Eggnog is one of those things that you either love or hate. I'll be honest, I try it every year only to remind myself, again, that it is just not for me. Drinking a thick, sweet egg-based beverage somehow doesn't appeal to me but I love the flavor combination, and wanted to make an attempt at using eggnog flavors in an entirely different way.
As I was researching a recipe for homemade eggnog, it struck me how similar it is, in ingredients and method, to tiramisu. Classic tiramisu is one of my go-to dessert recipes, and I feel comfortable making it.
So what do I do? Combine the two things, of course. All that sweet, boozy, creamy deliciousness is just destined to be together. I eliminated the espresso from a traditional tiramisu recipe and upped the booze, using both brandy and bourbon. With the addition of some nutmeg and some eggnog whipped into the cream, all those delightful holiday flavors come together in one cake. Now you can have your holiday eggnog and eat it too.
This article appears in Dec 23-29, 2010.