Eggnog Cookies Iced with Eggnog Buttercream {+VIDEO}

For all you eggnog lovers out there, I’m about to make your dreams come true with these Eggnog Cookies with Eggnog Buttercream! A great choice for any holiday cookie exchange, the deliciously soft spice cookie infused with eggnog and spiked with a touch of rum is always a cookie tray favorite!

Eggnog Cookies Should Be On Your Holiday Cookie Tray

This holiday iced eggnog cookie recipe is sure to be a hit at your next cookie exchange! A soft cookie with buttercream icing, a sprinkle of nutmeg, a little rum (totally optional) all infused with the creamy, rich flavor of eggnog!

Trust me, you’ll be thanking me for years to come for this cookie recipe. I’m always asked to bring these eggnog cookies to a cookie exchange, so I know everyone loves them as much as we do!

While I enjoy a little rum with my eggnog, you can certainly leave it out of these eggnog cookies, or replace it with rum extract.

Even if you’re not a fan of eggnog, I think you’ll enjoy these eggnog cookies.  They reminded us of snickerdoodles!

My favorite assortment of cookies for a holiday tray include; Eggnog Cookies, Cutout Butter Cookies, a classic Chocolate Chip Cookie, Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies, Soft-Baked Chrismas Sprinkle Cookies, Peanut Butter Blowout Cookies, Rum Balls and so much more! I may even make a batch of White Chocolate Christmas Fudge or Grandma’s Peanut Butter and Chocolate Fudge to add to the cookie plates!

What You Need To Make Eggnog Cookies

• all-purpose flour – you can use white flour or unbleached. Unbleached flour is simply not as white as bleached.
• baking powder – make sure it’s fresh (check the expiration date), it’s going to help your cookies rise.
• nutmeg and cinnamon – these warm classic spices are a must with eggnog
• granulated sugar and powdered sugar – you are going to need granulated sugar for the cookies and powdered sugar for the spiked eggnog buttercream
• butter, slightly softened – be sure to use real butter, not margarine. When you’re baking, butter trump margarine every time. Margarine contains more water and less fat and will yield thin cookies
• egg yolks – they give the cookies extra-rich flavor.
• vanilla extract – the smooth flavor of vanilla complements the rum and spices
• eggnog – you should be able to find eggnog in cartons (like cream/milk) in most grocery stores, you want to use the full-fat version.
• spiced or dark rum (or rum extract) – it adds a sweetness that contrasts the drink’s eggy flavor.

How To Make Eggnog Cookies

(full printable recipe at the end of this post)

1. Preheat oven to 300°F, line baking sheets with parchment paper. Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl and set aside.
2. In another mixing bowl, using an electric mixer whip granulated sugar and softened butter together until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks and vanilla to the mixture and beat until smooth.
3. Next, add the eggnog and rum and mix on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Slowly add the flour mixture to the eggnog/sugar mixture until completely combined, but be careful not to over-mix.
4. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a prepared cookie sheet and bake for 20-22 minutes. Remove immediately, sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg and move to a cooling rack.

How To Make Spiked Eggnog Buttercream

In a small mixing bowl, beat powdered sugar and butter with an electric mixer until well blended.
Gradually add in eggnog and rum and continue mixing until icing is smooth.

When cookies have completely cooled, frost with eggnog buttercream, and sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg if desired.

What Does Eggnog Taste Like?

If you’ve never had eggnog you might be wondering what it tastes like. I mean, after all, it’s a cold drink that includes eggs…… but doesn’t have an eggy taste.

Eggnog has a sweet flavor similar to melted frozen custard. It’s rich and creamy with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg.

It’s truly like nothing else and you should definitely give it a try yourself. Eggnog is typically served with alcohol, but you can serve or buy a non-alcoholic version. The non-alcoholic versions are typically sold in grocery stores.

There’s no end to what you can do with this official ingredient of Christmas…….eggnog. The super-rich nutmeg-flavored cream makes a wonderful addition to all sorts of recipes, like eggnog cookies, eggnog buttercream,  No Yeast Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls, Eggnog Banana Bread Muffins, Baked Egg Nog Pumpkin French Toast, even eggnog iced coffee during the holidays.

How To Store and Freeze Eggnog Cookies

Storing baked cookies: Eggnog Cookies should remain soft and fresh for 7 days in an airtight container at room temperature.

Freezing unbaked cookies: You can freeze cookie dough balls. Place the eggnog cookie dough balls on a baking sheet that will fit in your freezer and freeze until solid. Once the dough is frozen, transfer the balls to an airtight container or freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you are ready to bake, remove the balls from the freezer, let sit for 30 minutes before preheating the oven.

Freezing baked eggnog cookies: You can freeze the baked cookies without frosting. Simply transfer completely cooled cookies to an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and frost the next day and they are ready to serve.

Originally posted Dec 2011. UPDATED Dec 2020. We spiffed up this post with more info and better pictures! No changes to the original recipe.