Frosted family favourites feature double dose of eggnog

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This article was published 17/12/2021 (1103 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Eggnog is an unabashedly festive treat. And unlike its pumpkin-spiced cousin, the beverage has, thus far, avoided becoming a seasonal meme.

For Byanka Holder, there can never be too much eggnog — especially with three young kids at home.

“They’ve discovered that they like it too,” she says. “So they just help themselves.”

As soon as ‘nog hits the grocery store shelves, Holder makes a point of stocking up. It’s perhaps no surprise that eggnog cookies have become a family favourite. The recipe was an internet find that’s worked its way into annual rotation.

“I’m such a massive eggnog fan, that I was like, ‘Oh, eggnog in cookies, well I have to try this,’” Holder says, adding that she’s taken to storing the goodies — and the beverage — out of reach of small hands. “I have to hide them when I make them.”

An avid home cook and gardener, she bakes with similar gusto during the holidays. Her kids, who are between four and seven yearsold, will also get in on the action.

“They help with the sugar cookies and shortbreads and then I get sneaky and do the rest while they’re at school,” she says. “It’s more mess than actual productiveness.”

This particular recipe features a double dose of eggnog, in both the batter and the icing. Rum extract is on the ingredient list, but not a necessity, Holder says, if you’re unable to find it. One of her favourite things about the cookies — which feature a light and fluffy texture — is that they’re flexible and forgiving.

While many are getting back into the swing of Christmas gatherings this year, the Holders are content to continue with a laid-back holiday schedule — something they were doing long before the pandemic.

“We’re homebodies,” she says. “We’re not big into gatherings, so having to stay home is just a bonus.”

They usually see a few extended family members on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, leaving the 25th free to spend time with each other. The day is usually filled with unwrapping presents, eating finger food and watching movies — Home Alone with the kids and Die Hard after they’ve gone to bed.

This was a banner year: she managed to get the tree up and presents wrapped before December, leaving more time to relax into the season.

“I’m very proud of myself,” she says with a laugh.

Eggnog cookies

500 ml (2 cups) all-purpose flour
10 ml (2 tsp) baking powder
2. 5 ml (1/2 tsp) salt
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) ground nutmeg, plus more for topping
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) ground cinnamon
180 ml (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
125 ml (1/2 cup) granulated sugar
125 ml (1/2 cup) brown sugar, packed light
2 large egg yolks
5 ml (1 tsp) vanilla extract
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) rum extract
125 ml (1/2 cup) full-fat eggnog

Frosting
125 ml (1/2 cup) butter, at room temperature
45-75 ml (3-5 tbsp) eggnog
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) rum extract
750 ml (3 cups) powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon, set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or with a hand mixer, whip together butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until pale and fluffy.

Add egg yolks one at a time and blend until just combined. Mix in vanilla, rum extract and eggnog. Slowly add in dry ingredients.

Scoop dough onto lined baking sheets, dough inches apart.

Bake 11 to 13 minutes. Allow to rest on baking sheet for several minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

For the icing, whip butter till fluffy and light. Mix in rum extract, 45 ml (3 tbsp) eggnog and icing sugar. Add extra eggnog for desired consistency.

Allow cookies to cool completely before icing, sprinkle with nutmeg.

eva.wasney@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @evawasney