My family were rather strange eaters when we were growing up. My father wanted nothing more and nothing less than Cantonese food whereas the rest of my family and I craved other things. We’d watch ads on television where families sat down to roast dinners and vegetables and wistfully gaze at the images of families eating roast dinners wishing that one day we could try them.
Some days, and I suspect days when my parents just couldn’t be bothered putting up resistance, my sister and I were allowed to cook. And before you think I’m going to regale you with some tales of culinary prodigyness, let me assure you that the extent to what we would cook would be emptying out a tin of baby carrots and peas into a saucepan and then serving it with a coq au vin. A bizarre combination but with no blueprint to base it on, we were just thrilled that it wasn’t a Cantonese dish. There were no noses turned up at it from anyone, we all enjoyed the dishes, perhaps just for the novelty.
Whole nutmeg
I was at a friend’s house when I first tried eggnog. I had never had it before because my parents are of the thinking that alcohol is the first step to going to hell (I’m not kidding, follow this with some gambling and they’d likely institutionalise you 
). My friend’s mother however, did not subscribe to that theory and I think that she loved the extra brandy kick she could get during the Christmas season to help her cope with two bratty girls. I tried the eggnog and was fascinated by it. I loved the flavours of nutmeg, brandy and rum and when she told me that it had raw egg in it (after I drank it), I was too far in love with it to reconsider my position. And it’s always a combination of flavours that puts me in the same mood as my friend’s mum-jolly under times of extreme stress. Sometimes you just have to find your joy when you can.
I was intent on making some things for Christmas presents and I thought what if I could give people eggnog?! No, perhaps not, after all it brings with it logistical problems with carrying glass bottles of something containing egg and dairy. But what if I could get those same flavours but in a shelf stable item like judge? Fudge is shelf stable, Christmassy enough, fits in a hamper and also carries the flavours perfectly!
This recipe for eggnog fudge is based on my never fail fudge recipes-humidity, the astrological planes or the cosmic universe cannot affect this and it will set no matter what. The nutmeg, brandy and rum evokes the flavour of eggnog but of course there is technically no egg in this. Just a smooth, creamy fudge with a good dash of joy under times of extreme stress!
So tell me Dear Reader, do you like eggnog? And how are you travelling towards Christmas this year? Stressed or calm?
Madison magazine (click to enlarge)
Women’s Health magazine
P.S. I have a couple of delightful press mentions to share with you. In one story I talk to Madison magazine about diet tips during the festive season and Women’s Health featured my white chocolate rocky road (hehe and yes I get the irony in that 
). And in case you’re stuck for other food gifts there are some extra ones here! White chocolate Rocky Road, Snickers Rocky Road, Christmas Wonderland Pocky, Cinnamon Cookie Christmas Wreath, Mont Blanc Coconut Macaroons, Salted Pretzel Toffees and of course this year’s Chocolate Crunch Cake.
P.P.S. P.S. The winners for the To Market to Market have been announced on this post! Have you won something? Scroll to the bottom to see and then email me asap if you have! There are still some winners that have not claimed their prizes xxx
Eggnog Fudge
An Original Recipe by Not Quite Nigella
- 150/5 fl ozs pure cream
- 55g/2 ozs butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 200g/7ozs white marshmallows
- 350g/12.3 ozs white chocolate
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1 tablespoon rum
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg (I used 1/2 a nutmeg) plus extra to sprinkle over the top
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- You will also need a sugar thermometer
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87 Comments | Add your own
My mouth is watering as I read this Lorraine. I love egg nog but sadly don’t have it very often because it is so caloric! But the fudge would be a real treat!
BTW I noticed a typo under the fourth photo, fifth line down “judge” should likely be “fudge” but I may be wrong.
Those eggnog squares are so cute. It looks like the eggnog just decided “I want to be a solid today”. I’m genetically predetermined to like any candy with alcohol in it, even if the alcohol cooks out.
Congrats on the mention!
That fudge looks divine! A great choice of flavors.
Cheers,
Rosa
The snowflakes are very sweet:)
They look very nice indeed! Merry Christmas to you and Mr NQN, Lorraine! xx
I love eggnog. I love fudge. What could go wrong?
Oh my, does that fudge look amazing! I don’t know if you remember a couple years ago when you posted carrot cake ice cream and I posted carrot cake nearly simultaneously and you jokingly suggested we make carrot cake fudge? I’ve been thinking about that since then (this totally reminded me of that!)…one of these days I think we should do it, lol!
I could never get past the raw egg in eggnog but I see you’ve fixed that up in the fudge version. The little snowflake sprinkles look great.
They look delicous! When I was growing up my father did most of the cooking (Chinese food), on occasions when he was too tired to cook he would pick up hot packs from a local takeaway which were basically a piece of roast chicken with potato, carrot and peas. At the time us kids thought it was heaven as we use to want to try western food so absolutely loved it!
haha SNAP!!! My fudge friend
Ha, ha. And I had plenty of roasts and would gladly have traded them for a Cantonese meal! Egg nog fudge! That’s a new one for me. I love your little daisy decorations – very sweet.
I just made eggnog fudge this weekend too! Mine was a tad too marshmallowy for my liking though. Your recipe looks way boozier and creamier: noms!
I didn’t like eggnog in Canada – seems most people buy it like milk at the grocery store and add some rum to it.
Then a friend introduced me to homemade eggnog http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/creamy-eggnog – now I’m hooked!
I have never tried egg nog, the name puts me off a bit. Christmas is quite calm here, it will be a low key affair with 2 mothers.
Yum! I love eggnog, so eggnog in fudge form is a bonus.
Oh how I adore egg nog! Making it in fudge form puts it on a whole other level!. I love your use of marshmallows in this.
Oh how I adore egg nog! Making it in fudge form puts it on a whole other level!. I love your use of marshmallows in this.
Must make this immediatly!! Can I substitute UHT cream for the pure cream, as where I live has nothing but the thickened cream available?
They look delightful. Never would have thought to turn eggnog into fudge! I’ve not even tried eggnog yet.
We never had egg nog traditionally but I have tried it and I think this fudge sounds great. Last day at work for me. Maybe I will hit the brandy tonight!
Lorraine, What is texture, is it smooth fudgy or grainy fudgy? Also love your styling today.Roz
I loooooooove eggnog, but have shied away from making the traditional family recipes of late due to the raw egg issue, however, I did go to a party which featured copious quantities of good Southern eggnog where I drank myself silly. I’ve never had eggnog fudge, though, and am looking forward to trying it. Thanks! And Happy Holidays!
i have not so good memories from my childhood of daily eggnog without the alcohol drinks for breakfast..i liked the flavour but i didn’t like the snotty egg white globules at the bottom of the glass..so i developed a bit of an egg white phobia..
i think for therapeutic purposes i should make your eggnog fudge..a few pieces should help me overcome my aversion..and it’s cheap therapy..:)
YUM! As always you have made my morning! I am totally making this tonight!
Ah, now- that looks great! Seasonal, festive and delicious.
I love advocaat. Is that similar to Eggnog?
In any case, merry Christmas to you and yours.
X
Hi Roz-the texture is creamy and smooth, not very grainy at all
Oooh, would you believe that, lying in bed sleepless again at 2am last night, I started debating whether to make eggnog or peanut butter fudge this year? The only issue is I still have no pots and pans, so may need to find a recipe that needs only one bowl and a microwave…
What a fabulous flavour idea! Though honestly, I’m not sure I’ve ever tried egg nog…
A brilliant Christmas idea looking very pretty! Yes, I did have eggnog plenty of times, and liked it too, ere medicos began making nasty admonitions
! But how is this: in N Europe, when I was growing up, small children were oft given a ‘tonic’ in addition to the horrible codliver oil. A couple of times a week Mom would whisk one or two raw egg yolks in a cup, add a little sugar and a dollop of cognac and hand it over. It was called ‘kogel-mogel’ and I could not get enough of it 
! Why not ask Mr NQN whether he remembers something similar? Basically it was eggnog the year around 
! Oh, yes, doctor’s orders!!!
I’ve never tried eggnog, been always curious. One day I will try it and I know it will happen, just like the roasts became reality for you:)
I tried this and the chocolate siezed as soon as I put it in the cream mixture!
I’ve never had chocolate sieze before.
Thank you for another delicious recipe. I can’t wait to try it!
I’ve never tried eggnog but I want to try this, yum! Sounds delicious
Hi Emma-Did you use pure cream? It shouldn’t seize if it is pure cream and it has reached the right temperature?
How good does the fudge look? I’m not a fan of eggnoggy drinks, but I could eat a whole plate of that fudge, thanks!
I definitely have to give your never fail fudge recipe a try – looks amazing and beautiful as always Lorraine. Congrats on the press mentions too!
I looooove egg nog – it was my first blog post actually, 1 year ago tomorrow. Naw. I’ll be doing my Christmas gift shopping on Christmas Eve. I love leaving everything to the last minute.
i haven’t had eggnog before, unfortunately.
Merry Christmas, Lorraine!
Congrats on the press.
SSG xxx
It’s so pretty! And obviously looks and sounds divine. I like the sound of using marshmallows in the mixture too. Definitely trying this over Christmas!
Bizarre, I hadn’t had fudge for YEARS but yesterday was walking around Harbourside shopping mall and there’s a nice little fudge shop there so I bought some. and now you’re blogging egg nog fudge! It’s a sign. of. um… maybe that I should eat more fudge??
I Looovvveee egg nog, homemade of course!! The commercial brands are awful and wayyy too sweet. I used to drink something similar as a kid with less alcohol obviously, just a hint of brandy, yummm – Like a milkshake he, he.
Nutmeg in fudge? Yum! That’s the best of all worlds.
We grew up with mum making egg-flips whenever we were ill, just raw egg,milk,and a dash of sugar and nutmeg. I’m sure if she had turned it into eggnog with the addition of alcohol we would have felt better sooner! Fudge would have been better still!
My parents were quite similar to yours in many ways, but funnily not with alcohol, we were always allowed a teensy sip, but many other things were forbidden
Love it! Fudge is such a guilty pleasure of mine – I use to go and watch them make it at Darling Harbour. Do they even still have that? God – showing my age
What a lovely Christmas gift – egg nog fudge. Although I would be tempted to eat it all myself.
Fun, what a great idea, I am not really into Egg nog, so love this creative idea to make it taste great
Thanks! Amy
—Ohhhh,Lorraine,
This eggnog fudge is a dream.
I love that your rocky road fudge was featured in Women’s Health. WOW. What a great accomplishment.
You. Totally. Rock.
Another here who hasnt tried eggnog, the raw egg always put me off. Not so with this fudge though! yes indeed.
Oh wow! That looks delicious. I’ve never tried eggnog… but I would certainly try it in fudge form
never fail fudge?! this sounds like a dream come true… the fudge i make with condensed milk is so unpredictable i can never work out what i do that makes it set… or what i do wrong that makes it stay goopey.
I love eggnog :O. I didn’t know eggnog fudge existed! Be right back, going to cook some..
I had some eggnog last night, with rum in it of course! What a great idea eggnog fudge is, and I’ve never made a fudge recipe with marshmallows in it before. Saved this to my to do list.
I want to dive into the fudgey and delicious looking eggnog fudge!!!
Love the story about your family — don’t worry, my parents are that strict (or I would say, conservative) as well
Praise the Lord and pass the eggnog! This looks like the sort of thing that’s perfect to pass around after the holiday feast.
My second attempt was a big success! Lorraine, it was pure cream so I really don’t know what happened. I feared it might be the heat of the cream mixture, so the second time, I stirred in half the marshmallows before putting the chocolate in, then the other half of the marshmallows. Worked a treat! Thanks for a lovely recipe.
THis really does look delicious. A great inventive idea
I hate eggnog, mainly because of the eggs. But this fudge … this fudge looks amazing. I think I would like to try it. Both the making of and eating of it! And of course, I am stressed as Christmas approaches. No surprises there … x
Love eggnog- my dad used to make it, saying it should ‘rest’ so the flavours could become more intense…well, too many tries from all of us to test that and by Christmas day there was no eggnog left to test/taste
My mum had the cutest small (toy) grater to grate the nutmeg…amazing how her fingers escaped injury…
Phew! Im so glad it worked! I was getting worried there! Glad that you liked it and you’re very welcome!
I’m still yet to try eggnog. I’ll have to give it a go. I have seen it in the supermarket but I think your fudge sounds like a much nicer way to try it.
I’m never quite sure about eggnogg but it’s more a consistency thing rather than the flavours…so packed into sugary slabs of fudge I can imagine it’s delicious. Yum.
This fudge looks delicious! But I don’t have a sugar thermometer..:S
Like EHA I was given eggnog as a child ( Italian version of course) and absolutely loved it. I’ve never tried the traditional American Eggnog but if I’m ever in the US for a White Christmas I’ll definitely be giving it a go. I’m not a big fan of Fudge and would choose something else if given a choice but yours looks very pretty indeed Lorraine.
How am I travelling, am I stressed? Nooooo,I’m just in the kitchen still baking ( onto my 6th batch) and it’s midnight, while the rest of the house sleeps!
Looking forward to my birthday on Boxing Day , I won’t be lifting a finger lol .
Yum, i’ve never made fudge with marshmallows before, that seems like a great idea. Mine is always quite heavy.
Haha always stressed for Christmas but I’ve got a few things in mind that I’ll be able to make ahead of time
I’ve got some store bought eggnog in the fridge, hopefully it works with this recipe!
Ok, if your parents thought that taking eggnog is the first step to go to hell, I’m sure my parents though it should be drink IN hell…why? because I never ever had eggnog…!!! How is it possible? Now I want it, now I need it, it will be my official Christmas drink, if not, I can have the fudge, it looks spectacular.
I’ve never had eggnog cuz like ur parents lol they only like chinese food! but i’d love to try some of these ~
Love the look of the fudge I have never tried eggnogg it kind of puts me off having raw egg in it. I don’t have a sugar thermonator but am going to try this fudge. I have scrolled down the bottom to see if I won anything on the market to market comp and don’t see anything about it?
HI Clare-you won the Stock Merchant’s gravy. You just need to email me your postage details so that they can send it out
I do get the irony, but I think people that love good food can learn to pace themselves. I only pick the best things to eat at a party. Now about eggnog, I love it but only spiked of course. Not wasting calories without the proper buzz!
I’m not a fan of eggnog but I may be tempted to try your eggnog fudge. It definitely looks delicious. Congratulations on your press mentions. The irony of your rocky road and diet tips had me smiling
Eggnog = Christmas bliss = delicious and festive! We always make it on the few nights leading up to Christmas (which is rapidly approaching). This year has been so busy, we have done little preparation and are purely looking forward to a few weeks at home. As for your fudge – how divine and clever. I am so cooking this tonight and hope it sets so we can have some before bed. Wishing you and your family a very happy Christmas Lorraine x
Lorraine, I’m in the middle of making the fudge and can’t see what to do with the cinnamon. Is it just for sprinkling on top with the nutmeg?
I made a version of your rocky road – will post it in the next day or two – was very good – so I am quite confident in your lovely sweet recipes and was very pleased to read that there is no egg in the eggnog fudge because I have never tasted eggnog because the idea of raw egg makes me feel ill.
You are just too good, how do you come up with these ideas? And wait, you used to warm up vegetables from a can but you knew how to make coq au vin as a child??
FUDGE! OMG WANT!
I have a million (and now a million and one) recipes for fudge that I want to make before Christmas… alas it is not going to happen so I shall just lick my screen and imagine how awesome this tastes eh?
Merry Christmas my lovely. xx
Just wondering where did you get the snow-flake like decoration? I ‘ve been looking for it for my cake pops decoration. Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Hi Nath-I bought them from a set at Aldi quite a while back (over 6 months ago)
Merry Christmas!
eggnog is a foul beverage, in my humble opinion. i like the flavors, but the texture is too much. eggnog fudge, on the other hand? brillian!
HELP: Is that one of those narrow tins, it looks too small for the mixture – can I use a square tin? About to make it now :}
HI Sally-I put it in a loaf tin
A square tin will be ok but the fudge will be much thinner.
I don’t care for eggnog, but eggnog FUDGE might be a different story:)
Lorraine, what do we do with the cinnamon and nutmeg? In the kitchen now maling it eek!
I was OBSESSED with eggnog as a kid (the nonalcoholic kind), so this fudge totally reminds me of childhood, even though I’ve never eaten it before! Yum! Congrats on the mentions, too!
Happy holidays!
Made this today…. It tasted utterly delicious but it did not set. I did use a sugar thermometer so I know it got to soft ball stage. But after 8 hours in the fridge was still soft. Any suggestions? Really want to make it again. Successfully!
I failed the never fail fudge
Used pure cream, bought a sugar thermometer to use and all seemed ok but it just isn’t setting. Any ideas how this could be rescued?How about reheating again to a higher heat?
Hi Georgia! The marshmallows set the fudge so perhaps just try popping it in the fridge for a bit just to help it along. I’m not sure if you’re in Australia but it’s hot here at the moment and that can cause problems setting
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