This festive Eggnog Cocktail is ultra cold, creamy, and warmly spiced. Spiked with a little brandy and amaretto cheer, it’s the perfect celebratory holiday drink, always a crowd pleaser!

two glasses of eggnog cocktail in martini glasses


 

Celebrate the Holidays with an Eggnog Cocktail

Looking for a festive drink to serve during the holidays? I have just the one – this beautiful Eggnog Cocktail!

Start with my extra wonderful Homemade Eggnog recipe, or grab a box from the store. Either works, whatever suits your fancy.

Then whirl up an ultra-cold, rich, and creamy Eggnog Cocktail. It’s spiked with a little brandy and amaretto cheer, just the perfect way to celebrate during the Christmas and New Years season!

a martini glass overturned in a small plate of sugar

Prepare Your Glasses

This bevvy would taste delicious in any shape of glassware, but if you have martini glasses, definitely use those! With a sugared rim, so simple to create, its festive attitude is all kinds of contagious.

How to rim a glass with sugar? It’s quick and easy!

Just dip a clean finger into a cup of water, shake off the excess, and run your fingertip around the rim.

Then immediately dip the rim into a small plate of sugar. Take care to only dip straight down and then straight back up. Do not twist the glass in the sugar, as it will cause some of the sugar crystals to rub off.

a martini glass of eggnog cocktail

Ingredients for this Eggnog Drink Recipe

This eggnog mixed drink requires just a few ingredients:

  • course, sparkly sugar – for rimming the glasses
  • eggnog – use my homemade eggnog recipe or a box from the store
  • brandy – use your favorite brand
  • almond flavored liqueur – I used Amaretto Di Saronno®
  • vanilla ice cream
  • ground nutmeg
  • ground cinnamon – for a pretty finishing touch, sprinkled across the top!

How to Make this Festive Cocktail

This recipe comes together easily. Grab a blender to ensure the smoothest drink possible!

  1. Prep glasses. This can be done earlier in the day. See the previous section for my easy instructions on how to add a sugar rim to glasses.
  2. Blend. Using a blender, combine the eggnog, brandy, almond liqueur, ice cream, and nutmeg until smooth.
  3. Serve. Pour eggnog cocktail mixture into prepared glasses. Garnish with a sprinkling of cinnamon and serve immediately. ENJOY!
an eggnog drink in a martini glass

Tips for the Best Eggnog Drinks

I have just a few simple tips for you – to ensure the best, most enjoyable eggnog cocktail ever.

  • Rim the glasses. This isn’t a necessity, but it sure does take the festivity to a whole new level.
  • Use good eggnog. If you have a favorite boxed eggnog, use that. Otherwise try my homemade eggnog – it’s WONDERFUL!
  • Use the recommended kinds of alcohol. So what alcohol goes with eggnog?! A traditional eggnog recipe usually incorporates rum, brandy, and/or whiskey. This cocktail includes brandy plus the beautiful flair of an almond flavored liqueur.
  • Chill the alcohol. The eggnog should always be kept chilled in the refrigerator, no question. But I also recommend chilling the brandy and almond flavored liqueur prior to making this drink. Every little bit of chill helps to give that ultra cold drink experience here.
  • Use a blender. While you could hand mix this drink, I definitely recommend using a blender to achieve the smoothest drink possible.
  • Garnish, garnish, GARNISH! I’m a sucker for all the bells and whistles when it comes to serving special drinks. Finish off each cocktail with a little sprinkle of ground cinnamon. It’s not only beautiful, but it gives a wonderful warm scent with each sip you take.

Can this Drink be Made in Advance?

This is a great beverage to whirl up some end-of-evening excitement and flair. It’s a real holiday crowd pleaser. And I’ve found that it’s even possible to make it ahead of time!

Sometimes a little blender action during a gathering adds to anticipation, teasing guests with what’s to come. But maybe you’d rather skip the blender escapade?

Then simply prepare the sugar rimmed glasses earlier in the day and place the blender carafe in the refrigerator to chill. Shortly before your guests arrive, blend the cocktail and place it in the refrigerator, in the blender carafe.

When ready to serve, give the drink a swirl with a spoon, to incorporate. Or set the carafe on the blender and give it a short blitz to combine. Pour into prepared glasses and sprinkle with cinnamon. Done!

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an eggnog drink in a martini glass

Eggnog Cocktail

Yield: 4 larger drinks
prep time: 20 minutes
total time: 20 minutes
This festive Eggnog Cocktail is ultra cold, creamy, and warmly spiced. Spiked with a little brandy and amaretto cheer, it's the perfect celebratory holiday drink, always a crowd pleaser!
4.6 Stars (14 Reviews)
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Ingredients

  • course sparkly sugar
  • 2 cups eggnog very cold – use homemade eggnog or your favorite from the store
  • ½ cup brandy chilled
  • ½ cup almond flavored liqueur chilled – I used Amaretto Di Saronno®
  • 3 large scoops frozen vanilla ice cream
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ground cinnamon for garnish

Instructions

  • Rim martini glasses with sugar crystals. A quick and easy way is to dip a clean finger into a cup of water, shake off the excess, and run your fingertip around the rim. Then immediately dip the rim in a small plate of sugar.
  • In a blender, combine eggnog, brandy, almond liqueur, ice cream, and nutmeg until smooth.
  • Pour into sugar rimmed glasses. Garnish with a sprinkling of cinnamon and serve immediately.

Notes

I highly recommend that you place the brandy and almond liqueur in the refrigerator to chill the day before making these cocktails – or place in freezer for an hour or two. This will ensure an extra chilled drink. If you like your drinks even colder, and like some ice bits, blitz some chopped ice along with all the ingredients. Placing your glasses in the refrigerator or freezer a couple hours before serving also gives these drinks a frosty edge.
To make this recipe a few hours ahead of time, simply blend the cocktail ingredients together and then place the blender carafe in the refrigerator. Give it a good stir to incorporate all the ingredients (or place carafe on the blender and give it a short blitz) before pouring it into sugar rimmed glasses and garnishing with cinnamon.
From the recipe box of Angela Johnson, adapted from the original recipe of Sandra Lee’s "UNICEF Snowflake Cocktail" from Semi-Homemade Cooking 2.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 Calories: 398kcal Carbohydrates: 30g Protein: 11g Fat: 18g Saturated Fat: 6g Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g Cholesterol: 89mg Sodium: 183mg Fiber: 3g Sugar: 25g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment below. And share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #afarmgirlsdabbles or tag @farmgirlsdabble!
© Brenda | A Farmgirl’s Dabbles
Cuisine: American
Course: Cocktails

This post was originally published in 2014, and then updated in 2020.