12 Days of Christmas Cookies: #2 Eggnog Cookies

(This recipe is a repost from The List.)

'Tis the season! Break out the punch bowl...or, in this case, the cookies.

This is a tweaked and much-improved version of a recipe I improvised at Mumma's house last Christmas. This time around, I used finely ground Nilla Wafers instead of graham crackers, and I cut way back on the nutmeg.

The original cookies were good, but the graham crackers distracted from the vanilla and butter flavors I wanted to highlight, and 2 tablespoons of nutmeg were just too much. (With this potential side effect, what was I thinking?)

As far as I know, there is no eggnog extract, and store-bought eggnog alone isn't enough to impart the right amount of eggnogginess. (Update: See here.) I use a small shortcut to capture the rich, smooth, calorie-laden flavor I want: butterscotch. Melt a mere 1/4 cup of butterscotch chips and add it to wet ingredients that include (surprise!) store-bought eggnog, vanilla and rum extracts, an egg yolk, and nutmeg, and you've got yourself a super shot of flavor. (If you've got rum on hand, feel free to use it to replace or supplement the rum extract.)

To finish these cookies off, I give the dough balls a quick glaze of eggnog before baking.

Makes 3 1/2 dozen cookies. (To see this recipe in process, check out Picturing Eggnog Cookies.)

Creamables	2 stick butter 2 cups dark brown sugar 1/4 cup white sugar
Wet Ingredients	1/4 cup butterscotch chips, melted 1/4 cup store-bought eggnog 1 egg yolk 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 1 1/2 teaspoons rum extract 1 teaspoon nutmeg
Dry Ingredients	3 cups oatmeal 1 1/2 cups flour 1 cup finely ground Nilla Wafer cookies 2 teaspoons nutmeg 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt
Glaze	store-bought eggnog

1. In a small bowl, heat the butterscotch chips and eggnog in the microwave in 20-second increments until the chips melt. Stir to combine the melted chips and eggnog, and set aside to cool until Step 4.
2. Preheat oven to 350º.
3. In your Kitchen Aid or a large mixing bowl, cream together the creamables.
4. Add the egg yolk, vanilla and rum extracts, and nutmeg to the cooled butterscotch-eggnog mixture. Whisk together until smooth.
5. Add the combined wet ingredients to the creamables. Mix together until well incorporated.
6. In a large mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients. Using a spatula, fold together until evenly distributed.
7. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the combined creamables and wet ingredients. Mix until evenly combined.
8. Shape dough into balls--about 2 tablespoons each.
9. Place the  dough balls about 2 inches apart on Silpat- or parchment paper-lined cookie sheets.
10. Glaze each dough ball with a small amount of eggnog.
    
11. Bake at 350º for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let stand for 2 minutes. Then place cookies on wire racks to cool.

Comments

[Em]

There is eggnog coffee syrup, which I have, and use when I make these....about to make a batch now!