12 Days Of Eggnog Recipes

Eggnog is a bit like Marmite, in that you either love it or you hate it. But regardless of your feelings, like clockwork, after Thanksgiving, the shelves in the dairy aisle of most supermarkets are suddenly full of the cartoned, ready-to-drink holiday cheer that is eggnog.

Historically known as milk punch or egg milk punch, eggnog is chilled, rich, creamy, and sweet — a perfect accompaniment to candy canes, holiday cookies, and Christmas chocolates! The name eggnog (as you may have suspected) comes from the whipped egg whites and egg yolks that are traditionally used (to create the delightful frothy texture) when making this festive beverage, though the namesake ingredient is generally not used in commercial varieties. Many delight in the sneaky addition of brandy, whiskey, or rum to their glass of "nog" to further push the boundaries of holiday merriment.

If you're looking for a basic, dependable, homemade eggnog you can use in place of the store-bought kind, it's worth keeping this trusty old-fashioned eggnog recipe up your sleeve. If you're looking for more eggnog adventure, the collection of tasty recipes in this slideshow will open your eyes to 12 delightful eggnog possibilities. (You can even use the recipe above as the foundation for some of them.) From chia pudding and fudge to French toast and cookies, we tracked down some wonderful ways to take your eggnog game to the next level with these 12 days of eggnog recipes.

To kick off this festive holiday roundup, we begin with a stiff drink. Bacon-infused bourbon really takes this drink to a new level of delicious in this elevated eggnog cocktail.

For the Bacon 'n Eggnog Cocktail recipe, click here.

Make this delicious, omega-3-rich chia pudding for a guilt-free dessert or snack. Using store-bought eggnog (in this case a vegan variety) means this recipe comes together in no time at all!

For the Eggnog Chia Pudding recipe, click here.

For an indulgent holiday breakfast or brunch, make this festive French toast recipe! Using leftover eggnog means it is easy to make, and baking everything in the oven means you can make enough for a crowd with no extra effort.

For the Eggnog French Toast recipe, click here.

This fudge brings all the familiar flavors of eggnog together. It's creamy with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg and is the perfect addition to any holiday table.

For then Eggnog Fudge recipe, click here.

This boozy milkshake recipe has all the flavors of eggnog with all of the ice-creamy deliciousness of a well-made milkshake. If you like eggnog or milkshakes, definitely give this recipe a go.

For the Eggnog Milkshake recipe, click here.

If you would rather eat your eggnog than drink it, make these eggnog sandwich cookies! The secret ingredient is vanilla pudding, which gives these cookies that sweet, creamy taste of custard.

For the Eggnog Sandwiches recipe, click here.

Here's a decadent dessert that is perfect for a special holiday dinner. Gingersnap cookies, layered with pastry cream and pillowy devil's food cake, make this trifle utterly divine.

For the Eggnog Trifle With Gingersnap Cookies recipe, click here.

Here's a gluten-free cookie recipe that is actually delicious. Full of wonderful eggnog and cinnamon flavors, it's de-lish!

For the Gluten-Free Eggnog Cinnamon Sugar Cookies recipe, click here.

If you're hankering for something more exotic than supermarket eggnog, try this simple but delicious Rampope. It's strong, sweet, and hard to stop drinking once you take a sip.

For the Rampope (Mexican Eggnog) recipe, click here.

For the best eggnog possible, according to this recipe, vanilla ice cream is the way to go! With melted ice cream, brandy, and rum, to name just a few ingredients, it is certain to taste wonderful.

For Simply the Best Eggnog recipe, click here.

If they're good enough for Taylor, they're good enough for us! These sugar cookies are flavored with chai tea and finished with a sweet eggnog icing.

For Taylor Swift's Chai Tea Eggnog Cookies recipe, click here.

This simple, sweet cranberry bread recipe is studded with toasted walnuts and topped with a delicious eggnog glaze. It's perfect for holiday entertaining or even as a homemade gift — one of many simple recipes you can make when the holidays are difficult enough!

For the Walnut Egg Nog Cranberry Bread recipe, click here.

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