My Favorite Tom & Jerry Recipe

A Tom & Jerry is a classic winter beverage that every cocktail drinker should try at some point. It’s a sweet, frothy, warm drink that is flavored with dark rum and cognac and it has been a holiday favorite since the 1820s. There’s just one thing: the Tom & Jerry is not the easiest drink to make, but it is worth it. I’m showing you how to make my favorite Tom & Jerry recipe just in time for Christmas.

The Tom & Jerry is a descendant of eggnog but not eggnog. The main difference is that the Tom & Jerry is served warm and the drink is built in the serving mug. Eggnog, on the other hand, is cold and already mixed and ready to drink. The Tom & Jerry is, however, a fantastic alternative to Eggnog and many drinkers prefer it because it is more of a warm milk punch and has less of an ‘eggy’ flavor. First, I’ll show you how to prepare the batter then how to assemble the drink.

Tom & Jerry batter, serves 12

6 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 stick of butter, room temperature
1/2 tsp. allspice, ground
1/2 tsp. cinnamon, ground
1/2 tsp. cloves, ground
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Separate the egg whites from yolks into two large bowls. Add butter and sugar to egg yolks and beat with an electric stand mixer. In a separate bowl beat the egg whites to stiff peaks. Gently fold egg whites into yolk mixture until color and consistency are the same.To finish the batter, stir in allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla.

Tom & Jerry, serves 1

1 oz. cognac

1 oz. dark rum

1 tbsp. Tom & Jerry batter

warm milk

nutmeg, for garnish

The hard part is over and now we can make our cocktail. To assemble Tom and Jerrys, gently heat milk in a saucepan over low heat (amount depends on how many drinks you plan to serve). For two servings I heated 1 cup of milk. This will also depend on the size of your serving vessels. While constantly stirring batter, add brandy and rum. Fill to the top with milk and stir until foamy.

Grate fresh nutmeg on top for garnish. Sip and enjoy!

The Tom & Jerry is much like making a Hot Buttered Rum. It all begins with mixing the spiced batter, which can be refrigerated or frozen until it’s time for a drink. Once that is done, it’s as simple as pouring warm milk over your liquor and batter. It’s a fabulous way to have a tasty hot cocktail ready for holiday visitors and parties.

You can also serve this in a Tom & Jerry punch set. My glasses are a part of a vintage set but I opted not to shoot a whole bowl or else I would have been drunk on a Monday afternoon. Not a terrible thing right? But really bad for productivity. I’m so happy I got to share my favorite Tom & Jerry recipe with you in time for the holidays. It’s the perfect drink to make for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day. Please chime in on the comments if you decide to make this and let me know how it turns out! Cheers everyone and don’t forget to eat, drink, and be merry! xo