Fudgy Eggnog Bars with Eggnog Glaze — The eggnog equivalent of fudgy brownies crossed with eggnog fudge! Best use ever of eggnog!!
Fudgy Eggnog Bars Recipe
I’ve made versions of these bars with lemon, bananas, and pumpkin. Now it’s time for the eggnog edition.
I usually want one or two mugs of eggnog per season, and then find myself with a whole carton to use. That’s when it’s time to start baking with it.
Fudgy is the only word that describes the bars. They’re like biting into a piece of soft eggnog fudge that’s the eggnog equivalent of moist, fudgy brownies.
It’s an easy, no-mixer recipe that’s packed with big eggnog flavor. If you’re an eggnog fan, you’re going to love the bars. There’s eggnog in the batter, but it’s the eggnog glaze that just makes the bars. It adds such a huge additional boost of eggnog flavor.
After pouring the glaze over the warm bars, it seeps down and soaks in, and makes the bars even moister, softer, and fudgier.
The cookie bars are what McCormick calls the ‘Cookies Reimagined trend‘ on their Flavor Forecast. It’s about taking classic cookie flavors and using them in a new form to create decadent, imaginative desserts. Move over, traditional milk and cookies, and make room for eggnog cookie bars.
Between the warming spices of cinnamon and nutmeg, coupled with the sweet eggnog glaze, the bars will instantly put you in the holiday spirit.
What’s in Eggnog Bars?
To make this easy eggnog dessert, you’ll need:
- White chocolate chips
- Unsalted butter
- Egg
- Granulated sugar
- Eggnog
- McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
- McCormick Ground Cinnamon
- McCormick Ground Nutmeg
- Salt
- Confectioners’ sugar
How to Make Eggnog Bars
Gently melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave, then egg, sugar, eggnog, and vanilla. Add the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and stir until just combined.
Turn the batter into a greased 8×8-inch pan, then bake until done. Let the bars cool slightly.
While the bars are cooling, make the eggnog glaze. Spread evenly over the bars, then allow bars to cool in pan uncovered for at least 2 to 3 hours
Can I Double This Recipe?
Yes! Double the ingredients and bake in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
How to Store These Bars
Bars will keep airtight at room temperature for a few days (I’m comfortable storing glazed items at room temp for a few days; then move into the fridge if you have any left), or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Tips for Making Eggnog Cookie Bars
These are rich, soft, supremely moist, tooth-sinkingly dense, and satisfying. If you’re looking for a fluffy slice of eggnog bread, they’re not that. You could add a teaspoon of baking powder to give them some lift, but I’m partial to the dense, fudgy texture.
You’re welcome to use lite or low-fat eggnog, if desired.
Note that the bars can still be slightly warm when you pour on the glaze. They have to set for a couple hours before you can slice into them anyways!
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Fudgy Eggnog Bars with Eggnog Glaze
The eggnog equivalent of fudgy brownies crossed with eggnog fudge! Best use ever of eggnog!!
Ingredients
Bars
- 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
- 1 large egg
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup eggnog (lite or low-fat okay)
- 2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract (or McCormick Rum Extract
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon McCormick Ground Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon McCormick Ground Nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Glaze
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- about 1/3 cup eggnog, or as necessary for consistency
- 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract (or McCormick Rum Extract
- McCormick Ground Nutmeg, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
Bars:
- In a large, microwave-safe bowl add the white chocolate, butter, and heat to melt, about 2 minutes on high power. Stop to check and stir after 1 minute, and then heat in 20-second bursts, stopping to stir after each burst, until mixture can be stirred smooth. White chocolate is very prone to scorching and seizing up, so watch it carefully and don’t overheat.
- Wait momentarily before adding the egg so you don’t scramble it. Add the egg, sugar, eggnog, vanilla, and whisk until combined.
- Add the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and stir until just combined; don’t overmix.
- Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.
- Bake for about 29 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter; set aside and make the glaze.
Glaze:
- In a medium bowl, add confectioners’ sugar, 1/3 cup eggnog, vanilla, and whisk until smooth. As necessary, add additional eggnog (or sugar) to reach desired glaze consistency. Glaze should be fairly thin and easily pourable.
- Evenly pour glaze over bars (they don’t have to be cooled completely), smoothing it lightly with a spatula if necessary, but glaze will likely just slide into place.
- Sprinkle with nutmeg as desired.
- Allow bars to cool in pan uncovered for at least 2 to 3 hours, (or overnight and cover with a sheet of foil) before slicing and serving so glaze can set up.
Notes
Storage: Bars will keep airtight at room temperature for a few days (I’m comfortable storing glazed items at room temp for a few days; then move into the fridge if you have any left), or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Adapted from Lemon Lemonies, Fudgy Banana Bars, Fudgy Pumpkin Bars.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
9Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 461Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 95mgCarbohydrates: 68gFiber: 1gSugar: 49gProtein: 5g
More Easy Christmas Desserts:
Softbatch No-Roll Holiday Cookies— These tender, buttery holiday cookies use a no-roll dough with the sprinkles baked right in so you don’t even have to decorate them!
Iced Gingerbread Bars — Soft, chewy bars that are full of rich gingery molasses flavor!! Wayyyy faster and easier than rolling out gingerbread cookies! No mixer, no fuss, and the sweet icing seals the deal!!
Crustless Cranberry Pie —A FAST, super EASY, no-mixer dessert that’s perfect for holiday entertaining!! Somewhere in between pie, cake, and blondies is what you get with this FESTIVE recipe!
Soft and Chewy M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies – If you’re looking for a new M&M cookie recipe, this is THE ONE! Soft, buttery, and irresistible!!
Holiday Special K Bars — Super chewy, gooey, FAST, easy, no-bake cereal bars loaded with peanut butter, chocolate, and sprinkles!! Like scotcheroos but with Special K!
Crème Brûlée Cookies – Super SOFT sugar cookies topped with tangy cream cheese frosting and caramelized sugar!! If you’re a crème brûlée fan, you’re going to LOVE these cookies!
Christmas White Chocolate Blondies with Cream Cheese Frosting — SOFT, buttery blondies loaded with white chocolate, sprinkles, and tangy cream cheese frosting!! EASY and perfect for Christmas parties and holiday events!!
Post is brought to you by McCormick. The recipe, text, images, and opinions expressed are my own.
I made these for a holiday party. The recipe and pictures looked so good! But I was majorly disappointed with the outcome. The bars were dense, but they weren’t fudgy, so it was … just dense and think. Sat like a brick in the belly. The taste was bland. I feel like I did something wrong. Did it need baking powder or something? The glaze was good but I wish I’d poured out over something else. Help!
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the recipe. I tried to communicate as much possible what the texture of the bars was, as I made them and they worked out for me, but I’m sorry yours didn’t work out the same way.
I live in San Diego too!!! Love these fudgy bars! Shared them on google+! Thanks Averie!
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Averie,
I’m very excited to create this recipe for our Christmas meal. The pictures are fantastic!! Since I live in a high altitude area, I’m wondering if I need to increase my oven temperature and decrease the time the dessert spends in the oven? Do you have any thoughts or feedback?
Happy Holidays!
Honestly I live at sea level (San Diego) and have zero experience with altitude baking. I know there are lots of websites (I’d check out King Arthur flour’s tips on altitude baking) and then play it by ear. Sorry I just am way out of my element with altitude questions.
OMG! I tried these fudgy eggnog bars yesterday, and wow! THEY ARE AMAZINGLY TASTY AND SOOOOOO GOOD, all my family like them :D
It taste Christmas and it’s perfect, thank you for the recipe, i really love your blog ^_^
Thanks for the compliments and glad you love my blog and the bars and that your family approves too!
Hi there, I made these tonight and wanted to let you know they were a huge hit! It was a test batch for Christmas, so my family is pleased they’ll be getting more soon! Thank you!!!!!
Glad the test batch came out great and that there will be a repeat! :)
I love these!! I made my first batch of Eggnog this year and had a glass, then had loads left and too many ideas of things to make! I definitely think it’s amazing in baked goods, but I’m not sure I could drink tons of it – I love the taste, but I find it quite rich, so these are just perfect!
Beautiful photos! :)
Thank you!!
NO one can cut a bar as perfectly as YOU! I’m always wowed by those gorgeous squares! :)
Awwww, thank you!! You are toooooo kind!!! I honestly don’t think I do anything that special but people do comment on this often so thank you for noticing :)
It looks so fudgy I can barely handle it. You know the way to my heart, Averie! Pinned :)
Thanks for pinning, Sarah! :)
Ironically enough, I actually prefer baking with eggnog over drinking it! I hadn’t tried it until last year, but… I was totally hooked. I nearly forgot all about gingerbread and peppermint this year – I was SO excited for eggnog to be back on the shelves! And anything that resembles brownies is automatically my favorite. :)
Yum! My stomach is grumbling! They look delicious, fudgey and sweet. These are perfect for Christmtas. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Thank you for all your great recipes!
My goodness! These look incredible. It’s not often that sweets grab my attention but I just had to check this one out. I know what to make for Christmas dessert when I get home.
Thanks for the compliments & hope you enjoythem!
Great idea to use leftover eggnog for cooking! These look so moist and fudgy!
Oh how I wish I could take a big bite out of my computer screen! These look incredible Averie! I love the double eggnog :)
Oh my Averie, these look like pure bars of Christmas decadence! Absolutely perfect!
I looooove you for these. And all the other versions. I’d like to swim in the glaze!!
It was the best part. I seriously wanted to just eat it straight out of the bowl :)
Another fantastic recipe Averie! Hope you’re doing well :)
Thanks Eric and happy holidays to you!!
You’re like me–one small glass of eggnog is usually all I want. My S-I-L brought “pumpkin milk” for our Thanksgiving celebration. It turned out to be orange-colored eggnog … sorry, I’m on a tangent right now. If my kids leave me with leftover eggnog, I’ll have to try these bars!
Love those surprise buys…gah. And then you’re like WHAT am I going to do with this. Oh boy, been there! If you have leftover nog, these are a great use for it!
These look amazing. I’ll try this recipe with pumpkin. Thanks for sharing!
Wow! It’s official, you are the queen of cookie bars!
I adore eggnog it’s my favorite holiday treat and I look forward to it right after Halloween…I never have any I’m trying to use up but I have no problem buying more to try these bars out…can’t wait they look perfect
Well if you’re an eggnog fan I think you will love these! LMK if you end up trying them!
These bars are perfect in every way. They’re like little heavenly clouds of eggnog-y goodness.
Fudgy eggnog – yum this sounds amazing! I love eggnog and will devour it using any recipe I can find. I get 1 or 2 cartons and add it to my morning coffee – it’s my version of heaven :)
Last weekend when I was at the grocery store I was all of a sudden just craving eggnog (which is the first time I think that craving has ever hit me, weird). I bought a soy version, had a glass, and still have most of the carton left in my fridge. This would be the most perfect way ever to use it up! Maybe I’ll add a dash of whiskey in there too…
I love the way you think :) DO IT!
I love eggnog. These 2 eggnog recipes looks so good! I must try them this Xmas.
I am loving all things eggnog at the moment! These look wonderful!
those bars look fantastic! I mean out of this world. They scream christmas!
Your fudgy bars look amazing, as always! The glaze – I could eat it with a spoon! Pinned!
Thank you for the compliments and pin, Anna! :)
I really like eggnog but I rarely buy it. I can always count on my dad to have some when I go home around the holidays to visit my parents. He would love these bars ( and so would I)!! I don’t know what my mom has on the menu but I think I’ll offer to bring these for dessert.
Oh if he’s an eggnog fan, I bet he’ll love these! :)
Wow, Averie, these bars look amazing! Love how dense and fudgy that base looks and the eggnog glaze…I’d be eating that right off the spoon!
I’m not a big eggnog fan, but I think these are my favorite of all our fudgy bars – they just look so Christmasy
We love all things egg nog here…I need to try one of your fudgy bar recipes soon…they all look so good!
Thank you and I keep seeing your amazing goodies all over the foodie sites and they always look amazing!
mmm! as a recent eggnog convert, I can say I would be ALL OVER these. yum!
Mmm. I do love all of your fudgy bar recipes, Averie! I’m with you – I’ll take the dense fudgy texture over the fluffy bread texture any day when it comes to bars!