Last Updated on November 19, 2025 by Sabrina Currie

Nothing goes better with the movie than National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation eggnog recipe. And it's not officially Christmas until I've watched National Lampoon's Christmas vacation. I love eggnog, and a good homemade eggnog recipe is hard to beat. Make a punch bowl full of this classic Christmas cocktail, pour it into a moose mug and raise a toast to Clark Griswold as you settle in to watch Christmas Vacation with friends or family.

Eggnog in a moose mug with a poinsettia and a bottle of rum behind.

Every December, we cue up National Lampoon's Christmas vacation and then...I get thirsty. I want something rich, creamy, a little boozy, and absolutely worthy of a good old-fashioned family Christmas.

This movie is the perfect occasion for a big punch bowl of eggnog. Between Chevy Chase's determined Christmas spirit, Beverly D'Angelo trying to keep everyone happy, and cousin Eddie emptying the tank in the driveway, this drink is part of the cast.

Serve up some snacks like chips and French onion dip, lobster nachos or yummy steak and tomato crostini.

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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Recipe Ingredients
Substitutions + Variations
Step By Step Instructions
Store Leftovers Safely
'Tis The Season
Pin It For Later
Related Recipes
📖 Recipe
💬 Community

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This eggnog is cooked gently on the stove so the mixture is silky, like a proper custard-style nog. Heating the eggs and dairy over low heat to about 160°F / 71°C pasteurizes the mixture while it thickens, making this a foodsafe recipe.

It is just rich enough with the addition of a little heavy cream and spiced simply with nutmeg and vanilla so the rum can shine without overpowering everything. Enjoy a glass (with or without the rum) during your favorite holiday movie this year.

A clear moose mug full of frothy pale yellow eggnog and a bottle of spiced rum.

Recipe Ingredients

Classic, custardy and simple, this is all about quality dairy, Christmas spices and rich egg yolks. Well, that and the rum 😉

All the ingredients for the recipe on a plain countertop.

Egg yolks - These give the nog its gorgeous yellow color and custardy richness. Use the freshest eggs you can find.
Heavy Whipping Cream - For that classic rich mouthfeel. This is a special, once a year recipe so go all in.
Milk - Whole milk keeps it creamy but not too thick; lower fat milk will make a lighter eggnog.
Cinnamon + Nutmeg - Freshly grated nutmeg is a game changer and together with cinnamon, they provide the signature holiday flavor.
Vanilla Extract - Warm, aromatic, and perfect with nutmeg and rum. If you are making this non-alcoholic, add an extra tablespoon of vanilla to the mix.
Spiced or Dark Rum - Choose your favorite here, either is delicious.
Ice - Use large ice cubes to keep the punch bowl cold without watering things down too quickly. (Smaller ice cubes melt faster)

See recipe card for quantities.

A glass of ice cubes and eggnog garnished with grated nutmeg on top.

Substitutions + Variations

Serving + Garnish - If you like, you can keep the rum beside the eggnog so guests can add their own if they like. Place a glass of cinnamon sticks alongside for stir sticks.
Liqueur Swaps - Use bourbon, brandy or Jack Daniels instead of rum for a deeper, smoky profile. Or split the 250 ml / 1 cup alcohol between half rum and half bourbon for layered flavor.
Non-alcoholic Eggnog - Skip the rum and add an extra tablespoon of vanilla. Serve in fun glasses so kids (and non-drinkers) still feel part of the old-fashioned family Christmas toast.
Dairy Swaps - For a lighter nog, use half-and-half (or half whole milk, half cream).
Egg whites & extra fluff - If you're comfortable using them, you can softly whip the egg whites with a little sugar and fold a spoonful on top of each glass for a frothy, bar-style finish. For food safety, choose pasteurized eggs if you're serving anyone who's pregnant, elderly, very young, or immunocompromised.
Flavor twists - Add a tablespoon or two of maple syrup for a subtle caramel note.

A collage of three eggnog photos on top of a larger photo of a lit up Christmas tree.

Step By Step Instructions

This is a cooked custard-style eggnog, so low heat and patience are key. The goal: gently bring the mixture up to 160°F / 71°C so it's safe, thick, and silky but don't overcook it. A heavy-bottomed pot helps prevent scorching as the custard heats.

Note: Save leftover egg whites in the fridge for meringues, pavlova, or a New Year's whisky sour.

Egg yolks, vanilla extract and sugar in a large pot.

Step 1. In a medium, heavy-bottomed pot, whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until they're thickened, creamy, and a little lighter in color. This helps the sugar dissolve and gives you a smoother custard.

Milk being poured into the pot of egg yolks.

Step 2. Whisk in the cream, milk, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla until everything is well combined and there are no streaks.

The ingredients are whisked together in a large pot and it looks creamy with the grated cinnamon and nutmeg floating on top.

Step 3. Set the pot over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula or whisk, making sure to scrape the bottom and corners of the pan. Watch for the mixture to get steamy and slightly thicker.

It's ready when it lightly coats the back of a spoon or when an instant-read thermometer reads 160°F / 71°C.

The slightly thickened creamy eggnog has a homogenous look now and the spices are evenly blended throughout.

Step 4. Remove from the heat and let it stand for about 20 minutes, whisking occasionally. Then refrigerate until very cold, at least 1-4 hours or overnight. After an hour, cover it with plastic so the top doesn't dry out.

Just before serving, stir in the rum and taste, adjusting the amount to suit your crowd. Or serve the rum alongside for guests to add (or omit) their own.

Frothy and bubbly eggnog in a clear glass moose mug, the same mug that's in the Christmas vacation movie.

Serve, Step 5: Fill a large punch bowl with big ice cubes, then pour in the chilled eggnog. Ladle into glasses, moose mugs if you have them, then sprinkle a little cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg over each serving.

Emergency Fix: If the eggnog accidentally gets a bit too hot and it looks slightly lumpy, take it off the heat right away and pour through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl, whisking as it passes through. Then let it chill until cold.

Store Leftovers Safely

Any leftovers of this eggnog recipe should go back into the fridge within 2 hours and be enjoyed within 2-4 days. Homemade eggnog doesn't freeze well, so keep it chilled and consume promptly.

'Tis The Season

Whether you're stuck in traffic behind a dump truck, talking about a metal plate in someone's head, or driving out to the middle of nowhere to cut down a tree, this comforting mug of traditional eggnog will be waiting for you at home.

And if Uncle Lewis or Uncle Eddie try to be 'helpful', you'll be glad there's a flask of Jack Daniels on the side for emergencies.

Pin It For Later

Save National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation eggnog recipe to Pinterest so it's ready for your next National Lampoon's Christmas vacation viewing party. One batch, a big bowl of popcorn, and you're set for a cozy holiday movie night with the whole Griswold crew.