Egg-nog

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

1. Milk + vanillatop 5% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together19,187 recipes

   Shared aroma: ethyl caproate (fruity, apple peel).

2. Sugar + vanillatop 8% of all pairs
   Smell alikelow
   Cooked together35,032 recipes

   Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).

3. Vanilla + nutmegtop 10% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together2,781 recipes

   Shared aroma: eucalyptol (eucalyptus, herbal).

4. Milk + nutmegtop 15% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together14,685 recipes

   Shared aroma: eucalyptol (eucalyptus, herbal).

5. Egg + nutmegtop 17% of all pairs
   Smell alikelow
   Cooked together24,744 recipes

   Shared aroma: acetic acid (sour, vinegar).

Sugar and vanilla barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 35,032 recipes: they work on texture and structure more than aroma.

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Egg

Provides structure and richness, thickening the drink as it is beaten.

Milk

Forms the liquid base and adds creamy body to the drink.

Sugar

Adds sweetness and balances the flavor of the egg and milk.

Swap the nutmeg

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (egg, sugar, milk, vanilla):

1. Cinnamonfits better
2. Nutmegthe original
3. Clovefits less well
4. Peppermintfits less well

Fit is the average pairing score against egg, sugar, milk, vanilla. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.