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The holiday scent in my house gets everyone excited when I whip up these Eggnog Cookies. They're plump and tender with the creamiest eggnog topping that dissolves right when you bite into them – they taste just like the holidays. I've baked tons of Christmas treats over the years, but these are the ones my kids start asking for the minute December rolls around.
Why These Cookies Stand Out
What makes these cookies amazing is how they pack all the yummy eggnog flavors into a soft, buttery treat. You won't have to mess with refrigerating the dough – they're super quick to make. Whenever I take them to Christmas parties, everyone wants to know how I made them. That mix of cozy spices with the rich eggnog topping just can't be matched.
Ingredients for Eggnog Cookies
- All-Purpose Flour: This creates the base for our cookies – I typically go for the unbleached kind.
- Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar, and Powdered Sugar: These work together to give us that wonderful cookie texture we're after.
- Ground Cinnamon and Nutmeg: The holiday spices that make everything taste like Christmas morning.
- Baking Powder: Our helper for getting those perfectly soft, puffy cookies.
- Salt: A tiny bit makes every flavor pop.
- Unsalted Butter: Gives our cookies that mouthwatering softness.
- Egg Yolks: These add richness and make the cookies super tender.
- Eggnog: Our main ingredient – grab the full-fat version for the tastiest results.
- Vanilla and Rum Extract: They add that classic eggnog taste everyone loves.
How to Make Eggnog Cookies
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dough
- Set your oven to 350°F and put parchment on your baking sheets. In a bowl, stir together your flour, baking powder, salt, and those fragrant spices.
- Cream Butter and Sugars
- Whip the butter and sugars until they're fluffy and light. Drop in those yolks one by one, then mix in your vanilla, rum extract, and eggnog.
- Combine Ingredients
- Add your dry mix to the wet stuff bit by bit. Keep your mixer speed low so you don't work the dough too much. Drop big spoonfuls onto your baking sheets with some space between them.
- Bake
- Stick them in the oven for 11 to 13 minutes until they're barely set. Let them sit on the sheet a bit before moving them to cool completely.
Eggnog Frosting Instructions
- Prepare Frosting Base
- Beat your butter until it's super fluffy. Add a bit of rum extract and some eggnog, mixing until everything's smooth.
- Mix and Adjust Consistency
- Slowly add the powdered sugar while beating. Need a thinner frosting? Just put in more eggnog until it spreads nicely.
- Frost the Cookies
- Wait until the cookies are totally cool, then spread on this amazing frosting. Sprinkle a little nutmeg on top to make them look extra pretty.
Keeping Your Cookies Fresh
These treats will stay yummy in the refrigerator for about 4 days if you store them in something airtight. Want to make them early? They freeze really well for up to 3 months. Just let them warm up to room temperature before eating so they get back that lovely soft texture.
My Best Baking Tips
I can't stress enough how much better these taste with real full-fat eggnog. Make sure your butter sits out long enough to get properly soft before you mix it with sugar. Don't overmix the dough or you'll end up with tough cookies instead of tender ones. And always wait for them to cool completely before adding frosting – I learned that mistake the messy way!
Fun Ways to Mix It Up
I sometimes toss in a bit of cardamom or cloves when I feel like changing things up. You can swap the rum extract for brandy extract if you want. My grandchildren go crazy when I add some caramel or white chocolate drizzle on top. During Christmas week, we go crazy with holiday sprinkles on them.
Perfect for Your Holiday Table
I love watching these cookies vanish at holiday get-togethers. Their creamy frosting makes them look so fancy on any dessert table. They taste amazing with cups of hot cocoa or warm eggnog. The smiles I see when people take their first bite makes all the baking worth it.
The Magic of These Cookies
There's something truly wonderful about the balance of warm spices and sweet creamy frosting in these cookies. They're the kind of treat that brings everyone hanging around the kitchen asking when they'll be done. They're easy to make but look so impressive – that's why they've become such an important part of our family's Christmas traditions.
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Common Questions
- → What's the best way to measure flour?
Go with the scoop and level approach for 2 cups flour. Toss in 2 more tablespoons if you want your cookies a bit puffier.
- → Will low-fat eggnog work?
Stick with full-fat eggnog, not the low-fat stuff, for the tastiest results in both cookies and topping.
- → How long do these stay fresh?
Keep them in a sealed container. They'll taste best when eaten within 3-4 days because of the cream-based topping.
- → Can I put these in the freezer?
You can freeze the cookies without topping. Add the topping after they've thawed for the yummiest outcome.
- → My cookies spread out too much. Why?
Your butter might be too soft. It should just be room temp, not mushy. Pop the dough in the fridge before baking if needed.