Holiday Eggnog Pie

8 servings Prep: 15 m Cook: PT0M Total: 15 m Beginner
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Holiday Eggnog Pie
Bringing all the good things of holiday cooking together in one pie—creamy eggnog, vanilla pudding, and plump golden raisins in a graham cracker crust. This festive no-bake dessert is perfect for busy holiday entertaining.

Ingredients

8 servings
  • 1 1/4 cup cold eggnog
  • 1 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 tsp rum extract
  • 1 package (6 oz) vanilla instant pudding
  • 1/2 cup golden raisins
  • 1 baked graham cracker crust
  • whipped topping
  • red/green sugar crystals

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. To plump the raisins, cover them with hot liquid and let stand for 5 minutes, or soak overnight in the refrigerator. Drain before using.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggnog, milk, rum extract, and pudding mix. Beat on high speed for 1 minute until smooth and thickened.
  3. Stir in the raisins (drained if you soaked them to soften).
  4. Pour at once into the baked graham cracker crust. Chill until set, about 1 hour.
  5. Before serving, garnish with whipped topping and sprinkle with red and green sugar crystals.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Why is my pie filling not setting?

A: Make sure you're using instant pudding mix (not cook-and-serve) and that you beat it on high speed for the full minute to activate the thickening. The pie needs at least 1 hour of chilling time to set properly.

Q: Can I make this ahead?

A: Yes, this pie actually benefits from being made ahead. You can prepare it up to 24 hours in advance—just add the whipped topping and sugar crystal garnish right before serving to keep them fresh.

Tips and Techniques

For a stronger rum flavor, you can increase the rum extract to 1 1/2 teaspoons, or for an adult version, replace 1/4 cup of the milk with actual rum. If you don’t have time to soak the raisins, they’ll still work fine—they’ll just be a bit chewier.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • golden raisins: dried cranberries or chopped dried apricots
  • rum extract: vanilla extract or bourbon extract
  • graham cracker crust: vanilla wafer crust or gingersnap crust

Equipment Needed

  • large mixing bowl
  • electric mixer
  • 9-inch pie pan

Historical Context

Eggnog pie became popular in the South during the mid-20th century as a way to enjoy the beloved holiday beverage in dessert form. The no-bake format made it especially appealing for busy holiday cooks.