Name: Eggnog Cookies with Rum Frosting Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled; 2 teaspoons baking powder; ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg; ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon salt; ¾ cup salted sweet cream butter room temperature; ½ cup granulated sugar; ½ cup dark brown sugar packed; 2 extra-large eggs at room temperature; 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon rum extract; ¾ cup eggnog; ½ cup salted sweet cream butter at room temperature; 3 cups powdered sugar; ⅓ cup eggnog; Ground nutmeg optional garnish

There’s something magical about the warm spices and creamy flavor of eggnog transformed into delightful cookies. This Eggnog Cookies with Rum Frosting Recipe perfectly captures that holiday spirit with soft, spiced cookies and a luscious rum frosting that’s easy to make and irresistibly festive.

The image shows a close-up of several cookies arranged on a white plate with a white marbled surface underneath. Each cookie has one layer of light brown, round, soft-looking base with a smooth texture. On top of this base, there is a thick layer of creamy white frosting, piped in a swirling rose pattern with smooth, velvety texture and slight peaks. The frosting is sprinkled with a light dusting of brown spice powder, adding a touch of contrast. The background is softly blurred, keeping the focus on the cookies in the foreground. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Eggnog Cookies with Rum Frosting Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Eggnog Cookies with Rum Frosting Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Eggnog Cookies with Rum Frosting Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe was an instant favorite in my house the moment I tried baking it during the holidays. The cookies strike the perfect balance between soft, spiced, and sweet, while the rum frosting brings a cozy boozy richness that elevates them beyond ordinary holiday treats.

Perfect Holiday Flavor: The nutmeg, cinnamon, and eggnog blend creates an authentic, festive taste that transported me back to childhood Christmas mornings.
Soft and Tender Texture: These cookies are tender and melt in your mouth, not dry or crumbly like some spice cookies can get.
Easy, Foolproof Frosting: The rum frosting is smooth and just the right amount of sweetness, making it easy to frost even for beginners.
Customizable and Fun: You can easily adjust the rum extract to your liking and decorate with festive sprinkles or nutmeg dusting for a personal touch.

A close-up shows a woman's hand holding half of a soft light brown cookie with a visible crumb texture. On top of the cookie is a thick layer of smooth white frosting piped with swirls, sprinkled lightly with small dark specks. In the background, more cookies with the same frosting design sit on a white marbled surface, and blurred containers with light cream contents are visible. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Eggnog Cookies with Rum Frosting Recipe plays a special role, creating that perfect holiday flavor and texture. Choosing quality ingredients and measuring carefully makes all the difference with such a delicately balanced cookie.

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl of all-purpose flour, a small white ceramic bowl of granulated sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of dark brown sugar packed, a small white ceramic bowl of powdered sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of eggnog, two whole extra-large brown eggs with clean shells, a few sticks of salted sweet cream butter, a small white ceramic bowl of baking powder, a small white ceramic bowl of ground nutmeg, a small white ceramic bowl of ground cinnamon, a small white ceramic bowl of salt, and a small white ceramic bowl of vanilla and rum extract mixed together, all arranged with perfect symmetry and realistic proportions, placed 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

All-purpose flour: A sturdy base that holds the dough together without making the cookies tough.
Baking powder: Helps the cookies rise slightly for a soft, tender crumb.
Ground nutmeg & cinnamon: The key spices that bring that warm eggnog flavor you expect during the holidays.
Salt: Enhances the sweetness and balances the flavors beautifully.
Salted sweet cream butter: Butter adds richness and moisture; make sure it’s softened for easy mixing.
Granulated sugar & dark brown sugar: The mix of sugars adds sweetness and helps give the cookies a slight chewiness.
Eggs: Bind everything together and add tenderness.
Pure vanilla extract: Adds warm depth and amplifies the other flavors.
Rum extract: The star that gives the frosting that signature boozy flavor without the alcohol overpowering the cookies.
Eggnog: Infuses the dough with creamy holiday flavor, and also adds moisture for a soft cookie.
Powdered sugar: For smooth, sweet frosting that isn’t grainy.
Ground nutmeg (optional): A final sprinkle that makes the frosting look pretty and enhances the spice notes.

📝

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.

Make It Your Way

One of the joys of this recipe is how easy it is to tweak. I love adjusting the amount of rum extract depending on who I’m baking for—more for us grown-ups, less for the kids. Also, you can play around with adding a bit of orange zest to add a citrusy burst that pairs beautifully with the spices!

Variation: When I make these for a crowd that prefers non-alcoholic treats, I simply swap the rum extract for extra vanilla and a splash of almond extract—it still tastes festive and delicious.
Seasonal twist: Try adding a handful of finely chopped nuts or white chocolate chips if you want to add texture and a little sweet surprise inside the cookies.
Dietary modification: For a dairy-free version, substitute the butter for a quality vegan butter and use a dairy-free eggnog alternative – the cookies are still rich and moist!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Eggnog Cookies with Rum Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Whisk together your dry ingredients

Start by combining your flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisking these ingredients together ensures that the spices are evenly distributed, so every bite has consistent flavor. I like to set this aside while I start on the wet ingredients.

Step 2: Cream butter and sugars until fluffy

Using a stand or hand mixer, beat the softened butter for 30 to 45 seconds, then add both sugars and beat for another minute or so. This step is crucial for a light texture—the butter traps air as you mix, which helps the cookies bake up tender and soft.

Step 3: Incorporate eggs and extracts

Lower the speed and add eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully mixed in before adding the next. Then stir in your vanilla and rum extracts—this little addition brings warm, festive notes to the dough that you won’t want to skip!

Step 4: Alternate adding flour mixture and eggnog

Add your flour mixture and eggnog in alternating increments. Mixing just until combined helps prevent overworking the dough, which can lead to tougher cookies. After it comes together nicely, cover and chill the dough for at least an hour—trust me, this makes the flavors really meld and the dough easier to handle.

Step 5: Scoop and bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a 1½-tablespoon cookie scoop helps keep the cookies uniform in size, so they bake evenly. Place the dough balls about two inches apart because they will spread slightly. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges turn a light golden brown but the centers are still soft. Let them cool briefly on the sheets before transferring to a wire rack.

Step 6: Make the rum frosting

While the cookies cool, beat softened butter until smooth. Then lower mixer speed and gradually add powdered sugar and eggnog. Beat until your frosting is creamy and spreadable—it’s okay if it looks thick at first, just keep mixing. If it's too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar.

Step 7: Frost and garnish

Use a piping bag fitted with a star tip or simply a ziplock bag with a corner snipped off to pipe generous swirls of frosting on each cooled cookie. Finish off with a delicate dusting of ground nutmeg for that extra festive touch.

Top Tip

From my experience making Eggnog Cookies with Rum Frosting Recipe multiple times, a few small adjustments can make a big difference. These tips helped me get perfect results every time.

Butter temperature: Make sure your butter is softened but not melting—too warm and the dough gets greasy and hard to work with.
Chill the dough: Don’t skip the chilling step! It firms the dough, prevents excessive spreading, and intensifies the eggnog flavor.
Don’t overmix: Once you add flour, mix just until everything is combined to avoid tough cookies.
Watch your bake time: Check your cookies around 10 minutes to avoid overbaking—they should be slightly soft and light golden on the edges.

How to Serve Eggnog Cookies with Rum Frosting Recipe

Garnishes

I love to stick with a simple sprinkle of freshly grated nutmeg or even a tiny pinch of cinnamon on top of the frosting—it keeps the look rustic and natural while echoing the cookie’s warmth. If I’m feeling playful, a few festive colored sprinkles or edible gold dust add a holiday sparkle that guests appreciate.

Side Dishes

These cookies go beautifully alongside a warm cup of spiced tea, coffee, or even a hot toddy for that full-on holiday indulgence. I also like serving them with a simple cheese board featuring mild cheeses and dried fruits to contrast the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For a party, I arrange the Eggnog Cookies with Rum Frosting Recipe on a festive platter layered with pine sprigs and cranberries. Another favorite is placing each cookie in a mini cupcake liner and stacking them in a clear glass jar tied with a ribbon—makes a perfect edible gift!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep any leftover cookies in an airtight container in the fridge—they last up to 5 days and still stay soft and flavorful. Just bring them to room temperature before serving so the frosting softens up again.

Freezing

Freezing this recipe works well, too! I freeze the cookies unfrosted on a baking sheet first, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. When ready to serve, I thaw overnight in the fridge and frost fresh. This keeps the frosting looking its best.

Reheating

If you want to warm a cookie up, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave softens it nicely without melting the frosting. Just be careful not to overheat or the frosting can separate.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular milk instead of eggnog?

You can substitute regular milk for eggnog in a pinch, but the cookies will lose some of that unique creamy, spiced flavor that eggnog provides. To mimic the taste, consider adding a little extra cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla along with the milk.

Is it safe to make these cookies for kids since they contain rum extract?

Yes! Rum extract has the flavor of rum but very little to no alcohol content, making it safe for kids. However, if you prefer, you can reduce the rum extract or replace it entirely with vanilla extract for a kid-friendly version.

How long should I chill the cookie dough?

The dough should be chilled for at least one hour, but if you have more time, chilling overnight improves flavor depth and keeps the dough easier to scoop and handle.

Can I make the frosting without butter?

Butter is key for the creamy, rich texture of this rum frosting. While you can experiment with shortening or cream cheese, the flavor and texture will be different. For best results, stick with softened salted butter as recommended.

Final Thoughts

Sharing this Eggnog Cookies with Rum Frosting Recipe during the holidays has become one of my favorite traditions—there’s just something so comforting and joyful about these spiced, fluffy cookies topped with creamy rum frosting. I hope you give them a try and that they bring a little festive sparkle to your kitchen like they did to mine!