Eggnog Martini Recipe
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Eggnog martini is holiday cheer in a glass. It’s the perfect balance of vodka, amaretto, and eggnog, sprinkled with nutmeg and garnished with cinnamon. It’s silky smooth, perfectly creamy, and fabulously festive! Five minutes is all you need to transform classic eggnog into a delicious holiday cocktail that’s perfect for all your Christmas celebrations.
Every year, my friends and I get together for a cocktail party. It’s tradition that we each bring a homemade holiday cocktail or seasonal drink for everyone to enjoy. I brought cranberry margarita last year, and slow cooker mulled wine before that. This year, I’m going for my favorite – eggnog martini! I believe it’s the most exciting way to get your eggnog fix, plus it’s incredibly easy to whip up.
Everyone loves eggnog, which makes this festive cocktail a hit anywhere you make it. It’s a great after-dinner dessert cocktail perfect for Thanksgiving feasts, Christmas parties, or New Year’s Eve toasts. It’s also an excellent option for winter weddings.
At home, my husband and I enjoy an eggnog martini with a platter of Christmas cookies for a cozy night in. Eggnog martini is easy to make, fun to sip, and guaranteed to add sparkle to your holidays.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy as can be: Ready in 5 minutes or less – just mix and shake, garnish and serve! Perfect for last-minute parties or unexpected guests.
- Simple ingredients: All you need is vodka, amaretto, eggnog, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Just one grocery run and you’ll have all the ingredients.
- Comforting flavors: The combination of crisp vodka, nutty amaretto, sweet eggnog, and warm spices makes a delicious holiday cocktail that’s cozy, creamy, and velvety.
- Fun spin on a classic: Eggnog is a well-loved Christmas treat, and an eggnog martini is a new and exciting way to enjoy it!
- Customizable: Adjust the amount of alcohol or spices to make it just right for your taste.
How to Make Eggnog Martini
When you think of the holidays, what’s the first drink that comes to mind? Eggnog, of course! Eggnog martini takes the classic Christmas drink that you know and love and makes it into an indulgent cocktail that you can enjoy throughout the season. Gather 6 easy-to-find ingredients, whip it up in minutes, and enjoy – no fuss for such a delicious sipper!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients You Need
- Eggnog: I use store-bought eggnog for convenience, but homemade is very welcome. Just make sure the eggnog is alcohol-free.
- Vodka: Choose your favorite brand of plain vodka.
- Amaretto: Sweet almond-flavored liquor that adds a nutty sweetness to the cocktail. I use Disaronno.
- Ice
- Ground nutmeg: Freshly ground nutmeg has the best flavor, but you can use store-bought if that’s what’s available.
- Cinnamon sticks: Used as a garnish. Guests can also use it as a stirrer!
Step-By-Step Instructions
Eggnog martini is one of the quickest and easiest holiday cocktails you can make. Simply pour the ingredients in a shaker, shake it up, and pour the drink into serving glasses. If you’ve got an extra minute or two, rim the glasses with cinnamon sugar for an extra festive touch. Follow these 3 simple steps and you’ll have a festive drink in your hand after just a few minutes.
Step 1: Prep
Add a cinnamon sugar rim to the glass – brush simple syrup on the rim of the glass or dip it in a circle of syrup on a plate. Then, dip the edge in cinnamon sugar. I recommend my friend Susannah’s cinnamon sugar tutorial over at Feast + West for an in-depth step-by-step.
This step is optional. If you’re in a rush or prefer a simpler version, feel free to skip it!
Step 2: Mix and shake
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and pour in all the ingredients. Shake well for about 20 to 30 seconds.
Step 3: Garnish and serve
Divide and strain the mixture into two chilled martini glasses. Dust with ground nutmeg and garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick. Enjoy!
Substitutions
There are available substitutions in case you’re out of an ingredient or prefer to use an alternative. Eggnog martini is incredibly versatile, so you can make it according to how you like it or what you have on hand.
- Eggnog: Swap regular eggnog with a plant-based one like almond, oat, or coconut-based eggnog if you’re looking for a dairy-free or vegan-friendly option.
- Vodka: If you prefer a sweeter drink, substitute plain vodka with vanilla, caramel, or cinnamon vodka. If you don’t have vodka on hand, use brandy, rum, or whiskey instead. You can also find vanilla-flavored versions of all three
- Amaretto: Substitute amaretto with your favorite chocolate liqueur, hazelnut-flavored Frangelico, or Bailey’s Irish Cream.
- Ground nutmeg: If you want to add to or replace nutmeg to garnish your cocktail, try allspice or pumpkin spice.
Variations
Although eggnog martini is delicious as is, there are endless ways to switch things up to make your drink fun and festive. Here are some of my favorite ways to shake up the classic recipe!
- Add a shot of cold brew or coffee liqueur to give your martini a caffeinated kick.
- Use coconut milk eggnog and coconut rum to create a tropical holiday vibe.
- Add a dash of gingerbread syrup or ginger liqueur for a warm, spiced twist reminiscent of holiday cookies. I like to serve this with gingerbread man cookies. So cute!
- Drizzle in some maple syrup for a little extra richness and sweetness and that brings out the eggnog’s creaminess.
- Top your drink with a toasted marshmallow or add marshmallow vodka for a campfire-inspired version.
Expert Tips
- Use premium ingredients: The key to good cocktails is to use high-quality ingredients because you’ll be able to tell the difference in taste and texture in the final product. Use a good quality eggnog because this is largely what determines the flavor.
- Use a jar: If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, mix and shake your cocktail in a jar with a tight-sealing lid. Mason jars are ideal, but any medium-volume jar will work.
- Serve in chilled glasses: Chilled glasses are best, but it’s not a deal breaker to serve in a room temperature one. Place the empty glass in the freezer for 30 minutes before serving.
- Make-ahead: Make a large batch of eggnog martini up to a day before you need to serve them. Pour the ingredients in a blender, pulse until smooth, then pour in a large pitcher and store, covered in plastic wrap, in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, give the eggnog a good stir, pour into serving glasses (rimmed with cinnamon sugar if preferred), garnish, and serve!
How to Store This Recipe
With an eggnog martini, you mix the drink in a shaker and pour it straight into glasses right before serving, so I doubt there will be any that need to be stored. However, if you made a huge batch ahead, you can place the mixture in an airtight container or pitcher covered in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or 2 days if you used homemade eggnog.
What to Serve with Eggnog Martini
Enjoy an eggnog martini with pretty much anything you would with regular eggnog. Serve them with Christmas cookies and other holiday sweet treats like 3-ingredient fudge, 3-ingredient peanut butter blossoms, pumpkin dump cake, or saltine toffee. If you want a savory pairing, it’s great with brie bites, a salmon quiche, or alongside a cheese platter.
More Holiday Cocktails To Try
- Frozen cranberry margarita
- Vodka cranberry cocktail
- Candy cane martini
If you make this eggnog martini, please leave a review. I really appreciate each and every 5-star rating and review comment!
Easy Eggnog Martini Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 ounces eggnog
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces amaretto liquor
- 1 portion ice
- 2 portions ground nutmeg for garnish
- 2 whole cinnamon sticks for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Add an optional cinnamon sugar rim to the glass by following the note below.
- Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and pour in all the ingredients.
- Shake well for about 20 to 30 seconds.
- Divide and strain into two chilled martini glasses. Dust with ground nutmeg and garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick.
Notes
- You can add an optional cinnamon sugar rim by brushing simple syrup on the rim of the glass or dipping it in a circle of syrup on a plate. Then, dipping the edge in cinnamon sugar. I recommend my friend Susannah’s cinnamon sugar tutorial over at Feast + West for an in-depth step-by-step.
- Use high-quality ingredients because it makes a noticeable difference in the drink’s taste and texture. Use a good quality eggnog as this is largely what determines the flavor.
- If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, mix and shake your cocktail in a jar with a tight-sealing lid.
- Chilled glasses are best, but it’s not a deal breaker to serve in a room temperature one. Place the empty glass in the freezer for 30 minutes before serving.
- Make a large batch of eggnog martini up to a day before you need to serve them. Pour the ingredients in a blender, pulse until smooth, then pour in a large pitcher and store, covered in plastic wrap, in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, give the eggnog a good stir, pour into serving glasses (rimmed with cinnamon sugar if preferred), garnish, and serve!
