25 Best Eggnog Dessert Recipes for Christmas

These soft, cake-like cookies combine eggnog, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of rum extract for a classic holiday flavor. The dough is dropped by spoonfuls onto baking sheets, so there's no chilling or rolling required. Once baked and cooled, each cookie gets a generous layer of homemade eggnog frosting. They're a great addition to Christmas cookie exchanges and holiday dessert trays.

One batter does all the work in this unusual cake, baking into three distinct layers: a thin crust, a custard center, and a cake-like top. Prepared eggnog, dark rum, and vanilla give it its holiday flavor, while whipped egg whites help create the layers. Once cooled, it's finished with powdered sugar and nutmeg. It's a fun choice for a Christmas dessert table when you want something different from a traditional cake.

No oven is needed for this easy pie made with eggnog, vanilla instant pudding, whipped topping, and a graham cracker crust. The filling is mixed together and refrigerated for at least four hours to set. Extra whipped topping and a sprinkle of nutmeg finish each slice. With minimal hands-on preparation, it's a convenient addition to your Christmas dessert menu.

These bite-sized Christmas candies combine real eggnog, white chocolate, marshmallow cream, rum extract, and nutmeg. The mixture is cooked, chilled, rolled into balls, and dipped in melted white chocolate. A sprinkle of nutmeg adds the finishing touch. They can be refrigerated for up to a week, making them a great option for holiday candy trays, cookie exchanges, or homemade gifts.

This three-layer Christmas cake features eggnog and nutmeg in the cake batter, along with a homemade eggnog buttercream frosting. Each layer is baked separately, stacked with frosting, and covered with more buttercream. Fresh or candied cranberries and rosemary sprigs add a festive finishing touch. Serving 16, it's a beautiful centerpiece for a Christmas party or large family gathering.

Eggnog goes into both the vanilla-nutmeg cupcake batter and the buttercream frosting, giving these Christmas cupcakes plenty of seasonal flavor. After baking and cooling, they're topped with frosting flavored with nutmeg and optional rum extract. A sprinkle of nutmeg and a cinnamon stick make a festive finishing touch. The unfrosted cupcakes can be prepared a day or two ahead, which helps when planning your holiday baking.

Layers of gingersnap cookies, fresh raspberries, and eggnog cheesecake pudding make this no-bake trifle a colorful Christmas party dessert. The pudding combines eggnog, cream cheese, instant pudding mix, whipped topping, rum extract, and nutmeg. Gingerbread cookies arranged around the glass bowl add a fun decorative detail. It can be assembled a day in advance and is large enough to serve a crowd.

This easy quick bread is flavored with eggnog, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and rum extract. After it bakes in a loaf pan, a sweet homemade eggnog glaze is drizzled over the cooled bread. It works equally well as a Christmas breakfast treat or a holiday dessert. The recipe can be made ahead and is great for homemade holiday gifts.

This no-bake cheesecake pairs a buttery graham cracker crust with a filling made from eggnog, cream cheese, instant vanilla pudding, and whipped cream. Nutmeg and cinnamon add warm holiday spices, with rum as an optional addition. The cheesecake is refrigerated until set, preferably overnight. It's a convenient make-ahead Christmas dessert that won't take up valuable oven space.

This traditional-style custard pie combines eggnog, eggs, nutmeg, vanilla, and brandy or rum in a deep-dish pie crust. The crust is brushed with beaten egg white before the filling is added, then baked until the custard sets. Whipped cream and an extra sprinkle of nutmeg make simple finishing touches. It's a lovely alternative to classic holiday pies for Christmas dinner or family gatherings.

This eggnog pound cake is baked in a Bundt pan with nutmeg and vanilla, then finished with a buttery rum sauce. Small holes are poked in the warm cake so the sauce can soak through before a dusting of powdered sugar. It uses real eggnog in the batter and makes 16 servings. The combination of a classic pound cake and rum glaze makes it a festive choice for a Christmas dessert spread.

These snickerdoodles put a holiday spin on the classic by mixing eggnog into the dough and rolling each cookie in sugar and nutmeg. They bake up thick and soft with a lightly spiced coating. With a quick dough and short baking time, they're a simple option for Christmas cookie trays. The cookies also freeze well, so you can prepare a batch ahead of the holiday rush.

This easy poke cake starts with a white or yellow boxed cake mix, then gets filled with instant vanilla pudding made with real eggnog and pumpkin pie spice. Holes are poked in the baked cake so the pudding settles into every slice. Whipped cream and crumbled vanilla wafers add the finishing layer. You can bake and fill it the day before your Christmas party, then add the toppings just before serving.

This homemade eggnog pudding is made on the stovetop with eggnog, egg yolks, cornstarch, sugar, and cinnamon. The mixture is whisked until thick, then refrigerated until set. Serve it in individual glasses with cinnamon whipped cream for a simple Christmas dessert. It takes about 15 minutes of hands-on preparation, although it needs additional time to chill before serving.

These Christmas cupcakes feature eggnog in the cake batter, a bourbon-infused soak, and homemade buttercream frosting. After baking, the cupcakes are brushed with the eggnog and bourbon mixture, then topped with frosting and a sprinkle of nutmeg. Mini snowflake cookies make a playful decoration for holiday parties. The bourbon is optional, so you can also prepare these cupcakes without alcohol.

These buttery melt-away cookies get their holiday flavor from real eggnog, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and a little rum extract. Cornstarch in the dough gives them their delicate texture, while a coating of powdered sugar provides a snowy finish. The dough is rolled into small balls and baked without any chilling. They're a convenient choice for Christmas cookie plates, and the finished cookies can be frozen for later.

These gingerbread thumbprint cookies feature a molasses-spiced cookie base filled with white chocolate ganache made with eggnog. The dough is chilled, rolled in sugar, and baked with an indentation for the filling. Ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves give the cookies their classic gingerbread flavor. The white chocolate centers make them a pretty addition to Christmas cookie boxes or homemade holiday gifts.

This eggnog coffee cake combines a simple batter made with eggnog and sour cream with a thick cinnamon-brown sugar crumb topping. Once baked, it's finished with a drizzle of homemade eggnog glaze. It's a versatile holiday sweet that works for Christmas morning or as an after-dinner dessert. You can bake it ahead and reheat it, which is especially handy during the busy holiday season.

These eggnog bars have a dense, brownie-like texture thanks to melted white chocolate and a batter flavored with eggnog, cinnamon, and nutmeg. After baking, a sweet eggnog glaze is spread over the warm bars and allowed to soak in. They come together without a mixer and need a couple of hours to set before slicing. Cut them into squares for a Christmas dessert platter or holiday cookie exchange.

This four-ingredient dessert dip combines instant vanilla pudding, prepared eggnog, whipped topping, and a pinch of nutmeg. Everything is mixed together and refrigerated until thick, with optional holiday sprinkles for serving. Set it out with gingersnaps, graham crackers, or pretzels for an easy sweet snack. With about five minutes of hands-on preparation, it's a practical choice for Christmas parties and family gatherings.

This elegant Christmas dessert combines eggnog, heavy cream, egg yolks, sugar, and nutmeg to create a smooth baked custard. Each individual serving is topped with a layer of caramelized sugar that adds a satisfying crunch. Despite its impressive appearance, the recipe uses just five ingredients and can be prepared in advance. Simply caramelize the sugar topping before serving for a special finish to Christmas dinner.

These homemade cinnamon rolls feature a sweet yeast dough made with eggnog and a buttery brown sugar and cinnamon filling. After baking, they're covered with a vanilla and white chocolate frosting that also contains eggnog. Rapid-rise yeast helps simplify the preparation, and the assembled rolls can be refrigerated overnight before baking. They're a wonderful addition to Christmas morning breakfast or a sweet holiday brunch.

This homemade eggnog ice cream uses a simple mixture of prepared eggnog, half-and-half, sugar, vanilla, and freshly grated nutmeg. The ingredients are whisked together and churned in an ice cream maker without preparing a cooked custard base. Enjoy it immediately as soft-serve ice cream or freeze it longer for a firmer consistency. It's an easy way to use leftover eggnog and makes a refreshing addition to your Christmas dessert selection.

These bite-sized cream puffs feature golden choux pastry shells filled with whipped eggnog pastry cream. The homemade filling combines real eggnog, vanilla, nutmeg, and a cooked custard that is folded together with whipped cream. The pastry shells and filling can be prepared separately ahead of time, then assembled shortly before serving. They make an elegant finger food dessert for Christmas parties and holiday gatherings.

This homemade Bundt cake combines real eggnog, dark rum, cinnamon, and nutmeg for a classic Christmas flavor. The buttery cake is baked until golden, then cooled and drizzled with a sweet glaze made from eggnog, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. The glaze adds extra eggnog flavor without the need for frosting or elaborate decorating. With 12 slices, it's a lovely dessert for Christmas dinner.