How to Make Sure Your Eggnog is Kid-Friendly During the Holiday Season

Nothing beats creamy homemade eggnog. However, if you have young children, it’s important to be careful before introducing them to this holiday must-have. Besides making sure your eggnog recipe is alcohol-free, you need to know whether it uses raw eggs or not.

Although often not taken seriously by many people (raw cookie dough, anyone?), raw eggs carry a risk of transmitting salmonella. This bacteria is one of the most common causes of food poisoning in America and can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Although many people manage to recover without problems, in some cases hospitalization may be necessary if the bacteria manages to enter the bloodstream. People most at risk of becoming seriously ill from salmonella are pregnant people, the elderly, and children. However, the risks of contracting salmonella from eggnog can be eliminated.

For one, almost all eggnog found in stores is safe for children thanks to pasteurization, a heating process that kills bacteria to make eggnog more shelf-stable. However, you should always check the label to make sure the eggnog you buy indicates that it has been pasteurized before serving it to children. If you like homemade eggnog, you can make it safe by using things like pasteurized eggs. That said, care should always be taken with very young children and eggnog should never be given to children under the age of one, as dairy products can cause intestinal bleeding at this stage.

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Homemade Eggnog, Both Safe and Delicious

Although traditional eggnog made with raw eggs isn’t safe for kids, you can make a kid-friendly version at home. The key is to use either pasteurized eggs or a heated egg mixture. Although you can sometimes find pasteurized liquid eggs in a separate carton, not all stores sell pasteurized eggs. You can pasteurize eggs at home using the sous vide method, but this method is not 100% foolproof and is not recommended for children.

If you can’t find pasteurized eggs at the store, you can safely make eggnog by gently heating your egg mixture over low heat. The mixture should reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit, but don’t let it boil. At this point, the eggnog should just start to thicken, after which it can be placed in the refrigerator to chill for 24 hours. Alternatively, you can forgo eggs altogether and make a vegan eggnog with almond milk, coconut sugar, and spices.

Whether you use a kid-friendly recipe or buy eggnog at the store, don’t forget that you can also spice things up with bonus ingredients. For example, adding pumpkin puree to eggnog is a great way to give it a fall touch, while maple syrup makes eggnog even richer and comforting. If you’re feeling extra festive, add green food coloring for the Grinch-nog or red for Santa. Top off the glass with whipped cream and sprinkles and the kids will go crazy.

Read the original article on Chowhound.