How to Make Rompope (Mexican Eggnog)

Rompope, also called ‘Mexican Eggnog’, is a delicious egg punch traditional for the holiday season. Similar to Eggnog its a rich flavorful cocktail punch but you can make it alcohol-free too!

Rompope is a holiday tradition in Latin America. Whether purchased at the store or made at home, the holidays aren’t complete without it. 

The wonderful rich flavor will remind you of American homemade eggnog. 

It’s a great addition to seasonal celebrations, served warm or cold!

What is Rompope?

An egg punch with milk, egg yolks, sugar and liquor. This recipe includes ground almonds too.

Like Eggnog it’s widely available in stores in Latin America around the holidays but many families prefer to make their own. 

Unlike American eggnog which is sold in stores without alcohol (for the most part) Rompope is sold with liquor added.

Making your own Rompope makes it easy to make an alcohol version for drinking adults and a non-alcohol version.

The liquor is added at the end so that step can be skipped if desired.

Origin of Rompope

The first Rompope, derived from Spanish ponche de huevo (egg punch), was brewed by 17th century nuns in the Santa Clara convent in Puebla, Mexico.

According to legend, one of the nuns, Sister Eduviges, requested that the nuns be allowed to drink the Rompope. To this point they were only permitted to make it.

Their Mother Superior granted permission for only one glass per Sister. 

They then began to make enough to have surplus to sell it commercially.

Legend also has it that there was one secret ingredient in the recipe that Sister Eduviges took with her to the grave.*

Recipe Ingredients 

• Whole Milk
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Lemon Rind
• Vanilla Extract
• Baking Soda
• Blanched Almonds
• Granulated Sugar
• Egg Yolks
• White Rum

How to Make it

Detailed printable recipe card below.

Step 1: Making the milk based. Bring the milk, lemon rind, cinnamon sticks and baking soda to a boil in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Lower heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 2. Make an almond paste. Grind the almonds with 2 tablespoons sugar in a food processor, mini chopper or clean coffee grinder until finely ground. Combine with the egg yolks and rest of the sugar, stirring to make a thick paste.

Step 3: Combine the ingredients. VERY slowly add the hot milk to the yolk mixture, stirring the entire time. Return the mixture to the stove and cook over low heat until it thickens enough to coat a spoon.

Step 4. Follow instructions for serving below.

How To Serve Rompope

How to Serve it Warm

If serving warm, add the rum and serve in mugs. Nutmeg can be sprinkled on top.

How to Serve it Chilled

Allow to cool slightly. Place in a sealed jar or other airtight container and cool completely about 2 hours minimum.

Stir in the rum just before serving.

It can be served in a glass with or without ice. 

Pro Tips

Remove the lemon peel with a vegetable peeler. This makes it easier to separate the rind from the bitter white pith underneath.

Add the hot milk VERY slowly to not scramble the eggs. The eggs will need to be tempered, meaning adding the hot milk very slowly and stirring constantly.

This cools the milk mixture as it combines with the room temperature egg yolks.

If the liquid it poured too fast or stirring is not constant, the egg yolks will begin to clump and scramble.

Frequently Asked Questions

Storing Rompope

Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 3 weeks if made with rum.

If making an alcohol free version store only for 3 days.

More Recipes You’ll Love!

• Wassail
• Mulled Wine (Gluhwein)
• Glogg  (Scandanavian Mulled Wine)
• Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch

Rompope

Rompope is served chilled, often over ice, but it can be served warm, which is how I prefer it when cold weather sets in. Either way, it’s rich, velvety, fragrant, and certainly full of cheer.” – Winter Cocktails {Quirk Books}

5 from 12 votes

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Course: Cocktail

Cuisine: Latin American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 10 6-ounce (3/4 cup) servings (total yield aproximately 8 cups)

Calories: 1063kcal

Author: Toni Dash

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Ingredients

• ▢ 6 cups whole milk
• ▢ 2 cinnamon sticks
• ▢ Rind of 1 lemon*
• ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ 2/3 cup blanched almonds
• ▢ 11/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar divided
• ▢ 8 large egg yolks whisked
• ▢ 1 cup white rum

Instructions

• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the milk, cinnamon, lemon rind, vanilla, and baking soda to a boil over medium-high heat.

  Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside.
• While the milk mixture is cooking, combine the blanched almonds with 2 tablespoons of the sugar in a food processor, mini chopper or clean coffee grinder. Process until ground to a fine paste.
• Place the ground almond mixture to a large bowl. Add the whisked egg yolks and the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar, stirring until a thick paste forms.
• Discard the cinnamon and lemon rind from the milk mixture. Slowly pour the hot milk mixture into the almond paste mixture whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from scrambling.
• Return mixture to pan and cook over low heat, constantly stirring and scraping the bottom and sides of the pan. Do this until the mixture until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.

  For the smoothest consistency, strain through a fine mesh strainer.
• To serve warm: Stir in rum or aguardiente and serve in mugs.

  To serve chilled: Allow the mixture to cool slightly then place in a jar or airtight container in the refrigerator to fully chill. Stir in rum or aguardiente just before serving. Can be served on its own or over ice.
• Optional topping: whipped cream, cinnamon sticks a sprinkle of nutmeg.

Notes

*Remove the lemon rind with a vegetable peeler, being careful to avoid the white pith, which will impart a bitter flavor.

Using Rum or Aguardiente

The recipe originally called for white rum OR Aguardiente. Aguardiente literally means “burning water” in Spanish. It is a strong (29% -60% ABV) spirit distilled from fruits, grains, and commonly sugarcane. It can be substituted for the white rum if desired.

Recipe adapted with permission from Winter Cocktails cookbook (Quirk Books, 2013)

Nutrition

Calories: 1063kcal | Carbohydrates: 200g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 232mg | Sodium: 143mg | Potassium: 376mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 197g | Vitamin A: 619IU | Calcium: 301mg | Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!

This recipe was originally shared November 1, 2013. *Excerpts and adapted recipe from Winter Cocktails (Quirk Books, 2013).