Pumpkin Spice Eggnog Recipe
Hey there, buddies! This Pumpkin Spice Eggnog is a warm, comfortable holiday drink that feels like a hug in a mug. You have to try it!
It’s a creamy, dreamy take on the iconic holiday drink that mixes the smoothness of eggnog with the sweet and spicy flavors of pumpkin pie.
Great for drinking by the fire, during Christmas parties, or just having some “me time” after the kids go to bed.
A few years back, I made this dish because I wanted something festive but didn’t want another pumpkin pie.
Everyone has loved it since then, especially the kids!
They enjoy the delicious creaminess (without even knowing that it has genuine pumpkin in it—mom win!).
And the best thing is? You probably already have the few components you need to make it at home. Let’s get started!
Ingredients
- Four big egg yolks
- 1/3 cup of sugar in the form of granules
- 2 cups of whole milk
- Heavy cream in a cup
- 1/3 cup of canned pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice (plus more for decoration)
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg (freshly grated is ideal, but ground works too!)
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Optional: cinnamon sticks and whipped cream to put on top
A medium-sized saucepan
Whisk
Bowl for mixing
Cups and spoons for measuring
Fine mesh strainer (not required, although it helps make the texture smooth)
Serving spoon
Instructions
1. Mix the eggs and sugar together.
Mix the egg yolks and sugar together in a bowl until they are smooth and pale yellow. This will take roughly one to two minutes.
2. Warm up the milk and spices
Put the milk, heavy cream, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium-sized pot. Whisk it every now and then while it heats over medium heat until it is warm but not boiling (approximately 5 minutes).
3. Bring the egg yolks to room temperature.
Slowly add roughly half a cup of the heated milk mixture to the egg yolk mixture, stirring all the time to temper the eggs. Then, while whisking continually, slowly pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan.
4. Cook and make it thicker.
Put the pot back on medium-low heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens a little and coats the back of a spoon. This should take approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Don’t let it boil! Take off the heat and mix in the vanilla essence.
5. Strain and serve
If you want the eggnog to be even smoother, pour it through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl. Pour into mugs, add whipped cream, a dash of pumpkin pie spice, and a cinnamon stick on top. You can serve it warm or chill it in the fridge for later.
Tips and Variations
Be careful when tempering your eggs. When you add the warm milk mixture to the egg yolks, do it slowly so you don’t boil the eggs.
If you can, use fresh spices. Freshly grated nutmeg and good pumpkin pie spice dramatically change the taste.
Chill it if you need to. If your family likes eggnog cold, put it in the fridge for an hour or two before serving. It tastes good hot or cold!
Make it sweeter or less sweet by adding more or less sugar, depending on what you want. If you need to, you can always add more sugar at the end.
Make it festive: Adding whipped cream, spices, or even a cinnamon stick on top makes it feel especially special for the holidays.
If you don’t want to use dairy, you can replace the whole milk and heavy cream with unsweetened almond milk and coconut cream.
If you don’t have pumpkin spice, you may make your own by mixing cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
For the grownups, add 1/4 cup of bourbon, rum, or brandy after cooking!
Change the amount of sugar to make it sweeter or less sweet. Begin with little and add more if you need to.
You may make Pumpkin Spice Eggnog up to two days ahead of time. Put it in an airtight jar in the fridge and whisk it well before serving.
You may keep leftover eggnog in the fridge for up to three days if you put it in an airtight container. Before serving, give it a nice stir because it might have come apart a little. You can eat leftovers hot or cold, and they taste great either way!
Final Thoughts
That’s it! You now have your new favorite drink for the holidays! This Pumpkin Spice Eggnog is a little bit over the top, very festive, and just what you need to make your holidays even better.
It will be a hit whether you make it for your family or bring it to a holiday party.
If you try this recipe,