Name: Eggnog Cookies with Frosting Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter (softened); 1 cup granulated sugar; ⅓ cup light brown sugar (firmly packed); 1 large egg (room temperature preferred); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ¼ cup eggnog; 3 ⅓ cups cake flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon; ¼ teaspoon nutmeg; ¾ teaspoon table salt; 3 cups powdered sugar (if sifting, sift after measuring); 6 tablespoons eggnog

If you’re a fan of cozy holiday flavors and want a cookie that practically sings “comfort and cheer,” I’ve got just the thing for you. This Eggnog Cookies with Frosting Recipe is hands down one of my favorites – tender, lightly spiced, and drizzled with a simple eggnog glaze that takes them over the top. When I first tried this recipe, I was amazed by just how easy it was to nail that perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture without any chilling or fuss. You’ll love how quickly these come together and how irresistible they are with just a few pantry staples!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

No Chilling Needed: You can mix, scoop, bake, and frost in under 30 minutes—no waiting around.
Delightful Spice Blend: Cinnamon and nutmeg add that classic eggnog warmth without overpowering the cookie.
Simple Yet Stunning Frosting: Just powdered sugar and eggnog make a creamy glaze that’s easy to spread or drizzle.
Perfect Holiday Crowd-Pleaser: My family goes crazy for these at every Christmas gathering—they disappear fast!

The image shows a white plate filled with two layers of soft, round sugar cookies topped with smooth, glossy white icing. The cookies are light golden brown and have a slightly fluffy texture. Some cookies sit flat on the plate while others rest leaning against each other, giving a sense of depth. The plate is on a white marbled surface with festive red ornaments and green pine branches nearby. In the background, more cookies are stacked and a glass mug filled with a pale yellow creamy drink is visible. A woman's hand holding a red ribbon is just out of focus. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Eggnog Cookies with Frosting, holiday eggnog cookies, easy eggnog cookie recipe, cozy holiday cookies, festive eggnog dessert

Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients combine to give you cookies that are tender but sturdy enough to hold their shape, with the perfect sweetness and spice. I always recommend using room temperature egg and butter—they blend better and give you that lovely texture you want in your Eggnog Cookies with Frosting Recipe.

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl of soft unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with granulated sugar, a small white ceramic bowl containing light brown sugar, one large whole egg with a clean shell, a small white ceramic bowl of pale creamy eggnog, a small white ceramic bowl of cake flour, a small white ceramic bowl of powdered sugar, a small white ceramic bowl holding ground cinnamon, a small white ceramic bowl with ground nutmeg, a small white ceramic bowl of baking powder, a small white ceramic bowl of baking soda, a small white ceramic bowl of table salt, and a small white ceramic bowl of clear vanilla extract placed with perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Eggnog Cookies with Frosting, holiday eggnog cookies, easy eggnog cookie recipe, cozy holiday cookies, festive eggnog dessert

Unsalted butter: Softened butter helps you control salt levels and ensures smooth, creamy dough.
Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and a slight crispness around the edges.
Light brown sugar: Packed firmly to add moisture and a subtle caramel note.
Egg: Room temperature is key for even mixing and a tender crumb.
Vanilla extract: Classic flavor enhancer that balances the spices perfectly.
Eggnog: This is the star, bringing holiday flavor right into the dough and the frosting!
Cake flour: Gives a soft, delicate texture—don’t swap it out for all-purpose unless you’re okay with a denser cookie.
Baking powder & baking soda: Rising agents that create a light texture.
Ground cinnamon and nutmeg: The essential warming spices that make these truly taste like eggnog in cookie form.
Table salt: Enhances all those sweet and spicy flavors.
Powdered sugar: For the frosting, sifted if you want the smoothest finish.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I often like to mix things up a bit, depending on who I’m baking for or what pantry staples I have on hand. This Eggnog Cookies with Frosting Recipe is super versatile, so don’t hesitate to tweak it to match your mood or dietary needs.

Gluten-Free Version: I swapped the cake flour for a gluten-free cake flour blend once—it worked beautifully with a slightly longer bake time.
Spice it Up: When I want a bolder holiday bite, I add a pinch of ground cloves or allspice. It amps up the cozy feeling.
Vegan-Friendly: I experimented using vegan butter and a flax egg substitute. It was slightly different texture but just as tasty!
Extra Zest: Sometimes I add a bit of orange zest in the dough or frosting for a bright twist that pairs amazingly with eggnog flavor.

How to Make Eggnog Cookies with Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugars Until Fluffy

Start by beating the softened butter with both the granulated and brown sugars using an electric mixer on high speed. This takes about 2-3 minutes and is crucial because it introduces air, giving you lighter cookies. When I skip this step or don’t beat long enough, my cookies come out dense instead of tender and soft. So, be patient and don’t rush it!

Step 2: Add Egg, Vanilla, and Eggnog

Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well mixed, then pour in the eggnog slowly, blending it evenly into the dough. I like to make sure everything is incorporated before moving on—egg and dairy at room temp mix better and prevent clumps or curdling in your dough.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients Separately

In a separate bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. This ensures your spices and leavening agents are evenly distributed throughout the batter, so you won’t get one cookie super spicy or another flat.

Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients into Wet Dough Gradually

Adding your dry ingredients to the wet in about 3 or 4 batches and stirring well each time is my secret to preventing overmixing. You want everything combined, but overmixing develops gluten and can toughen your cookies. A spatula is perfect here to scrape the bowl’s sides and bottom to get every bit of flour folded in evenly.

Step 5: Scoop and Bake

I use a 1 ½ tablespoon scoop to portion out the dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes until the edges just start to turn a light golden color. Watch closely—overbaking dries them out. Right as they come out, I gently press the tops with a measuring cup bottom to flatten them slightly; this makes spreading the frosting easier later.

Step 6: Make the Frosting and Glide It On

For the frosting, just mix powdered sugar with eggnog until you have a smooth, spreadable glaze. Sometimes I add a teaspoon of vanilla here, depending on how strong I want that flavor. Spread it on once the cookies have fully cooled for frosting that doesn’t melt off. Trust me, the simplicity of this glaze keeps the cookies from feeling heavy but still brings that creamy eggnog touch you crave.

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Pro Tips for Making Eggnog Cookies with Frosting Recipe

Use Cake Flour for Tenderness: This is what gives the cookie that soft, melt-in-your-mouth quality you’ll notice instantly.
Don’t Skip Pressing the Cookie Tops: Flattening right out of the oven makes the perfect canvas for frosting.
Add Spices Gradually: If you’re worried about being too spicy, start with less cinnamon and nutmeg—you can always add more next time.
Keep an Eye on Baking Time: Those 10 minutes matter—pull them out just as edges turn light brown to avoid dry cookies.

How to Serve Eggnog Cookies with Frosting Recipe

The image shows a stack of five round cookies with a smooth, pale golden texture, placed on a white marbled surface. Each cookie has a slightly darker edge and a flat top, with the top cookie featuring a light frosting layer covering its surface. Around the stack, there are small red Christmas ornaments and green pine leaves blurred in the background, adding a festive touch. A blurred glass with a light brown drink is visible behind the cookies. The focus is on the stack, with soft, natural light enhancing the warm colors. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Eggnog Cookies with Frosting, holiday eggnog cookies, easy eggnog cookie recipe, cozy holiday cookies, festive eggnog dessert

Garnishes

I like to sprinkle a little extra nutmeg or cinnamon on top of the frosting for a pretty, festive look. Sometimes a few crushed candy canes or edible gold leaf add an extra special holiday touch and crunch that wows guests.

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with a warm cup of spiced chai, a glass of cold milk, or even a cozy mug of hot chocolate. They also make a sweet ending to a holiday brunch alongside fresh fruit and pastries.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I arrange these Eggnog Cookies with Frosting Recipe on a festive platter lined with pine branches or cranberries. Wrapping them individually in clear cellophane tied with twine makes an adorable gift for friends, neighbors, or coworkers!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. If you’ve frosted them, keep them separate in layers with parchment paper so they don’t stick together. They stay nicely soft and flavorful this way.

Freezing

You can freeze these cookies unfrosted for up to 3 months. Just scoop the dough onto a baking sheet, freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag. When you’re ready, bake them straight from frozen adding a couple minutes to the baking time. I do this when I want fresh-baked treats on demand during busy holiday weeks.

Reheating

Leftover cookies are best enjoyed fresh but if you want to warm them, pop in a 300°F oven for just 2-3 minutes. This softens them up perfectly without melting your frosting. Microwave reheating can get messy and make the texture gummy, so I avoid that.

FAQs

Can I use regular flour instead of cake flour for this Eggnog Cookies with Frosting Recipe?

You can substitute all-purpose flour for cake flour but expect a slightly denser, less tender cookie. To mimic cake flour, you can replace 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour per cup with cornstarch. This helps lighten the texture closer to the original recipe.
Do I have to use real eggnog, or can I substitute something else?

Using real eggnog is best because it delivers authentic flavor, but if you don’t have any, you can substitute with milk mixed with a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract. Just keep in mind it won’t be as rich or flavorful.
How do I prevent my frosting from getting too runny?

Start by adding eggnog gradually to the powdered sugar until you reach the right spreadable consistency. If it feels too thin, add more powdered sugar. Chill the frosting briefly before frosting if you want a thicker glaze.
Can I make these cookies ahead of time for a party?

Absolutely! Bake the cookies a day or two ahead and store them unfrosted in an airtight container. Frost them the day of your event to keep the topping fresh and glossy.

Final Thoughts

This Eggnog Cookies with Frosting Recipe is a heartfelt favorite that I keep coming back to every holiday season because it just hits the right nostalgic notes with no fuss. Whether you’re baking up a storm for a crowd or just indulging yourself with cozy flavors, these cookies feel like a warm hug in dessert form. I can’t wait for you to try them and hear what you think—trust me, your friends and family will thank you, too!