Crema de Vie – A Cuban Family Tradition

I’ve often shared how my family, instead of baking Christmas cookies for gifts, makes a super delicious please-don’t-call-it-egg-nog Cuban “egg nog.” 

We call it Crema de Vie and it has been a Cuban family tradition for as long as I can remember. 

I remember as a child getting to have a sip on Christmas eve. (Shut up. The rum was only used as a preservative.)

Every year we make several batches of this delicious stuff and give them away as gifts to friends and neighbors. We’re always looking to find new and fun ways to package our Crema de Vie gifts. Here are the labels I made last year. 

This year, my very own in-house graphic designer, Lucy, created these ready-to-print-and-use labels. 

She called and asked, “So how long has the Cuban Crema de Vie been a family tradition?” My response was something to the effect of “forever,” but we decided that was a lame answer and so we agreed that the year, 1939 would be perfect, in honor of when my parents got married on December 31st, 1939. Classic Cuban Crema de Vie was served at their wedding. And so a family tradition was born.

We served it last year for Lucy and Marc’s December 30th wedding, too. The Circle of Life remains.

You’re wondering: “Nice story, Marta, but how does this help me today? 

My gift to you this Christmas is this: printable labels for your own Classic Cuban Crema de Vie. 

Well, first you have to make a few batches of the delicious stuff. Maybe turn on My Big Fat Cuban Christmas Playlist to get you in the mood. 

Here’s the recipe: 

Crèma de Vie (Cuban Egg Nog) Recipe

• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 6 egg yolks
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• ½ cup white rum

1) Mix the sugar and water together over very low heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves – about 3 minutes. It has to be just low enough so that the sugar doesn’t caramelize, but makes a thick sugary water.

2) Put the egg yolks in a blender and mix with the condensed milk.

3) Slowly add the evaporated milk and mix completely.

4) Flavor with the vanilla.

5) Pour the mixture into the sugar-water and mix together.

6) Finally stir in the rum (as a preservative).

Makes about 5 cups, or fills two and a half bottles. 

And here’s the link to these pretty labels that you can print at home or at your local Kinko’s on some nice cardstock. Just print and trim and tie it all up with a pretty ribbon.  (You’re welcome.) 

HERE’S THE LINK:   CubanCremaDeVie_Labels_2018

Feliz Navidad and Salud! 

Don’t for to chill until they’re ready for Christmas delivery. I wish you all a wonderful and delicious Noche Buena, my friends.