Frozen Eggnog
A frozen spiked eggnog with store-bought eggnog, bourbon, rum or brandy and fresh nutmeg — a holiday shake for Margaritaville frozen concoction makers.
Jump to recipe ↓Eggnog is the drink of the holiday season, and a frozen concoction maker turns it into a frosty, fluffy slush that’s lighter than a spiked eggnog shake from a blender.
Store-bought eggnog keeps it simple: it’s already sweet, spiced and thick, so you only add your favorite spirit.
Frozen Eggnog recipe
Ingredients (1 drink)
- 3 oz store-bought eggnog, cold
- 1¼ oz bourbon, dark rum or brandy
- 2 Tbsp vanilla ice cream (optional, for a richer shake)
- 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg, plus more to garnish
Plus: a full ice reservoir. Garnish: Freshly grated nutmeg, cinnamon stick. Glass: Rocks glass or punch cup.
Instructions
- Fill the ice reservoir.
- Add eggnog, spirit, ice cream (if using) and nutmeg to the jar.
- Run the cycle (Slides/Smoothies program if available).
- Pour into chilled glasses and grate fresh nutmeg on top. Add a cinnamon stick if you like.
How much to make in your machine
Every Margaritaville frozen concoction maker is designed around a particular volume of liquid — the shaver portions ice for it. The table scales this recipe to the margarita liquid volume printed in each model’s manual (Key West DM1000 / DM1946 3 × 12 oz drinks: 9.75 fl oz; Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM2000 3 × 12 oz drinks: 13 fl oz; Tahiti DM3000 per 24 oz jar: 8.67 fl oz; Bali DM3500 half chamber: 11 fl oz; Bali DM3500 full chamber: 22 fl oz). Amounts are rounded to the nearest ¼ or ⅓ oz.
| Ingredient | Key West DM1000 / DM19463 × 12 oz drinks | Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM20003 × 12 oz drinks | Tahiti DM3000per 24 oz jar | Bali DM3500half chamber | Bali DM3500full chamber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| store-bought eggnog, cold | 6¾ oz | 9 oz | 6 oz | 7⅔ oz | 15¼ oz |
| bourbon, dark rum or brandy | 2¾ oz | 3¾ oz | 2½ oz | 3¼ oz | 6⅓ oz |
| vanilla ice cream (optional, for a richer shake) | 4½ Tbsp | 6 Tbsp | 4 Tbsp | 5 Tbsp | 10¼ Tbsp |
| freshly grated nutmeg, plus more to garnish | 2½ pinch | 3 pinch | 2 pinch | 2½ pinch | 5 pinch |
Scaling is our calculation, not a manufacturer recipe. Fruit- and ice-cream-heavy drinks vary more; adjust with the Shave Only / Blend Only controls. The Key West DM1900 isn’t listed because we haven’t verified its manual yet.
Machine notes for this drink
- Dairy and cream liqueurs make a thick, shake-like drink. Use the Slides setting on the Fiji (the Tahiti manual also lists Mudslides), soften ice cream for five minutes first, and rinse the jar soon after serving.
- The ingredient list is written for a single 12 oz drink, which matches the 1-drink setting on Key West and Fiji dials. Multiply by 2 or 3 and set the Number of Drinks dial to match.
- This batch uses about 4.25 fl oz of liquid for 1 drink. If your drink comes out watery, the manuals’ first fix is to follow the recipe volumes or manually shave more ice; if it’s too stiff, add liquid and Blend Only.
Why this recipe works
Eggnog has plenty of sugar and fat, so it freezes creamy rather than icy. About 1¼ oz of spirit per drink keeps the slush firm — more alcohol and it won’t set.
About boozy milkshakes
Ice-cream drinks use the shaver differently: the fat and sugar in ice cream and cream liqueurs make the texture thick and creamy. Soften the ice cream for 5 minutes, measure it in tablespoons, and rinse the jar promptly afterward — dairy residue is harder to clean once it dries.
Tips for the best texture
- Use store-bought (pasteurized) eggnog. Don’t put raw-egg homemade nog in the machine.
- Bourbon is warm and vanilla-forward, dark rum is sweeter, and brandy is the old-fashioned choice. A mix of rum and brandy is classic.
- Grate nutmeg fresh — it’s much stronger than pre-ground.
- Rinse the jar soon after; eggnog is sticky.
- Never put anything but ice in the ice reservoir, and don’t fill the jar past its maximum line — both are warnings in every manual.
- Too thin? Hold the toggle in Shave Only for a few seconds, then Blend Only to mix it in. Too thick? Add an ounce of liquid and Blend Only.
Serving & make-ahead
Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg, cinnamon stick and serve in a rocks glass or punch cup. Serve boozy milkshakes in chilled glasses with whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate or crushed cookies. They are rich, so a 6–8 oz pour is plenty per person. Rinse the jar and blade soon after, following your manual’s cleaning steps, because dairy dries onto plastic quickly.
Variations
- Gingerbread nog: Add ½ oz gingerbread syrup and a pinch of ground ginger.
- Coffee nog: Swap the spirit for coffee liqueur, or use half and half.
- Peppermint nog: Add ¼ oz peppermint schnapps and rim the glass with crushed candy cane.
Mocktail swap
Skip the spirit and add 1 oz cold milk with a drop of vanilla. Rum extract (a few drops) gives a spiked flavor without the alcohol — note that most extracts contain some alcohol.
Making this for a holiday party, or giving a machine as a gift? Our Margaritaville Machine Gift Guide 2026 covers every model plus mixers, rim salt and glassware.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make 3 drinks?
Triple everything (9 oz eggnog, 3¾ oz spirit) and set the Number of Drinks dial (if your machine has one) to 3.
Dairy-free eggnog?
Oat or almond ‘nog’ works; it will freeze a little icier, so add the ice cream or a dairy-free vanilla frozen dessert.
Can I make it ahead?
Mix the eggnog and spirit in a pitcher and keep it cold. Blend each batch right before serving.
How much ice should I put in the machine?
Fill the ice reservoir with ice cubes — the machine shaves the amount it needs for the cycle (dial models size it to the 1, 2 or 3-drink setting). The manuals recommend ice that has been out of the freezer for 10–15 minutes.
Will this work in a regular blender?
Yes — add about 1½–2 cups of ice per 12 oz drink and blend until smooth. The texture will be coarser than shaved ice.
Please drink responsibly. Alcoholic recipes are for adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). Never drink and drive.
