Some Baton Rouge holiday traditions come with a cartoon heart on the label. When the weather finally turns, plenty of local families start checking the dairy case for one carton in particular: Kleinpeter Egg Nog.

A dairy with deep roots

Kleinpeter Farms Dairy has been bottling milk for South Louisiana families since 1913, and the brand has sat on local tables for more than 100 years. The dairy is on Airline Highway in St. George, where it processes thousands of gallons of milk a day. The company backs its milk with a freshness guarantee: if it is not fresh, Kleinpeter says it will replace it free of charge. It has also earned Safe Quality Food certification and recently put more than a million dollars into updated equipment.

The holiday carton

The eggnog is the seasonal star. Kleinpeter describes it as rich and creamy with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and spice, and says the formula is nearly unchanged since 1975. Demand runs high, so the dairy makes just enough to keep up until just after Christmas. Look for half gallons and quarts at local grocery retailers this holiday season, and grab a spare if your family goes through it fast.

Cook with it

Kleinpeter posts holiday recipes that put the nog to work. Its eggnog pumpkin pie swaps 1 1/4 cups of eggnog into a classic pumpkin filling and bakes at 375 degrees for about an hour, which makes it an easy Thanksgiving dessert. There is also an eggnog pound cake built on a boxed yellow cake mix, eggnog French toast for the morning after, and an eggnog cheesecake for the over-achievers.

While you are in the dairy aisle, the same brand makes butter, heavy whipping cream and half-and-half, the supporting cast for most holiday baking.

Plan ahead

Questions go to the dairy at 225-753-2121. Then pour a glass, sprinkle a little nutmeg on top and call it the official start of the season.

Photo courtesy of Kleinpeter Farms Dairy.