As the holiday season approaches, there’s nothing quite like the warm, spiced aroma of eggnog. This Eggnog Crème Tart recipe transforms that classic festive beverage into an elegant dessert. It features a rich, creamy custard filling nestled in a buttery shortbread crust, making it a guaranteed showstopper for any gathering.
This dessert strikes the perfect balance between simple preparation and sophisticated flavor. The silky texture of the eggnog custard, infused with nutmeg and a hint of cinnamon, is simply irresistible. Whether it’s for a Christmas dinner or a cozy winter evening, this tart is the ultimate holiday treat.
Why You’ll Adore This Eggnog Crème Tart
This recipe is more than just a dessert; it’s a festive experience. Here’s why it will become a new holiday favorite:
- Incredibly Festive: It captures the quintessential flavors of the season in a beautiful, elegant form.
- Creamy & Delicious: The custard filling is velvety smooth, perfectly spiced, and melts in your mouth.
- Crisp Buttery Crust: The homemade shortbread crust provides the perfect crumbly, buttery contrast to the creamy filling.
- Perfect for Parties: It’s a make-ahead friendly dessert that will impress your family and friends.
Understanding the Key Components
The magic of this Eggnog Crème Tart lies in its three perfect layers. Each component plays a crucial role in creating the final, harmonious flavor and texture.
The Buttery Shortbread Crust
The foundation of our tart is a simple yet sturdy shortbread crust. Made with flour, butter, sugar, and a touch of salt, it bakes into a crisp, cookie-like base that holds the creamy filling without becoming soggy. We’ll blind-bake it first to ensure it’s perfectly cooked through.
The Silky Eggnog Custard Filling
This is the star of the show. We use full-fat, store-bought, or homemade eggnog as the base, enriching it with egg yolks and a touch of cornstarch to create a thick, stable custard. A generous grating of fresh nutmeg enhances its classic holiday spice profile.
The Spiced Whipped Cream Topping
A light, airy whipped cream topping provides the perfect finishing touch. Lightly sweetened and stabilized, it’s garnished with a final dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg, adding another layer of flavor and a beautiful presentation.
Essential Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple, accessible ingredients to create a truly spectacular result. Here’s what you’ll need:
For the Shortbread Crust:
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for our crisp crust.
- Unsalted Butter: Make sure it’s cold and cubed for a flaky texture.
- Powdered Sugar: It dissolves easily, creating a tender, melt-in-your-mouth crust. If you need a quick recipe, try this homemade powdered sugar.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness.
- Egg Yolk: Helps bind the dough and adds richness.
For the Eggnog Custard Filling:
- Full-Fat Eggnog: The higher fat content creates a richer, creamier custard.
- Egg Yolks: These are essential for thickening the custard.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds just the right amount of sweetness.
- Cornstarch: Helps to stabilize the custard and ensure a perfect set.
- Freshly Grated Nutmeg: For that classic, warm spice flavor. A pinch of cinnamon is also a great addition.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the other flavors.
- Optional: A splash of bourbon or rum for a boozy kick.
How to Make the Perfect Eggnog Crème Tart: A Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these steps carefully for a flawless and delicious Eggnog Crème Tart. This process is straightforward and ensures a perfect result every time.
Step 1: Prepare the Shortbread Crust
In a food processor, pulse the flour, powdered sugar, and salt until combined. Add the cold, cubed butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolk and pulse just until the dough starts to come together. Press the dough evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Freeze the crust for 30 minutes.
Step 2: Blind Bake the Crust
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prick the bottom of the frozen crust with a fork. Line the tart shell with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes. Carefully remove the parchment and weights, then bake for another 10-12 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Let it cool completely.
Step 3: Make the Eggnog Custard
In a medium saucepan, gently heat the eggnog over medium heat until it’s warm but not boiling. While it heats, whisk the egg yolks, granulated sugar, and cornstarch together in a bowl until pale and smooth. Slowly pour about half of the warm eggnog into the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly to temper the eggs. Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining eggnog.
Step 4: Bake the Tart
Cook the custard over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 5-7 minutes). Do not let it boil. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract, nutmeg, and bourbon, if using. Pour the warm custard into the cooled, pre-baked crust. Bake the tart at 325°F (165°C) for 18-22 minutes, or until the center is just set but still has a slight wobble. The edges should be firm.
Step 5: Chill and Garnish
Let the tart cool completely on a wire rack for at least one hour. Then, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the custard to fully set. Before serving, top with sweetened whipped cream and a dusting of freshly grated nutmeg or cinnamon.
Pro Tips for a Flawless Tart
To ensure your Eggnog Crème Tart is perfect every single time, keep these expert tips in mind.
- Don’t Skip Chilling the Dough: Freezing the crust before baking prevents it from shrinking.
- Temper Eggs Carefully: Add the hot eggnog to the yolks slowly and gradually to prevent them from scrambling.
- Whisk Constantly: When cooking the custard, constant whisking is key to a smooth, lump-free texture.
- Let It Set Completely: Be patient! The tart needs adequate time in the refrigerator to chill and firm up for clean, beautiful slices.
Delicious Variations to Try
While this classic Eggnog Crème Tart is divine on its own, you can easily customize it. For a different main course idea before dessert, consider this flavorful Marry Me Salmon recipe (coming soon).
Boozy Eggnog Tart
Add 2-3 tablespoons of your favorite dark rum, brandy, or bourbon to the custard along with the vanilla for a spirited kick.
Gingersnap Crust
Instead of shortbread, create a crust by crushing gingersnap cookies and mixing them with melted butter. This adds a warm, spicy flavor that complements the eggnog beautifully.
Chocolate Accents
Drizzle the finished tart with melted dark chocolate or add a layer of chocolate ganache over the crust before pouring in the eggnog filling. For another chocolatey dessert, check out these marshmallow peanut butter brownies.
Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions
This tart is an excellent make-ahead dessert. You can prepare the crust a day or two in advance and store it in an airtight container at room temperature. The fully assembled tart can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For best results, add the whipped cream topping just before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, this is a great make-ahead dessert! You can bake the tart and chill it in the refrigerator for up to two days before serving. For best results, add the whipped cream topping just before you plan to serve it.
Absolutely! A gingersnap cookie crust or a classic graham cracker crust would also be delicious and pair wonderfully with the spiced eggnog filling. Just substitute an equal amount of crushed cookies mixed with melted butter.
The tart is done when the edges of the custard are set and the center has a slight jiggle, similar to a cheesecake. It will continue to firm up as it cools and chills in the refrigerator.
Either will work beautifully in this recipe! High-quality, full-fat store-bought eggnog is convenient and delicious. If you have a favorite homemade eggnog recipe, it will make the tart even more special.
The key to preventing a soggy crust is to blind bake it properly. Baking the crust until it’s golden brown and fully cooked creates a barrier that keeps the custard from soaking in. Allowing the crust to cool completely before adding the filling also helps.
The Perfect Eggnog Crème Tart Recipe
Eggnog Crème Tart: The Ultimate Holiday Dessert Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Combine flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a food processor. Add cold butter and pulse until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add egg yolk and pulse until dough forms. Press into a 9-inch tart pan. Freeze for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line the frozen crust with parchment paper, fill with pie weights, and bake for 15 minutes. Remove weights and parchment, then bake for another 10-12 minutes until golden. Cool completely.
- In a saucepan, warm the eggnog over medium heat. In a separate bowl, whisk together 4 egg yolks, granulated sugar, and cornstarch. Slowly whisk half of the warm eggnog into the yolk mixture to temper it.
- Pour the tempered mixture back into the saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until the custard thickens (5-7 minutes). Do not boil. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and nutmeg.
- Pour the filling into the cooled crust. Bake at 325°F (165°C) for 18-22 minutes, until the center is just set. Let it cool completely on a wire rack.
- Refrigerate the tart for at least 4 hours, or overnight, to set completely.
- Before serving, whip the heavy cream with 2 tbsp powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Top the tart with the whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg.
Notes
For a boozy version, add 2 tablespoons of dark rum or bourbon to the custard mixture along with the vanilla extract.
Freshly grated nutmeg provides a much better flavor than pre-ground.
Share This Festive Recipe!
If you’ve fallen in love with this Eggnog Crème Tart, don’t keep it to yourself! A beautiful dessert like this is meant to be shared. Sharing it on Pinterest is a fantastic way to save the recipe for later and inspire others to create their own holiday magic. We love seeing your creations, so feel free to leave a comment below and let us know how it turned out!
