Eggnog recipes: Favorite ways to bake with eggnog

Are you still casting about for Christmas breakfast ideas? How about dessert? Baking one of these eggnog recipes is a great way to share the Christmas spirit(s).

After all, what's eggnog? The homemade version includes eggs, cream, sugar, and the spirit of your choice: rum, brandy, or whiskey. Store-bought eggnog, which I suspect is what 90 percent of us quaff, includes basically the same ingredients — sans the liquor.

Eggs/cream/sugar: prime baking ingredients. You buy your carton of eggnog, have a few glasses of it — but soon run out of celebratory occasions. And there sit the eggs/cream/sugar, just waiting to be used.

Make one (or all) of these eggnog recipes, and the only toast around the table will be a salute to the day — and the delicious meal you've just produced.

Easy Holiday Eggnog Muffins

What could be simpler? This basic vanilla muffin recipe substitutes eggnog for the milk or cream you'd usually use. High-rising and topped with crunchy/crumbly streusel, you can have a dozen of these muffins on the table in just about 30 minutes. Or bake them the day before, and rewarm in the morning.

Get the recipe: Easy Holiday Eggnog Muffins

Tip: Make the streusel first, then transfer it to a piece of parchment or wax paper, and use the same bowl to make the batter. Less cleanup!

Cinnamon-Eggnog Scones

The number-one baked good that I make for our post-church gatherings on Sunday? Scones. And these scones were a huge hit when I recently brought them for folks to sample. My fellow parishioners have always loved Fresh Apple Scones; but eggnog scones reached, or maybe even exceeded, that same level of enthusiasm.

Get the recipe: Cinnamon-Eggnog Scones

Tip: Make these up to the point of baking several days ahead, then freeze. Thaw overnight in the fridge, and bake fresh in the morning.

French Toast made with eggnog

How about French toast? Our favorite decadent version substitutes eggnog for the cream or milk you'd typically use in your soaker. The result? French toast that's much richer, a tiny bit sweeter — and will have everyone clamoring for more. I love using our English Muffin Toasting Bread for this recipe; a quick batter-type bread, its open texture is perfect for absorbing the eggnog soaker.

Get the recipe: French Toast

Tip: Keep finished slices warm in a 200°F oven while you finish cooking enough for everyone.

Eggnog Cheesecake

Eggnog’s rich flavors are an excellent match for the tangy creaminess of this celebratory holiday cheesecake. Make it the day before so it's ready whenever you (and your guests) are. It's like a cold glass of eggnog, in sliceable, shareable form. 

Get the recipe: Eggnog Cheesecake

Tip: This cheesecake gets much of its eggnog flavor from nutmeg, so be sure to use a high-quality spice for the best flavor.

Eggnog Rum Balls

This fresh take on classic no-bake rum balls uses lightly spiced cookies and gets a mixologist’s touch with rum, brandy, and eggnog. Rolled in cookie crumbs for pleasing crunch outside, they contain a sweet surprise inside: a tangy rum- and eggnog-scented cream cheese filling.

Get the recipe: Eggnog Rum Balls

Tip: A tablespoon cookie scoop makes the shaping and filling process much easier, plus it ensures all the rum balls are uniform in shape and size. 

The Christmas countdown is in full swing — what's on your breakfast menu Christmas morning? Please share in "comments," below.