I don’t know about you, but once December rolls around I want to sneak eggnog into every single dessert I can dream up. These 19 eggnog recipes are my love letter to the holiday season, full of cozy spices and creamy richness. There’s a treat here for every kind of gathering, from simple cookies to showstopping cakes.
1. Mocha Eggnog Sundae
This sundae is the one I reach for when I need a festive dessert that wows at Christmas parties. I pile chocolate and coffee ice creams into a glass and top them with a spiced bourbon eggnog that makes the whole combination taste absolutely insane in the best possible way. It’s cool, creamy, and full of celebration.
2. Eggnog Donuts
Soft, fluffy baked donuts that double up on eggnog goodness in both the batter and the shiny glaze. I can whip them up in a snap, and they make every winter morning feel a little more magical. The smell alone is enough to pull the whole house into the kitchen.
3. Eggnog Poke Cake
A tender yellow cake gets poked all over and filled with creamy eggnog pudding, then crowned with a fluffy whipped topping. It’s one of those ridiculously easy cakes that feeds a whole crowd without any stress. I turn to it whenever I have a little leftover eggnog that needs a delicious job.
4. Eggnog Fudge
This fudge is so creamy, sweet, and kissed with warm spice that it barely lasts a day in my house. I love making a huge batch because it’s simple to whip up and my friends and family go completely wild for it. It’s exactly the kind of irresistible treat I want to have on hand all season long.
5. Eggnog Macarons
These elegant macarons hide a luscious eggnog ganache inside that’s laced with a hint of nutmeg and a splash of bourbon whiskey. The shells are light as clouds, and that warm, spiced filling is a total surprise. They’ve become my signature holiday bake, the recipe everyone asks me to bring year after year.
6. Eggnog Cookies
These soft cookies hit that perfect sweet spot: enough eggnog flavor to thrill the true fans but gentle enough that absolutely everyone reaches for a second. I top each one with a creamy eggnog frosting and a little sprinkle of ground nutmeg. They’re always the first to vanish from a holiday platter.
7. Eggnog Curd
This silky curd captures all the festive flavor of a Snowball cocktail blended with classic lemon curd. I can’t get enough of its tangy, spiced sweetness, especially spooned onto a warm croissant on Christmas morning. It’s also perfect for tucking into little jars as a homemade gift that feels extra thoughtful.
8. Eggnog Truffles
These tiny truffles are dangerously easy to stir together and taste like a bite of holiday magic. White chocolate, eggnog, rum, vanilla, and nutmeg all mingle into something irresistibly sweet. I love rolling up a big batch and packing them into little boxes as gifts, or honestly just keeping them all for my own afternoon coffee breaks.
9. Eggnog Sugar Cookies
These soft, frosted sugar cookies absolutely melt in your mouth. The eggnog taste is gentle and sweet, never overwhelming, which makes them a guaranteed hit on any holiday platter. I predict they’ll quickly become a new Christmas tradition in your kitchen, just like they did in mine.
10. Eggnog Gingerbread Tiramisu
I can’t get over how stunning this tiramisu looks on a holiday table. Layers of eggnog mascarpone cream sit between coffee dipped gingerbread men, all topped with a cloud of whipped cream and a gentle dusting of cocoa powder. It’s a showstopper dessert that always has everyone asking for the recipe.
11. Eggnog Ice Cream
This scoop of pure holiday happiness turns your favorite festive sip into a frozen treat. It’s creamy, dreamy, and so easy to make whenever the craving hits. I find that a bowl of this eggnog ice cream is the perfect way to cool down after all the hustle and bustle.
12. Eggnog Bread Pudding
This bread pudding is pure comfort in a dish. I soak soft brioche or challah in a rich eggnog custard and then drizzle everything with a brown butter rum glaze that smells absolutely heavenly. It’s also my favorite way to use up that last bit of eggnog in the fridge, turning leftovers into something truly special.
13. Eggnog Cupcakes
I love how these little cupcakes bring a cloud of eggnog flavor to any holiday table. The crumb is incredibly fluffy and the richness of the eggnog comes through in every single bite.
They’re what I reach for when I need an easy Christmas dessert that still feels special. I’ll bring them to a dinner party or wrap a few up as sweet little gifts for neighbors.
14. White Chocolate Dipped Croquembouche Filled with Eggnog Pastry Cream
This croquembouche is absolutely breathtaking. Light, airy choux pastry puffs are filled with a silky eggnog pastry cream and finished with a dip of melted white chocolate for an extra whisper of sweetness. It’s my idea of the perfect elegant Christmas centerpiece, made from simple pantry staples but looking like it belongs in a fancy bakery window.
15. Eggnog Bundt Cake with Sour Cream and Rum Icing
I adore this bundt cake for holiday potlucks and Christmas dinners. The sour cream keeps it incredibly moist while aromatic baking spices and real eggnog deliver deep, cozy flavor. Then that rum icing on top adds just the right touch of sweetness, making sure every slice comes home on a clean plate.
16. Mini Eggnog Cheesecake Bites
I am completely smitten with these tiny cheesecake bites. They’re ridiculously creamy with a buttery graham cracker crust and a swirl of Mexican eggnog whipped cream on top. Best of all, you can make them ahead of time, which is a total party lifesaver when the guest list is long and you want everything to feel effortless.
17. Eggnog Snickerdoodles
These snickerdoodles pack all the cozy warmth of nutmeg and real eggnog into a perfectly chewy cookie. I don't have to chill the dough, which means fresh, warm cookies land on the plate in record time. They disappear in minutes from any holiday cookie tray, so I make a double batch every single December.
18. Eggnog Whipped Cream
Eggnog Whipped Cream is the fluffiest way to add a cloud of holiday flavor to pies, cakes, or a steaming mug of cocoa. It tastes like the season in every dollop, and I find myself reaching for it all month long.
19. Instant Pot Eggnog Cheesecake
This cheesecake is a creamy, decadent dream made wonderfully easy with the Instant Pot. Warm notes of cinnamon and nutmeg weave through every silky bite, and the eggnog flavor really sings. It’s my secret weapon for a showstopping Christmas dessert that doesn't require me to babysit the oven.