Get ready to bake the most festive treat of the season! These incredible eggnog cookies with cream cheese frosting are a holiday dream come true. You’ll love their wonderfully soft texture and rich, spiced flavor, perfectly topped with a luscious, creamy frosting. This recipe is super easy, making it the ideal holiday dessert for spreading holiday cheer with every delicious bite.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Eggnog Cookies
- Irresistible Holiday Flavor: These cookies truly capture the warm, comforting essence of classic eggnog, bringing festive cheer to your kitchen.
- Incredibly Soft & Chewy: Enjoy a melt-in-your-mouth texture thanks to the perfect balance of ingredients, ensuring every bite is pure bliss.
- Luscious Cream Cheese Frosting: A creamy, subtly spiced frosting complements the cookie’s rich flavor, creating an unforgettable pairing.
- Easy to Make: With simple, straightforward steps, even beginner bakers can achieve bakery-worthy eggnog cookies with cream cheese frosting.
- Crowd-PLeasing Recipe: These delightful cookies are always a hit, making them perfect for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or a cozy family treat.
Ingredients
Gather your baking essentials to create these delightful eggnog cookies with cream cheese frosting. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in achieving that signature holiday taste and texture.
For the Eggnog Cookies:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp EACH salt, cream of tartar, cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp EACH ground cloves, ground ginger
- 16 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
- 1 large egg
- 2 large hard-cooked egg yolks, pressed through fine mesh strainer
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup eggnog
For the Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 4 oz. softened cream cheese, cut into 8 pieces
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp EACH ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon
- 1-2 tablespoons eggnog
Garnish (Optional):
- Crushed candy canes
Notes & Substitutions:
- Always use room temperature butter and cream cheese for a smooth, lump-free dough and frosting. As highlighted by baking experts, room temperature ingredients blend more evenly and create a better texture.
- The hard-cooked egg yolks add richness and tenderness to the cookies, giving them a unique melt-in-your-mouth quality.
- Opt for full-fat eggnog and cream cheese for the best flavor and texture. Feel free to adjust the amount of nutmeg or cinnamon in the frosting to your taste.
- Sifting the powdered sugar for the frosting prevents lumps, ensuring a silky finish.
Equipment
You won’t need any fancy gadgets to bake these delicious eggnog cookies with cream cheese frosting. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Stand mixer or electric hand mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar and making the frosting.
- Large mixing bowls: For dry and wet ingredients.
- Baking sheets: Multiple sheets are helpful for efficient baking.
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mats: Prevents sticking and ensures even baking.
- Wire rack: For cooling your baked cookies completely.
- Cookie scoop: Creates uniformly sized cookies for consistent baking.
- Fine mesh strainer: For pressing the hard-cooked egg yolks.
Instructions For These Eggnog Cookies
Making these eggnog cookies with cream cheese frosting is a straightforward process, perfect for any home baker. Follow these steps for a truly delightful holiday treat.
For the Eggnog Cookies:
- Prepare your oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or a nonstick baking liner. Set them aside.
- Whisk dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, nutmeg, salt, cream of tartar, cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground ginger. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream wet ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using an electric hand mixer), beat the softened unsalted butter, packed brown sugar, granulated sugar, and softened cream cheese together. Beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add egg and liquids: Beat in the whole egg until just combined. Next, add the pressed hard-cooked egg yolks, vanilla extract, and eggnog. Beat on low speed until everything is smoothly incorporated.
- Combine wet and dry: With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix just until combined; be careful not to overmix the dough.
- Chill the dough: Cover the dough bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This step helps prevent spreading and develops flavor.
- Scoop and bake: Using a cookie scoop (the dough will be wet and sticky), drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them at least 3 inches apart.
- Bake the cookies: Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the tops are set.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 3 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Ensure they are fully cooled before frosting.
For the Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Cream butter and sugar: In a clean mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and 1 ¼ cups of powdered sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed for about 1 minute, until light and fluffy.
- Add cream cheese: Increase the mixer speed to medium-high. Add the softened cream cheese pieces, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition until smooth.
- Flavor the frosting: Mix in the vanilla extract, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon of eggnog. Beat until well combined.
- Achieve desired consistency: Gradually beat in the remaining 1 cup of powdered sugar. If the frosting is too thick, add the remaining eggnog a teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired spreading consistency.
- Frost and garnish: Evenly spread the luscious eggnog cream cheese frosting on the completely cooled cookies. If desired, garnish with a sprinkle of crushed candy canes for extra festive flair.
Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
Achieving perfect eggnog cookies with cream cheese frosting is simple with a few key techniques.
Perfecting Your Cookies:
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Always ensure your butter, cream cheese, and egg are at room temperature. This creates a smooth, emulsified dough and prevents lumps in your frosting.
- Do Not Overmix: Once you add the dry ingredients, mix just until combined. Overmixing develops gluten, which can lead to tough cookies.
- Chill Dough Thoroughly: Chilling for 30 minutes is crucial. It solidifies the butter, preventing the cookies from spreading too much and allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Use a Cookie Scoop: A cookie scoop ensures uniform size, which promotes even baking across all your cookies.
- Avoid Overbaking: Bake just until the tops are set. Overbaking results in dry, hard cookies instead of soft, chewy ones.
- Cool Completely: Always let your cookies cool completely on a wire rack before applying the eggnog cream cheese frosting. Warm cookies will melt the frosting.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Using cold butter or cream cheese: Leads to lumpy batter and frosting.
- Skipping the dough chilling step: Often results in flat, overly spread cookies.
- Baking on unlined sheets: Can cause cookies to stick and burn on the bottom.
Serving, Storage & Variations
These delightful eggnog cookies with cream cheese frosting are versatile for any holiday occasion.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve these festive cookies alongside a warm mug of coffee, hot chocolate, or even a glass of chilled eggnog for the ultimate holiday treat. They are perfect for holiday platters, cookie exchanges, or as a thoughtful homemade gift for friends and family.
Storage Instructions:
Store unfrosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. Once frosted with the eggnog cream cheese frosting, the cookies should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days due to the cream cheese. Allow refrigerated frosted cookies to come to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving for the best texture and flavor.
Freezing Tips:
- Unfrosted baked cookies: Freeze baked, unfrosted cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before frosting.
- Frosted baked cookies: You can freeze frosted cookies, too! Freeze them in a single layer on a tray until the frosting is firm, then layer them in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers. Freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature before serving.
Variations:
- Chocolatey Twist: Fold in white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or even chopped white chocolate chunks into the cookie dough.
- Flavor Boost: Experiment with different extracts like rum extract or brandy extract for an extra layer of holiday flavor.
- Spice It Up: Add a pinch more ground cloves, allspice, or cardamom to the cookie dough or frosting for a bolder spice profile.
- Festive Garnishes: Besides crushed candy canes, try decorating with holiday sprinkles, a dusting of cinnamon sugar, or finely chopped candied ginger.
Nutrition Information
Enjoying these delicious eggnog cookies with cream cheese frosting is a true holiday indulgence. Here’s an estimated nutritional breakdown per cookie, based on approximately 36 servings per recipe. Please note these values are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes.
| Nutrient | Per Cookie (Estimated) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 180 kcal |
| Total Fat | 9g |
| Saturated Fat | 5g |
| Cholesterol | 30mg |
| Sodium | 90mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 24g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.5g |
| Total Sugars | 17g |
| Protein | 2g |
Serving size: 1 cookie. This nutrition information is provided for general guidance only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of eggnog works best for these eggnog cookies with cream cheese frosting?
Full-fat dairy eggnog works best for both the cookies and the frosting, providing a rich flavor and creamy texture. Avoid low-fat or non-dairy eggnogs unless specified in a recipe variation, as they can affect the final consistency.
Is chilling the cookie dough really necessary?
Yes, chilling the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes is crucial for these eggnog cookies with cream cheese frosting. It helps solidify the butter, which prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking, and allows the flavors to deepen.
Why use hard-cooked egg yolks in the dough?
The hard-cooked egg yolks contribute to the incredibly soft, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth texture of these cookies. They add richness without making the dough too wet, creating a delightful crumb.
Conclusion
These eggnog cookies with cream cheese frosting are the perfect treat to bring holiday joy to your home. With their soft, spiced cookies and luscious, creamy frosting, they are simply irresistible.
This recipe is designed to be easy and beginner-friendly, ensuring a delightful baking experience. So, gather your ingredients and start baking these festive delights today – your friends and family will thank you! We’d love to hear how yours turn out, so please leave a review or share your creations!
Eggnog Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, nutmeg, salt, cream of tartar, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger in a bowl.
- In a mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cream cheese until fluffy (2–3 min).
- Beat in egg, egg yolks, vanilla, and eggnog until combined.
- Gradually add dry ingredients on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Chill dough for at least 30 minutes. Scoop dough onto sheets with cookie scoop, spacing 3 inches apart.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool 3 min on sheet, then transfer to wire rack.
- For frosting: Beat butter and 1¼ cups powdered sugar until light. Add cream cheese in pieces and beat until smooth.
- Add vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and 1 tbsp eggnog. Mix. Add remaining powdered sugar and adjust consistency with more eggnog if needed.
- Spread frosting on cooled cookies. Garnish with crushed candy canes if desired.
Nutrition
Notes
- Use full-fat eggnog and cream cheese for best results.
- Chilling dough prevents spreading.
- Adjust spice levels to taste.
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