Festive Eggnog Sugar Cookies Recipe

Buttery Eggnog Sugar Cookies Recipe That Melt in Your Mouth

Sweet holiday traditions spark joy, and these melt-in-your-mouth eggnog sugar cookies offer a delightful seasonal twist.

Creamy eggnog infuses classic sugar cookies with warm, nostalgic flavors that dance on your palate.

Soft, tender, and delicately spiced, these cookies capture the essence of winter celebrations.

Each bite promises a merry blend of traditional sugar cookie comfort and festive eggnog richness.

Butter, nutmeg, and a hint of rum extract create a magical combination that feels like a cozy winter embrace.

Bakers looking to impress their loved ones will find these cookies are the perfect addition to any holiday dessert spread.

Dive into this recipe and spread some delicious seasonal cheer.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 165 kcal

Servings: 23

What Goes Into Melt-In-Your-Mouth Eggnog Sugar Cookies

For Base and Binding:
  • Butter: Creamy foundation that ensures tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture with rich flavor profile.
  • Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create crisp cookie edges.
  • Egg: Binds ingredients together and adds structure to the cookie dough.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor depth with warm, aromatic notes.
For Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Fundamental structure for cookie's shape and consistency.
  • Baking Powder: Leavening agent that helps cookies rise and become light.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies other flavor dimensions.
For Flavor Enhancers:
  • Eggnog: Introduces quintessential holiday taste with creamy, spiced undertones.
  • Ground Nutmeg: Signature seasonal spice that delivers warm, nostalgic aroma.
For Optional Glaze:
  • Powdered Sugar: Creates silky, smooth coating with delicate sweetness.
  • Rum Extract: Optional ingredient adding sophisticated holiday spirit complexity.

Tools That Make Melt-In-Your-Mouth Eggnog Sugar Cookies Easy

  • Large Mixing Bowl: Essential for creaming butter and sugar, and combining wet ingredients smoothly.
  • Electric Mixer or Whisk: Perfect for creating light, fluffy butter mixture and beating ingredients thoroughly.
  • Separate Mixing Bowl: Needed for whisking together dry ingredients before combining with wet mixture.
  • Baking Sheet: Crucial for baking cookies evenly and creating a golden-brown surface.
  • Parchment Paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
  • Glass or Fingers: Great for gently flattening cookie dough balls.
  • Wire Rack: Helps cookies cool completely and prevents soggy bottoms.
  • Small Bowl: Used for mixing the optional glaze ingredients.
  • Whisk: Helps create smooth glaze without lumps.

Quick Steps To Bake Melt-In-Your-Mouth Eggnog Sugar Cookies

  • Cookie Dough Preparation

Whip softened butter and sugar until they transform into a cloud-like mixture. Blend in rich eggnog, warm vanilla, and a sprinkle of nutmeg, creating a fragrant base that hints at holiday cheer.

  • Ingredient Fusion

Gently combine flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt in a separate bowl. Slowly marry these dry ingredients with the creamy wet mixture, forming a tender dough that promises delicious results.

  • Baking Magic

Warm your oven to a cozy 350°F. Craft small dough balls and nestle them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Tenderly press each cookie to create a uniform shape. Bake until edges turn a delicate golden hue, around 8-10 minutes. Let cookies rest briefly before transferring to a cooling rack.

  • Luxurious Finishing Touch

Craft a silky glaze by whisking powdered sugar with eggnog and a whisper of nutmeg. Drizzle this elegant coating over completely cooled cookies, allowing it to set and create a festive shimmer.

Tips To Nail Melt-In-Your-Mouth Eggnog Sugar Cookies

  • Baking Brilliance: Soft Cookie Secrets: Ensure butter is truly softened at room temperature for the most velvety, tender cookie texture that melts perfectly in your mouth.
  • Holiday Flavor Boost: Add an extra pinch of ground nutmeg or a splash of bourbon to the dough for a more intense holiday flavor profile that screams festive cheer.
  • Dairy-Free Delight: Swap traditional eggnog with almond or oat milk eggnog to create a delicious dairy-free version that still captures the classic holiday essence.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Cookie dough can be prepared ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for 2 weeks, making holiday baking wonderfully stress-free and convenient.
  • Gluten-Free Option: Replace all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to accommodate those with gluten sensitivities without compromising the cookie's delicate texture.

Best Way To Serve Melt-In-Your-Mouth Eggnog Sugar Cookies

  • Festive Holiday Platter: Arrange cookies on a decorative Christmas plate with sprigs of fresh rosemary and a dusting of powdered sugar for a stunning seasonal presentation.
  • Cozy Dessert Pairing: Serve these cookies alongside a warm mug of spiced eggnog or hot chocolate for the ultimate comfort treat that celebrates winter flavors.
  • Gift-Worthy Packaging: Stack cookies in a clear cellophane bag tied with a festive ribbon, perfect for homemade holiday gifts or cookie exchange parties with friends and family.
  • Gourmet Brunch Accent: Include these cookies as part of a weekend brunch spread, complementing other sweet pastries and providing a delightful nutmeg-infused dessert option.

Keep Melt-In-Your-Mouth Eggnog Sugar Cookies Soft

  • Smart Cookie Storage: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, ensuring maximum freshness and soft texture.
  • Freezing Friendly: Wrap cookie dough balls in plastic wrap, store in freezer-safe bags for 3 months. Bake directly from frozen state, adding 1-2 extra minutes to cooking time.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare dough up to 3 days before baking, refrigerate in sealed container. Let dough sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before shaping and baking to reach perfect consistency.
  • Glaze Genius: Apply glaze just before serving to maintain crisp cookie edges and prevent soggy bottoms. Store glazed cookies in single layers separated by parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Print
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Festive Eggnog Sugar Cookies Recipe

Festive Eggnog Sugar Cookies


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4.6 from 14 reviews

  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 23 1x

Description

Festive eggnog sugar cookies delight winter palates with rich holiday flavor. Creamy textures and subtle nutmeg notes invite celebrations where friends and families create sweet memories together.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (227 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
  • 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) eggnog
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
  • tbsps eggnog
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp rum extract (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Cream softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in egg, eggnog, vanilla extract, and ground nutmeg until the mixture becomes smooth and aromatic.
  2. Dry Ingredients: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together. Gently incorporate dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until a cohesive dough forms.
  3. Shaping and Baking: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on the sheet with adequate spacing. Flatten each cookie gently using a glass or fingertips to create uniform discs.
  4. Baking Process: Bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges. Allow cookies to rest briefly on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  5. Finishing Touch: Craft a glaze by whisking powdered sugar, eggnog, ground nutmeg, and rum extract. Drizzle elegantly over cooled cookies, allowing the glaze to set and create a festive, glossy appearance.

Notes

  • Butter Softening Strategy: Allow butter to reach room temperature for 30-45 minutes before mixing, ensuring smooth, fluffy incorporation without over-beating.
  • Precise Dough Handling: Avoid overworking the dough to prevent tough cookies; mix just until ingredients combine for tender, delicate texture.
  • Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, maintaining the same measurement for celiac-friendly version.
  • Baking Time Watch: Check cookies at 8 minutes; golden edges indicate perfect doneness, preventing dry or burnt results. Remove immediately to preserve soft, melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 23
  • Calories: 165
  • Sugar: 12 g
  • Sodium: 40 mg
  • Fat: 7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 23 g
  • Fiber: 0.5 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 25 mg
Liam O’Sullivan

Liam O’Sullivan

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development​, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education​

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.​

Ballymaloe Cookery School

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.​

Isabella brings a global spark to the Craft Meats table. Born in Florence and trained at the Apicius International School of Hospitality, she blends classic Italian flavor with modern writing that’s easy to follow and hard to forget. 

Her additional training at the Italian Chef Academy fueled her love for well-crafted dishes, especially ones that spotlight beautiful cuts of meat.

She’s a food writer with heart, and a deep love for storytelling through single recipes. Her goal? To help you cook with more confidence and a little more joy, no matter where you start.

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