Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup high-quality eggnog
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon rum extract (optional)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated is best)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Step 1: Preparation and Preheating Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This prevents the cookies from sticking and ensures even browning on the bottoms.
- Step 2: Creaming the Butter and Sugars In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together on medium-high speed. Continue mixing for about 2-3 minutes until the mixture looks light, fluffy, and pale in color.
- Step 3: Adding Wet Ingredients Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour in the eggnog, vanilla extract, and rum extract. Mix on low speed until combined. Don’t worry if the batter looks slightly curdled at this stage; it will come together once the dry ingredients are added.
- Step 4: Incorporating Dry Ingredients In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients while mixing on low speed. Mix just until the white streaks of flour disappear. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies soft and tender.
- Step 5: Scooping and Baking Use a cookie scoop or a tablespoon to drop rounded mounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The edges should be lightly golden, but the tops should still look soft. Do not overbake.
- Step 6: Cooling and Plating Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up. Transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Once cool, you can dust them with extra nutmeg or a simple eggnog glaze before serving on your favorite holiday platter.
- Cook Time: 27 minutes