In our area here in Upstate New York there is nothing that marks the start of the holiday season more than the emergence of the famed Tom and Jerry bowl! If you have no idea what that means, I’m about to fill you in. If you’re already familiar with the classic Tom and Jerry recipe, you’re probably already squealing with joy. Because that’s what happens as we stomp off our snowy boots and make our way inside to sip that first Tom and Jerry of the season. While my favorite version is served up at The Crystal, you will find them in bars and restaurants all over the region. They are only served from Thanksgiving through New Year’s day and then they’re gone for another year. I think that’s absolutely part of their magic, because they conjure up the joy and cheer of the season.
In short, the Tom and Jerry is a thick boozy drink made with a batter and served hot in a mug. While made with eggs and loads of spices, it’s really nothing like egg nog, which is a common question. (That said, we have a killer egg nog recipe if that’s what you’re after!) Many thanks to my mom for helping me with this post. We spent a lot of time working on this recipe to make sure our method was precise so you can easily recreate it at home. Now, let’s make our batter and get to sipping!
You’ll see when reading the recipe below that you add the prepared batter to a warmed mug. Next comes the booze and everything is finished off with hot water and nutmeg. It’s important to note that you do not mix the drink before serving! As you add the booze and hot water, the batter will rise to the top and you’ll have a drink that’s kind of separated into layers. This is exactly what you want.
Some people, like me, like to have a couple of little spoonfuls of the batter first. Then I take a few sips. As I make my way down the mug, I take my spoon and start mixing the batter into the rum, brandy and water mixture. Other people like to mix their drink thoroughly before drinking. It’s totally a personal preference, which is why I advise not mixing before you serve them up.
While utterly delicious, the tradition behind the Tom and Jerry is really what makes people go crazy about them. They’re sweet, rich and definitely guaranteed to warm you up on a cold winter’s night. (Hot booze will do that to you!) This isn’t really a drink you make just one or two of, it’s more of a group thing, which is what makes it perfect for holiday gatherings.
As you can probably tell, I’m a serious fan. Feel free to switch up the spirits, too! Some places make them with just rum, others with cognac and I’ve even heard of making them with bourbon. Do whatever you prefer, but I always recommend a high quality liquor.
Many thanks again to my mom for helping me craft this post! We spent a long time in the kitchen perfecting this recipe so it’s as close as can be to our favorite Tom and Jerry. For anyone who is local, our batter is still not quite like it is at The Crystal, but my mom, stepfather and I all agree this is our favorite Tom and Jerry recipe after theirs. So there’s that! I’ll take second place when it comes to this one.
Tom and Jerry Recipe
Author: Cyd Converse
Recipe type: co*cktail
Ingredients
For the Batter
- 6 eggs, separated
- 1 cup of confectioner's sugar (or super fine sugar)
- 2 tsp vanilla
- Large pinch of cloves
- Large pinch of cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon of freshly grated nutmeg
For the Drink
- ½ oz dark spiced rum (I use Kraken)
- ½ oz brandy (I use Christian Brothers)
- Hot water
Instructions
For the Batter
- Begin by separating your eggs, placing the whites and yolks in separate clean, dry mixing bowls.
- NOTE: It's important to make sure the bowl containing the whites in particular is very clean and completely dry. Also, you need to make sure you don't have even a speck of yolk in with the whites or it will affect the consistency of the batter, which is key to making this drink really special.
- In a mixing bowl (or in the bowl of a stand mixer), set to whipping the egg whites. We want them to end up very very thick, not just frothy.
- Once they've thickened up a bit, begin adding ½ cup of the confectioner's sugar, a spoonful at a time. Continue whipping until very stiff peaks form. You want the whites to be so thick that they wouldn't dump out of the bowl if you turned it upside down. This might take as long as 10 minutes, depending on your mixer, etc. Just keep whipping!
- In the bowl with the egg yolks, add the remaining confectioner's sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Whisk to combine well.
- When your whites are super stiff, add the yolk mixture to the whites and fold gently to combine. Do not whisk this mixture and do not beat it or stir it with any kind of vigor. It's meant to be really thick, at least as thick as cake batter, and over mixing or whisking will make it thin and runny.
For the Drink
- Each drink is prepared individually when you're ready to serve.
- Start by warming your mugs by filling them with hot water and allowing it to set for 30 seconds or so. Then dump out the water and spoon a generous amount of batter into each mug.
- For smaller mugs like mine shown here, about two tablespoons is appropriate. T
- Then add your rum and brandy.
- Finally, pour hot water over top until the mug is full.
- Add a bit of freshly grated nutmeg on top and serve with a little spoon or an ice cream stick.
[Photos + recipe by Cyd Converse for The Sweetest Occasion.]
FAQs
Ingredients
- Boiling water, to rinse.
- 1 ounce dark rum.
- 1 ounce cognac.
- 1 tablespoon Tom & Jerry batter (recipe below)
- Whole milk, hot, to top.
- Garnish: nutmeg, freshly grated.
- Garnish: ground cloves.
- Garnish: ground allspice.
Making The Drinks
Gently heat milk in a saucepan. Warm your mug by rinsing it with very hot water. To each cup add 1 heaping tablespoon of Tom And Jerry batter, 1 oz of rum and 4 oz of hot milk (hot water can be substituted). Stir until foamy.
What's the difference between eggnog and Tom and Jerry? ›
Even though it's a pretty old-fashioned drink, it's still a popular selection around the holidays, particularly in the Midwest. While this drink is often compared to eggnog, it is a completely different drink. The main difference is that a Tom & Jerry is served warm, and the drink is built in the serving mug.
What is the tradition of Tom and Jerry drink? ›
A Tom and Jerry is a traditional Christmas-time co*cktail in the United States, sometimes attributed to British writer and professional boxing journalist Pierce Egan in the 1820s. It is a variant of eggnog with brandy and rum added and served hot, usually in a mug or a bowl.
What is a Tom and Jerry milkshake? ›
Tom and Jerry Shake
Put contents of shake package into blender or shaker bottle. Add rum extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, water, and almond milk and blend until smooth.
What is a Tom and Jerry co*cktail Chicago? ›
The Tom & Jerry at Miller's Pub is a classic co*cktail and perfection during the brisk Chicago holiday season. For the uninitiated, a Tom & Jerry is a warmed co*cktail. The bartender spikes what is essentially eggnog, that beloved Christmas staple, with both rum and brandy.
What was Tom and Jerry made? ›
Tom and Jerry is an American animated media franchise and series of comedy short films created in 1940 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Best known for its 161 theatrical short films by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the series centers on the rivalry between the titular characters of a cat named Tom and a mouse named Jerry.
What cut of meat is Tom and Jerry? ›
This steak is a cross section of a steer's leg and is often sold as a “Bone in Arm Roast”. Because the steak is a cross sectional leg cut it results in several noteworthy features. . . . . .
Who has 3 cats in Tom and Jerry? ›
Fluff, Muff, and Puff are a trio of brown, black, and orange kittens that first featured in Heavenly Puss (1949) in a cameo appearance (during Tom's dream) as charming kittens who drowned. They also appeared as cute but mischievous kittens in Triplet Trouble (1952). They were also on The Tom and Jerry Show.
What brand is Tom and Jerry's mix? ›
During the past 73 years more than 20 million quarts of Flaherty's Tom & Jerry Batter have been manufactured and sold. Billy Flaherty's idea has come a long way from selling his homemade recipe from the back of a beat-up old station wagon.
They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Tom and Jerry cartoon was originally created by animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
What kind of cheese is in Tom and Jerry? ›
Emmental
Remember the cheese with distinctive holes that appeared in the classic cartoon, Tom and Jerry? That was none other than Emmental cheese. Originating from Switzerland, this cheese exhibits a characteristic yellow color and scattered holes.
What is eggnog called in England? ›
However, the British drink was also called an egg flip, from the practice of "flipping" (rapidly pouring) the mixture between two pitchers to mix it. One dictionary lists the word eggnog as being an Americanism invented in 1765–75.
What is a Tom and Jerry sandwich? ›
The Tom & Jerry sandwich (an Italian Ciabatta bread sandwich) Breaded chicken breast, melted provolone, alfredo sauce, lettuce leaf and tomato!
What is a Tom and Jerry cup? ›
The Tom and Jerry was an alcoholic egg and milk drink, popular in the 1930s and 1940s. The drink was served warm from a large bowl in handled mugs. Homer Laughlin had already been producing this type of mug with a different handle. Using the ring handle from the general fiesta line, the Tom and Jerry mug was born.
Why is Tom and Jerry so good? ›
A venerable bastions of good fun
Rooted in the legacy of entertainment, the combined action and humour of Tom and Jerry made it a definitive slapstick that put comedy, not cruelty, center stage. Even the injuries were depicted as momentary setbacks and not realistic wounds.
What is Jerry's name in Tom and Jerry? ›
What is the Elvis Presley milkshake? ›
It's a Found Recipes story about the Elvis Presley milkshake. SEAN BROCK: It's peanut butter, banana, some cooked, crispy bacon. And we also used bacon fat and ice cream.
Where did the drink Tom and Jerry originate? ›
Egan wrote a book, and subsequent play, called Life in London, in which the main characters are named Tom and Jerry. It is believed that he introduced the co*cktail as a way to promote his book and play.
What's the difference between Tom and Jerry and hot buttered rum? ›
While both are hot, alcoholic beverages, their ingredients differ. Tom and Jerrys are also often made with rum, though they can also be made with whiskey or vodka. Both are also spiced. However, a batter instead of butter (see what we did there?) is used to make a Tom and Jerry rich and creamy.
The sipping of Tom and Jerrys, a warm, rum-and-brandy infused egg nog-like drink, is Buffalo's welcome to holiday traditions. The tradition's old-time roots go back to its invention in England in the mid-1800s, a 1938 Damon Runyon short story about a Christmas prank involving copious amounts of the drink.
What's in a Tom Hanks co*cktail? ›
You need just two ingredients: Diet co*ke and Champagne. Hanks says that any co*ke will do, it certainly doesn't have to be Coca-Cola. The only 'must' is it's Diet. As a diabetic, he only drinks the Diet version of co*ke and we'll respect his wishes with the Diet version, too!
What is a Charlie Chaplin co*cktail? ›
1 1/2 part Sipsmith® Sloe Gin. 1 part freshly squeezed lime juice. 3/4 part apricot brandy. 1/4 part simple syrup.
How do they make Ben and Jerry's? ›
A batch of ice cream mix starts with heavy cream, condensed skim milk, and liquid cane sugar. To these ingredients the Mix Master also adds egg yolks, cocoa powder for our chocolate flavours, and natural stabilisers which help prevent heat shock and formation of ice crystals.
What happened to the creator of Tom and Jerry? ›
According to Deitch, although he was followed by the StB and his phone was tapped, he was never aware of their presence and was never interrogated nor arrested. in 2008, Deitch retired from making cartoons. Deitch died in Prague on April 16, 2020, at the age of 95.
What does Jerry eat in Tom and Jerry? ›
Tom and Jerry are everyone's favorite. Jerry who loves cheese the most, was given a track of steps. Each step of the track contains a piece of cheese which has a happiness level of for i t h step. Tom wants to test Jerry's intelligence and love for the cheese.
