If you don’t have time to stir up a batch of homemade eggnog, the store-bought variety can still hit the spotprovided it’s the tastiest option out there. That’s why our crew raided our local supermarket and grabbed every brand they could find.

How Our Test Kitchen Sampled Eggnog

For this test, our team sampled four brands in a blind test. You may find other options available locally, but we snagged every option available in our Milwaukee grocery stores. Every brand we tried was nonalcoholic. With that in mind, every sip was judged in these three categories:

• Appearance:Eggnog can vary in color, but generally they range from creamy white to pale yellow. Artificially hued eggnogs won’t pass our test.
• Texture:A glass of eggnog should have a rich, velvety texture. It should feel more robust than a glass of milk but not unpleasantly thick.
• Flavor:Eggnog, whether homemade or store-bought, should taste of cream, vanilla and, of course, nutmegall in perfect balance.

In the end, only one made our nice list (AKA our Test Kitchen-Preferred list).

The Best Eggnog: Southern Comfort Traditional Eggnog

In this test,Southern Comfort Traditional Eggnog really made our team’s spirits bright. That’s because it checked off every wish on our list.

Before even taking a sip, our pros could tell this was eggnog to savor. “It has a lovely golden color with small flecks of grated nutmeg,” says Mark Neufang in the Test Kitchen. While only a sprinkling is used, even in homemade recipes, this baking spice really makes this Christmastime drink taste like the holiday season.

But the look of this bev is just the beginning. With one sip, this eggnog had our team wanting to jingle bell rock. The texture is creamy and custard-like, according to the Test Kitchen’s Shannon Norris. This decadent texture makes Southern Comfort eggnog feel like a treat to savor.

Now, when it comes to flavor, our team universally agreed that this eggnog was the best.“Tastes nice and rich,” says Mark. “It’s full of vanilla flavor with a small hint of nutmeg.” This whisper of spice lingers as you sip and keeps you coming back for more as you relax by the fire.

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What to Mix with Eggnog

We sampled different kinds of nonalcoholic eggnogs, so you can feel good about sharing our top pick with the entire family. However, if you want to add a little Christmas spirit to your nog, feel free!

Rum is the traditional accompaniment for eggnog. It pairs so well with the flavors of vanilla and nutmeg. However, we’d be remiss not to suggest a splash of whiskey as well since Southern Comfort was crowned the best eggnog in our taste test.

If you check out the side of the carton, this brand recommends a 4:1 ratio of eggnog to whiskey. You can serve this drink cold or warm. Garnish with a sprinkling of nutmeg or even a cinnamon stick.

After enjoying a glass of this holiday tipple, use the rest of the carton to make these recipes with eggnog (like this amazing eggnog pie!).

Check Out More Test Kitchen-Preferred Picks

The post The Best Eggnog You Can Buy, According to Our Taste Test appeared first on Taste of Home.

Move over, pumpkin spice lattes! It’s time for eggnog season! For many, it’s just not Christmas time without the drinkwhether hot or cold, boozy or family-friendly.

But before you pour yourself a glass, it’s time to learn exactly what is eggnog anyway.

What Is Eggnog?

In simplest terms, it’s a delightfully creamy sweet drink made with eggs, cream and a variety of spices.

It has a fun historyand a fun name. “Nog is a word for a kind of beer that was brewed in England, and that’s where the drink originated,” says Very Merry Cocktails author Jessica Strand. “It crossed over to the colonies and has since been a part of the US and Canada’s holiday traditions.”

Eggnog is usually served cold, but you may choose to heat it, especially if you’re coming in from making snowmen or ice skating. And you can spike eggnog with a splash of brandy, rum or your spirit of choice, but it’s also delicious simply spiked with vanilla or cinnamon.

What’s in Eggnog?

The drink is traditionally made with eggsof courseas well as whole milk, heavy whipping cream, sugar and nutmeg. Some eggnog recipes also call for a bit of vanilla extract or cinnamon.

Strand says that using real eggs, rather than an eggnog mix, makes an enormous difference in taste and texture. She uses a full dozen eggs to make enough eggnog for 24 drinks!

What Does Eggnog Taste Like?

Eggnog might be the closest you’ll come to drinking melted custard. Think sweet and creamy and very richa small punch cup full is usually plenty.

Eggnog has such a traditional Christmas flavor that it’s also used to make holiday recipes like eggnog biscotti, eggnog fudgeandeggnog fruit fluff. McDonald’s even has a seasonal eggnog shake.

How Do You Make Eggnog?

You can buy the best eggnog, but it’s not hard to make your own. Most recipes will call for plenty of eggs (it’s smart to buy pasteurized eggs).

Whipping cream, whole milk, sugar, vanilla and spices are common ingredients. I recommend our homemade eggnog or vegan eggnog that uses cashews and coconut milk to make a creamy holiday drink.

Want to deck out your eggnog for a Christmas party? Strand suggests adding orange zest on top as a garnish or topping your drink with whipped cream and a sprinkling of cocoa. Cheers to the season!

Why Is Eggnog a Christmas Drink?

Strand says the specific taste of eggnog is wrapped up with memories of Christmas, thanks to flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla bean, which embody the winter season.

It’s so rich that it makes for a nice holiday party treat, too!

The post What Is Eggnog—and Why Do We Drink It at Christmas? appeared first on Taste of Home.