When the holiday season arrives, the air fills with the delightful scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, and festive cheer. Consequently, our kitchens transform into magical workshops where we create treats that capture the spirit of the season. If there is one recipe that perfectly embodies holiday warmth, it is undoubtedly a batch of classic soft eggnog cookies. These cookies are not just a dessert; they are a bite-sized celebration. Specifically, they offer the creamy, spiced flavor of your favorite holiday beverage in a perfectly tender, chewy cookie. This recipe will guide you through creating the most incredible soft eggnog cookies, complete with a rich, velvety eggnog icing that takes them to the next level. In fact, these treats are destined to become a new holiday tradition for your family.
Why This Is the Ultimate Holiday Cookie Recipe
You might be wondering what makes this particular recipe for soft eggnog cookies so special. First and foremost, the texture is absolutely divine. These cookies are pillowy soft with a slightly chewy center, melting in your mouth with every bite. Furthermore, they are packed with authentic eggnog flavor, thanks to using real eggnog in both the cookie dough and the glaze. Ultimately, this recipe strikes the perfect balance, ensuring the cookies are sweet but not overly so, letting the warm spices shine through. They are also incredibly simple to prepare, making them a fantastic choice for holiday baking with kids or for whipping up a quick batch for a last-minute party.
- Incredibly Soft Texture: The combination of butter, brown sugar, and eggnog creates a wonderfully moist and tender crumb.
- Authentic Festive Flavor: Real eggnog and a generous amount of nutmeg deliver that classic holiday taste you know and love.
- Easy to Make: With straightforward instructions, even novice bakers can achieve perfect results.
- Perfect for Gifting: These cookies look beautiful on a holiday platter and make a thoughtful, delicious homemade gift.
Soft Eggnog Cookies: The 12 Ultimate Steps for the Most Festive Batch
These Soft Eggnog Cookies are tender, chewy, and bursting with classic holiday flavor. Topped with a sweet eggnog glaze, they’re the ultimate festive treat.
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup full-fat eggnog
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Icing:
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
2–3 tablespoons eggnog
Pinch of ground nutmeg (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
4. Add the egg, eggnog, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and beat until fully combined.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until incorporated. Do not overmix.
6. Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
7. After chilling, scoop 1.5-tablespoon portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
8. Bake for 11–13 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers look just set.
9. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and eggnog to make the icing. Adjust consistency by adding more eggnog if needed.
11. Dip or drizzle cooled cookies with icing. Optionally sprinkle with a pinch of nutmeg while icing is wet.
12. Allow icing to set for about 30 minutes before serving or storing.
Notes
Do not skip chilling the dough—this helps the cookies keep their shape and stay soft.
Use freshly grated nutmeg for the best flavor.
Let cookies cool completely before icing to prevent melting.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Soft Eggnog Cookies
To create the best cookies, you need to start with high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving the signature flavor and texture of these festive treats. Therefore, understanding what each ingredient does will help you appreciate the baking process even more.
The Heart of the Recipe: Eggnog
Naturally, the star ingredient is eggnog. For this recipe, a full-fat, store-bought eggnog works beautifully, providing richness and moisture. The dairy and fat content in the eggnog contribute significantly to the cookie’s soft, cake-like texture. While you can use a low-fat version, the results may be slightly less tender. Additionally, you will use eggnog in the cookie dough itself and as the base for the sweet, creamy icing that finishes the cookie perfectly.
Spices that Sing of the Season
Eggnog’s signature flavor comes from its blend of warm spices, primarily nutmeg. For an exceptionally vibrant flavor, using freshly grated nutmeg is highly recommended. The aromatic oils are more potent in whole nutmeg, providing a depth of flavor that pre-ground spice cannot match. Along with nutmeg, a touch of cinnamon complements the flavor profile, adding another layer of warmth. These spices are central to holiday baking, just as they are in festive gingerbread cookie bars. Maintaining a balanced diet is important, especially during the holidays, and spices can offer certain health benefits according to WebMD.
The Foundation: Butter, Flour, and Sugar
Like most cookies, the foundation begins with a few key ingredients. Unsalted butter, softened to room temperature, is essential for a creamy, well-aerated dough. Using room temperature butter allows it to incorporate properly with the sugars. Speaking of which, this recipe uses a combination of granulated sugar for sweetness and structure, along with brown sugar, which adds moisture and a hint of molasses flavor, contributing to the cookie’s chewiness. All-purpose flour provides the structure, while baking powder gives the cookies their lift, making them pillowy. Finally, an egg binds everything together, and a dash of pure vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors in these delightful soft eggnog cookies.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Following these steps carefully will ensure your soft eggnog cookies turn out perfectly every single time. Moreover, the process is quite simple, so relax and enjoy the festive baking experience.
1. Prepare Your Station: First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Next, line two large baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking. This simple step also makes cleanup much easier.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and freshly grated nutmeg. Whisking helps distribute the leavening agent and spices evenly throughout the flour.
3. Cream Butter and Sugars: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together on medium-high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process usually takes about 2-3 minutes and incorporates air into the dough.
4. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the egg, eggnog, and vanilla extract to the creamed butter mixture. Beat on medium speed until everything is well combined. Remember to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure all ingredients are fully incorporated.
5. Combine Wet and Dry: With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix just until combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough, as this can result in tough cookies.
6. Chill the Dough: This is a crucial step for soft cookies. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Chilling solidifies the fat, which prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, resulting in a thicker, softer cookie.
7. Scoop and Bake: Once chilled, use a medium cookie scoop (about 1.5 tablespoons) to drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, placing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 11-13 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. The centers should still look soft and slightly underdone.
8. Cool Completely: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. It is important that they are fully cool before you add the icing.
9. Prepare the Icing: While the cookies cool, make the icing. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, eggnog, and a pinch of nutmeg. Add the eggnog one tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency. It should be thick but still pourable.
10. Ice the Cookies: Once the cookies are completely cool, dip the tops into the icing or use a spoon to drizzle it over them. Let the icing set for about 30 minutes before serving. For a final festive touch, you can sprinkle a little extra nutmeg on top of the wet icing.
Tips for the Softest, Most Delicious Cookies
Achieving bakery-quality soft eggnog cookies at home is easy when you keep a few key tips in mind. These small details can make a big difference in the final product.
- Do Not Overbake: The secret to a soft cookie is to pull it from the oven when the center still looks slightly undercooked. The cookies will continue to bake on the hot pan after you remove them, resulting in a perfect, chewy middle.
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: For a smooth, cohesive dough, ensure your butter and egg are at room temperature. This allows them to blend seamlessly with the other ingredients.
- Chill, Chill, Chill: We cannot stress this enough—chilling the dough is essential. It prevents the cookies from spreading into thin, crispy wafers and deepens the flavor.
- Measure Flour Correctly: To avoid dry, dense cookies, measure your flour using the spoon and level method. Simply spoon the flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge. This prevents you from packing in too much flour. Getting measurements right is just as important in other recipes, like these easy chewy sugar cookies.
- Fresh Spices Matter: For the most aromatic and flavorful cookies, use fresh spices, especially nutmeg. Grating it yourself right before adding it to the dough makes a world of difference. Proper nutrition often involves understanding the benefits of natural ingredients, a topic thoroughly covered by institutions like the Mayo Clinic.
Storing and Freezing Your Soft Eggnog Cookies
One of the best parts about this recipe is that it is perfect for making ahead. Whether you want to get a head start on your holiday baking or save some treats for later, these soft eggnog cookies store and freeze wonderfully.
Storing at Room Temperature
Once the icing has completely set, you can store the baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Placing a slice of bread in the container can help keep them soft, as the cookies will absorb moisture from the bread.
Freezing Baked Cookies
To freeze the finished cookies, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer until solid. After that, you can transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container, placing parchment paper between the layers to prevent sticking. They will keep for up to 3 months. Simply thaw them at room temperature before enjoying.
Freezing Cookie Dough
You can also freeze the cookie dough for later. After chilling the dough, scoop it into balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze until solid, then transfer the dough balls to a freezer bag. You can bake them directly from frozen; just add 1-2 minutes to the baking time. This is a fantastic trick for having fresh-baked cookies on demand, and it works for many other holiday favorites like the ever-popular Christmas Crack.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this recipe for soft eggnog cookies is a true holiday treasure. It beautifully captures the creamy, spiced essence of eggnog in a perfectly tender and chewy cookie. By following the detailed steps and helpful tips, you are well on your way to creating a festive treat that will impress your friends and family. These cookies are more than just a dessert; they are a delightful experience that brings the warmth and joy of the season into your home. So, gather your ingredients, turn on some holiday music, and get ready to bake a new Christmas tradition. We are confident that these delightful soft eggnog cookies will earn a permanent spot on your holiday baking list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add rum extract to the cookies or icing?
Absolutely! For an even more authentic eggnog flavor, you can add 1/2 teaspoon of rum extract to the cookie dough along with the vanilla extract. Similarly, adding 1/4 teaspoon of rum extract to the icing will give it a wonderful boozy note without the alcohol.
What if I don’t have a cookie scoop?
If you do not have a cookie scoop, you can use two regular spoons to drop the dough onto the baking sheet. Try to make the dough balls as uniform in size as possible, about 1.5 tablespoons each, to ensure they bake evenly.
Can I make these soft eggnog cookies gluten-free?
Yes, you can adapt this recipe for a gluten-free diet. Simply substitute the all-purpose flour with a high-quality 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend that contains xanthan gum. The texture may be slightly different, but they will still be delicious.
