Ho, ho, ho! It’s time to dig out your ugly Christmas sweater and get cozy! My budget-friendly eggnog cookies are the perfect treat to make and share with friends and family this holiday season.
The cookie base is made with simple ingredients like flour, sugar, and spices, and then I add a buttercream-style glaze to top it off.
They’re sweet, creamy, and have a subtle hint of rum flavor without having to buy an expensive bottle of the real thing. These easy-to-make cookies would be the perfect addition to any Christmas party or festive cookie platter this year!
Eggnog has a long history as a Christmas drink, stretching all the way back to medieval Britain, with many variations and adaptations over the years.
Today, we usually associate it with a creamy, spiced drink, often with rum, whiskey, or brandy added. But I know not everyone is a fan of drinking straight eggnog, so I wanted to find a way to incorporate those delicious flavors into a treat that everyone can enjoy.
Table of Contents
How to Make Eggnog Cookies?
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 1 1/2 cups |
| Baking powder | 1 tsp |
| Ground nutmeg | 1/4 tsp |
| Butter (room temperature) | 1/2 cup |
| Ground cinnamon | 1/4 tsp |
| Granulated sugar | 1/3 cup |
| Brown sugar | 1/3 cup |
| Dark rum | 1 tsp |
| Eggnog rum | 1/4 cup |
| Egg yolk | 1 |
| Sugar (for glaze) | 1 cup |
| Sweetened condensed milk | 1 tbsp |
Preparation
- In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and ground cinnamon.
- In another bowl, cream the butter with the granulated and brown sugars.
- Add the egg yolk and beat again until fully incorporated.
- Add the dark rum and eggnog rum, and mix until you have a smooth dough.
- Add the dry ingredients in two parts, combining them with a spatula using folding motions.
- Once the dough is ready, chill it in the refrigerator for 1–3 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 150ºC (300ºF).
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it rest for 15 minutes before forming small balls. The size will depend on how big you want your cookies.
- Place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 13 minutes, remove from the oven, and let them cool.
- For the glaze, combine the sugar with the sweetened condensed milk.
- Place the glaze in a piping bag, and once the cookies are at room temperature, pipe the glaze onto them.
Video Guide 📺
Storage Instructions:
- These glazed eggnog cookies will keep for about 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Please note this is only a guideline and will depend on the freshness of the cream-based ingredients used in the glaze.
- You can also freeze these cookies (without the glaze) between layers of parchment paper for up to 3 months.
- Let them thaw at room temperature before adding the glaze.
Simple Tips Related to Eggnog Cookies
This easy eggnog cookie recipe is simple and perfect for first-time cookie bakers! To help you out, here are some tried-and-true tips and tricks:
- Add the dry ingredients slowly to avoid overmixing the dough. Adding them all at once makes mixing more difficult and increases the chance of overworking the dough, which can create tough, dense cookies.
- Don’t skip the resting time. It can be tempting to bake the cookies right away, but chilling the dough prevents it from spreading too much. It also makes the dough easier to handle when forming balls.
- Evenly coat the cookie dough balls with sugar. Like snickerdoodles, this adds extra sweetness and helps develop a subtle, chewy crust while baking.
- Let the cookies cool completely before adding the glaze. If they’re still warm, they’ll melt the frosting.
- You can top your cookies with any festive decorations you like. Pearl sugar is a lovely optional topping, but cinnamon, ground nutmeg, granulated sugar, sprinkles, or extra powdered sugar are all great additions.
Estimated Nutrition (Per Cookie)
These values are approximate and may vary depending on cookie size, glaze amount, and specific ingredients used.
| Nutrient | Approx. Amount (Per Cookie) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 95–120 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 13–16 g |
| Sugar | 8–11 g |
| Fat | 4–6 g |
| Saturated Fat | 2.5–3.5 g |
| Protein | 1–2 g |
| Sodium | 20–45 mg |
| Fiber | 0.2–0.5 g |
Nutritional Notes
- The glaze adds most of the extra sugar.
- If you make larger cookies, the calories and sugar per cookie will increase.
- Skipping or reducing the glaze can lower the total sweetness and calories.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these cookies without rum?
Yes. You can replace the rum and eggnog rum with a little vanilla extract or extra eggnog-style flavoring. The cookies will still taste delicious and festive.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the dough in advance and refrigerate it for up to 24–48 hours before baking.
Why did my cookies spread too much?
This usually happens if the dough was not chilled long enough or if the butter was too soft. Chilling the dough helps the cookies hold their shape better.
Can I freeze the cookies after glazing?
It’s best to freeze them without the glaze. Add the glaze after thawing for the best texture and appearance.
What can I use for topping?
You can use pearl sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, sprinkles, granulated sugar, or powdered sugar for a festive finish.
Conclusion
These eggnog cookies are a cozy, holiday-friendly treat that brings classic eggnog flavor into a simple homemade dessert. They’re easy to make, budget-friendly, and perfect for sharing at Christmas parties or adding to a festive cookie platter.
With a soft spiced cookie base and a sweet glaze on top, they’re a great way to enjoy the taste of the season in cookie form.
