It’s that time of year again. Snow is falling, lights are twinkling on every street, and everyone is preparing for the big day: Christmas!
What better way is there to toast to the holidays with friends and family than with a cup of cold and creamy eggnog? If you’re looking to get creative in the kitchen this year, why not try out one of these homemade eggnog recipes?
George Washington’s Christmas Eggnog Recipe
Skip the grocery store this year and create your very own batch of eggnog fit for a president! The ingredients are simple and readily available at any grocery store. Eggs, milk, sugar, nutmeg, heavy cream, and of course, bourbon make up this classic (and authentic!) recipe favored by one of our most famous forefathers.
The steps in creating this festive drink are where it starts to get tricky. The egg yolks must be separated from the whites and each put into different bowls. Set the egg whites aside before starting work on the yolks.
First, they must be beaten using either a handheld or stand mixer until they are a bright yellow. Next, the bourbon needs to be added; however, this is a delicate process. The recipe recommends adding the spirit one tablespoon at a time while blending thoroughly to ensure it mixes correctly and gets to the proper consistency.
Grab the bowl of egg whites next and beat them until they are stiff, similar to the way you would when making meringue, before adding the sugar and continuing to whisk. Once the sugar has been stirred in, pour the mixture into the bowl with the yolks and bourbon and stir.
In yet another bowl, the heavy cream must also be beaten until stiff before being folded carefully into the egg and bourbon mixture. While the eggnog can be drank the same day as it is made, its taste and texture will improve if refrigerated overnight, so it may be best to plan ahead.
If you are wary about consuming the raw eggs that are a key ingredient in this Christmas food, then food scientist Harold McGee has some reassuring news. McGee tells Popular Mechanics that the risk of salmonella is very low to begin with when using the washed eggs you purchase at the supermarket, and that the chemical reaction between a high proof alcohol (like the bourbon used in this recipe) and the egg proteins causes the eggs too cook, killing any harmful bacteria.
This reaction does take a few hours though, so if this is a concern for you it’s best to leave your eggnog in the fridge overnight before enjoying.
Get creative in the kitchen this holiday and try out this told and true classic eggnog recipe so that you and your loved ones can drink like a president this Christmas! Happy sipping!
Sources:
Maroukian, F., “Here Is George Washington’s Eggnog Recipe,” Popular Mechanics web site, December 13, 2016; http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/food-drink/a23804/george-washingtons-eggnog/, last accessed December 16, 2016.
