Brandy Eggnog

Name: Brandy Eggnog
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 20 servings (3/4 cup each).
Ingredients: 1-3/4 cups sugar; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 quarts 2% milk; 6 large eggs, beaten; 1 cup apricot brandy or brandy; 1/2 cup rum; 2 tablespoons bourbon; 2 tablespoons vanilla extract; 1 quart half-and-half cream; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; Optional: Turbinado (washed raw) sugar, ground cinnamon and pirouette cookies

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 min. Cook: 25 min. + chilling YIELD: 20 servings (3/4 cup each).

Store-bought versions just can't compete with my homemade brandy eggnog. Apricot brandy is my secret ingredient!—Shelia Weimer, Bluefield, West Virginia

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 quarts 2% milk
6 large eggs, beaten
1 cup apricot brandy or brandy
1/2 cup rum
2 tablespoons bourbon
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 quart half-and-half cream
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Optional: Turbinado (washed raw) sugar, ground cinnamon and pirouette cookies

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven, combine the sugar, flour and salt. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly, 15 minutes. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat.
2. Stir a small amount of hot mixture into eggs; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is slightly thickened and coats the back of a spoon, 5 minutes.
3. Transfer to a large bowl; cool quickly by placing bowl in ice water and stirring for 2 minutes. Stir in the brandy, rum, bourbon and vanilla. Cool completely. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Just before serving, stir in cream and nutmeg. If desired, mix turbinado sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl; dip rims of glasses into a shallow dish of water then into the sugar mixture, pressing lightly to adhere. Fill glasses with eggnog and if desired, serve with pirouette cookies.

Nutrition Facts

3/4 cup: 252 calories, 8g fat (5g saturated fat), 95mg cholesterol, 153mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (24g sugars, 0 fiber), 7g protein.