'Tis the season for eggnog! This classic holiday flavor is one of my favorites, and Marc's, too. (If you're new to this blog, Marc is not only my husband, but also my partner in crime writing.)
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Billionaire Blend, now an official national bestseller in hardcover. |
**B&N, Nielsen Bookscan, and (for the first time), Baker & Taylor!
I'm guest blogging about the book with a fun contest at Dru's Book Musings this week.
Scroll to the end of this recipe
for the link to the contest...
for the link to the contest...
Now Back to the Food!
Today's recipe is the second eggnog muffin I've shared with readers. The first was in last year's "holiday special" Coffeehouse Mystery, HOLIDAY BUZZ. You'll find the recipe (pictured below) in the recipe section of that book...
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Eggnog Crumb Muffins from Holiday Buzz: A Coffeehouse Mystery |
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To see the many festive recipes featured in Holiday Buzz, click here. |
The crumb muffin (above) is a very tasty "from scratch" version. Today's muffin is a quick-and-easy large batch recipe with a cake mix starter and a delicious eggnog glaze. It's just as tender and tasty as the scratch version and just as eggnoggy (yes, I made up that word).
Both muffins are delicious and festive. Whichever way you make them, I hope you will bake them with love and eat them with (holiday) joy!
~ Cleo
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Cleo Coyle, baker of "eggnoggy" muffins is author of The Coffeehouse Mysteries |
Eggnog Muffins
In Holiday Buzz, I describe these muffins and how they came about...
During her years raising her daughter alone in New
Jersey, my amateur sleuth, Greenwich Village coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi, created this easy "cake mix" recipe for her In the Kitchen with Clare column. The recipe
produces tender and delicious breakfast or coffee break treats with the seasonal flavors
of eggnog, nutmeg, and (if you like) even a spirited splash of rum. The eggnog glaze puts a lovely finish on each muffin, boosting the flavor while dressing them up for your Season's eatings. Enjoy! ~ Cleo

Makes 24 muffins
One Yellow Cake Mix (Butter Recipe)
1-1/2 cups Eggnog
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3 large eggs, lightly beaten with fork
1 teaspoon vanilla
Optional addition: 1
tsp. rum extract or 1 Tbsp. dark rum
Directions: Using
an electric mixer, blend eggnog, butter, eggs, salt, vanilla, (and rum, if
adding) in a large bowl. Once blended, add the cake mix and beat at medium
speed for 3 to 4 minutes. Line muffin tins with paper liners, divide batter
among them. Bake for 20
minutes in a well-preheated 350° F oven. Muffins are done when a toothpick inserted into the center of a
test muffin comes out with no wet batter clinging to it. Remove from oven. Allow to cool and dip tops into eggnog glaze (as shown below).
Cleo's Eggnog Glaze
In a saucepan warm 1/2 cup eggnog and 4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick) over low heat. Do not allow this mixture to boil! If it does, you may get a scorched taste in your glaze. When butter is just melted, stir in (about) 3-1/2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar. I also like to add in 1/2 teaspoon rum extract. If you really like rum, you may want to increase this amount; if you dislike rum, leave out the extract.
In a saucepan warm 1/2 cup eggnog and 4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick) over low heat. Do not allow this mixture to boil! If it does, you may get a scorched taste in your glaze. When butter is just melted, stir in (about) 3-1/2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar. I also like to add in 1/2 teaspoon rum extract. If you really like rum, you may want to increase this amount; if you dislike rum, leave out the extract.
Keep stirring
until the sugar is melted and a smooth glaze forms. If you did not sift the
sugar, you may need to whisk the glaze to smooth out any clumping. If the gaze
seems too loose, add more confectioners’ sugar, if it’s too thick, spoon in a
bit more eggnog until you get the consistency you like. Test on a plate. The
glaze should drizzle easily off the spoon but harden fairly quickly once it
cools on the plate.
Dip the tops of each muffin into the glaze as shown in my
photos. Remember that the glaze is hot! So watch your fingers. Finish with an optional sprinkling of Nutmeg Sugar before the glaze hardens.
NUTMEG SUGAR: Whisk together 1/4 cup granulated sugar and ½ teaspoon
nutmeg. Sprinkle over freshly glazed eggnog muffins.
*Star Reviewed ~ Kirkus
"Top Pick" ~ RT Book Reviews
"...a highly satisfying mystery."
~ Publishers Weekly
Update: This contest is now over, but you can still enter the contest at Kings River Life magazine (of CA):
Two new contests to win the
book and extra fun prizes
are starting Christmas Day.
Stop by my website for links to those or
subscribe to my newsletter.
Simply write an e-mail that says "sign me up"
and send it to...
CoffeehouseMystery(at)gmail(dot)com
Read with joy!
~ Cleo Coyle
New York Times bestselling author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries
Yes, this is me, Cleo (aka Alice).
Friend me on facebook here.
Follow me on twitter here.
Visit my online coffeehouse here.
|
To view the
Coffeehouse Mystery book trailer, click here. |
Free Title Checklist!
The Coffeehouse Mysteries are bestselling
works of amateur sleuth fiction set in a landmark
Greenwich Village coffeehouse, and each of the
13 titles includes the added bonus of recipes.
To download a free checklist of titles (in order)
with mini plot summaries, click here.
To download a free checklist of titles (in order)
with mini plot summaries, click here.
The Ghost and Mrs. McClure Book #1 of The Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, which Cleo writes under the name Alice Kimberly To learn more, click here. |
We're so proud of you and Marc! Congrats on the book launch. The eggnog glaze looks so tempting, and I don't love eggnog, but is worth trying! xo
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lucy/Roberta, Marc and I are happy about the HC bestseller status, but our rescue cats are even happier. They know our budget for kibble and nip will remain unmolested--at least for the next year. :)
DeleteHappy holidays and enjoy the Season's Eatings!
~ Cleo
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com
Picture perfect, just like the book.
ReplyDeleteEggnog always sounds so inviting, but wears thin quickly on me. This sounds like the perfect solution to having my nog and enjoying it the whole time.
Libby - That book cover is picture perfect. Our cover artist, Cathy Gendron, has been wonderful. She's been with us since our first book, ON WHAT GROUNDS, now celebrating ten years in print. She's working on next year's cover now...more to come soon on Coffeehouse Mystery #14. On the eggnog--although it is indeed too rich for many people to drink straight, I find that very richness to make a fantastic ingredient in baked goods, especially holiday cakes and cookies.
DeleteI also use it in an eggnog cookie - recipe here:
Click Here for Eggnog Shortbread Cookie Recipe.
Thanks for dropping by and enjoy the holiday's eatings!
~ Cleo Cleo Coyle on Twitter
www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com
It appears to have been an eggnog day. My husband came home from work with a gift he had gotten from a co-worker--an eggnog pound cake!
DeleteI'll put the coffee on!
DeleteBoth recipes sound delicious. I wish I had one to eat right now!
ReplyDeleteKatreader - I wish you did, too--sharing is better for my disappearing waistline! Thanks for dropping by today and have a happy holiday and may your New Year be caffeinated. :)
Delete~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
Love eggnog! Great sounding recipe. I shall make it to have with tea this afternoon!
ReplyDeleteEggnog is indeed a delicious ingredient to use in baking. Here's another tea break idea for you - Eggnog Shortbread Cookies (click the link below...)
DeleteClick Here for Eggnog Shortbread Cookie Recipe.
Enjoy, Martha, and may you have a blessed holiday and New Year...
~ Cleo Cleo Coyle on Twitter
www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com
Absolutely beautiful and so festive, Cleo!
ReplyDelete~Krista
Thanks, Krista, this a great week for festive recipes. A little indulging to celebrate (okay, a lot of indulging--as long as the diet starts in January)!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and may your New Year be blessed...
~ Cleo Cleo Coyle on Twitter
www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com