Why the eggnog hate?
This holiday season, I want to take on one of the most contentious of culinary topics. That’s right, you read the headline: eggnog.
I come down on the pro-eggnog side, but judging by anecdotal evidence – that is, me asking people if they like eggnog – it seems it might be 50/50 or less.
I just never could understand the dislike of this traditional holiday beverage. It’s sweet, creamy, finely spiced and very accepting of a splash of rum. My favorite Christmas movie scene involving eggnog was in “National Lampoons Christmas Vacation,” when Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid guzzled spiked eggnog from reindeer-head cups with antlers.
That’s actually the only eggnog movie scene I can think of.
Okay, let’s hear from an anti-eggnog person, my dear husband.
Me: You don’t like eggnog, do you?
Him: No.
Me: Why not?
Him: Too sweet, too thick.
Me: So you like the flavor of it?
Him: Not really, no. Don’t like the flavor. I mean the flavor is not horrible, but the thickness and the sweetness of it is … gross.
Well, that’s definitely not a term we want associated with the culinary.
Eggnog is made from eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla and spices, all ingredients normally delicious on their own, as well as together in countless recipes. How is it that they create such a reviled product?
Let’s hear from the eggnog haters and the ‘nog lovers in the bunch.
Why the love? Why the hate?
November 29, 2012 - 10:00 AM
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Egg nog seems to be like cilantro: 48% of people love it, 48% of people hate it, and 4% feel that a little is enough. Count me in the 4%. And I’m almost ashamed to admit that I have a terrible weakness for that canned Borden Eggnog. I believe my fondness for it is a result of the overall cultural damage inflicted by the Seventies, but I do look forward to that one can a year.
I didn’t like it as a kid, but I do now. My kids, otoh, love it and would drink it 12 months a year if it were around.
I do like it better thinned out with some brandy.
I love egg nog. I wouldn’t care to drink it year round, but I like to drink it frequently during the holidays. I don’t need cinnamon or nutmeg on top, I like mine straight up.
I also like certain fruitcakes. Definitely not Claxtons, but some artisanal fruitcakes.
It’s melted ice cream.
I plan on trying out my ice cream maker this year with egg nog.
That is an apt comparison, Henry. Maybe that’s why eggnog ice cream is so good. Does that mean you like it or you don’t?
You know what tastes even more like melted ice cream, in my opinion? Boiled custard.
I like it. Can’t say I love it, but I do like it.
As for melted ice cream, I read a tip recently in a cooking magazine about using melted ice cream to make French toast. A woman said that she was going to make French toast one Christmas morning and discovered that she was out of milk. She had some vanilla ice cream in the freezer so she used that as a substitute. Her family loved the extra flavor that it added to the bread.
I totally agree with your hubby. And you also – that all the things that make up eggnog are great on their own but the consistency when put together for eggnog – Gross!
I love eggnog !!!! As soon as it hits the shelves I’m drinking it
I recently made a batch of rice pudding substituting the milk with eggnog and it was awesome !!!
I’m almost ashamed to admit that I’m in my mid-40′s and I’ve never even tried eggnog. =:0 I’d like to remedy that this season!
So, can you suggest a commercial brand to try? Or should I skip those and make it myself? In which case, what’s your favorite recipe for it?
Thanks in advance!
Dave
I love it. Could drink it year round. Like it with spices on top, if I put the in. But, don’t drink it spiked as I don’t drink.
Dave, I’m going to do a column about eggnog that will come out in a couple of weeks (before Christmas) and I’ll include some recipes with that. But here is one from the Virginia Egg Council. If you would rather buy it, I think the Homestead Creamery eggnog is really yummy.
Eggnog
Serves 10
6 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 qt. milk (see note)
1 tsp. vanilla
Optional garnishes: brandy, rum, whiskey, sherbet, ice cream, whipped cream, nutmeg, cinnamon, chocolate curls, peppermint sticks
In a large saucepan, beat together eggs, sugar and salt. Stir in 2 cups of milk. Cook over low heat (or in a double boiler over medium heat), stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat a metal spoon with a thin film and reaches at least 160 degrees. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining 2 cups milk and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate until chilled.
Note: For faster prep, heat milk until very warm (do NOT boil) before adding to eggs and sugar. Add gradually, whisking, to avoid cooking the eggs.
Does anyone think they have a better recipe?
I love eggnog. The Hometown Creamery one is the best but a little costly. The one we buy the most is Southern Comfort, the regular flavor not the vanilla one. No alcohol but still good. The problem I have with it is you cannot sip eggnog, you gulp it. Don’t know why but you gotta.
I love eggnog in my coffee at Xmas time. Vanilla ice cream is good in a pinch too.
I’d never heard of the custard drink before moving down here…my first Christmas I bought it by accident and thought it was eggnog gone bad and poured it down the drain.:(
we love eggnog; at least once during the season, we have to have eggnog and another polarizing treat: fruitcake! hubby starts feeling the spirit of the season once he starts seeing fruitcake and eggnog in the stores!
I’m on the dislike side – really its because I can’t stand the thought that I’m drinking raw eggs. If I could get past that I might feel differently but until then it’s going untouched.
I love eggnog but it needs brandy.
love the nog! especially Homestead! it’s also nice in coffee or used for french toast. or with a little whiskey!
Well, Rachel, not all eggnog is made with raw eggs anymore. You know with all the food safety concerns these days, the stuff in the store is definitely not. You can make it either way at home. The recipe I shared earlier in this thread is made with cooked eggs. Blog reader David tried to share a recipe earlier today and had some computer trouble, so he asked me to post it here. You’ll notice this is a raw-egg version, so drink at your own risk. Of course, the booze probably kills any bugs in there!
one can coconut cream, 15 0z
one can condensed milk, 14 oz
one can evaporated milk, 12 oz
1/2 to one cup white rum
1/2 cup water
two egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 ground cinnamon or nutmeg
Combine beaten egg yolks and evaporated milk. Place all ingredients in blender for 30 seconds. Strain. Pour into empty bottles, chill overnight. To serve, garnish with sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg. Brandy or bourbon can be used instead of rum.
You mean there are people who DON’T LIKE eggnog?
That recipe looks grewat Lindsey…it reminds me of a coquito recipe we made years ago.
I’m in the “never tried it”… but the melted ice cream analogies make for a nice thought, since I like ice cream and all. My mom and dad didn’t drink it, so I guess since we never had it in the house, I’ve just never really thought about it. Buuut…the postings here make me consider it… wish I could try a bit without having to make/buy whole batch though. Hmm…decisions, decisions…
Love egg nog, Lindsey. Disappointed it’s available only mid-November to Jan. 3 or so. Has a shorter shelf life than snow season around here! My wife treats it like a toxic substance, though. And I do feel like my arteries are hardening while I’m drinking it.
Maybe what needs to happen is those of us who are the only eggnog drinkers in the house should get together and have an eggnog party, and just get totally nogged.
I’ve yet to have real egg nog. The thought of it has always seemed weird. Egg drink? No thanks.
So yesterday, I had some egg nog frozen yogurt at Menchie’s. I was torn, it wasn’t bad, and for my first experience with egg nog (flavored things), it wasn’t terrible, but I can see where the melted ice cream comparison would come from. I’m wondering if the egg nog froyo is heavily spiced, like their pumpkin flavor.
My brother tells me I’m weird for not wanting to try it.
Thanks for the recipe, Lindsey, and I’ll watch for your upcoming nog column!
I think I’ll try the Homestead Creamery nog first since it got several ‘up votes’. And if I like that, I’ll try making some from scratch.
Thanks again to all who gave opinions!
Dave
Definitely the Homestead Creamery brand! I didn’t even like eggnog until I tried that. Now I have to restrain myself from buying it too much during the holidays.
And Lindsey, when you do your eggnog column, can you include an explanation of what boiled custard is? I was once told it was just egg nog without the “nog” but that can’t be correct!
Homestead Creamery mixed with a generous portion of Wild Turkey 101. If it wasn’t for the calories I could drink this as much as The Dude and white Russians. I also would like a set of those reindeer glasses on Christmas Vacation.
The Homestead Creamery eggnog ice cream isn’t bad either! I got some last night at the Kroger. Stock up, last year I couldn’t find any when it got closer to Christmas.
Eggnog – Love It! Fruitcake not so much but that’s another headline…
I like eggnog! Don’t drink much of it, no one else in the house likes it. I don’t care for it “spiked.” Scott & Ellie’s Ice Cream Parlor in Salem has Homestead Creamery ice cream. Don’t know if they have it this year or not but I got some delicious eggnog ice cream there a year or two ago, was just there thru the holidays. Arby’s “shake of the month” used to be eggnog in Dec., and they were really good!
I enjoy the powder type (if I can ever find it in the grocery) with 2% milk. It makes it a lot thinner and more drinkable.
Evan Williams makes a great Egg Nog that is available seasonally at ABC stores. They usually sell out well before the Christmas holidays. It has the best blend of bourbon, rum and either scotch or brandy. Best store bought spiked egg nog I’ve ever been able to find. Chill it, pour in a punch bowl, fold in some whipped cream and and spinkle with a little nutmeg or pumpkin pie seasoning!
My favorite memories of egg nog are of having it fresh, right after my father-in-law made a batch on Christmas Eve. I loved that stuff, but drank from the “kid’s pitcher,” because I didn’t like the booze in the adults. I’ve never tried a store bought version that I liked. It’s too thick and the flavor just isn’t quite right.
Years ago eggnog was only available during the Holiday season. Before the end of the season I would put a quart in the freezer. About the middle of July I would get it out and let it thaw. Then I would usually proceed to drink the whole quart. Now that’s what I call Christmas in July!!
One Christmas season my sister gave out samples of Pet eggnog in one of the local grocery stores {our dad worked for Pet Dairy}. Even today to her the only eggnog fit to drink is Pet eggnog.
After this article I had to go out and buy some eggnog. I bought Fresh Market brand. I’ve not tried there’s before….I loved it! It’s not so thick and has a mild flavor. I had it plain and with brandy and also used it in my coffee as creamer. Very good!
*their’s
I bought a thing of the Evan Williams egg nog, and now it’s gone. Gee thanks, Scott A.
Cookout has a great eggnog shake. Sadly, the season will pass before they open in Roanoke.