Homemade Hot Cocoa Eggnog

5 from 8 votes

Homemade Hot Cocoa Eggnog

Give your classic eggnog a cocoa twist with this homemade hot cocoa eggnog. It's made with a homemade hot chocolate mix in a creamy, custardy egg-based drink. A simple and easy recipe that works great with or without alcohol.

Course Dessert, Drinks

Cuisine American, Canadian, European

Keyword chocolate, Christmas, Eggnog, Holidays, homemade

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Resting Time 3 hours

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings servings

Calories 585kcal

Author Veena Azmanov

Equipment

Ingredients

2 cups Whole Milk
1 cup Fresh cream
⅓ cup Rum or Brandy optional
6 Egg yolks large
½ cup white sugar
4 tbsp Hot cocoa mix
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
¼ tsp Freshly grated Nutmeg + more for garnish
¼ tsp ground cinnamon + more for garnish

Metric - US customary

Instructions

In a bowl combine the egg yolks, cornstarch, and sugar. Combine well with a whisk and set aside
In a saucepan over medium heat, heat the milk with cinnamon, nutmeg, hot cocoa mix, and vanilla. Bring to an almost boil.
Gradually add the hot milk to the egg yolk mixture, stirring continuously.
Return the mixture back to the saucepan. Continue to cook on a low simmer stirring continuously.
Cook until the mixture thickens and coats the back of the spoon (about 160 F)
Remove from heat and add the cream and alcohol. Pour in a pitcher and chill for a few hours.
Pour into individual serving glasses. Top with fresh whipped cream (optional)
Sprinkle with more cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg.
Enjoy.

Notes

Warm or chilled - I have had both a well-chilled glass of eggnog as well as a warm spiced-eggnog on a cold Christmas night. It's hard for me to pick between the two.
Spiked or not spiked - There is a right time and place for spiked eggnog. I remember ten years ago, when eggnog wasn't eggnog if I didn't add the alcohol in there. These days, it's usually not spiked, so the whole family can have the same drink. But, if you have friends over, go ahead and add some liquor. It's an experience you will enjoy (makes Christmas even better).
Cook or uncooked - This is always a controversy. I remember when my grandmother made eggnog she didn't cook it. Back in those days, they weren't afraid of raw eggs. But, these days we can't think of drinking uncooked eggs. For me, it's always cooked eggnog. My mom did the same.
Fresh or fermented - For me, keeping the eggnog overnight is the best way to go. First, it makes it chilled, and we all love a well-chilled glass of eggnog. Also, keeping the eggnog overnight helps mellow down the flavor of the alcohol. It's softer and smoother on the palette. I remember my grandmother's excuse for uncooked eggnog was that when kept overnight the strong alcohol cooked the eggs and also kills all the bacteria in there.
Dairy or non-dairy - Traditionally, eggnog is made with milk and cream. And yet, you can make it with almond milk, coconut milk and use coconut whipped cream. In fact, one of my absolute favorites eggnog cocktail among friends was my tropical eggnog - It used coconut milk, pineapple juice, and coconut cream with Malibu.

Nutrition