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This recipe for Eggnog Bourbon Balls is easy and extremely addictive. It was hard to eat just one.
My kitchen has been turning out deliciousness like a well oiled machine over the past week or so. Sweet treats, candies & of course cookies. It’s the holiday way, isn’t it? I wish I had the ability to buy my friends and neighbors a special gift, but a plate of homemade goodies is the easiest and most economical way to show them that I care and that they are thought of during the busy holiday season.
Ingredients in Eggnog Bourbon Balls
Vanilla Wafers – crushed up vanilla wafer cookies are the perfect carrier for bourbon and cocoa.
Sugar – powdered confectioners sugar.
Pecans – ground pecans add depth of flavor and texture.
Bourbon – make sure you use a decent quality bourbon for this recipe. You’ll taste it in the candy, so you don’t want to use anything too inexpensive.
Cocoa Powder – adds a touch of chocolatey goodness to these bourbon balls.
Corn Syrup – light corn syrup will help hold the cookie and nut mixture together giving you a truffle-like consistency.
Candy Melts – you can purchase candy melts at stores like Michaels, Hobby Lobby, cake decorating shops, or Amazon.
Spices – ground nutmeg gives the white candy melts the hint of eggnog. You could also add a touch of eggnog flavoring if you want a more intense eggnog flavor.
You know I love my bourbon which is evidenced by some of my favorite recipes like Fresh Peach Old Fashioned, Bacon Bourbon AperitifandPumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta. And what goes better with Bourbon during the holidays than Eggnog? Nothing, if your name is Heather! They are SUPER easy to make and if you let them “marry” for a couple of days you just might get a buzz from eating a couple. So here’s my public service announcement: Don’t eat bourbon balls and drive. The end. 🙂
In a medium bowl, add the ground wafer cookies, powdered sugar, pecans and cocoa powder. Stir to combine well. Add the bourbon and corn syrup and stir until the mixture comes together and is well incorporated.
Using a small hinged scoop or a teaspoon, make balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining mixture and place the baking sheet in the freezer for 20 minutes.
Using a double boiler, add the candy melts to the top and melt slowly. Stir the candy melts just to combine and add 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg. Drop one chilled bourbon ball in the candy mixture using a fork flip it over to coat. Tap the fork on the side of the double boiler to remove excess candy and place back on the parchment lined baking sheet.
Sprinkle the wet candy with a tiny pinch of ground nutmeg. Repeat with the remaining bourbon balls. Refrigerate or consume immediately.
Heather is a recipe developer and content creator living in Vancouver, Washington. She started Farmgirl Gourmet in 2006, almost 20 years ago, as a way to share recipes with friends and family. Heather is also the co-founder of Spiceology , a unique spice company, which she started in 2013. She shares family friendly recipes for easy everyday meals with a gourmet twist.
While brandy is the most traditional alcohol to pair with eggnog, according to traditional recipes, you can also use a mixture of dark rum and Cognac. If you like your eggnog with more of a kick you can also add bourbon, but we recommend sticking to rum and Cognac to preserve the 'nog's flavors.
The bourbon adds warmth that's great for a winter drink, while the rum goes great with the sweetness of the nog, and the brandy just adds a great extra dimension of flavor. As with most things, it's best to consult Futurama.
Both of these spirits work well with holiday flavors like vanilla and spice, so adding a dram to your mug of eggnog is as natural as pairing peppermint with chocolate. Be sure to use a good whiskey that you enjoy sipping on its own.
“While there are different eggnog recipes, most eggnog will typically contain high amounts of fat from cream and milk, and added sugar for sweetness,” said Cohn. The American Heart Association recommends that people consume no more than 5% to 6% of calories from saturated fat every day to support heart health.
Non-alcoholic eggnog: Consume within 1 day. Eggnog with 1/2 to 1 cup liquor: Refrigerate for several days. Eggnog with 1 1/2 cups liquor: Refrigerate for several weeks in a sealed glass container or mason jar, where it will continue aging and thicken up quite nicely.
The idea? Make a batch of eggnog and let it age for at least three weeks in the refrigerator before drinking. The rest period supposedly drives off eggy taste while giving the other flavors a chance to meld. At the same time, the alcohol has a chance to kill any potential pathogens in the mix.
Made with eggs, sugar, spices, and of course, whiskey, this rich and creamy beverage is sure to get you in the holiday spirit. To make Wigle's spiked eggnog, we recommend using a good quality whiskey like Yule Tidings but other whiskeys will be equally delicious. Wigle PA Bourbon eggnog is also highly recommended!
"Tom and Jerry is a form of hot eggnog [co*cktail] that was once popular." The Tom and Jerry was invented by British journalist Pierce Egan in the 1820s, using brandy and rum added to eggnog and served hot, usually in a mug or a bowl. It is a traditional Christmastime co*cktail in the United States.
For the most traditional holiday experience, reach for brandy (specifically, Cognac) to spike your 'nog. It's important to note, though, that both brandy and eggnog are quite sweet. Combining them will produce something that someone with a sweet tooth will love, but that others may find cloying.
No matter which style, whiskey does make the most flavorful eggnog because the spirit's profile pops out of the drink. Maker's Mark created eggnog more in line with the brandy version; it simply added a whiskey kick. It is quite tasty, and there would be no hesitation to make it again.
Alton Brown prefers four to six months, while Bennett thinks eight to 12 months is the “sweet spot.” Though, I'm pushing that one in my fridge as long as I can, I think aged eggnog merely two weeks old is quite extraordinary—caramely, minty and just a bit funky, while smooth as silk.
Is Eggnog Served Hot or Cold? Eggnog is traditionally served as a punch at parties, and as such, is usually chilled or room temperature. However, warmed eggnog is also a delightful treat. In this case, we say "to each your own!" Enjoy your eggnog however you like it.
Though rare, there is the potential that eggnog will curdle when it's mixed with alcohol. That's typically due to too much acid interacting with the dairy. This can come from high-proof liquor or milk that's either lower in fat or going sour. For the best eggnog, use fresh, preferably whole, milk.
The more liquor you add, the longer it will keep — non-alcoholic eggnog should be consumed within 1 day; eggnog with 1/2 to 1 cup of liquor will keep for several days; and eggnog with 1 1/2 cups of liquor will keep for several weeks and continue aging and thickening quite nicely.
If it's 40–50 proof or above you can keep it forever in the refrigerator. I've had some eggnog I made before Christmas 2018 that's still in the fridge and it should last until I make the next 2 gallons of it (no Not all for me, I share a drop with friends). 1,750 Ml of liqueur per gallon.
🥃 Quick summary. Whiskey is a general term for an alcoholic liquor made from fermented mashed grains. Bourbon is the term for a whiskey made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn. Bourbon was traditionally made in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and most bourbon is still produced in the state of Kentucky.
Introduction: My name is Arline Emard IV, I am a cheerful, gorgeous, colorful, joyous, excited, super, inquisitive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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