This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure.
We’re not talking about the famous cat and mouse cartoon here – the Tom and Jerry drink is a recipe for a cozy winter cocktail with warm spices that’s perfect for Christmas!
It’s easy to get caught up in the fast-paced holiday whirlwind, but I love vintage Christmas traditions. Things like mincemeat pie, Christmas caroling, cookie exchanges with heirloom Christmas cookies, and roasting chestnuts.
They aren’t nostalgic for me because they harken back to an era before my time (and likely before your time too!). But somehow, these traditions feel even more festive. And they make you slow down and be present in the moment.
Along those lines, enter this Tom and Jerry drink! If you like eggnog, I think you’ll love this. It’s a classic, and while there’s some debate as to when and where it was first made (I’ll get into that more later in this article), this festive Christmas cocktail is likely from Dickensian Victorian England. Talk about traditional!
What is a Tom and Jerry Drink?
This drink is a classic holiday libation that contains Tom and Jerry batter (think of it as liquid marshmallow with Christmas spices), warm milk, and rum, and garnished with nutmeg. I know what you’re thinking: what the heck is Tom & Jerry batter?!
The batter (also called Tom and Jerry mix), is where the magic happens. It combines whipped egg whites with a beaten spiced butter, sugar, and egg yolk mixture. The resulting concoction is about as thick as cake batter, but with consistency similar liquid marshmallow.
The batter is kept in a separate bowl, and Tom and Jerry drinks are mixed individually as needed by combining the batter with warm milk and rum (or brandy or whiskey) in individual cups. (Side Note: You can often find Tom and Jerry punch bowl sets at vintage shops; a common manufacturer was Hazel Atlas, who made a milk glass set.) Once the cups of Christmas punch are mixed up, each drink is garnished with nutmeg for the coziest holiday cocktail ever.
And of course you can leave out the booze to make this classic Christmas drink family-friendly!
Ingredients
Breaking It Down
Ingredients Explained
In this section I explain the ingredients and give substitution ideas where applicable. For the full recipe (including the ingredient amounts), see the recipe card below.
Tom and Jerry Batter (Mix) Ingredients
- Eggs – Make sure they’re at room temperature, and separate them into whites and yolks.
- Cream of tartar – To help stabilize the whipped egg whites.
- Salt – A natural flavor enhancer.
- Sugar – We use regular granulated white sugar as the sweetener here.
- Unsalted butter – For richness.
- Dark rum – For the Tom and Jerry drink, you can use dark rum, spiced rum, brandy, or whiskey; or you can just omit it if you prefer.
- Vanilla extract – For depth of flavor and aroma. Combined with the marshmallow-y texture of whipped egg whites, vanilla helps contribute to the marshmallow-y flavor.
- Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves – This warm spice blend makes this drink festive and perfect for the holiday season.
Tom and Jerry Drink (Cocktail) Ingredients
- Milk – I use whole milk, but you can use whatever your favorite milk is. Warm it until steaming hot to make this drink.
- Dark rum – Just like in the Tom and Jerry batter recipe, you can use dark rum, spiced rum, brandy, or whiskey here. Or for the non-alcoholic version, omit the rum, increase the milk, and if you want, add 1 teaspoon of rum extract.
- Tom and Jerry batter – This recipe makes about 2 cups of batter total. I keep the drinks on the small side (because like eggnog, it’s rich), and I use about 2 tablespoons of batter per drink.
- Freshly-grated nutmeg – For garnish. You could use cinnamon instead if you like.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here are step-by-step photo instructions to walk you through making this recipe. For the recipe video, please see the recipe card below.
How to Make Tom and Jerry Batter (aka Mix)
- Whip the egg whites. Add the egg whites to a medium bowl and use a handheld electric mixer to beat until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and salt, and continue beating until the egg whites form stiff peaks.
- Beat the egg yolks separately. To a large bowl, add the egg yolks, sugar, and butter, and use a handheld electric mixer to beat until creamy. Add the rum, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves, and beat until thick and smooth.
- Combine the yolk mixture and whipped whites. Fold 1/3 of the egg white mixture to the egg yolk mixture at a time, being careful not to over-mix and completely deflate the egg whites.
- Cover and chill. When you’re done, the mix should have a thick texture similar to a fluffy cake batter (or liquid marshmallow!). Store Tom and Jerry cocktail batter covered in the fridge until serving.
How to Make a Tom and Jerry Drink
Heat a mug by filling it with hot water and then pouring the water out. Add the warm milk, rum, and Tom and Jerry Batter to the warm mug. Lightly whisk until the drink is foamy. Sprinkle on a little freshly-grated nutmeg. Enjoy!
Storage Tips
I’ve done a lot of research on this and some say you should use Tom and Jerry batter within 4 hours of making it, and others say you can keep it in the fridge for up to 1 week. Generally, I make it and serve it in the same day. No matter how long you keep it, make sure you store it covered the fridge. Also, note that the batter separates as it sits, so stir it before mixing up your individual drinks.
How to Make a Non-Alcoholic Tom and Jerry
For an alcohol-free version, you can skip the booze in this Christmastime beverage. To do so, omit the rum in the batter; if desired, add 1 teaspoon rum extract for a similar flavor. And when you mix the batter with warm milk, just leave out the rum and add more milk if you like. Violà!
Raw Egg Consumption Warning
Please note that this recipe contains raw eggs that aren’t cooked before consumption.
According to the USDA: “The USDA does not recommend eating raw shell eggs that are not cooked or are undercooked due to the possibility that Salmonella may be present.”
You’ve probably noticed this food advisory on some restaurant menus: “Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions.”
According to Cleveland Clinic: “As long as it doesn’t have Salmonella in it, eating a raw egg is a harmless…” And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (accessed December 2023) say: “Pasteurized eggs have been heated to a high enough temperature for a long enough time to kill Salmonella.”
I encourage you to do your own research on this topic. If you have access to farm-fresh eggs and are comfortable consuming them raw, by all means. Otherwise, you might want to use pasteurized eggs or look for a raw egg alternative. (You can find pasteurized eggs in the regular grocery store; check the label to see if it’s pasteurized.)
Tips For the Best Tom and Jerry Drink Recipe
- Make sure the eggs and butter are at room temperature when you make the batter. This helps the egg whites whip up faster, and ensures the mixture is creamy with no small lumps of butter.
- For a low carb and keto friendly version, you can use your favorite granulated keto sweetener here instead of granulated white sugar. Also, you can opt for almond milk instead of whole milk. Lastly, skip the rum and add 1 teaspoon rum extract to the batter instead.
- This cozy winter drink is served warm. Right before serving, heat your milk until it’s steaming hot, but don’t boil.
- When you pay attention to detail, things somehow feel a lot more special. To make sure this cozy hot beverage stays warm longer, heat the mug by filling it with hot water just off the boil. Let it sit for 30 seconds, then (carefully!) dump out the water and mix up your drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is some debate as to the origin of this drink. However, many sources credit British journalist and writer Pierce Egan. In 1821, Egan authored the novel called The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom, as well as the stage play Tom and Jerry, or Life in London.
As the story goes, to publicize these literary works, Egan came up with a version of eggnog that fortified the drink with additional brandy. He called it a “Tom and Jerry”. And as you might expect, the additional alcohol made it wildly popular!
In 1862, “Professor” Jerry Thomas (a famous American bartender from New York City), authored the first bartender guide called How to Mix Drinks: or, The Bon-Vivant’s Companion. In the book, he shared his version of a Tom and Jerry, which he made with five pounds of sugar, a dozen eggs, and hot water instead of milk.
You can read more about the history of this drink on Wikipedia and What’s Cooking America.
Eggnog and Tom & Jerry are both festive holiday drinks. They share a few similarities: they’re both sweet and creamy, and they both contain eggs and warm spices.
But there are also a few notable differences between these two Yuletide drinks.
Eggnog is an iconic Christmas beverage! It’s sweet, rich, thick, and spiced with nutmeg. And eggnog is typically served cold.
On the other hand, a Tom and Jerry cocktail harkens back to Christmas past, possibly Dickens-era London, although it has had a resurgence in popularity in mid-western states of the U.S. (especially Wisconsin, Minnesota, and even my hometown, Buffalo, New York). This drink contains Tom and Jerry batter, which is a sweetly-spiced thick, creamy mix that’s served mixed with rum and milk as a kind of warm Christmas punch.
The texture of a Tom & Jerry is a lot less thick than eggnog, and it has a foamy cap that forms when you stir the batter into the hot milk. Like eggnog, this old-fashioned Christmas cocktail contains nutmeg, but it also has a few other warm spices. And lastly, a Tom & Jerry is served hot, which (IMHO) makes it cozier than chilled eggnog.
That is based in large part on personal preference. You can use dark rum or spiced rum, and you aren’t even limited to rum! It’s also common to see brandy or whiskey used in this drink.
More Cozy Hot Cocktails to Try
Let’s Connect
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.
To stay up-to-date, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!
Tom and Jerry Drink Recipe
Email This Recipe
Get this recipe link emailed straight to your inbox!
Ingredients
Tom and Jerry Batter:
- 3 large eggs at room temperature, separated into whites and yolks
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/16 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon dark rum
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
For Each Drink:
- 4 ounces warm milk 4 ounces = 1/2 cup
- 1 ounce dark rum 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
- 2 tablespoons Tom and Jerry batter
- Freshly-grated nutmeg for garnish
Instructions
To Make the Tom and Jerry Batter:
- Whip the egg whites. Add the egg whites to a medium bowl and use a handheld electric mixer to beat until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and salt, and continue beating until the egg whites form stiff peaks.
- Beat the egg yolks separately. To a large bowl, add the egg yolks, sugar, and butter, and use a handheld electric mixer to beat until creamy. Add the rum, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves, and beat until thick and smooth.
- Combine the yolk mixture and whipped whites. Fold 1/3 of the egg white mixture to the egg yolk mixture at a time, being careful not to over-mix and completely deflate the egg whites. When you’re done it should have a thick texture similar to a fluffy cake batter (or liquid marshmallow!).
- Cover and chill. Store covered in the fridge until serving.
To Make Each Drink:
- Heat a mug by filling it with hot water and then pouring the water out. (This is optional, but a nice touch.)
- Add the warm milk, rum, and Tom and Jerry batter to the warm mug. Lightly whisk until the drink is foamy. Sprinkle on a little freshly-grated nutmeg. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Recipe Yield and Serving Size: This recipe for Tom and Jerry batter makes about 2 cups of batter. I use about 2 tablespoons of batter to make each drink, for a total of 16 servings.
- Nutrition Information: The nutritional information for this recipe is given for 2 tablespoons of the Tom and Jerry batter.
- Storage: I’ve done a lot of research on this and some say you should use Tom and Jerry batter within 4 hours of making it, and others say you can keep it in the fridge for up to 1 week. Generally, I make it and serve it in the same day. No matter how long you keep it, make sure you store it covered the fridge. Also, note that the batter separates as it sits, so stir it before mixing up your individual drinks.
- How to Make This Non-Alcoholic: For an alcohol-free version, you can skip the booze in this Christmastime beverage. To do so, omit the rum in the batter; if desired, add 1 teaspoon rum extract for a similar flavor. And when you mix the batter with warm milk, just leave out the rum and add more milk if you like. Violà!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximate.
Share it with me on Instagram and leave a comment to let me know your thoughts!
I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
Free Bonus
