If you adore the warm, comforting flavors of holiday traditions, you’ll fall head over heels for this Eggnog Cookies Recipe. These delightful treats blend the cozy spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves with the creamy richness of real eggnog, resulting in cookies that taste like a festive celebration in every bite. Perfectly soft with a touch of sugar-crisped edges, these cookies are a must-make whenever you’re craving that classic seasonal magic wrapped up in a sweet, shareable form.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering simple, pantry-friendly ingredients is half the fun of making these Eggnog Cookies. Each component plays its part: spices for warmth, eggnog for creamy flavor, and sugar and butter for that perfect luscious texture and golden color.
- All-purpose flour: The sturdy base that gives structure and softness to your cookie.
- Baking powder: Helps your cookies rise just enough to stay tender but not cakey.
- Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves: A fragrant blend of warm spices that makes these cookies unmistakably festive.
- Salt: Balances flavors and enhances the sweetness perfectly.
- Sugar: Sweetens and creates that slightly crisp cookie edge you’ll love.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and moisture for a melt-in-your-mouth bite.
- Eggnog: The star ingredient injecting creamy holiday flavor straight into the dough.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the spice notes with a smooth, sweet aroma.
- Large egg: Binds everything together and adds a tender crumb.
How to Make Eggnog Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheets
Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lining cookie sheets with parchment paper. This ensures easy cleanup and prevents sticking, so your cookies bake perfectly every time.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and the enchanting mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. This mix of dry ingredients infuses each cookie with plenty of cozy holiday spirit.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is key for a soft texture and helps the sugar dissolve evenly.
Step 4: Blend Wet Ingredients
Add the eggnog, vanilla extract, and egg to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat on medium speed until everything comes together into a smooth, creamy batter that carries those signature eggnog flavors beautifully.
Step 5: Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, beating at low speed just until blended. Be careful not to overmix here to keep your cookies tender and soft.
Step 6: Shape and Coat
Scoop out your dough into 2-tablespoon-sized balls. Roll each ball gently in a bit of sugar for a delightful crunch on the outside. Place them on your parchment-lined sheets, leaving about an inch between each cookie to allow for spreading.
Step 7: Add a Nutmeg Sprinkle
Before baking, sprinkle just a light dusting of nutmeg on top of each cookie for extra aroma and a little visual flair that says festive indulgence.
Step 8: Bake to Perfection
Bake your cookies at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the bottoms turn a light golden brown. This timing keeps them soft with slightly crisp edges, the perfect texture balance.
Step 9: Cool and Optional Frosting
Let the cookies cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. When fully cool, you can frost them with a buttery frosting and a pinch of cinnamon if you want to take that Eggnog Cookies Recipe up a notch.
Step 10: Serve and Enjoy!
Once frosted or plain, your Eggnog Cookies are ready to delight family and friends at any gathering—or just your own cozy kitchen moments.
How to Serve Eggnog Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
A simple dusting of ground cinnamon or nutmeg can elevate the presentation and aroma. For a festive touch, try decorating with tiny edible gold sprinkles or chopped toasted pecans.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of spiced tea, freshly brewed coffee, or a creamy glass of chilled eggnog to double down on the seasonal flavors. They also complement holiday parties by balancing savory cheese boards or fruit platters.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange your Eggnog Cookies in a festive tin lined with parchment or stack them tied with a rustic ribbon for adorable gift-giving. You could even sandwich some buttercream frosting between two cookies for homemade holiday treats that will impress everyone.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your leftover cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and flavorful for about 3 to 5 days, perfect for savoring a little longer after baking day.
Freezing
If you want to bake ahead, these cookies freeze well. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, and then transfer to a zip-top bag. They can keep in the freezer for up to 3 months, ready to thaw on demand.
Reheating
To regain that fresh-baked softness, warm your cookies gently in a low oven or microwave for a few seconds. This brings back their tender crumb and brings out the cozy spice aromas anew.
FAQs
Can I use homemade eggnog in this Eggnog Cookies Recipe?
Absolutely! Homemade eggnog will add a fresh and rich flavor that enhances the cookie’s festive character even more, making it an excellent choice if you have it on hand.
What if I don’t have all the spices listed?
You can simplify by using just cinnamon and nutmeg, which are classic eggnog spices. However, including ginger and cloves delivers that deeper holiday warmth. The cookies will still be tasty with fewer spices, just a bit less complex.
Can these cookies be made dairy-free?
Yes, swapping butter for a dairy-free spread and choosing a non-dairy eggnog alternative can make this recipe friendly for those avoiding dairy, with only slight flavor adjustments.
Should I chill the dough before baking?
While not required, chilling the dough for 30 minutes can help prevent spreading and intensify flavors, but the recipe works perfectly as-is if you want a faster bake.
How do I make the frosting mentioned optional in the recipe?
The frosting is a great addition, but the cookies are delicious without it. If you choose to frost, a simple buttercream with a pinch of cinnamon sprinkled on top adds a wonderful sweet finish that complements the spices in the dough.
Final Thoughts
This Eggnog Cookies Recipe is truly a treasure for anyone who cherishes the spirit of the holidays in their baking. So warm, flavorful, and easy to make, it brings nostalgic festive moments to life in your own kitchen. Give it a try and watch as these cookies become your new seasonal favorite, sure to be requested year after year.
Print
Eggnog Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Eggnog Cookies bring the classic holiday flavors of eggnog into a soft, flavorful cookie. Infused with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, and enriched with creamy eggnog and vanilla, they offer a perfect festive treat. Topped optionally with buttercream frosting and a dusting of cinnamon, these cookies are sure to brighten any holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup eggnog
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
For Rolling and Topping
- Additional sugar for rolling
- Additional nutmeg for sprinkling
- Buttercream frosting (optional, for topping)
- Ground cinnamon (optional, for sprinkling over frosting)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, combine the all purpose flour, salt, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, and ground cloves. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using an electric mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter and sugar in a large bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the dough.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggnog, vanilla extract, and the large egg at medium speed until the mixture becomes smooth and well combined.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Beat at low speed just until everything is blended and a dough forms, being careful not to overmix.
- Shape the Cookies: Take about 2 tablespoons of dough, roll gently into balls, then coat each ball by rolling it in additional sugar. Place these coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets and gently press down to slightly flatten them.
- Space Cookies: Leave about 1 inch of space between each cookie on the baking sheet to allow for spreading during baking.
- Sprinkle Nutmeg: Lightly sprinkle a small amount of additional ground nutmeg over the tops of each cookie for added flavor and aroma.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 10 to 12 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly browned.
- Cool Slightly: Once out of the oven, allow the cookies to cool slightly on the baking sheet before handling.
- Transfer to Wire Rack: Move the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely, preventing sogginess and maintaining crisp edges.
- Optional Frosting and Topping: When the cookies are fully cooled, frost them with buttercream frosting if desired. After frosting, sprinkle a little ground cinnamon on top for an extra festive touch.
- Serve and Enjoy: Arrange the cookies on a serving platter and enjoy the rich, spiced flavors perfect for holiday celebrations.
Notes
- Make sure butter is softened for easier creaming with sugar.
- Do not overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added to keep cookies tender.
- Rolling the cookie dough balls in sugar before baking adds a nice crunch and sweetness to the outer layer.
- Additional nutmeg sprinkled on top enhances the eggnog flavor.
- Buttercream frosting is optional, but adds a creamy richness to the cookies.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to a week to keep them fresh.
