Eggnog Pie {Easy No-Bake Recipe}

This no-bake eggnog pie recipe is a delicious Christmas dessert, full of delightful holiday flavors and a creamy, decadent texture. The pie is easy to make with just 8 ingredients and 20 minutes prep. Everyone will want a second slice of this homemade eggnog pie!

No-bake eggnog pie

If you’re looking for a festive holiday dessert, this eggnog pie is a delicious treat with a flaky pie crust and a no-bake filling that everybody will love. It’s full of cozy holiday flavors and super creamy.

This time of year, I’m all about all things eggnog. As much as I love gingerbread and candy cane, I think eggnog is my favorite holiday flavor. So I thought turning my favorite yuletide drink into a pie would be fun.

I know eggnog is controversial – folks seem to either love or hate the stuff. If you are an eggnog connoisseur, you are going to love eggnog pie. And even if you aren’t a fan of eggnog, I think you will enjoy this holiday pie recipe.

If you are as eggnog-obsessed as me, be sure to try our baked eggnog pie, eggnog bread pudding, and eggnog banana bread next!

Recipe highlights

• Perfectly flavored: This pie tastes like you’re sipping your favorite cup of eggnog. It’s full of milky-sweet, subtly spiced aromas and has a creamy, smooth texture.
• Easy to make: This eggnog dessert recipe is easy to whip up, leaving you with a delicious pie to enjoy with your family and friends. You only need a handful of simple ingredients and about 20 to 30 minutes prep.
• No–bake: It’s a no-bake pie, so you’ll save precious oven space during the busy holiday cooking.
• Crowd-friendly dessert: You can create no-bake eggnog pie for all kinds of special occasions like Christmas, large family gatherings, and parties.

Ingredients

Here’s everything you need to put this exceptionally tasty eggnog pie together. Please scroll down to the recipe card below for exact measurements.

• Pie crust: You need a 9-inch, deep-dish pie crust. I used my homemade 3-ingredient pie crust. Of course, you could also opt for a store-bought pie shell to save time.
• Eggnog: I love making this pie with condensed milk eggnog or vanilla eggnog, which are both non-alcoholic and kid-friendly. Store-bought works excellent too. According to Serious Eats, Turkey Hill Dairy and Organic Valley make the best eggnogs.
• Sugar: We need a little white granulated sugar to sweeten the no-bake eggnog pie filling.
• Heavy cream makes the texture light and airy. Your heavy cream needs to be very cold to whip up properly.
• Gelatin ensures the no-bake filling sets up.
• Vanilla extract adds depth of flavor.
• Rum extract gives the pie that classic eggnog taste.
• Salt: A touch of salt enhances the other aromas.

Garnish

I decorated my eggnog pie recipe with tuffs of sweetened whipped cream, a sprinkle of ground nutmeg, pie crust snowflakes, candied cherries, and gold star sprinkles.

• Pie crust stars: I used this beautiful set of snowflake plunger cutters to stamp out cookies from leftover pie dough scraps. They bake at 350°F / 180°C / gas mark 4 for about 7 to 9 minutes.

How to make eggnog pie

I love no-bake desserts, and this easy eggnog pie is no exception. It may take a while to chill, but the actual preparations are pretty quick. Let’s go over the instructions step-by-step!

#1: Bloom gelatin

• Pour the water into a small bowl and stir in the gelatin. Set aside for 5 to 10 minutes, until thickened.

#2: Cook eggnog

• Meanwhile, put the eggnog, sugar, and salt into a saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is hot (but not boiling).

#3: Dissolve gelatin

• Whisk the gelatin into the warm eggnog until dissolved and well incorporated.
• Next, stir in the vanilla extract and rum extract.
• Take the eggnog off the heat and allow it to cool to room temperature.

#4: Whip cream

• Using a hand-held mixer and a large mixing bowl or a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
• Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the cooled eggnog mixture.

#5: Assemble + chill pie

• Pour eggnog pie filling into the pie crust. Gently wiggle the pie pan to distribute the filling evenly.
• Refrigerate the pie for at least 4 hours or overnight.

#6: Decorate

• Pipe swirls of sweetened whipped cream on top of the pie.
• Optionally garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg, pie crust stars, and candied cherries.

Tips for success

If you’re not familiar with making no-bake pies, take a minute to read over these tips and tricks. Perfectly creamy eggnog pie is right around the corner!

• Don’t boil the eggnog: The trick is to warm the eggnog just enough so that the sugar and gelatin dissolve. Gelatin melts around 104°F / 40°C, but the gelling strength rapidly declines above 150°F / 65°C.
• Use cold cream because it whips up the quickest and lightest. It helps to place the mixing bowl and beaters in the fridge for 15 minutes before whipping the cream.
• Let the eggnog cool: The eggnog mixture needs to be at room temperature. Otherwise, the heavy cream will melt if you combine it with warm eggnog.
• Plan ahead: Plan some time for this no-bake eggnog pie recipe to chill in the refrigerator. The gelatin needs a couple of hours to chill and set up.

Variations

Eggnog pie is pretty versatile. Don’t be afraid to change things up to make this Christmas pie recipe your own!

• Chocolate eggnog pie: Instead of classic eggnog, try this recipe with chocolate eggnog. You can also use other flavors, like peppermint eggnog, pumpkin eggnog, or chai spice eggnog.
• Spices: Add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves + 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg to the filling for an extra cozy aroma.
• White chocolate: To make white chocolate eggnog pie, add 1/2 cup white chocolate chips when you heat the eggnog and sugar on the stove.
• Fruit cocktail: Fruit cocktail eggnog pie is a fruity twist of the classic, and the fruit pieces look like beautiful gemstones. Check out my fruit cocktail eggnog pie recipe here!
• Sprinkles: Decorate your pie with colorful holiday sprinkles to make it more festive. I love these holiday sprinkles from Wilton and these adorable Santa sprinkles.

Storage instructions

How to store eggnog pie

Store leftover eggnog pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last 4 to 5 days. You can enjoy the pie cold or let it sit on the counter for 20 minutes to warm up slightly.

How long can eggnog pie sit out of the fridge?

This no-bake Christmas pie is sturdy enough to sit out of the fridge for 1 to 2 hours, but otherwise, you want to refrigerate it because of the eggnog and whipped cream.

Keep in mind that if you use Reddi-Whip or Cool Whip in place of real cream, it will melt much faster and your swirls won’t hold up as well. If that’s the route you want to take, wait to garnish the pie just before serving.

Make eggnog pie ahead of time

You can make this easy eggnog pie recipe several days in advance if you want to get ahead of a busy holiday. Simply prepare the pie as directed and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Hold off on garnishing the pie right before serving to ensure your decorations look fresh and beautiful.

Be sure to place the pie into an airtight container, so it stays fresh and doesn’t take on any funky smells from the fridge.

Can you freeze no-bake eggnog pie?

No, I don’t suggest freezing this eggnog pie. The no-bake filling can break down, and the pie won’t have the same taste and texture once thawed.

FAQ

What is eggnog?

Eggnog is a milk and egg-based drink traditionally served during the Christmas season in North and South America. It is served warm or cold, sometimes spiked with liquor like rum, brandy, or whiskey.

Eggnog used to be a homemade recipe. However, in recent years, commercially prepared eggnog became available that is sold in grocery stores seasonally during the winter months.

What’s in eggnog?

Classic eggnog is prepared with milk and/or heavy cream, eggs and/or additional yolks, egg whites, and spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon.

What does eggnog taste like?

Eggnog is a sweet, milky drink subtly spiced with cozy spices and occasionally alcohol. Its texture is thicker than regular milk. Instead, the consistency is similar to melted ice cream or heavy cream.

As a result, eggnog is enjoyed as a dessert drink, similar to how you would drink hot chocolate or coffee after a meal.

What is eggnog pie?

Eggnog pie is a cream pie made with real eggnog. It can either be a custard pie baked in the oven or a no-bake pie, where you add the filling to a pre-baked pie crust and refrigerate the pie until it sets up.

Does this pie taste like eggnog?

Yes! The pie filling tastes exactly like eggnog because we’re adding plenty of real eggnog to it.

Can I make this pie with homemade eggnog?

Of course! Homemade eggnog is perfect for this recipe. Be sure to cook your eggnog the day before so it has time to cool and set.

Could I use a graham cracker crust?

Sure! You can create your own graham cracker crust or pick up a prepared crust at the store.

Can I use boozy eggnog for this recipe?

We are non-drinkers, so I have never tested this pie with alcoholic eggnog. However, too much alcohol can denature the proteins in gelatin, rendering it useless.

To be on the safe side, I would prepare this pie with non-alcoholic eggnog and only add a splash of liquor. I’d hate for you to make this pie and not have it set up properly.

Reasons to love this no-bake eggnog pie

This no-bake eggnog is the perfect holiday dessert

Try this holiday pie if you’re looking for a dessert that celebrates the holiday season and is a crowd-pleaser. It uses plenty of eggnog and rum extract, which gives the pie a gently spiced holiday aroma. And then there’s the creamy, smooth texture that contrasts so beautifully with the buttery pie crust.

The easy eggnog pie recipe comes together quickly

One of the reasons I love this Christmas eggnog pie so much is that it’s so easy to make. Unlike baked pies, the filling is no-bake, and the refrigerator does all the work. You can even use a store-bought pie shell to make your life easier.

Homemade eggnog stores well

The pie is refrigerated and keeps pretty well. It stays fresh for up to 5 days after it’s made. I actually liked the pie better the day after I first made it because the flavors had more time to mingle, making it taste extra festive.

More holiday pie recipes

If you really want to impress your guest this holiday season, bring a homemade pie to the table. They are easier to make than you think and taste insanely good!

• Cranberry Custard Pie
• Sawdust Pie
• Cinnamon Pie
• Classic Pumpkin Pie
• Pecan Pie
• Sweet Potato Pie
• Pumpkin Custard Pie
• Lemon Pie
• Canned Peach Pie