While there’s no consensus as to what the traditional Christmas meal is, varying from person to person, family to family and state to state, a few tasty treats have made themselves into staples. Gingerbread houses and people to live in them, peppermint bark and bûche De noël cakes will easily find their places onto many holiday tables this year, along with the classic eggnog.

Eggnog’s roots trace all the way back to 15th century England and a drink called posset. Posset was hot milk curdled in ale, a flavor combination that will likely put off 21st century holiday revelers. Somewhere along the way eggs and non-curdled milk were added to the mix. The accessibility of eggs in colonial North America gave this creamy drink a boost in popularity, eventually settling into place as a holiday tradition fit for parties and dinners.

If you’re not into the many cartons and jugs of ‘nog commercially available at your local supermarket, learning how to make eggnog is the best way to personalize and customize your holiday sips. Here’s an easy recipe to follow.

How to Make Eggnog

Ideally, your homemade eggnog should be sweet, creamy, comforting, and kissed with cinnamon and nutmeg. If you prefer your holiday drink to be booze-free, simply skip the rum in this eggnog recipe. To maintain the sweetness and flavor that rum brings, try rum or brandy extracts. However, these have trace amounts of alcohol.

To keep it totally non-alcoholic, a mixture of molasses and maple syrup will create that rich, brown-sugar taste. If you won’t miss the taste, make it without the spirits at all.

Eggnog Ingredients

• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 vanilla bean pod, split and removed of seeds
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg (freshly grated is best)
• 4 eggs, separated
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar (⅔ cup if you’d like it sweeter), plus 1 tablespoon.
• ¾ cup Bacardi Dark Rum or bourbon.

Instructions

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together milk, cream, vanilla beans and seeds, cinnamon and nutmeg.
2. Once the mixture comes to a boil, remove it from the heat entirely and allow it to steep and cool.
3. While the mixture is steeping, add egg yolks into a large bowl or stand mixer. Beat the yolks until they start to lighten in color. Gradually add in the sugar, beating until totally dissolved.
4. Slowly add the Bacardi or bourbon plus the milk and spice mixture to the egg yolks, mixing until smooth and combined.
5. Before serving, add egg whites to a bowl or stand mixer and beat until soft peaks form. While the mixer is running (or while you’re stirring), slowly add the 1 tablespoon of sugar. Keep beating until stiff peaks form.
6. Fold the egg whites into the eggnog until fully combined. Garnish with grated nutmeg and cinnamon.

Easy Eggnog Recipe

If the above steps aren’t quite what you have the time or ingredients for, here’s a simplified eggnog recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 ⅓ cups whole milk
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

To make this simple eggnog recipe, blend milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract and spices together in a large pitcher until it’s thoroughly combined.

How to Make Eggnog the Way You Like It

Everyone who likes eggnog tends to like it a different way. Some want it sweeter, some want more spices. Others want it spiked, others don’t. Adjust the levels and ingredients in this recipe to make it to your tastes, and feel free to experiment. Even if you’re not dairy-free, replacing the milk with almond or oat milk will create a new layer of flavor that’s complimented by the warm, comforting spices.

Add cranberries for decoration and a bit of fruity sweetness, or peppermint sticks that will introduce a minty, fresh twist.