Our best eggnog recipe comes from the grandmother of Don’s friend Tonja, cousin of Tony’s boyfriend (yes, really).

Some people are protective about themselves family recipesThey keep their ancestral secrets close to the vest, hiding them in boxes or scrapbooks. Others…not so much. Take Tony’s boyfriend, for example.

Let me explain: Don submitted the eggnog recipe to AllRecipes 17 years ago. She got the recipe from her friend Tonja, who got it from her cousin Toni, who got it from her boyfriend’s grandmother. Since Tonja was born in the 1940s, Don assumed that This eggnog recipe Originated in the 1800s (or even earlier).

We caught up with Don to learn more about Tonja, Tony, Tony’s boyfriend, her grandmother, and her prized eggnog recipe. At the time of publishing, we haven’t responded—but we’ll be sure to let you know if we do.

Meanwhile, senior culinary producer Nicole McLaughlin (aka NicoleMcMom) made eggnog to see what all the fuss was about.

“You can’t get it from a carton,” he grumbled.

However, fair warning: Nicole was a little surprised (and impressed) by the amount of alcohol required in this recipe.

“Grandma liked a kick,” she said. “I’m going to be like Cousin Eddie after this.”

How to Make Don’s Friend Tonja’s Cousin Tony’s Boyfriend’s Grandmother’s Eggnog

Although making this traditional eggnog recipe isn’t as easy as opening a carton, it’s still quite simple: Beat eggs and sugar together, then stir in. half – halfWine, and nutmeg. Whip the cream in a chilled bowl until stiff peaks form, add it to the egg mixture and refrigerate overnight. That’s it! Here are some more tips that will set you up for success:

• According to Don, the original recipe calls for half milk and half cream, but he simplifies the process by using store-bought half and half.
• Make sure the bowl you are using to whip the cream is cold. If the bowl is too hot, the fat melts and the air escapes, resulting in an unstable whipped cream that is never light and fluffy.
• You can use anything labeled “straight bourbonThere’s no need to spend money on a top-shelf bottle. As far as rum goes, opt for something spicy and dark.

What the Allrecipes community has to say

• According to Jamcook, “This eggnog recipe is awesome.” “I made an alcoholic batch and a (non-alcoholic) batch – there wasn’t a drop left at the end of our evening.”
• “Simple and delicious,” enthuses Faith04. “I added vanilla extractAbout 1 teaspoon.”
• “This sounds exactly like the recipe my Aunt Shirley used to make, but wouldn’t give us the recipe for,” says nanarox07. “Hers was the best!”