The moment November turns to December — and maybe even before — grocery stores everywhere somehow find space for one more item in the dairy case: eggnog, the thick, sweet, love-it-or-hate-it beverage of the holidays.

Whether you buy it or make it (fancy pants), you’re bound to have some left over; a little eggnog goes a long way. And if you fall in the “love it” camp, you’re in luck: There are a lot of ways to use up your ’nog.

Reader support makes our work possible. Donate today to keep our site free. All donations DOUBLED!
eggnog glasses

Food52 / Mark Weinberg

  • An oldie but a goodie: Splash it into your morning coffee. And your afternoon coffee (spiked).
  • Any leftover rice would welcome eggnog as the start of rice pudding.
  • Just a couple of tablespoons left? Dribble it into powdered sugar and whisk with a fork to make a glaze for cinnamon rolls or a quick bread.
  • Add eggnog to pancake or waffle batter — or to the custard for French toast. Don’t forget to grate a little nutmeg over the finished product.
What if this had eggnog in it?

What if this had eggnog in it?Food52 / James Ransom

  • Use it instead of milk in a pound cake or coffee cake. You may want to slightly decrease the amount of sugar you use.
  • HalfPint recommends adding a bit of gelatin to turn it into a panna cotta or pudding. She also recommends making ice pops out of it!
  • And now that she mentions it, an eggnog crème brûlée or flan would work pretty wonderfully, too.
  • Make a wintry bread pudding, like Naina Lal does, with cranberries, orange zest, and nutmeg.
  • Use it as the base for a creamy, rich ice cream! (Now close your eyes and imagine it next to a slice of pie.)
  • Freeze it in ice cube trays — and add to your iced coffee.