Light and healthier spiked vegan eggnog recipe that is naturally sweetened and lower in fat! This creamy holiday drink is a satisfying dairy-free alternative to soothe an eggnog craving!
Dairy-free vegan eggnog is easy to make and this one has (almost) all healthy ingredients (ok, minus the booze)! Eggnog happens to be one of my favorite traditional holiday cocktails and it is delicious to enjoy as a dessert. Serve it next to my Vegan Christmas Cookies for a cozy holiday night.
Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 5 minutes on low heat
- ⏳ Total Time: 15 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 8 servings, ½ cup each
- ⚡ Calories: 87kcal per ½ cup made with cashew milk and lite coconut milk, per the recipe card
- 🥣 Ingredients: unsweetened cashew milk, lite coconut milk, maple syrup or xylitol, orange juice, vanilla, dark rum, brandy, lemon zest, nutmeg and cinnamon
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Sweet, creamy and silky, bursting with warm holiday spices
- ✋ Difficulty: Whisk, warm, serve
Quick Answer
Add 2 cups unsweetened cashew milk, one 15 ounce can lite coconut milk, ⅓ cup maple syrup, ½ cup orange juice, ½ teaspoon vanilla, ⅓ cup dark rum, 3 tablespoons brandy, the zest of 1 lemon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon to a saucepan. Whisk and heat on low for 5 minutes until warm, mixing throughout. Serve at once, or refrigerate covered to chill, and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg. For a non alcoholic eggnog, skip the rum and brandy. It makes 8 servings of ½ cup.
Jump to:
- Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- How Vegan Eggnog Gets Creamy Without Eggs
- Why You'll Love This Vegan Eggnog
- Vegan Eggnog Ingredients
- The Carton That Starts the Holidays
- How to Make Vegan Eggnog
- Expert Tips
- More Holiday Drinks and Treats
- Vegan Eggnog FAQs
- More Cozy Christmas Drinks
- Vegan Eggnog Recipe (Healthy & Low Fat)
It is sweet, creamy, lite, and a fabulous treat that doesn't taste like it has any alcohol in it when it is spiked (so be careful). Since vegan nog is made without dairy or egg, it is a wonderful solution for individuals with food allergies or a lactose sensitivity.
How Vegan Eggnog Gets Creamy Without Eggs
Click to see why it works
- Cashew milk is thick. Unsweetened cashew milk is super thick, resembling a similar consistency of cream.
- Lite coconut milk adds body. It makes the drink creamy and it does not taste like coconut once everything is blended together.
- Orange juice for sweetness and zest. It adds natural sweetness that takes this eggnog to a whole new level.
- Freshly grated nutmeg. Grating the seed right into the drink gives a more intense and robust flavor.
- A short, gentle warm. Low heat for about 5 minutes blends everything without cooking off the flavor.
Why You'll Love This Vegan Eggnog
- Dairy-free and egg-free, a wonderful solution for food allergies or a lactose sensitivity.
- Lower in fat and sugar than a carton of traditional eggnog.
- Ready in 15 minutes on the stovetop.
- Spiked or not. Turn it into a non alcoholic eggnog recipe by skipping the alcohol.
- Easily made in the comfort of home with ingredients you can find at any grocery store.
Vegan Eggnog Ingredients
- Plant-based milk, cashew milk (or can use almond milk) - this plant-based eggnog starts with a thick dairy-free milk. I recommend using cashew milk that is unsweetened. It only has 25 calories per cup, contains no added sugar, and has a slight natural sweet taste.
- Canned lite coconut milk (or can use full fat) - use canned lite coconut milk for more creamy flavor. If you're worried, it does not have a "coconut" flavor after all the ingredients are blended together. You can totally use full fat for an even thicker vegan eggnog.
- Xylitol sugar or maple syrup - I prefer to use Xylitol sugar. It is low glycemic and contains less calories than regular sugar. Maple syrup can also be used in an equal amount to sweeten up the drink naturally.
- Liquor - brandy and dark rum for a little fun!
- Orange juice - adds more natural sweetness and zest. It is also loaded with vitamin C and folate, and if you get fortified, contains calcium and other beneficial vitamins and minerals.
- Flavors from nutmeg, cinnamon and lemon zest - lemon zest and nutmeg are wonderful to flavor savory meals, drinks and baked goods. I suggest using fresh nutmeg and using a fine grater to grate the seed right into the drink.
See recipe card for quantities.
The Carton That Starts the Holidays
Picture this with me. You are at the grocery store in the milk section and the carton of eggnog just made its way out in public. The carton is just glowing like a halo floating above it behind chilled glass doors. It marks the start of the holidays, Christmas parties and family parties snuggled up at home! And we all get excited! I know I sure do this every holiday!
But as soon as I enjoy a cup of eggnog I realize, that one cup I just enjoyed was really two servings (because a serving of eggnog is ½ cup) and those two servings were loaded with tons of fat and sugar I surely do not need entering the hip zone. Eggnog just tastes so. darn. good! And now you can enjoy it healthier, lactose-free, egg-free, lower in fat, and easily made in the comfort of home.
Looking for more vegan recipes? There are plenty more on the site.
How to Make Vegan Eggnog
1Warm it. In a saucepan on low heat add the cashew milk, coconut milk, maple syrup or Xylitol, orange juice, lemon zest, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, brandy, and rum. With a whisk, mix the ingredients together and heat on low for 5 minutes until it is heated, mixing throughout.
2Serve or chill. Serve at once or refrigerate covered to chill. Serve in glasses and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.
As always, be sure to check out the full recipe details in the recipe card below.
Expert Tips
- Grate the nutmeg fresh. The flavor will be more intense and robust.
- Add the alcohol last if it simmers long. If this is going to cook for a long time, wait to add the alcohol. Otherwise, to make this easy, add it all together. It only heats for 5-10 minutes, which is fine if serving or storing right away.
- Go non alcoholic by skipping the rum and brandy.
- Want it thicker? Use full fat coconut milk, knowing it will have more fat.
- Cashew beats almond. Almond milk works, but unsweetened cashew milk is thicker and creamier.
More Holiday Drinks and Treats
Enjoy these other Vegan recipes: Vegan Sugar Cookies (grain-free), fun for the holidays using cashew nuts and crunchy and delicious to cut out, and my Vegan Cashew Cheese.
More holiday drinks: Vegan Hot Chocolate, Hot Chocolate Smoothie, Best Homemade Apple Cider From Scratch (use maple syrup in place of honey), Party Punch Cranberry Cocktails and Turmeric Golden Milk Tea.
Something sweet to go with it: Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies, Sugar Cookie Truffles, White Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake and Gingerbread Pumpkin Trifle.
Vegan Eggnog FAQs
The flavor of dairy-free vegan eggnog does taste different than a traditional eggnog drink because nothing compares to real cream. But it is still creamy, sweet, silky, and bursting with spices, and it is a great way to fix that craving.
Store it in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Eggnog is usually mixed with rum, brandy or bourbon. Using a higher alcohol level will cut the sweetness. Dark rum and brandy work well for a silky smooth taste.
If it is going to cook for a long time, wait to add the alcohol. Otherwise add it all together. It only heats for 5 to 10 minutes, which is fine if serving or storing right away.
Yes. Skip the dark rum and brandy for a non alcoholic eggnog.
Yes, unsweetened almond milk works, but cashew milk is better because it is thicker, close to the consistency of cream.
More Cozy Christmas Drinks
Warm up with Vegan Hot Chocolate, Frozen Hot Chocolate Smoothie, Homemade Apple Cider and Party Punch Cocktails. If you make this dairy-free and vegan eggnog recipe from Delightful Mom Food I would love to see your creations! Follow along with me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter for a feature and more recipe inspiration! And don't forget to leave a comment below!
Vegan Eggnog Recipe (Healthy & Low Fat)
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Ingredients
- 2 cups cashew milk unsweetened (or can use almond milk unsweetened but cashew is better)
- 1 (15 ounce can) lite coconut milk (or can use full fat, but it will have more fat)
- ⅓ cup maple syrup (or Xylitol)
- ½ cup orange juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ⅓ cup Dark rum
- 3 Tablespoons Brandy
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (plus more for garnish)
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- In a saucepan on low heat add all the ingredients. With a whisk, mix ingredients together and heat on low for 5 minutes until it is heated, mixing throughout.
- Serve at once or refrigerate covered to chill. Serve in glasses and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.
Gewls says
This was so easy to make and came out so super delicious. I'm not vegan, but I enjoy vegan recipes. This will become a staple at Christmas 😉 Thank You!!
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
You are very welcome and I am so glad you enjoy this one! It's my favorite too- so cheers! and Merry Christmas!