Name: Eggnog Cookies with Creamy Frosting Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h 32 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled; 2 teaspoons baking powder; ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg; ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon salt; ¾ cup salted sweet cream butter room temperature; ½ cup granulated sugar; ½ cup dark brown sugar packed; 2 extra-large eggs at room temperature; 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon rum extract; ¾ cup eggnog; ½ cup salted sweet cream butter at room temperature; 3 cups powdered sugar; ⅓ cup eggnog; Ground nutmeg optional garnish

There's something utterly magical about holiday treats that instantly bring warmth and nostalgia. These Eggnog Cookies with Creamy Frosting Recipe capture that cozy spirit in every buttery, spiced bite topped with a dreamy frosting. Trust me, it's worth baking a batch just to fill your kitchen with that festive aroma!

The image shows a close-up of several cookies arranged on a white plate with a white marbled surface underneath. Each cookie has one layer of light brown, round, soft-looking base with a smooth texture. On top of this base, there is a thick layer of creamy white frosting, piped in a swirling rose pattern with smooth, velvety texture and slight peaks. The frosting is sprinkled with a light dusting of brown spice powder, adding a touch of contrast. The background is softly blurred, keeping the focus on the cookies in the foreground. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Eggnog Cookies with Creamy Frosting Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Eggnog Cookies with Creamy Frosting Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Eggnog Cookies with Creamy Frosting Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe’s a winner for all those who adore eggnog and want to enjoy its flavors in a soft, delightful cookie form. I love how the spices blend right into the dough alongside real eggnog, making each cookie a nostalgic little celebration.

Perfect Seasonal Flavor: The nutmeg, cinnamon, and rum extract create an authentic eggnog taste that feels like holiday cheer in cookie form.
Creamy, Smooth Frosting: The eggnog frosting isn’t just tasty—it’s wonderfully silky and balances out the spices beautifully.
Easy to Customize: Whether you want to add a dash more spice or swap extracts, this recipe lets you tailor it your way.
Great for Gifting: These cookies look pretty with the piped frosting and a sprinkle of nutmeg—perfect for sharing with friends and family.

A close-up shows a woman's hand holding half of a soft light brown cookie with a visible crumb texture. On top of the cookie is a thick layer of smooth white frosting piped with swirls, sprinkled lightly with small dark specks. In the background, more cookies with the same frosting design sit on a white marbled surface, and blurred containers with light cream contents are visible. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient here plays a special role in making the Eggnog Cookies with Creamy Frosting Recipe come alive. From the flour that creates the soft texture, to the spices that evoke holiday nostalgia, the balance and quality of each item matter a lot.

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl of all-purpose flour, a small white ceramic bowl of granulated sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of dark brown sugar packed, a small white ceramic bowl of powdered sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of eggnog, two whole extra-large brown eggs with clean shells, a few sticks of salted sweet cream butter, a small white ceramic bowl of baking powder, a small white ceramic bowl of ground nutmeg, a small white ceramic bowl of ground cinnamon, a small white ceramic bowl of salt, and a small white ceramic bowl of vanilla and rum extract mixed together, all arranged with perfect symmetry and realistic proportions, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: Forms the sturdy base of the cookie, giving enough structure while keeping them soft.
Baking powder: Helps the cookies rise gently, giving them a light, tender crumb.
Ground nutmeg and cinnamon: Key spices that bring the classic eggnog warmth and flavor to these treats.
Salted butter: Adds richness and moisture, plus a touch of salt to balance the sweetness perfectly.
Granulated and dark brown sugar: The brown sugar deepens the flavor and adds chewiness, while granulated sugar adds just the right amount of crispness.
Extra-large eggs: Bind everything together and add moisture for a soft cookie.
Vanilla and rum extract: These extracts enhance the eggnog flavor making it taste authentic and festive.
Eggnog: The star ingredient, giving the dough its unique flavor and tenderness.
Powdered sugar (for frosting): Essential for the smooth, creamy frosting texture.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about this Eggnog Cookies with Creamy Frosting Recipe is how easy it is to tweak it to your personal tastes. Whether you prefer a stronger spice kick or want to swap rum extract for bourbon extract, it’s all fair game.

Variation: I’ve tried adding a handful of finely chopped pecans to the dough once, and it gave a lovely crunch that paired well with the soft cookie and creamy frosting.
Dairy-Free Twist: You can easily swap butter for a vegan alternative and use non-dairy eggnog to make this friendly for dairy-free diets.
Extra Spice: If you like your cookies to pack more punch, add ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves or increase cinnamon to ¾ teaspoon.
Alcohol-Free: Simply omit the rum extract or replace with more vanilla extract for a kid-friendly version.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Eggnog Cookies with Creamy Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Whisk the Dry Mix

Start by combining the all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisking these together ensures the spices are evenly distributed, so every cookie gets a consistent warm flavor. This pre-mixing step helps avoid clumps and sets you up for success.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars

Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat your softened salted butter for 30-45 seconds until smooth. Then add granulated and dark brown sugars and beat for another 1 to 1½ minutes to get a nice fluffy mixture. This process incorporates air for that light cookie texture and evenly blends sweetness.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Extracts

Lower mixer speed to medium-low and add eggs one at a time, mixing until just incorporated—no yellow streaks remaining. Then add vanilla and rum extract just until combined. These steps are key to making sure you don’t overmix, which can make cookies tough.

Step 4: Alternate Flour and Eggnog

Add the flour mixture and eggnog alternately, about 1 cup of flour followed by a splash of eggnog, mixing gently each time until smooth. This method keeps your dough tender and ensures the eggnog flavor shines through without making the dough too wet. Once combined, cover and chill for at least one hour; this resting time intensifies that rich eggnog taste.

Step 5: Bake Until Golden

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a 1½-tablespoon cookie scoop, portion out dough balls onto the sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn golden brown. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for a couple minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Patience here helps the cookies set perfectly.

Step 6: Whip Up That Creamy Frosting

Beat your softened butter for about 45 seconds to 1 minute until smooth, then alternate adding powdered sugar and eggnog on low speed until frosting is silky and creamy. This frosting is luscious but not too sweet—perfect for complementing the spiced cookie base.

Step 7: Frost and Garnish

Spoon the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a star tip (I like Wilton tip 1M) or use a ziplock bag with a corner snipped off. Pipe onto cooled cookies using gentle steady pressure to get pretty swirls. Finish with a light dusting of ground nutmeg for that final festive touch.

Top Tip

Through my many holiday bake sessions, I learned some handy tips that really make the Eggnog Cookies with Creamy Frosting Recipe stand out. These little details ensured my cookies were always soft, flavorful, and beautifully finished.

Chill the Dough: Don’t skip the chilling step! It not only develops flavor but also keeps the dough from spreading too much in the oven.
Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure butter and eggs are at room temp for best mixing results and smooth texture.
Gentle Mixing: Mix flour and eggnog alternately on low speed to avoid tough cookies.
Use a Cookie Scoop: It’s the easiest way to get uniform cookies that bake evenly.

How to Serve Eggnog Cookies with Creamy Frosting Recipe

Garnishes

I always keep things simple with a sprinkle of fresh ground nutmeg on top of the frosting—just enough to hint at the spiced goodness without overpowering the sweetness. Sometimes I add a tiny pinch of cinnamon sugar if I’m feeling fancy. It’s these little touches that make each cookie feel special.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a warm cup of chai tea or rich hot chocolate. I’ve even served them alongside eggnog spiked with a splash of bourbon for a full-on festive indulgence that guests loved.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I like arranging these frosted gems on a tiered dessert stand, garnished with cinnamon sticks and fresh pine sprigs for a rustic festive vibe. Wrapping a few in parchment tied with twine makes for charming homemade gifts too!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Any leftover cookies I store in an airtight container in the refrigerator, especially with the creamy frosting, which stays fresh this way for up to 5 days. Just letting them come to room temperature before serving makes them taste freshly baked again.

Freezing

I’ve frozen these cookies both frosted and unfrosted. If freezing frosted, I place them in a single layer on a baking sheet first, freeze solid, then transfer them to a sealed container. They keep beautifully for up to 3 months. Just thaw them overnight in the fridge before enjoying.

Reheating

For a bit of warmth, I pop an unfrosted cookie in the oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes, then frost right before serving. Warming frosted cookies isn’t recommended as the frosting melts, but for unfrosted, it brings out that fresh-baked feel instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use homemade eggnog for this recipe?

Absolutely! Homemade eggnog works beautifully and can even add a richer, more personalized flavor to your cookies. Just measure it the same way as store-bought eggnog.

Why do I need to chill the cookie dough?

Chilling the dough firms it up, which helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking. It also gives the flavors time to develop, making the eggnog and spices taste more intense.

Can I make these cookies dairy-free?

Yes! You can substitute the butter with a plant-based alternative and use non-dairy eggnog options such as almond or oat-based eggnog. The texture and flavor will be slightly different but still delicious.

How long do these cookies stay fresh?

When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, these cookies stay fresh for up to 5 days. At room temperature, they’re best enjoyed within 3 days to maintain the frosting’s quality.

Final Thoughts

This Eggnog Cookies with Creamy Frosting Recipe brings me back to cozy winter nights baking with loved ones. The way the flavors meld into soft, festive cookies topped with luscious frosting feels like sharing a bit of holiday magic. I truly hope you’ll give these a try and enjoy every comforting bite as much as I do—your kitchen will thank you for filling it with such a happy, fragrant treat.