Hot or cold, homemade or store-bought, thicker or thinner, eggnog is still a delicious Christmas drink. Although it is a matter of preference, many like their eggnogs more on the thicker side; nevertheless, the thickness does not determine the eggnog quality. However, if you prefer your eggnog thicker, there are things you can do. So, how to thicken eggnog?
Adding heavy cream, buttermilk, dairy or nondairy topping, and whipped pasteurized egg whites are the best ways to thicken your eggnog. You may also warm up the eggnog, but not too much.
Though eggnog is delicious in all shapes and forms, everyone has their preference, and we all deserve to enjoy our Christmas eggnog as we want to. If you like thicker eggnog, you should have it, but eggnog is a bit specific in terms of thickening, so there are things to know. In the following paragraphs, I will discuss how to thicken eggnog and what to do with a failed eggnog.
Contents
- Heavy Cream
- Buttermilk
- Dairy or Nondairy Topping
- Whipped Pasteurized Egg Whites
- Warm up the Eggnog
- Does Eggnog Thicken in the Fridge?
- How Long Does Eggnog Take to Thicken?
- What to Do With Failed Eggnog?
- FAQs
- What can I use to thicken eggnog?
- How long does it take for eggnog to thicken?
- What can you use instead of heavy cream in eggnog?
- Should eggnog be thick or thin?
- What else can you use to thicken?
- How do you fix thin eggnog?
- How do you doctor up eggnog?
- Does eggnog thicken as it cools?
- Does eggnog thicken in the fridge?
- How can I thicken milk without heavy cream?
Heavy Cream
Though eggnog is excellent in all forms, everyone has a taste, and we all deserve to drink our Christmas eggnog whichever we choose. If you want thicker eggnog, you should have it, but eggnog thickening is a little particular, so there are some things to know. I’ll go through how to thicken eggnog and what to do with a failed eggnog in the following paragraphs.
The eggnog wont thicken the exact second you add the heavy cream, so you need to wait for the mixture to settle.
Buttermilk
Heavy cream and buttermilk are nearly the same, with the buttermilk being fattier.Therefore, if you add buttermilk to thicken your eggnog, know that you will make the drink significantly more fatty and caloric. Stir the eggnog while adding buttermilk, and after you add it.
The mixture will need some time to settle, so be patient and keep an eye on the eggnog at all times.
Dairy or Nondairy Topping
Have some dairy or nondairy topping ready to go when making eggnog, as they may come in handy if you want to thicken it.Whip the topping well and slowly add it to the eggnog, stirring the mixture to ensure you dont have lumps.
Whipped Pasteurized Egg Whites
You can buy ready-made pasteurized egg whites or make them yourself.I recommend buying them as it makes things much easier. Pasteurizing the egg whites on your own may not be successful.
Whip the pasteurized egg whites and then add them to the eggnog pitcher to thicken them. Make sure you stir at all times and leave enough time for the mixture to settle. Dont add too much in the beginning, but monitor the changes in the thickness.
Warm up the Eggnog
Warming up the eggnog can thicken it, but this is a tricky business, as it may easily boil, and if that happens, your eggnog will be ruined; the milk will curdle, and the eggs will cook.
Therefore to thicken your eggnog by warming it up on the stove, you should set the temperature at low (for homemade eggnog) and at medium (for store-bought eggnog) and warm it up in short intervals without allowing the eggnog to boil.
If you use the microwave, set the temperature at low or medium, respectively, and set the timer at 30 seconds for store-bought eggnog and at 20 seconds for homemade eggnog. After each cycle, take the eggnog out of the microwave and stir.
The oven is also an option, but only for store-bought eggnog, as homemade eggnog will get ruined in the oven. Set the temperature at medium and check the eggnog every two to three minutes.
Use large pans with thick bottoms.
Does Eggnog Thicken in the Fridge?
Yes, eggnog thickens in the fridge; however, it doesnt stay that way for long.Refrigerating your eggnog is a great, painless, and risk-free solution to make it thicker, but it doesnt change its consistency.
To explain this better, I will compare eggnog with water. So, when you put water in the freezer, it freezes and turns to ice, but when you take it out, it becomes liquid again after a while. The same happens to the eggnog.
The refrigeration thickens the eggnog, but it returns to its original consistency after you take it out of the fridge. So, if the eggnog was thin when you refrigerated it, it would thin again. Still, if you are a quick drinker, you can enjoy your cup of thick eggnog straight from the fridge.
How Long Does Eggnog Take to Thicken?
Depending on how you thicken your eggnog, it can take anywhere from five minutes to an hour or two to thicken.
Adding some kind of a thickener to your eggnog can take up to ten to 15 minutes for the mixture to thicken. Whether you add heavy cream, buttermilk, pasteurized egg whites, or whipped topping, the eggnog will need some time to bond with the thickener, which is usually ten to 15 minutes.
If you thicken your eggnog by warming it up, you will notice the difference after only a few minutes, five minutes or so.
If you thicken your eggnog by refrigerating it, it will take at least an hour for it to become thicker.
What to Do With Failed Eggnog?
A failed eggnog is usually curdled eggnog, and do not despair if this happens, as you can still put failed eggnog to good use.
You can turn your failed eggnog into eggnog ice cream or use it to make mini cakes. For example, the eggnog trilece is an excellent use of your eggnog. You can thin the egg nog and turn it into a pancake or crepe topping or make a cinnamon cake.
The only thing you need to look out for is that your eggnog hasnt gone bad, as it offers countless combinations as long as it is safe.
FAQs
What can I use to thicken eggnog?
For extra thickness, whip up 1 cup of heavy cream and fold into the eggnog before serving. Even richer eggnog: Feel free to play with the proportions of whole milk to cream, keeping 3 cups total dairy. Heavy cream will make your eggnog thicker and creamier.
How long does it take for eggnog to thicken?
HOW TO MAKE CREAMY EGGNOG FROM SCRATCH. GENTLY BOIL: Milk, cream, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Remove from heat once boiled and let steep. BEAT: egg yolks and sugar until thick (takes about 5 minutes.
What can you use instead of heavy cream in eggnog?
Ingredients for Eggnog
To make your eggnog lighter, you can use half and half instead of heavy cream or skip the cream entirely and just use whole milk, or even low-fat milk. You could also use an alternative milk, such as almond milk.
Should eggnog be thick or thin?
The result should be frothy and light—not dense. Ladle into cups and serve cold, with a grating of fresh nutmeg. If you want to serve your eggnog hot, omit the egg whites and add milk to taste and to loosen the mixture; you’ll want to wait to add the booze until you’re ready to serve, too.
What else can you use to thicken?
7 Ways to Thicken Every Kind of Soup, Sauce, Stew, & Gravy
Flour.
Cornstarch.
Tomato puree.
Reduce Liquid.
Butter.
Add the egg yolk.
Add Pureed Vegetables.
How do you fix thin eggnog?
2 cup of pasteurized egg whites or 1 cup of heavy cream to soft peaks and add it to the pitcher or punch bowl until it thickens sufficiently.4 to 1If your homemade or store-bought eggnog is a little too thin, beat 1
How do you doctor up eggnog?
Additional ingredients to liven up your eggnog:
Cordials: Ginger liqueur, peppermint schnapps, white chocolate liqueur.
Spices: More nutmeg, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, vanilla extract.
Other goodies: Coffee (highly recommended), light brown sugar, chocolate syrup, maple syrup.
Does eggnog thicken as it cools?
It will thicken as it cools. If you want a thinner, completely smooth consistency, you can add the entire mixture to a blender with 1 or 2 tablespoons of milk and blend until smooth. Serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg, and fresh whipped cream, if desired. Refrigerate homemade eggnog for up to a week.
Does eggnog thicken in the fridge?
Because the eggnog thickens the longer you keep it stored in your refrigerator (and it’s quite boozy), you can always dilute it by adding more milk just before serving.
How can I thicken milk without heavy cream?
Cornstarch is used to thicken milk to help reproduce the texture of heavy cream. To replace 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream in your recipe, add 2 tablespoons (19 grams) of cornstarch to 1 cup (237 mL) of milk and stir, allowing the mixture to thicken.