Pin it
The second I start baking these Eggnog Cookies, my home gets flooded with the most wonderful holiday vibes. These cookies are super soft with an amazing eggnog topping that simply disappears in your mouth – they're pure Christmas joy. I've been baking for holidays forever, and these are always the first treats my family starts asking for when December rolls around.
Why You'll Love These Unique Cookies
What makes these cookies amazing is how they pack all the yummy eggnog flavors into a soft buttery treat. You don't even need to chill the dough – they're so quick to make. Whenever I take them to holiday parties, everyone wants to know my secret. There's just something about those warm spices mixed with that rich eggnog frosting that people can't get enough of.
What You'll Need for Eggnog Cookies
- All-Purpose Flour: This creates the base for our cookies – I always go for the unbleached kind.
- Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar, and Powdered Sugar: These work together to give us that amazing cookie texture we're after.
- Ground Cinnamon and Nutmeg: These cozy spices bring that real Christmas feeling to your cookies.
- Baking Powder: The key to getting those perfectly soft, puffy cookies.
- Salt: Just a tiny bit helps everything taste better together.
- Unsalted Butter: This gives that incredible melt-away texture.
- Egg Yolks: These add richness and softness to our cookies.
- Eggnog: The main character in our cookie story – full fat works best for flavor.
- Vanilla and Rum Extract: These add that traditional eggnog taste everyone loves.
Step-by-Step Cookie Directions
- Ready Your Oven and Mix Base Ingredients
- Set your oven to 350°F and put parchment on your cookie sheets. Grab a bowl and mix your flour, baking powder, salt, and those yummy spices.
- Mix Butter and Sweeteners
- Beat the butter and sugars until they look fluffy and light. Drop in those egg yolks one by one, then stir in your vanilla, rum extract, and eggnog.
- Put Everything Together
- Add the dry stuff to your wet mix little by little. Keep your mixer slow so you don't work the dough too much. Drop big spoonfuls onto your cookie sheets, leaving space between them.
- Cook Until Perfect
- Stick them in the oven for about 11-13 minutes until they're just right. Let them sit on the hot sheet a bit before moving them to cool completely.
Creating That Dreamy Eggnog Topping
- Start Your Frosting
- Beat your butter until it's super fluffy. Add some rum extract and eggnog, then mix until it's nice and smooth.
- Finish and Adjust
- Slowly add powdered sugar while mixing. Add extra eggnog if it gets too thick, until you get that perfect spreading texture.
- Top Your Cookies
- Wait until cookies are totally cool, then spread this amazing frosting on top. Finish with a tiny sprinkle of nutmeg to make them look fancy.
How To Store Your Treats
You can keep these cookies fresh in the fridge for around 4 days if you put them in a good container with a tight lid. Want to make them early? They freeze really well for up to 3 months. Just let them warm up to room temp before eating so they get that lovely soft texture back.
Tricks For Cookie Success
Take my word for it, using the full fat eggnog really does make these taste way better. Make sure your butter isn't cold when you start mixing with sugar. Don't mix the dough too hard or your cookies will turn out tough instead of soft. And always wait until they're totally cool before adding frosting – I found that out the messy way!
Ways To Switch Things Up
I throw in a bit of cardamom or cloves when I feel like trying something new. You can swap the rum extract for brandy extract if you want. My grandkids go crazy when I add some caramel or white chocolate drizzle on top. During Christmas week, we go crazy with all kinds of colorful sprinkles.
Wow Your Holiday Guests
I love watching these cookies vanish at holiday get-togethers. They look so pretty on any dessert spread with their smooth, creamy topping. They're fantastic next to cups of hot chocolate or warm eggnog. Seeing someone's face light up after their first bite makes me so happy.
The Special Touch of Holiday Flavor
These cookies have this wonderful balance of warm spices and sweet creamy topping. They're the kind of treat that brings everyone into the kitchen asking when they'll be done. They're easy to whip up but look so fancy when served – no wonder they've become a must-have in our family's Christmas lineup.
Pin it
Frequently Asked Questions
- → What’s the best way to measure flour?
Spoon flour into the cup, then level it off. Add 2 tablespoons more if you prefer thicker cookies.
- → Is low-fat eggnog okay to use?
For richer results, stick to full-fat eggnog in both baking and frosting.
- → How long do these cookies last?
Seal them in a container. Eat them fresh within 3-4 days since the frosting is cream-based.
- → Can I freeze the cookies?
Freeze the plain cookies. Frost them only after thawing for the best results.
- → Why did my cookies spread too flat?
If butter is too soft, cookies will spread. Use cool butter and chill the dough if needed.