Christmas Drinks Challenge

As you all know I love experimenting with food and drinks and seeing what wonderful twists I can put on the traditional. 

Waitrose Cellar recently got in contact with a fun Christmas project, the challenge to see what I could do with the traditional Christmas drink, Eggnog. 

Now before you turn away from the screen thinking that Eggnog is for your granny read on and I might just surprise you. 

Being pregnant I haven't had a drink for well over nine months and I can't really say I have missed it. As the birth of our little one approaches and the festive period arrives however, I have been thinking up some great Christmas drinks I could share, so that you can have the fun of making them at home. 

What on earth is Eggnog?

• Eggnog has a traditional base of cream, sugar, eggs, an alcoholic spirit and spice (the alcohol and spice you add is up to you). How to make Eggnog
• It originated in East Anglia in the UK and not the USA which is a common misconception as it only travelled there in the 18th Century
• People all around the world create their own versions of this pudding like drink – there are no real rules

In this post I'm going to share with you two wonderful Eggnog creations, both using different spirits: 

• Hot Chocolate Orange Eggnog 
• Portly Santa's White Beard Eggnog

As the nights draw in, nothing beats curling up on the sofa in Christmas pyjama's of course, a cosy blanket and a warm indulgent drink.  

Hot Chocolate Orange Eggnog

Ingredients (serves 6)
2 large eggs (separated)

25g caster sugar 

100ml rum (Havana Club)

150ml whipping cream
200ml whole milk 

15 heaped teaspoons of Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate 

To decorate:

Nutmeg

15 Marshmallows 

24 mini chocolate brownies

Grated Terry's Chocolate Orange 

Method: 

1. Whisk the caster sugar and egg yolks together for a few minutes until they appear fluffy, light

and pale. You might find using an electric whisk easier. 

2. Gradually add in the Havana Club Rum a little at a time 

3. In a separate bowl, whisk the two egg whites until they form soft peaks. 

4. Fold your first mixture into the whites very gradually. 

5. Finally, whip the cream (until it just holds its shape) then fold into the mixture too. 

6. Pour 200mls of milk in a saucepan and your eggnog mixture, gently heat, add in the Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate, stirring continuously. 

7. Ladle into six glasses 

8. Dust each glass with nutmeg, decorate with three marshmallows (if you can get festive ones all the better), add four mini chocolate brownies and 

garnish with as much Terry's Chocolate Orange as you like.

NB. Both recipes contains raw eggs, so it is not suitable for for pregnant women, the elderly and those with weak immune systems.

Portly Santa's White Beard Eggnog

Ingredients (serves 6)

2 large eggs (separated)

25g caster sugar 

100ml Port (Warre's Port) 

200ml whole milk 

150ml whipping cream

To decorate:

Nutmeg

Mini Meringue 
Fruity pink shimmer sugar
Gold curls 
Chocolate stars 
Cinnamon Sticks   

Method: 

1. Whisk the caster sugar and egg yolks together for a few minutes until they appear fluffy, light

and pale. You might find using an electric whisk easier. 

2. Gradually add in the Warre's Port a little at a time, then whisk in the milk a little at a time. (The mixture might separate if left, so might need to be whisked again). 

3. In a separate bowl, whisk the two egg whites until they form soft peaks. 

4. Fold your first mixture into the whites very gradually. 

5. Finally, whip the cream (until it just holds its shape) then fold into the mixture too. 

7. Ladle into six glasses 

8. Dust each glass with nutmeg, decorate with four meringues and garnish with as much shimmer sugar, gold curls and chocolate stars as you like. Top the glass off with a cinnamon stick. 

Even though I couldn't personally enjoy my creations I had no shortage of friends and family who jumped at the chance. The feedback was surprisingly good with some wanting more alcohol and others wanting more chocolate.

If you could make your own Christmas Eggnog creation what would it contain? 

Christmas Eve is National Eggnog Day so the gauntlet has been set share your Eggnog creations with me via Twitter and Istagram (#FFEggnog) and remember there are no limits only your imagination. 

*Thank you very much Waitrose for involving me in this fun Christmas challenge. My ingredients were complimentary for the purposes of making the drinks, but as always I only share things I love. Santa's little helpers kindly gave their time for free.