Introducing Light & Healthy Eggnog – this homemade, delicious, non-alcoholic eggnog can be enjoyed all season long without the guilt. Plus it's non-dairy!
Five years ago, the notion I could make eggnog at home completely changed my life.
This meant no more waiting for the holidays to come around to enjoy a glass of eggnog.
This meant I could tweak the recipe and make my own favorite version.
This meant I could actually understand what the heck was in eggnog. It was such a mystery!
I didn’t realize then, but this also meant Dustin and the kiddos would always refer to the holidays as the time when “mom makes her eggnog.”
So, that's why I wanted to share this non-alcoholic eggnog recipe.
And, to be honest, it’s pretty dang amazing.
BUT my original eggnog recipe was created before my clean eating days.
So, three years ago at Thanksgiving, I decided to try out a clean version of our family’s favorite eggnog and it was very good. Like shockingly good…and clean!
As Dustin would say, it was still “noggy.”
Wanna hear a really cool story?
So, on a super cool side note, since posting this eggnog recipe originally, I have received tons of emails and comments thanking me for sharing an eggnog recipe that can be enjoyed year round.
To my surprise, many people who no longer live in the United States have used my recipe to enjoy a eggnog, a nostalgic treat, since their current location doesn’t even know what eggnog is. They thought they’d never have it again and my recipe helped them enjoy an old favorite.
I mean. How flipping cool is that?
So, for those of you who do have access to eggnog, but who want to also enjoy a healthy, clean eating lifestyle and avoid any struggle with weight, I give you Light Eggnog.
- It’s creamy.
- It’s smooth.
- It’s thick.
- It’s cinnamony and nutmegy.
- It’s freaking eggnog. Light.
- And without the alcohol.
Yes, you can rejoice now.
HOW TO MAKE EGGNOG
This healthy non-alcoholic eggnog recipe is very easy and it involves just a few simple steps. To make the healthy homemade eggnog:
- add almond milk, honey, egg yolks, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a blender and blend for approximately 1 minute or until smooth;
- pour the mixture from the blender into a saucepan and add cloves;
- cook the eggnog on medium heat for 10-15 minutes;
- once the eggnog thickened, add vanilla extract;
- use a fine mesh strainer to remove cloves;
- transfer the eggnog into an airtight container and place it in the fridge to chill for at least 6-8 hours or overnight.
- to make the eggnog even more cinnamony and nutmegy, sprinkle a little cinnamon and a little nutmeg before serving.
OMG! This is eggnog bliss!
WHAT IS EGGNOG MADE OF?
Wondering what is eggnog made of, traditionally (i.e. NOT how I make it)?
Well, egg yolks and milk are used to get the thick texture and egg whites are used to make it airy and frothy. Some like to add some heavy cream to get a creamy and rich texture. Traditionally, eggnog is made with raw eggs and alcohol and it's aged for weeks. The alcohol serves as a preservative but also as a sterilizer since it kills any bacteria from the raw eggs.
Now, don't get me wrong -- I still like my eggnog creamy. That’s why I make this almond milk eggnog. Also, I prefer to cook the eggs for eggnog on the stove for safety reasons and because I make a non-alcoholic eggnog that my kids can enjoy as well.
IS EGGNOG HEALTHY?
Eggnog is pretty loaded with refined sugar and heavy cream and sweetened condensed milk. Delicious? Yes. Clean? Not so much.
Is eggnog good for you? Not if you follow the traditional recipe.
But this light eggnog recipe is a different story.
How to make healthy eggnog:
- replace full-fat milk with almond milk;
- add more almond milk and skip the sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream;
- use raw honey instead of sugar.
Making almond milk eggnog is the easiest way to make healthy eggnog. And a delicious way too.
For another healthier hot drink, check out my hot apple cider recipe.
HOW TO MAKE EGGNOG ON THE STOVE
I already mentioned that I prefer to cook the eggs for the eggnog so that means I make eggnog on the stove. You already know the steps but here are some extra tips to make sure that our eggnog will turn out perfect:
- Cook the eggs slowly until they start to thicken.
- At first, the mixture will be frothy but then it will start to thicken so don't worry.
- You want the mixture to get hot but you don’t want it to boil or simmer. If the mixture starts boiling, remove from the heat temporarily. Then continue cooking until the eggnog thickened.
WHAT LIQUOR GOES IN EGGNOG
If you want to transform this non-alcoholic eggnog into an alcoholic eggnog, you’re probably wondering what liquor goes in eggnog.
Brown liquors are the best for eggnog so try:
- bourbon;
- brandy;
- rum.
If you choose to make an alcoholic version, add the alcohol in the egg yolk mixture and continue with the steps as listed in the recipe.
HOW LONG DOES EGGNOG LAST?
This non-alcoholic eggnog lasts for 3-4 days in the fridge if stored properly in an airtight container.
You can also freeze eggnog and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months, though this will cause a little change in the creamy texture.
Told you this eggnog can be enjoyed all year round! <--- LOVE
MORE HEALTHY HOLIDAY DRINK RECIPES
When creating a healthy holiday menu, people often tend to forget about their drinks. But drinks mean many extra calories and tons of ingredients that are not clean and healthy if you do not pay attention to them. So you most definitely have to make your drinks healthier too if you want to maintain your clean lifestyle. I want to help you so, besides this yummy eggnog, I have two other healthy holiday drink recipes for you.
HOW TO MAKE HOT CHOCOLATE MIX
There’s no Fall or Winter without hot chocolate in my house. Not to worry though, my hot chocolate is always healthy. And I can teach you How to Make Hot Chocolate Mix from scratch. Your kids will love the hot chocolate and so will you.
This homemade hot chocolate mix is paleo, gluten-free, clean eating, and it can be easily made vegan. Besides milk, my hot chocolate mix contains unsweetened cocoa powder, cinnamon, coconut sugar, sea salt, and vanilla powder. Sounds yum, right? Get the recipe.
HOMEMADE HEALTHY PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE RECIPE
Another drink I love during this time of the year is pumpkin spice latte. But you guessed it, I make it at home and it’s healthy. Homemade Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe? Yes, please!
This pumpkin spice latte is very easy to make. Plus you can adjust the spices to fit your taste and make your taste buds dance from joy. Get the recipe.
Light Non-Alcoholic Eggnog
Equipment
- blender
- Stock Pot or Large Deep Skillet
*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Ingredients
- 4 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 6 egg yolks
- ⅔ cup raw honey
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, plus more for topping
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for topping
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a kitchen blender, add the unsweetened almond milk, egg yolks, raw honey, ground nutmeg, and ground cinnamon, and then blend for a minute or so until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into a sauce pan or deep pot, add the whole cloves, and heat over medium heat.
- Cook the eggnog for about 10-15 minutes until it starts to thicken and slowly cook the eggs. It will be frothy at first.
- We want the mixture to get hot, but not simmer or boil. If it gets close to boiling, you can whisk vigorously and temporarily remove from the heat.
- Once the eggnog has thickened, turn off the heat, and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Strain the mixture using a fine mesh strainer to remove the cloves, then pour into an airtight container and place in the fridge to chill for 6-8 hours, or overnight.
- When ready to serve, we love to sprinkle with a little nutmeg and cinnamon.
Nutrition
This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.
Amy
It's highly disappointing when others find new ways of eating and expect others to follow them. I previously made several of Lacey's "dirty" recipes and loved them. Lesson learned! Print out recipes (I did not as I never thought her recipe would just vanish with her new way of living). Fortunately, I remembered her ingredients and Googled them and found someone who now publishes her original as their own. For those who are looking for the old recipe:
Ingredients2 cups Milk5 whole Cloves½ teaspoons Ground Cinnamon¼ cups Sweetened, Condensed Milk4 whole Egg Yolks½ cups Granulated Sugar1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream1 teaspoon Freshly Grated Nutmeg, Plus More For Garnish1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Preparation
Combine milk, cloves, cinnamon and sweetened condensed milk over low heat in a deep saucepan until the mixture is no longer chilled and is heated through. Slowly increase the heat to medium and bring the mixture to a low boil. Be careful not to allow a rolling boil.
In a medium bowl, combine the eggs and sugar. Beat eggs using a stand mixer, electric mixer or a whisk until lightened in color and fluffy.
Slowly temper the eggs by adding about 1 tablespoon at a time of the hot milk mixture into the egg and sugar mixture. Once enough of the milk mixture is in the egg mixture to slightly warm it, pour it all back into the saucepan. Heat over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened. You will know it’s thick when you can leave a clean line on the back of a spoon.
Add the heavy whipping cream, nutmeg and vanilla extract to the mixture and heat through. Do not bring to a boil.
Strain the mixture into a bowl using a fine mesh strainer to catch the spices. Place in an airtight container in the refrigerator and let it cool for at least one hour, preferably longer.
Serve cold. Garnish with additional grated nutmeg if desired.
(Hopefully Lacey will understand she has followers who prefer full fat and dirty and others are allergic to nuts or other items and will honor our needs. This recipe is 5 star as the original!
Candice
Omg you are a life saver, I’ve been trying to get the old recipe for a couple of years now. And couldn’t find it. I just said let me check and see if it was put back up. And you saved my day. Thank you so much 😘. Be blessed. ☺️
DEB AND TONY
IT WAS DRINKABLE BUT NOT DELECTABLE. NOT CREAMY AND EVEN WITH CAREFUL PREP, IT CURDLED.
SillySally
I read about the various issues with egg curdling. To prevent this I whisked the mixture for almost the entire 15 minutes. I then removed the mixture from the stovetop and poured it into two Pyrex containers, and set those containers under an open window. Then I whisked the mixture in each dish nearly every 10 minutes.
Once the mixture was at or near room temp, I then poured it into two storage jars, sealed the lids and set it in the fridge. Then I set an alarm for every 30 minutes for numerous hours. Each time the alarm sounded I shook the jars,
It was like babysitting my eggnog. But it worked. It was delicious. AND there was no curdling!!
Tammy
I think you need to temper the egg yolks by heating the almond milk separately and then very, very slowly adding the milk to the egg yolks in a very thin stream, whisking the almond milk into the eggs, stirring the entire time. The egg yolks will cook too quickly and make the eggnog appear curdled if you don't temper them this way.
J
I can support efforts at clean eating, but for anyone else disappointed at having the amazing original recipe disappear and have clean eggnog imposed in them by force :), and now going into withdrawal right before Christmas, paste the link for this page into the Wayback Machine at web.archive.org and you can still find it.
Rodolfo
THANK YOU SO MUCH
Azhar Ali
Omg!!! Thank you for sharing this!!! I love you!!!
Fraser @ Inspire Travel Eat
So a perfect and simple recipe! I might have to use it and add a touch of rum too!
Azhar Ali
Hi! I bookmarked this for your original recipe that I found was perfect. Can you post the original recipe please?
Lee-Ann
Way too sweet. Would use 1/2 cup or less of honey instead.
Thulika
I posted earlier but it is not showing,
I liked this recipe very much, bought all the items afresh yesterday. However, today, when I was cooing, the eggnog curdled. Can't imagine what went wrong. The only mistake I made is to keep cooking after adding Vanilla. Is that the reason it curdled? Would it still be edible? I hate to through away so much food.
Secondly, what can I do with the remaining egg whites/
Any suggestion would be much appreciated.
Thulika
I am novice in using eggs. I tried to make this recipe. While cooking, after a about 10 mins or so, the eggnog curdled. Any reason it happened? I followed the instructions given above Appreciate your reply..
Jeff McClish
I tried making this and when I strained it, it had many curdles. Is this normal?