Eggnog Chocolate Chip Bread with Brown Butter Glaze

Eggnog Chocolate Chip Bread.

November 26, 2012

Please indulge me for a moment while I discuss how eggnog is weird for the third year in a row.

I mean, it’s weird, but I like it. I don’t know. I have such mixed feelings. The minute I spy it in the store, I buy a jug and then probably consume less than a full glass. Maybe I just love the IDEA of eggnog?

Yeah. That’s probably it.

I’m such a crazy dreamer that all year long I have these wonderful visions in my head of standing in a warm, fire-glowy house, decorating a tree and sipping on the perfect little glass of eggnog dusted with nutmeg in my perfect little life. Uh, perfect little life? You can show up now.

You’d think I’d learn year after year or something, but maybe my brain just freaks out and forgets eleven months later that rarely do I ever finish a container of eggnog. Ever. But no. Just keep on dreaming in my dreamer mind.

Anyhoo. What I’m really trying to say is that eggnog isn’t really my cup of, well… eggnog, when it comes to using it in beverage form. I love a few tastes throughout the season, especially if it’s spiked (but of course), but it’s almost too creamy and rich, even for me. And yeah, if I’m talking about something being too rich? It’s rich. This is the person that can eat like four slices of cheesecake in one sitting. Rich doesn’t have anything on my tastebuds.

But the thing is, I really love the flavor of eggnog. And I clearly love the whole concept since I’m the most into-the-holidays cliche ever evah. So baking with it? Well, I’m all over that.

Last year I made an eggnog crumble crunch cake and because I’m a texture freak, absolutely loved it. I wanted to do something similar for the season, albeit a little simpler, in order to have an eggnog idea when it came to homemade gifts and snacks around the house. And I think we can all agree that while quick breads often end up being a dessert, they are totally a breakfast food. They just… are. It’s bread. You eat bread for breakfast. It all adds up. Simple addition.

I have no idea why I’ve always hated math so much.

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Eggnog Chocolate Chip Bread with Brown Butter Eggnog Glaze

Yield: one 9x5 loaf

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 50-55 minutes

Total Time: 1.5 hours

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 1/8 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup eggnog
2/3 cup chocolate chips tossed in 2 teaspoons of flour

glaze
1/4 cup brown butter
1/2-3/4 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons eggnog

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x5 loaf pan and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, powder, nutmeg and salt until combined. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk cooled butter with sugar until smooth. Add in vanilla extract, mixing until combined, then whisk in each egg one at a time until totally combined. Add half of the flour mixture, stirring with a large spoon, then stir in the eggnog until smooth. Add remaining dry ingredients and stir until just combined and smooth. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour in the greased loaf pan. Bake for 50-55 minutes, until top is golden and cake is just set. Let cool completely, then cover in glaze.

To make glaze, whisk together brownie butter, sugar and eggnog, stirring well for 1-2 full minutes until combined. If it still doesn’t appear glaze-like, add in eggnog 1/2 tablespoon at a time and mix again. Don’t worry if it becomes too liquidy – just add a tiny bit of powdered sugar until you get the desired consistency. Spoon glaze on bread then serve.

Note: this is not overly eggnog-y. The flavor is there but somewhat minimal. Chances are if you do not like eggnog, you will probably still enjoy this bread!