinkle of green and red M&M’s, and a great Christmas movie the whole family can enjoy like Elf or The Muppet Christmas Carol, and you’ll find that eggnog milkshakes are so scrumptious, that even without liquor in them, you can create those kinds of moments with family and friends that last forever in the heart and memory …
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Eggnog won’t freeze well because it’s emulsified and will change texture if frozen (even the store-bought kind will separate). You can, however, refrigerate these for 1-2 days, covered tightly with cling wrap. Press some plastic wrap down directly onto the eggnog to keep it from developing a film.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve this eggnog milkshake for brunches and late-night treats. For brunches, I serve eggnog milkshakes with these decadent Carrot Cake Pancakes with cream cheese frosting. For late-night snacks, I love a spiked eggnog milkshake with some equally incredible Raspberry White Chocolate Scones. If you love this recipe, you’ll adore this recipe for Easy Eggnog Cookies. They’re sublime!
Eggnog Milkshake
Ingredients
- 3 cups vanilla ice cream
- 1 cup eggnog
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Whipped cream optional for topping
- Ground cinnamon optional for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, combine the vanilla ice cream, eggnog, and ground nutmeg.
- Blend on high until the mixture is smooth.
- Pour the milkshake into two glasses. Optionally, top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.
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