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?
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.
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.
Laura
Wow!! This stuff is amazing!
I made it with 1cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup honey and a blend of xylitol, erythrytol, and stevia to cut down on the carbs.
Also if you want to keep the benefits of using raw honey it should be added after the mixture is cooked.
But this is soo good!
Sarah Morris
Please please can I have the full fat version of the eggnog recipe. I have used it every year and it is a favourite.
I had to try a different recipe this year and it was rubbish! I want to try again for new year.
Thanks
Sarah Morris
Jasmine
Original recipe please! It has disappeared. Please repost
Jon
Hi, I can't seem to find your original eggnog recipe here. I've been making it for our family Christmas the last few years and really love it. Is it still available somewhere? Thanks!
Alicia Ward
I need the original as well!! My kids are nagging me for it as its their favourite. They missed out for the last 2 years because they were visiting their dad. I need the original please 🙂
Nathan
Original here too please! I'll be saving it to my harddrive and printing it off in the future.
Lucanne
How much Alkohol would i put in per serving?
CANDICE SIMMONS
Oh no what happened. Had all my ingredients and was preparing to make the original eggnog, but it’s not here. What am I supposed to do now.? Can you please repost the original recipe. Thank you!!!
angelina wijaya
Wow, thanks for the recipe! How long will it last on the fridge?
Amber
Hmmmmm. Can't seem to locate the video while on my phone. I don't want to mess up the eggs. Is there a link to it perhaps, please?
Thanks.
Amber
Luanne
could you add protein powder to up the ratio to carbs a bit? Diabetic but won't do without my eggnog at Christmas 🙂
راه اندازی رستوران
such great article. thanks. appreciate that
Adrienne Boswell
Thank you for posting an non-alcoholic version of eggnog. I have a 14 year old that loves the stuff, so I will be making it this Christmas.
I noticed in the video the second method of separating egg yolks. I have to question putting the egg yolk in with the whites and then scooping it up with your hand. I have no problem with the use of my hand, but I would be concerned that a) the egg yolk could break when as it is broken over the whites, or b) when it is scooped out it could break if the user is not careful. I would be horrified if I was making something that required 6 egg whites beaten to stiff peaks, and have only 6 eggs, and the last one break in my whites. I would have to go to the store to get more eggs, and make myself an omelette with the eggy disaster.
The way I do it is this. I have three bowls. The first bowl is the egg whites only, the second bowl for egg yolks only. The third bowl is for actually opening the egg up. I break the egg over that third bowl, and if for some reason the yolk breaks, it won't go into my other whites I already have going. Then, I put my hand over the whites bowl and pour the egg into my hand using it as a strainer to catch the yolk that I then put in the yolk bowl.
Lacey Baier
Yes, that method is totally fine to do and a great idea, especially if you have little chefs helping out in the kitchen 🙂
Bravo
Great recipe, I just tried this yesterday! The instructions were clear and easy to follow, the photos were great. The only thing I might change next time is using a tad less sugar. Thanks for sharing!
Jessica
Yes! I agree, that is my only change too. I am going to make another batch without sugar and mix the two together. I'm excited for the great recipe though. So much easier than the last one I tried and much smoother too.
Lacey Baier
Awesome! Let me know how it turns out!!
Lacey Baier
Good to know! I've updated the recipe to use raw honey and much less of it so it's a healthier, lighter option 🙂
Nathan
Could I get the original version of this recipe please? I'm all for healthy options, but you shouldn't completely get rid of the original. Especially for people allergic to nuts or without access to almond milk in their grocery store, for instance.
Jessica
Here you are seven years in and still a blessing to those of us overseas. Thought I would add to your world map and let you know that we'll be enjoying eggnog in Cajamarca, Peru this year! <3 Thanks for the recipe.
Lacey Baier
This just made my day. 🙂 xoxo
Amanda Lachner
My fiance is a HUGE fan of eggnog. Can't get enough of the stuff, to be totally honest. He used to work in a supermarket (7 years, to be exact) that would sell store-bought eggnog by the gallon... and they STOPPED selling it like that in the last few years, much to his disappointment. I've been trying to find a non-alcoholic version of eggnog (although he'd be willing to try Alton Brown's aged eggnog recipe if I made it, he drinks sometimes, I can't because of medical reasons) that he could enjoy at any time of year that would be easy to make.... so I'm SUPER excited to try and make this recipe for him! I haven't watched the video yet, but your instructions are concise and your pictures wonderful. I love it. I am -really- excited to try making this. Thank you so much for posting it. <3 You're amazing!
Lacey Baier
I hope he loves it!!!!!!
Shannon
I would like to make this but would it be good if we added alcohol after it was made for those who wanted it spiked? or is the recipe to sweet to add alcohol?
Reggie
This turned out super noggy, just the way I like it. Cheers on the virgin receive that I can share with my son. I know it's just a matter of multiplying, but it'd be nice if there was a double or quadruple portion recipe as well. Eggnog's the kind of thing that you never want just one cup of (at least not for me). I always share it with my friends, so there'd never be a need for small yields, especially if there's no alcohol. By the way, Shannon, I'm going to spike it with white rum (most go with dark or spiced, but I'm going rogue) after work tomorrow. I'm sure it'll be delightful!
Reggie
*virgin recipe
Leticia
Mine got a bit eggy. Too much heat you think after it went back in the pan? I tempered the egg/sugar mix with almost the pan of heated milk. I strained which helped a bit and it was still delicious. My 8 yr old son loves eggnog and he said this recipe was a keeper!
Pizza God
A double boiler will prevent overheating of eggs.
A pot on stovetop will have hot spots.
A digital thermometer will give you on the fly temp readings.
Double boilers use steam to heat the pan, creating uniform heat.
You don't need it but IT's highly recommend and reduces gray hairs.