Pairing Eggnog And Coffee For A Truly Tasty Holiday Mug
If you want to add a touch of texture and a hint of natural sweetness to your coffee, you likely opt for milk (dairy or nondairy) as your go-to brew add-in.
And, if you desire extra texture or thickness, then you likely reach for half and half or coffee creamer to smoothly compliment your morning mug.
Of course, if you’re looking for the creme de la creme of creamy coffee, you might choose heavy cream to richly amplify your daily cup.
Each of these are common coffee additions that many folks utilize to achieve a creamy, smooth, and even slightly sweetened brew.
But what if I told you there was a traditional holiday offering that decadently, luxuriously, tastily amplifies your mug to even greater heights?
What is this tantalizing holiday-time treasure I speak of?
Eggnog!
Eggnog is a holiday staple in many households, even relatable enough to make appearances in some of the best Christmastime movies…cough, cough…National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation!
This creamy, rich, sweet, sometimes spicy, custard-like concoction is commonly enjoyed alone, with desserts, and even with a touch of alcohol for some extra holiday spirit.
But have you ever tried eggnog in your coffee?
As someone who has never really been a fan of eggnog, I can personally attest - the addition of eggnog to coffee is truly phenomenal!
On its own, I’ve always found eggnog to be a bit too thick for my liking, coming to this conclusion even after sampling many varieties. But the moment I added this Christmastime classic to my coffee, I was hooked!
From eggnog lattes and foam toppers, to simply adding a splash to my hot or iced brews, this pairing - coffee and eggnog - is downright irresistible.
So today we’re going all out for the holidays, bringing you a variety of ways to enjoy this creamy, rich, and decadent combination of eggnog and coffee!
The History Of Eggnog
While there is some discrepancy surrounding its origins, most believe this drink originated in medieval Britain.
During this time, monks were known to enjoy a drink called posset made with eggs and figs.
Traditionally, however, posset was a “hot, milky, ale-like drink,” and as many prepared it with milk, eggs, and sherry, foods characteristic of wealth, it was commonly used to toast good health and prosperity.
It wasn’t until the 1700’s, however, that the drink became associated with the holiday season.
It is believed that those who colonized the eastern regions of America brought this traditional British drink with them. And, as their farms primarily consisted of chickens and cows, milk and eggs were readily available.
Since eggnog was served as a hot beverage, the winter months were the most appropriate time to enjoy the drink. Then, couple this with the beverage’s traditional warming addition of alcohol and its spicy components of cinnamon and nutmeg, and you’ve got a recipe for holiday happiness.
Now for the name…how did we arrive at eggnog, from posset?
Few have been able to definitively trace the exact transition of posset to eggnog, but egg is likely attributed to this well-known ingredient in the drink’s making, and nog is commonly linked to noggin, or a wooden cup in which the beverage was typically served.
No matter the origin of this mysterious name change, by the 18th century, the term eggnog was widely used, as opposed to posset, to describe the drink we know and love today.
And, for those who disagree with that last sentiment (love), most eggnog enthusiasts agree that a true love for this holiday classic comes from sampling real homemade eggnog, as opposed to store bought versions which can commonly consist of added, even artificial, flavorings.
Thankfully, we’ll be including a homemade, healthy eggnog option (including the eggnog recipe that won me over) that you can easily make to pair with your coffee this holiday season for a truly tasty, creamy, decadently smooth, rich, and delicious brew!
Pairing Eggnog And Coffee For A Truly Tasty Holiday Mug
Traditional eggnog flavors - milk, egg yolk custard, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and vanilla - pair perfectly with coffee, so it only makes sense to add this combination to your brew, right?
Well, as we’ve already mentioned, we’re going to cover a variety of recipes today that incorporate this tasty pairing, but we also offer a flavored Lifeboost coffee selection that has these fabulous flavors already infused into our organic, low acid, medium roasted coffee beans!
Lifeboost Eggnog Latte Coffee has a noticeably creamy taste, complete with subtle notes of spice and vanilla, flavored with real essential oils and baking extracts.
With all the good stuff and no chemical filled artificial ingredients, any and all of the recipes we’re sharing today would taste fabulous with this selection, essentially enhancing the flavors you’ll already be incorporating through the ingredients used in making each of these decadent holiday drinks.
So, even if you don’t see it in the ingredient list, feel free to substitute the named roast or coffee selection in each recipe with our Eggnog Latte Coffee.
1- Not Your Grandma’s Eggnog
I’m blessed to say that anything and everything my grandma prepared with a heart of love in her kitchen was fabulous.
In fact, my most prized possession is her worn, wooden recipe box, complete with all of her recipes, that was graciously given to me when she passed away many years ago.
And, while her eggnog recipe is good, I must say that I’ve since found an eggnog recipe that truly won me over…thus the title above.
So, I wanted to start our recipe list today with this delicious offering, a basic, healthy eggnog recipe you can use in a variety of ways throughout the holiday season and beyond.
Of course, you can enjoy this as-is, or feel free to use it as a healthy holiday creamer for your daily brew, adding the same amount you would when using half and half or store bought coffee creamer.
Spicy, nondairy, creamy, slightly sweet, and oh so delicious…I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do!
Ingredients
- 4 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 6 egg yolks
- ⅔ cup raw honey
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a blender, combine almond milk, egg yolks, honey, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Blend for roughly one minute or until smooth.
- Pour mixture into a medium saucepan, add whole cloves, and heat over low-medium heat.
- Cook mixture for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently, paying close attention to ensure the eggs cook slowly (otherwise you’ll end up with scrambled eggs in your mixture). Note: The mixture should be hot, but you don’t want it to simmer or boil. If the mixture does start to boil, whisk it vigorously and remove from heat for a moment until it cools/calms enough to return to the heat.
- Once you’ve cooked the mixture for the recommended time and the eggnog has thickened, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Allow the mixture to cool, then strain using a fine mesh strainer to remove the whole cloves.
- Transfer the cooled eggnog to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.
- *Chill for at least 8 hours before using.
2- Hallelujah Chorus Coffee
Okay, okay, that title might seem a bit much, but I seriously love the above listed eggnog recipe when added to some exceptionally smooth cold brew!
You see, for so long I steered clear of this holiday classic, but a few years ago Dr. Charles tasked me with coming up with some tasty coffee recipes, and as he wanted a few holiday selections, I knew I needed to come up with an eggnog themed brew to please the masses.
Well, after preparing the recipe listed above and using it in one of those creations, I immediately became part of ‘the masses.’
I don’t know what it is about that recipe, but it’s just so simple to make, so easy to use, so clean, so smooth and creamy, and it has the perfect amount of spice to cheerily enhance your brew.
I guess you could say it’s so good you may have the Hallelujah Chorus playing in your head upon first sip! ;)
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Medium Roast Coffee or Lifeboost Eggnog Latte Coffee
- 4-6 ounces eggnog (see recipe #1 above, use store bought, or use your favorite eggnog recipe)
- 1 teaspoon cane sugar (or liquid stevia drops to taste)
- Pinch of ground nutmeg, for topping
Instructions
- Add ice to a tall glass, top with cold brew and sugar or stevia. Stir to combine.
- Add eggnog to an electric frother and froth on the cold setting. You can also use a handheld frother or a blender to create a nice froth if you don’t have an electric frother.
- Pour frothed eggnog over the cold brew, then top with a pinch of ground nutmeg, and enjoy!
3- Holiday Hug In A Mug
Freshly brewed coffee infused with the custard-like, warm and spicy, flavors of eggnog, topped with homemade whipped cream, served in your favorite mug…
Ah, can’t you just feel the warmth from your mug transfer to your hands as you wrap them around this creamy creation?
As you make your way to your favorite chair and curl up to watch a classic holiday movie or read the next chapter in your current literary obsession, it seems as if the world’s cares melt away and the warmth from your mug embraces you like a heartfelt hug.
I guess you could say coffee truly is made from magical beans…at least when they’re paired with creamy, smooth, and sweet eggnog!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces freshly brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee
- 4 ounces eggnog
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon organic cane sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, plus extra for garnish
Instructions
- Add heavy whipping cream, vanilla, sugar, and nutmeg to a chilled bowl and mix with a hand mixer until soft peaks form. Set aside. (*You’ll want this to be thick and smooth, but still soft enough to somewhat melt into your coffee-eggnog mixture.)
- Add freshly brewed coffee and eggnog to a small saucepan and heat just until warmed through. Do not boil. (This won’t take long since the coffee is already hot.)
- Pour coffee-eggnog mixture into your favorite large mug, then top with a dollop or two of the prepared whipped cream.
- Top with a dusting of nutmeg, if desired (cinnamon would be tasty here as well), and enjoy!
4- Classic Eggnog Latte
Calling all purists!
If you love a traditional eggnog latte, then you know the pairing of eggnog and coffee is truly hard to beat.
So, instead of a cup or more of traditionally brewed coffee, here, in true latte fashion, you’ll be incorporating a single shot of intensely flavorful, rich, and decadently smooth espresso into this java and eggnog infusion. Yum!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces or one pulled shot of Lifeboost Espresso Coffee
- ⅓ cup milk
- ⅔ cup eggnog
- Pinch of nutmeg, for topping
Instructions
- Add milk and eggnog to a steaming pitcher and heat/froth using a steaming wand.
- Prepare one shot of espresso, pour into a mug, then top with the steamed/frothed milk-eggnog mixture.
- Top with a pinch of nutmeg and enjoy!
*If you do not have an espresso machine, you can prepare this using 4 ounces of strongly brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee.
Then, simply add the milk and eggnog to a small saucepan, heat over medium heat until warmed through, then add to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
Top the hot coffee with the milk-eggnog mixture, and a pinch of nutmeg. Enjoy!
5- Cousin Eddie’s Moose Mug Delight
If you’ve seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, then you know this scene well - Eddie is admiring Clark’s hand cut (dug out of the ground) Christmas tree while sipping eggnog out of a moose head shaped mug, “that’s a honey of a tree Clark…”
Their conversation carries on for a bit, and the more cousin Eddie talks, the more stressed Clark becomes, especially when Eddie informs him they’ll be staying for an entire month!
Now, I’m sure their eggnog mixture included a classic serving of rum to add a little holiday spirit, but what seems to be missing, judging by the hue of their mix, is a healthy dose of coffee.
Perhaps, if Clark would’ve included java in his mix, he wouldn’t have tired of Eddie so easily?
I don’t know, but what I can tell you for certain is this coffee and eggnog cocktail is an absolute delight (with or without the moose mug)!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces strongly brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee or Lifeboost Eggnog Latte Coffee
- 6 ounces eggnog (store bought, or feel free to use the homemade version in recipe #1 above)
- 2-3 ounces dark rum
Instructions
- Add rum to a large mug, then top with freshly brewed coffee, stirring to combine.
- Add eggnog to an electric frother, then froth on the heated setting.
- Top rum and coffee mixture with heated and frothed eggnog and enjoy!
*I really like this cocktail cold as well. To serve cold, simply add ice, cold brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee or Lifeboost Eggnog Latte Coffee, and rum to a tall glass and stir to combine.
Add eggnog to an electric frother and froth on the cold setting. Top cold brew and rum mixture with frothed eggnog and enjoy!
Bonus
Coffee recipes are wonderful additions to our daily brew routines, but sometimes, especially around the holidays, we commonly enjoy our brew with a slice of pie.
In other words, while eggnog and coffee do pair wonderfully in the same mug, eggnog infused desserts are also best enjoyed alongside a piping hot cup of Lifeboost!
And, with that in mind, we wanted to share a delicious eggnog pie recipe perfect for enjoying in between slow sips of your favorite Lifeboost brew.
I made this last year for our family’s holiday dinner and it was a huge hit!
Some members of my family liked it best with a cup of Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee, and I enjoyed it once with (my favorite) Lifeboost Light Roast Coffee, then again with a cup of Lifeboost Cinnamon Cappuccino Coffee which complimented the creamy and slightly spiced flavors of the pie wonderfully.
Of course, you also can’t go wrong with a cup of Lifeboost Eggnog Latte Coffee here as well.
No matter which brews you choose, I hope you enjoy each and every recipe above as well as this tasty creation below!
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups organic cane sugar
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups eggnog
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted then slightly cooled
- 1 deep dish pie crust (you can use store bought or prepare your own)
**I used store bought eggnog for this recipe. The kind I purchased didn’t have a lot of spice in it, and since I wanted a hint of that here, I added 1 teaspoon cinnamon and ½ teaspoon nutmeg to this recipe. If you want a touch of spice, I’d recommend this addition.
Instructions
- Place pie crust into a deep die pie pan, crimping edges and firmly pressing crust into the pan.
- Gather all ingredients and preheat your oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
- Add flour and sugar (and spices if using) to a large mixing bowl, stirring to combine.
- Beat in eggnog, eggs, and vanilla until the mixture is smooth, then stir in the melted butter.
- Spoon the mixture into the deep-dish pie crust, then dust with a little extra cinnamon and nutmeg (if desired).
- Bake in a preheated oven until the custard is set, roughly 45-60 minutes. It took a full 60 minutes for mine to set. The finished pie should have fully set edges with the center being *slightly* jiggly.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before serving with a piping hot cup of Lifeboost Coffee. Enjoy!
Check out Lifeboost Coffee Grata Medium Roast.
Becky is a mother, educator, and content writer for Lifeboost Coffee. She has had three years’ experience as a writer, and in that time she has enjoyed creatively composing articles and ebooks covering the topics of coffee, health and fitness, education, recipes, and relationships.
References:
- https://time.com/3957265/history-of-eggnog/
- https://www.flavorman.com/media/eggnog-origins-of-a-holiday-classic
- https://www.asweetpeachef.com/eggnog-latte/#recipe
- https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/eggnog-coffee/
- https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/146962/eggnog-latte/
- https://homemadeandyummy.com/rum-eggnog-latte/
- https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/94770/holiday-eggnog-pie/