The Egg Nog drink (egg is an egg, nog is short for noggin - a small mug of ale) has a long history and originated in Scotland back in the 14th century. Locals loved to make this hot drink at Christmas, and it contained only four ingredients: eggs, dark ale, honey and spices.
egg liqueur recipes
The history of the Christmas cocktail
The first mention of this type of wine and milk cocktails dates back to the 14th century. Presumably, in the Old World the drink was called “dry posset” and was made from milk and sherry. Later, American chefs only changed the classic recipe, starting to use grog (diluted rum) instead of wine, and from the 1820s. - brandy.
There are also several versions of the origin of the name. According to one of them, the English version of “egg-and-grog” (egg-and-grog) over the years transformed into the eggnog we know today. According to another, “nog” is a derivative of the word “noggin”, that is, a wooden mug in which travelers were served intoxicating liquid in taverns.
Today, up to 200 recipes for making an eggnog cocktail are known. The author of one of them is George Washington, who mixed rum, sherry and rye whiskey. The drink was strong and was not widely used.
How to cook eggnog
In different countries, the recipe is modified taking into account national alcoholic preferences:
- rum, whiskey, brandy are added in the USA;
- cherry liqueur (or syrup) - in Italy;
- egg liqueur - in Germany.
But there are also types of non-alcoholic milk and egg shakes that are prepared for children and non-drinking adults on Christmas Eve.
There are several New Year's cocktails similar in composition to eggnog. Among them is flip, which is additionally sweetened with fruit syrup and crushed ice is added.
Non-alcoholic eggnog recipe
A sweet eggnog milkshake without any intoxicating liquids tastes like vanilla ice cream and goes well with chocolate biscuits. The non-alcoholic drink is based on a combination of the following products:
- Whipped cream – 330 ml.
- Milk – 2.5 cups.
- Chicken yolks – 6 pcs.
- Sugar – 200 g.
- Nutmeg - to taste
Preparation procedure:
- Mix milk and cream in one container and heat over medium heat. Add grated nutmeg. Mix. After 5-7 minutes, remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Beat the yolks with sugar. Heat the mixture in a water bath for 20-25 minutes, allowing it to increase in volume and turn white. Remove from the stove.
- Stirring, combine both pieces.
The finished drink has a uniform texture and consistency close to low-fat sour cream. Before serving, cool it in the refrigerator and sprinkle with grated nutmeg.
New Year's drink without eggs
This vegetarian cocktail recipe is suitable for people with lactose intolerance and those who do not consume animal products. The main difference from the classic version of eggnog is the replacement of eggs with raw tofu, and milk with a soy analogue.
Ingredients:
- Soy milk – 2 cups
- Honey – 4 tbsp. l.
- Tofu – 0.5 kg
- Water – 1 glass
- Cognac – 150 ml
- Vanilla extract – 2 tbsp. l.
- Ice – 10 cubes
- Cinnamon - to taste
Cooking steps:
- Beat the chopped cheese in a blender with soy milk and cinnamon. We filter.
- Add vanilla, cognac and water to the base. Mix. Leave it in the refrigerator.
- We crush the ice. Sprinkle crushed ice over the chilled drink.
The consistency of the cocktail depends on the choice of sweet ingredient: honey makes it more viscous, powdered sugar makes it airy.
Uncle Angelo's Eggnog by Dale DeGroff
It was not by chance that I chose this recipe as the first one. Firstly, it is offered to us by DeGroff, a very authoritative source among imbuers. Secondly, the classic eggnog, well, the one in IBA, with brandy, seemed somehow “castrated” to me. At a minimum, there was a bartender's imprint on it - mixing everything in a shaker, etc. and so on. No, Eggnog is more of a kitchen process than a bar one. Only whisk, only hardcore.
- 6 fresh chicken eggs
- 180 g sugar
- 950 ml whole milk
- 480 ml heavy cream
- 240 ml bourbon
- 120 ml spiced rum
- nutmeg (to taste)
Separate the yolks from the whites. In a large bowl, beat the yolks and 120 g of sugar (in other words, prepare eggnog). Beat the yolks with a whisk until the mixture begins to lighten. Then stir in the milk, cream, bourbon and spiced rum. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites and remaining sugar until stiff. Then both mixtures need to be combined and can be served, not forgetting to sprinkle each portion with grated nutmeg. Eggnog is traditionally drunk from small crystal cups. Such a warm lamp cocktail, no worse than a Checkered Plaid.
Video recipe from the master:
But it is not recommended to drink the cocktail right away. You need to keep it in the refrigerator at least overnight, but in general the most textured, soft and rounded Eggnog will turn out in 5 days, or even 3-4 weeks - that’s how the Advocaat is aged. There is no need to fear for your health - alcohol preserves everything you need. Imbiber microbiologists from Rockefeller University (New York, USA) deliberately infected their eggnog with salmonella (and even injected it with it), but by Christmas the drink became completely sterile.
Benefits of eggnog cocktail
Eggs and milk are sources of many beneficial substances needed by the body. Among them:
- amino acids;
- minerals (iron, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, etc.);
- vitamins of groups A, B, C, D, E, H and PP.
The combination of valuable components has a positive effect on all systems and subsystems of the body. A serving of this invigorating Christmas drink has the following effects:
- tones;
- improves blood circulation and memory;
- activates brain function;
- calms the nervous system;
- promotes muscle mass gain;
- normalizes sleep and digestion.
Eggnog without alcohol is especially recommended:
- children who have trouble gaining weight;
- elderly people;
- athletes;
- pregnant women;
- people exposed to physical or mental stress;
- patients who have undergone abdominal surgery during their rehabilitation.
A New Year's drink based on milk and eggs is recommended for women in labor who have had a caesarean section. You can use it the very next day after surgery.
Beneficial features
In the classic version, eggnog contains eggs and milk (cream), which are a source of amino acids, mineral compounds (phosphorus, cobalt, iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium), vitamins A, , , , , , .
Thanks to its rich chemical composition, the drink has a beneficial effect on the human body:
- relieves fatigue, gives energy;
- improves brain function, speeds up the memorization of information;
- strengthens bone tissue;
- supplies the body with easily digestible protein, helps build muscle mass;
- calms the nervous system, relieves depression and insomnia;
- normalizes digestion.
A cocktail of milk and raw eggs is recommended for people suffering from underweight and colds that are accompanied by damage to the respiratory tract (cough, sore throat, loss of voice). In addition, when consuming this dessert, the condition of nails, hair, and teeth improves.
Eggnog gives vigor, and therefore provides special value for people performing heavy physical and mental stress. In addition, it is prescribed to patients during the rehabilitation period who have undergone surgical interventions, in particular abdominal surgery. Raw eggs are well absorbed by the human body, do not hold the stool together, and therefore do not put additional stress on the abdominal muscles, excluding the possibility of external seams coming apart.
What to consider when choosing ingredients
When choosing products for a cocktail, they are guided by their expiration date and appearance. Thus, eggs with visual defects in the shell may be infected with salmonella. When this bacterium enters the body, the body temperature rises, the head and stomach hurt, stool disorders and general malaise are observed.
In Russia, a unique analogue of the eggnog cocktail is eggnog, the recipe of which contains sugar and egg yolks.
You can buy ready-made eggnog in the store.
Subtleties of the recipe
The drink is considered to be American, but it is perceived by Europeans as a traditional Christmas drink. Of course this applies to alcoholic drinks. And chilled coffee will be appropriate in hot weather.
The recipe for eggnog coffee was invented by the Scots. The main components of the drink are coffee liqueur, eggs, milk and sugar. The drink is sold in any supermarket in Europe and the USA. It's quite intoxicating, so don't take risks with morning use.
In Russia they drink a similar drink, it is called gogol-mogol. It was invented by the German confectioner Keckenbauer. There is a legend that a church minister from Mogilev named Gogol lost his voice. So he came up with an unusual drink.
Another version also includes Countess Pototskaya, who changed the recipe, replacing bread with honey and giving it the name gogol-mogol. The main components of the drink are also egg yolk and sugar. Various alcoholic drinks, coffee, vanilla and even fruits are added.
Different egg leg recipes have their own characteristics. Cream can easily be replaced with milk, although the drink will then be less fluffy and less caloric.
For cooking you need to use only fresh ingredients. This especially applies to milk and eggs. Nutmeg will add a pleasant aroma, but it quickly loses its properties. In order for the smell of the drink to last, the nutmeg must be freshly ground.
Powdered sugar will help achieve a smooth cocktail texture, so it can successfully replace sugar. Instead of chicken egg yolks, you can use quail egg yolks. Then the drink will be healthier. Depending on your personal preference, you can decide whether to top your drink with whipped cream.
Where to buy eggnog cocktail
The classic way to prepare a New Year's drink involves heat treatment, but there are also options for cold eggnog. Both methods are suitable for making cocktails at home, but are rarely found in bars in Russia, since this process takes time (even the spices are crushed immediately before sprinkling the intoxicating liquid so that they do not lose their aroma).
The bar version of the cocktail involves simply mixing the ingredients in a shaker without heating or cooling them. The price varies depending on the choice of alcohol.
The warming eggnog cocktail remains a traditional Christmas drink among the British, Scots, and Americans and is gaining popularity in Europe and Russia. Over the century-long history of its existence, the classic recipe has been supplemented with dozens of modifications, making the drink accessible to children and people with various health limitations. Simple ingredients combined with beautiful presentation make this delicacy an essential drink for the New Year holidays.
Eggnog Variations
A nutritious Scottish drink based on eggs and milk (cream) is prepared in cold and hot versions. 100 ml of eggnog contains 27 kcal. The cocktail preparation speed is 5-10 minutes. Yield: 4 servings.
Hot version of Eggnog (classic)
Ingredients:
- dark rum – 100 ml;
- cream 20% – 300 ml;
- sugar syrup – 15 ml;
- chicken eggs – 2 pcs;
- cinnamon – 1 stick;
- ground nutmeg, vanillin - a pinch.
Cooking method:
- Beat vanillin, syrup, eggs in a blender until a homogeneous airy mass is obtained.
- Add pre-cooled milk, cinnamon, stir thoroughly.
- Heat the mixture in a ceramic saucepan for 10 minutes, avoiding boiling.
- Remove the drink from the heat, stirring constantly. Add rum in a thin stream.
- Pour into mugs, sprinkle with ground nutmeg.
To give the drink a coffee flavor and aroma, add espresso (200 ml) and garnish with whipped cream. Despite the attractiveness of the hot version of the cocktail prepared according to a European recipe, the American version has gained much more popularity around the world. In this case, the drink is not subjected to heat treatment and is prepared much faster.
Cold version of eggnog
Ingredients:
- syrup – 15 ml;
- cognac – 60 ml;
- chicken egg – 1 piece;
- milk – 80 ml;
- dark rum – 30 ml;
- cinnamon, nutmeg - to taste;
- ice.
Cooking principle:
- Fill the shaker with ice.
- Add syrup, egg, cognac, rum and milk.
- Shake the cocktail in a shaker for 2 minutes, pour into glasses through a sieve.
- Garnish with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Cold eggnog can be made non-alcoholic and given to children as a dessert. In this case, alcoholic drinks are replaced with soda or fruit syrup.
Vegetarian eggnog with tofu
This recipe for making a Scottish drink is suitable for people who do not eat eggs, suffer from lactose intolerance and follow the tenets of a healthy diet. They are replaced with tofu cheese and soy milk, which improve hematopoiesis processes, perfectly satisfy hunger, supply the body with lecithin and choline, and restore kidney function.
Ingredients:
- honey or cane sugar – 50 ml (75 g);
- soy milk – 400 ml;
- tofu cheese – 500 g;
- water – 200 ml;
- vanilla extract – 10 ml;
- cognac or rum – 200 ml;
- sea salt - a pinch;
- ice – 10 cubes;
- cinnamon – 2 g;
- nutmeg - to taste.
Cooking sequence:
- Grind the tofu cheese, add salt, sugar and soy milk, beat in a blender until smooth.
- Strain the cocktail base and pour into a punch container.
- Add rum, vanilla, water. Mix the eggnog cocktail and put it in the refrigerator.
- Crush ice cubes into snow and add to the drink.
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Serve vegetarian eggnog in a highball glass. To give the drink a more airy consistency, powdered sugar rather than sugar is added to its composition. And to enhance the aroma, ground spices (nutmeg and cinnamon) are crushed immediately before preparing the dessert, otherwise they quickly lose their smell.
