Holiday Eggnog Cookie Bliss

Embrace the festive spirit with these enchanting Eggnog Sugar Cookies! Infused with a delicate hint of warm spices and a subtle whisper of rum, they are the quintessential holiday treat. Whether you’re decorating them with loved ones, crafting thoughtful edible gifts, or simply indulging in a sweet moment by the fire, these cookies promise to be a delightful addition to your seasonal celebrations.

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Few treats capture the essence of the holiday season quite like a perfectly crafted sugar cookie. They are not only among the easiest and most visually appealing cookies to bake, but they also offer a canvas for endless creativity. This Eggnog Sugar Cookie recipe elevates the classic by incorporating the rich, creamy, and spiced flavors of traditional eggnog, making them an irresistible addition to any holiday cookie platter or gift box.

The beauty of sugar cookies lies in their simplicity and versatility. The dough for these delightful eggnog cookies comes together in a flash, requiring minimal effort. What’s even better is that the dough is incredibly forgiving and can be prepared in advance, stored conveniently in your fridge or freezer until you’re ready to roll, cut, and bake. This makes them an ideal choice for busy holiday schedules, allowing you to whip up a fresh batch whenever the craving strikes or unexpected guests arrive.

These particular sugar cookies boast a delicate crispness, a testament to careful baking, ensuring they are never too soft or crumbly. The flavor profile is a harmonious blend of festive spices – the comforting warmth of cinnamon and the exotic touch of nutmeg – perfectly complemented by a subtle, aromatic rum extract. This ensures a deep, authentic eggnog taste without being overpowering. The base cookie itself isn’t overly sweet, providing the perfect foundation for decorating with royal icing and a shower of colorful sprinkles without resulting in a cloyingly sweet final product.

Baking these Eggnog Sugar Cookies is a treasured family tradition in my home, a joyous activity that my children eagerly participate in. There’s something truly magical about gathering around the kitchen counter, armed with an assortment of holiday-themed cookie cutters, bowls of vibrant royal icing, and an impressive collection of sprinkles (confession: I might be a sprinkle enthusiast!). This recipe is not only incredibly straightforward but also easily doubles, so you can make more than the standard two dozen, ensuring there are plenty for sharing, gifting, and, of course, nibbling! Are you ready to dive into some festive fun? Let’s get baking and create the most delightful Eggnog Sugar Cookies!

Why You’ll Adore These Eggnog Sugar Cookies

• **Irresistible Festive Flavor:** The delightful combination of classic holiday spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, paired with the distinctive taste of rum extract, perfectly captures the rich and creamy essence of eggnog. It’s a flavor profile that instantly transports you to a cozy winter wonderland!
• **Effortless & Efficient Baking:** This recipe is designed for ease. The cookie dough is simple to mix, and the cookies bake quickly, meaning you can enjoy your delicious homemade treats in no time, even on the busiest of days.
• **Make Ahead Convenience:** Planning is a breeze with these cookies! The versatile dough can be prepared days in advance and safely stored in the refrigerator or even frozen for longer periods. This flexibility allows you to bake fresh cookies whenever you desire, making holiday entertaining or spontaneous baking sessions incredibly convenient.
• **Perfect for Customization:** Sugar cookies are a decorator’s dream! Their smooth surface and firm texture after baking make them ideal for piping intricate designs, adding festive sprinkles, or simply glazing with a delightful royal icing. Let your creativity shine and personalize each cookie!
• **Gift-Giving Galore:** Beautifully decorated Eggnog Sugar Cookies make charming and heartfelt homemade gifts. Package them in decorative boxes or bags, and you have a delicious present that’s sure to bring joy to friends, family, and neighbors.

Ingredients for Your Festive Eggnog Sugar Cookies

Crafting the perfect Eggnog Sugar Cookie begins with a selection of simple, high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that desirable texture and unforgettable holiday flavor.

• **All-purpose flour:** The foundational ingredient, providing structure to our cookies. Always measure flour correctly by spooning it into a measuring cup and leveling it off.
• **Baking powder:** Our leavening agent, ensuring a slight rise and that delicate crispness we desire without spreading too much.
• **Cinnamon:** A cornerstone of holiday baking, cinnamon adds warm, sweet, and woody notes that are essential for the eggnog flavor.
• **Nutmeg:** The signature spice of eggnog, offering a uniquely sweet, pungent, and aromatic kick. Freshly grated nutmeg can elevate the flavor even further.
• **Salt:** A pinch of salt is crucial for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the other flavors in the cookie. I use coarse salt for a slight textural interest.
• **Butter:** I prefer using **salted butter** (softened) as it adds richness and depth of flavor. If using unsalted butter, you might want to add a tiny bit more salt to the dry ingredients. Softened butter creams beautifully with sugar, creating a light and airy dough.
• **Sugar:** White granulated sugar contributes to the cookie’s structure, sweetness, and helps achieve that golden-brown edge.
• **Eggs:** Just **one large egg** binds the ingredients together, adding moisture and richness, contributing to a tender crumb.
• **Rum extract:** This is where the “eggnog” truly shines! Rum extract provides that distinct, festive rum flavor without the alcohol content, making these cookies suitable for everyone. You can usually find it in the baking aisle of most major grocery stores.

For the Smooth Royal Icing:

Royal icing is the traditional choice for decorating sugar cookies as it dries hard and smooth, allowing for intricate designs and easy stacking.

• **Powdered sugar:** Also known as icing sugar or confectioners’ sugar, this finely milled sugar is the base of our icing, ensuring a smooth, lump-free consistency.
• **Meringue powder:** This essential ingredient provides stability, helps the icing dry hard, and ensures a food-safe product without the need for raw egg whites. Look for it in the baking section or cake decorating aisles of craft stores.
• **Water:** Used to thin the icing to the desired consistency for outlining and flooding.
• **Vanilla extract:** A touch of vanilla enhances the overall flavor of the icing, complementing the eggnog cookies beautifully.

How To Make The Best Eggnog Sugar Cookies: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating these delightful Eggnog Sugar Cookies is a joyful process, and following these steps will ensure perfect, beautifully flavored results every time.

1. **Prepare Dry Ingredients:** In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and coarse salt. Whisk them together thoroughly to ensure the leavening agent and spices are evenly distributed. This prevents pockets of unmixed ingredients in your final dough.
2. **Cream Butter and Sugar:** In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar. Beat on medium-high speed until the mixture becomes light, pale, and fluffy – this usually takes about 2-3 minutes. This step incorporates air into the butter, contributing to the cookies’ light texture.
3. **Incorporate Wet Ingredients:** Add the egg and rum extract to the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage. The mixture might look slightly curdled, but this is normal.
4. **Combine Wet and Dry:** With the mixer still on low speed (or even off to prevent a flour cloud!), gradually add half of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until just incorporated, then add the remaining flour mixture. Continue mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms. It’s crucial not to overmix the dough, as this can develop the gluten too much, leading to tough cookies. Stop as soon as no dry streaks of flour remain.
5. **Chill the Dough:** Transfer the cookie dough onto a large sheet of plastic wrap. Gently form it into a flattened disc – this shape helps it chill more evenly and makes it easier to roll out later. Wrap the disc tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until the dough is quite cold and firm. Chilling is vital; it prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking and helps them hold their intricate shapes.
6. **Preheat Oven and Prep Baking Sheets:** Once your dough is sufficiently chilled, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Parchment paper prevents sticking and ensures even baking, making cleanup a breeze.
7. **Prepare Work Surface:** Lightly flour a clean work surface. You’ll also want to lightly dust your rolling pin with flour to prevent the dough from sticking.
8. **Roll and Cut Cookies:** Divide your chilled cookie dough in half (this makes it easier to handle). On your floured surface, roll out one half of the dough to an even thickness of about 1/8th of an inch (approximately 3mm). Use your favorite holiday cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Carefully transfer the cut cookies to your lined baking sheets, leaving about an inch of space between each cookie. Gather the dough scraps, gently press them together, and re-roll to cut out more cookies until all the dough is used. Remember to keep the dough as cool as possible.
9. **Bake to Perfection:** Bake the cookies for approximately 7 minutes. Baking time can vary based on your oven and the size/thickness of your cookies, so keep a close eye on them. They are done when the edges are just lightly golden brown and the centers are set. Avoid overbaking if you prefer a slightly softer cookie.
10. **Cool Completely:** Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes after removing them from the oven. This helps them firm up and prevents breakage. After 10 minutes, carefully transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before decorating.
11. **Decorate and Enjoy:** Once fully cooled, unleash your creativity! Decorate your Eggnog Sugar Cookies with homemade royal icing and your favorite sprinkles. Then, gather your loved ones and enjoy these delicious, festive treats!

How To Make Smooth Royal Icing

Royal icing is the secret to beautifully decorated sugar cookies that dry hard and hold their designs. Here’s how to whip up a perfect batch:

1. **Combine Dry Ingredients:** Add the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and vanilla extract to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or into a medium-sized bowl if you’re using a hand mixer.
2. **Mix and Adjust Consistency:** Start by adding 3 tablespoons of cold water to the dry ingredients. Beat on medium-high speed until well combined. The mixture will initially be very thick. Continue adding cold water, one tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition, until the icing reaches a smooth, fluid consistency. It should be thick enough to hold an outline but thin enough to flood an area without clumping. A good test is to lift the whisk: the icing should drizzle back into the bowl and disappear within about 10-15 seconds.

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Chef Jenn’s Expert Tips for Perfect Eggnog Sugar Cookies

Achieving bakery-worthy sugar cookies is easier than you think with these professional insights:

• **Prevent Sticking Dough:** If your dough becomes sticky during rolling, don’t hesitate to dust your work surface and rolling pin with additional flour. A light dusting will prevent frustration and keep your cookie shapes pristine.
• **Effortless Cleanup:** For the easiest cleanup, roll your cookie dough directly between two sheets of parchment paper. This method not only prevents sticking but also keeps your counter spotless.
• **Maximize Your Dough:** Don’t waste any dough! Gather all the scraps after cutting your shapes, gently knead them back together, and re-roll as many times as needed until every last bit is used. Just be mindful not to overwork the dough.
• **Monitor Baking Time:** Cookie size and oven calibration vary, so your cookies might bake faster or slower than the recommended 7 minutes. Keep a close watch on them, looking for just lightly browned edges as your indicator of doneness. This prevents over-baking and ensures a tender interior.
• **Patience is Key for Icing:** It is absolutely crucial that your cookies are completely cool before you attempt to ice them. Warm cookies will cause royal icing to melt and run, ruining your beautiful decorations.
• **Mastering Royal Icing:** Remember that royal icing hardens at room temperature. This is fantastic for stable, stackable cookies, but it means you must add any sprinkles or decorative elements while the icing is still wet. Once it sets, sprinkles won’t adhere.
• **Uniform Thickness:** For even baking and consistent texture, ensure you roll your dough to a uniform thickness. An 1/8th-inch thickness is generally ideal for sugar cookies.
• **Cold Dough is Happy Dough:** Always work with chilled dough. If your dough starts to become too warm and soft while rolling, pop it back into the fridge for 10-15 minutes to firm up again. This prevents spreading and maintains sharp edges.

How To Decorate Your Eggnog Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

Decorating is where the magic truly happens! Transform your plain cookies into festive masterpieces with these simple steps:

1. **Prepare Your Icing Bag:** Transfer your prepared royal icing into a piping bag fitted with a small circular tip (such as PME #1 or Wilton #3). Alternatively, you can use a small zipper-top plastic bag; just snip a tiny corner off to create your own piping opening.
2. **Outline and Flood:** Begin by outlining the edge of each cookie with the royal icing. Once the outline is complete, immediately “flood” the inside of the outlined area by filling it with more icing. Use a clean toothpick or a small scribe tool to gently nudge the icing into any small gaps and ensure an even, smooth surface.
3. **Add Sprinkles and Dry:** While the flooded icing is still wet, liberally sprinkle your chosen festive sprinkles over the cookies. This is crucial for the sprinkles to adhere properly. Once decorated, leave the cookies to dry completely at room temperature for several hours (or even overnight) until the royal icing is hard to the touch. This ensures your beautiful designs are set and won’t smudge.

Storage Solutions for Eggnog Sugar Cookies

Proper storage ensures your delicious Eggnog Sugar Cookies remain fresh and enjoyable for longer, whether baked or as dough.

• **Baked Cookies:** Store baked and fully decorated Eggnog Sugar Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Ensure the royal icing is completely dry before stacking to prevent sticking and smudging.
• **Cookie Dough (Refrigerated):** The prepared cookie dough can be stored, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap, in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. This is perfect for baking small batches as needed.
• **Cookie Dough (Frozen):** For longer storage, wrap the cookie dough disc tightly in several layers of plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer-safe bag. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before rolling and baking.

Frequently Asked Questions About Eggnog Sugar Cookies

Visual Guide: Step-by-Step Process

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