Add a Festive Flair to Your Celebration with Martha Stewart’s Special Eggnog Recipe

Get ready to elevate your holiday celebrations with a timeless classic from the queen of entertaining herself, Martha Stewart.

The eggnog recipe, a flagship creation of the 83-year-old New Jersey resident, combines a delightful mixture of opulent creaminess and celebratory spirit that is essential for your seasonal events.

Martha Stewart’s eggnog, whether for a laid-back family gathering or an extravagant holiday function, guarantees to captivate guests with its luxurious tastes and refined elegance.

With a custard-like essence coupled with a hint of alcohol, eggnog is typically crafted using dairy products – frequently a blend of milk and heavy cream, similar to Martha’s rendition – sweetened with sugar, and enriched with eggs. While some methods involve cooking the egg yolks, others, like the one presented here, utilize raw eggs. In recipes with uncooked eggs, the yolks are combined with the dairy, while the whites are beaten separately and gently incorporated before serving.

Eggnog is typically spiked with brandy, rum, whiskey, bourbon, or a combination of these, and finished with a sprinkle of ground nutmeg.

Every year before her annual holiday party, Martha Stewart prepares her signature eggnog recipe. This rich and indulgent drink is made with cream and packs a punch, thanks to a trio of dark rum, bourbon, and cognac. 

Here’s what you will need:

• 6 large eggs, separated
• ¾ cup superfine sugar
• 2 cups whole milk
• 3 cups heavy cream, plus more for garnish
• ½ cup bourbon, preferably Maker’s Mark
• ¼ cup dark rum, preferably Mount Gay
• ¼ cup Cognac, preferably Remy Martin Grand Cru
• Freshly grated nutmeg, for sprinkling

To prepare the television personality’s signature eggnog, begin by beating the egg yolks in a very large bowl until they become thick and pale. Gradually add the sugar, continuing to beat until fully incorporated. Next, whisk in the milk and 2 cups of cream to create a smooth, creamy mixture. Stir in the bourbon, rum, and Cognac, then cover and refrigerate for up to one day to allow the flavors to meld.

When ready to serve, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form and gently fold them into the eggnog. Whisk the remaining 1 cup of cream until it forms stiff peaks, then fold it into the mixture. For an alternative presentation, fold half the whipped cream into the eggnog and use the remaining half as a topping. Finish by sprinkling freshly grated nutmeg on top before serving. Enjoy this indulgent holiday classic!

Store-bought eggnog often includes fillers, preservatives, and artificial ingredients, but making it from scratch gives you full control over the quality of the drink. Martha’s recipe is refreshingly simple, calling for just six eggs, sugar, heavy cream, milk, alcohol, and nutmeg for garnish. Since it isn’t cooked, it’s important to use the freshest eggs available.

This recipe is a two-day process, with most of the work done the day before serving. The egg yolks, sugar, milk, cream, and alcohol are mixed together to allow the flavors to meld overnight. The egg whites are then whipped and folded in just before serving to create a light, airy texture.

If you are looking to spice things up, Martha has other eggnog recipes including a Peppermint Eggnog, a Coconut Eggnog, and a Coffee Eggnog. Find Martha’s recipes here. Eggnog is traditionally served as a punch, either chilled or at room temperature. Alternatively, it can be gently warmed and enjoyed as a cozy, soothing beverage.

Beyond her cooking expertise, Martha dedicates significant time to turning her sprawling 153-acre property into a stunning holiday wonderland. Each year, she decorates one to three trees in every room of her home, using a curated mix of vintage and modern ornaments she has lovingly collected over time.

“My windows and doorways are always garlanded and wreathed indoors and out,” she said in the December 2016 issue of Martha Stewart Living.

One memorable year, the television personality elevated her holiday décor by purchasing over 40 evergreen wreaths to embellish her home’s windows and the eaves of her outbuildings. She added a whimsical touch by attaching shooting stars to the roofs and sides of the structures, transforming the property into a dazzling display of holiday magic.