This post may contain affiliate links. This blog generates income via ads.
Enjoying a warm mug of Tom and Jerry is a quintessential part of Wisconsin winters! Mix the sweet and fluffy meringue-style batter with hot water and your favorite brandy, bourbon, or rum before topping off with a sprinkle of nutmeg. It’s a retro cocktail recipe that’s been a family tradition for decades.
While my sister and I grew up in a Brandy Slush house, her husband of over a decade grew up in a Tom and Jerry house. In fact, his mom worked at a local grocery store and this is her exact recipe! They used to make buckets and buckets of it during the holidays. And for good reason!
A luscious and fluffy combination of whipped egg whites and marshmallow fluff might seem weird to those who’ve never had a Tom and Jerry before, but you’ll understand the appeal the moment you take a sip.
This drink is warm, comforting, not overly sweet, and perfect for your holiday celebrations!
Tom and Jerry Ingredients
- Eggs – Separated to make whipping the egg whites easier.
- Sugar – Granulated and powdered sugar for sweetness.
- Salt – To Balance the sweet.
- Marshmallow Fluff – A hack to make the homemade meringue stretch further.
- Vanilla Extract – Optional, but I always like to add a splash.
- Nutmeg – For serving, but I also like to fold some into my batter, too!
- Booze – Brandy, Bourbon, Rum, or any combination of the three. Different families serve the batter with different alcohol.
Be sure to check out my cranberry margarita, poinsettia cocktail, and peppermint mocha espresso martini for even more Christmas cocktail inspiration!
Making Tom and Jerry Batter
This is just a brief overview, find detailed instructions in the recipe card below!
- Separate the eggs. It’s easier to separate chilled eggs straight from the fridge, FYI.
- Whip the egg whites. With the granulated sugar until stiff peaks form.
- Whip the egg yolks. With the powdered sugar until thick and glossy.
- Fold everything together. Add the yolks to the whites, along with the marshmallow fluff.
- Stir in the vanilla and nutmeg. If you’re using. Then store until serving.
Perfectly whipped egg whites
The key to making sure that the egg whites whip up into stiff peaks for this drink has more to do with tools, than it does technique.
When making any sort of meringue or whipping egg whites it is of the utmost importance that the bowl and whisk or beaters are 100% clean and free of oil.
Any sort of fat with destabilize the meringue and you won’t get those tall and fluffy peaks that hold their shape!
Tom and Jerry Drink Recipe
- Choose your booze. And add it to a mug. (No, it doesn’t have to be a named one like what I have, though I adore the vintage serving set.)
- Top with batter. A few spoonfuls will do.
- Add hot water. Then whisk well to combine. The batter will make the drink light and fluffy.
- Garnish. With freshly grated nutmeg.
Freezing the Batter
If you’re not making this for a party and instead want to enjoy a mug or two a night during the winter, don’t fret! You can easily store the batter and use it straight from the freezer!
Keep the Tom and Jerry mix in a sealed Tupperware in the freezer and take out scoops as needed. It’ll keep for a few months!
Non-Alcoholic Tom and Jerry Drink
Leave it to Wisconsin to make sure that kids don’t feel left out when the adults are having a cocktail! Ha!
It’s very common to serve the batter with only hot water and no alcohol as a spirit-free beverage during the winter. Then it can be enjoyed any time of day by kids or adults!
In fact, my nieces and nephews often get their own mugs when they come in from a day of sledding or playing in the snow. How cute is that?!
Tom and Jerry Batter and Drink Recipe
Equipment
- Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer
- Mixing Bowls
- Serving mugs
Ingredients
For the batter:
- 6 eggs, yolks and whites separated
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 14 ounces marshmallow fluff
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)
- 1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
For the drink:
- Brandy, Bourbon, or Rum, for serving
- freshly grated nutmeg, for serving
Instructions
For the batter:
- In the (very clean, oil free) bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, begin to whip the egg whites on medium speed. When the egg whites start to foam, slowly stream in 1 cup of granulated sugar, increasing the speed of the mixer once all the sugar is added.
- Whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
- In another bowl, whip the egg yolks with 1 cup of powdered sugar and a pinch of salt until thick and glossy, about another 5 minutes.
- Add the whipped egg yolks, 14 ounces of marshmallow fluff, and the vanilla extract and grated nutmeg, if using, to the bowl with the whipped egg whites.
- Very gently fold the mixture to incorporate, being sure that no streaks appear in the batter.
- Transfer the batter to a large container and freeze until ready to serve.
For the drink:
- Add 1 – 3 ounces of your preferred brandy, bourbon, or rum to a serving mug (or a combination of all three!).
- Add in 1 – 2 dollops of batter (about 3 tablespoons) to the mug and top everything with hot water.
- Whisk the mixture until well-incorporated and foamy.
- Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg to serve.
Notes
- Nutrition facts calculated for a serving of batter only, no alcohol included.
Comments
No Comments