Description
Celebrate the season with these buttery Eggnog Cutout Cookies topped with a velvety eggnog buttercream that melts in your mouth. Each bite tastes like a sip of holiday cheer — warm spices, rich brown sugar, and that unmistakable eggnog flavor. Finish with a dusting of sprinkles for a cookie that looks (and tastes) straight out of a Christmas movie.
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 1 ¼ cups (2 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 4 large egg yolks
- ¼ cup eggnog
- 1 tablespoon spiced rum (or 1 teaspoon rum extract)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- A small pinch of allspice
For the Frosting
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons spiced rum (or ¼ teaspoon rum extract)
- 2 tablespoons eggnog
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- A pinch of cinnamon
For Decorating
- Extra flour (for rolling out dough)
- Festive sprinkles of your choice
Instructions
Make the Cookie Dough
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Cream the butter: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and pale, about 2 minutes.
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Add sugar: Pour in the brown sugar and continue beating for another minute until fluffy and light.
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Mix in wet ingredients: Reduce the speed to low and add the egg yolks one at a time. Then pour in the eggnog and rum (or extract) and mix just until everything is combined.
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Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice.
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Bring the dough together: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients while mixing on low speed. Mix until a soft dough forms. Scrape the bowl and mix briefly again to ensure everything is incorporated.
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Chill: Divide the dough in half, flatten each piece into a disc, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about 2 hours or until firm enough to roll.
Make the Frosting
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Beat the butter: In a clean mixing bowl, beat butter until smooth and creamy.
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Add sugar and flavorings: Gradually mix in powdered sugar. Then add rum (or rum extract), eggnog, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
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Whip until smooth: Beat for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy. If the frosting seems too thick, add a teaspoon of milk or more eggnog until you reach a spreadable consistency.
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Set aside: Keep the frosting at room temperature while baking the cookies.
Bake the Cookies
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Preheat oven: Set your oven to 325°F (163°C) and position the rack in the upper third. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
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Roll the dough: Lightly flour your counter. Place half the chilled dough on the surface and roll to about ¼ inch thick.
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Cut shapes: Use your favorite cookie cutters (stars, trees, bells—whatever screams “holidays!”) and transfer shapes to the prepared baking sheets. The cookies spread very little, so you can space them about ½ inch apart.
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Bake: Bake one sheet at a time for 12 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden and the tops are just turning a pale tan.
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Repeat: Gather and re-roll the dough scraps as needed—you can reuse them several times without affecting texture.
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Cool: Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Frost and Decorate
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Once cookies are completely cool, spread or pipe the frosting generously on top.
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If the frosting stiffens while you work, whisk in a touch of milk or eggnog to loosen it up.
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Before the frosting sets, shower each cookie with colorful holiday sprinkles.
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Allow frosting to firm up before stacking or storing.
Notes
- Storage Tips
- Room temperature: Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerated: Store up to 5 days if your kitchen runs warm. Bring to room temp before serving.
- Freezer-friendly: Freeze unfrosted cookies for up to 3 months; thaw and frost later for fresh holiday flavor.
- Baker’s Notes
- Freshly grated nutmeg makes all the difference—trust me.
- Don’t skip chilling the dough! It helps your cookies keep their shape.
- These cookies are rich but not overly sweet, so the frosting shines without being cloying.
🎄 These Eggnog Cookies with Eggnog Frosting are like Christmas in cookie form—spiced, buttery, and impossible to eat just one. So go ahead, pour yourself a glass of eggnog, turn up the carols, and bake up a batch of these festive favorites!