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A glass of chilled dairy free eggnog is equally refreshing and cozy. This thick and creamy holiday drink is the perfect night cap spiked with brandy and topped with fresh ground nutmeg.

Need another drink recipe? Try dairy free hot chocolateStarbucks pink drink, or amaretto hot chocolate.

two glasses of dairy free eggnog garnished with nutmeg and cinnamon sticks

Originally published in 2021, this is my favorite festive drink for the holiday season. If you haven’t tried it, this will become a new favorite and you may even want to add it to your holiday traditions.  This reader-loved recipe uses simple ingredients and a basic cooking method to bring it together in 20 minutes or less. 

Traditional eggnog uses whole milk and heavy cream, while this egg nog  does contain dairy. We’re swapping the milk and cream with dairy free milk and coconut cream to keep it dairy and lactose free. Store-bought versions usually have added fillers, binders, and processed ingredients. The best part is this simple eggnog uses a few ingredients, achieving the same rich texture.

One note: this is not a vegan eggnog recipe! The eggs in this recipe gives it the rich and creamy texture that regular eggnog has.

Reasons to Love this Dairy-Free Eggnog Recipe

  • 100% homemade
  • Done in 20 minutes
  • Cozy holiday spices (perfect for Christmas time!)
  • Easy to spike with dark rum
  • Creamy eggnog with simple ingredients
dairy free eggnog in a tall glass mug on a wooden board with fresh nutmeg and cinnamon sticks

Grab These Dairy Free Ingredients

Here are the basic ingredients you need. Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements.

  • Full-fat coconut milk 
  • Plant-based milk (like unsweetened almond milk or oat milk)
  • Egg yolks (adding extra egg yolks makes the creamiest nog)
  • Coconut sugar or granulated sugar
  • Spices: cinnamon, salt and fresh nutmeg
  • Vanilla (fresh pod is best but vanilla extract works!)

You can add rum to make it spiked eggnog! Or try this root beer cocktailwinter sangria or Christmas paloma recipe!

How to Make Dairy-Free Eggnog

Here is the visual guide to make this dairy-free eggnog. The full instructions are at the bottom of this post in the recipe card.

Step 1. Warm the Milk and Mix Eggs.

Combine the coconut milk and dairy-free milk in a medium saucepan and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Whisk the raw eggs and sugar in a separate bowl.

sugar and eggs in a mixing bowl

Step 2. Temper the Eggs

Slowly add the hot milk mixture to the egg mixture eggs, whisking constantly. 

Success tip: going slowly and continue to mix helps bring the temperature of the eggs up slowly so it doesn’t curdle.

eggnog in a mixing bowl with a whisk

Step 3. Heat the Eggnog to 160°F

Pour the eggnog back into the saucepan stir over medium-low heat until it reaches 160°F (a safe temperature for homemade eggnog).

Success tip: it should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

dairy free eggnog thickened to coat the back of a spoon

Step 4. Chill and Serve

Remove it form the heat, strain it through a mesh seive, and cool to room temperature. Transfer it to a jar or pitcher, cover, and refrigerate to chill for 2-3 hours or overnight. Serve non-alcoholic or spike it with dark rum. Finish it with fresh ground nutmeg and enjoy!

Success tip: stir in a bit of dairy-free milk before serving if the dairy-free eggnog becomes too thick while chilling.

dairy free eggnog in a saucepan

Expert Recipe Tips

  • Use fresh ground nutmeg: Hold a citrus zester over the top of the cup of dairy free eggnog and grate it back and forth to sprinkle on top. You can also use a special spice grinder. You can purchase organic whole nutmeg on Amazon!
  • Know when it’s thick enough: stop cooking and chill when it coats the back of a spoon. Dip the back of a spoon in the mixture and pull it out. If you can’t see any of the spoon then you know it’s done.
  • Separate the egg yolks right: use the egg shells to transfer the yolk back and forth between the two halves until the egg whites fall. You can do this over the sink or a small bowl to save them.

Serving Suggestions

Serve eggnog chilled in your favorite fancy mug, coffee mug or really any glass (like a mason jar!). Top with fresh ground nutmeg (already ground works too) and add a cinnamon stick.

Additional mixers: peppermint schnapps, white chocolate liquor, maple syrup. You could even use this as coffee creamer and add it to your morning cup!

a hand holding half a glass of dairy free eggnog with fresh nutmeg

Non Dairy Eggnog FAQ

What’s the best alcohol for dairy free eggnog?

The best alcohol to spike your eggnog is rum, brandy or bourbon. My first choice would be a brandy, but I also love a spiced rum because it’s more subtle and goes well with the eggnog spices.

Is eggnog served hot or cold?

Eggnog is typically served chilled with fresh nutmeg. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t be served warm on a chili night! Heat it slowly in a saucepan on the stove.

What can I add to eggnog?

You can spike your eggnog with rum, add nutmeg on top. Beyond that, you could add chocolate or orange liquor, ground spices like all spice and cloves or even peppermint schnapps.

Can homemade eggnog make you sick?

This all depends on the recipe and the quality of the eggs. Store bought eggnog is pasteurized and if you buy eggs that are pasteurized then you’re good! However, you can also bring the eggnog base to a temp of 160°F while you’re cooking to ensure it’s safe, which is what we do in this dairy free eggnog recipe.

Why is eggnog a Christmas drink?

Eggnog’s roots date back to British aristocracy when the wealthy would drink this custard-based beverage topped with pricey spices during the winter. Because nutmeg is such a prevalent flavor in eggnog, it makes it perfect for the holidays.

Can You Buy Dairy-Free Eggnog?

You can buy store bought dairy free eggnog like Trader Joe’s Almond Nog, Almond Breeze’s Nog and the So Delicious Holiday Nog, but I love that this recipe only has 7 ingredients (no extra additives or thickeners) and you can make it in under 20 minutes.

Storage Tips

Store eggnog in an airtight container for up to one month in the fridge. In fact, this America’s Test Kitchen article explains why aged eggnog is even better than fresh.

spiced dairy free eggnog recipe topped with fresh nutmeg

If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating below. You can also tag me on Instagram so I can see it!

More Holiday Drinks

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3.90 from 10 votes

Dairy Free Eggnog

Cook: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 10 minutes
A glass of chilled dairy free eggnog is equally refreshing and cozy. This thick and creamy holiday drink is the perfect night cap spiked with brandy, bourbon or rum and topped with fresh ground nutmeg.

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Servings: 5 cups

Ingredients

  • 2 (13.5 ounce) cans full fat coconut milk (about 3 cups)
  • 1 1/2 cups dairy free milk any kind
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar or white sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg plus more to top
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 vanilla bean pod split with the beans scraped out (or 1 teaspoon vanilla)
  • Dark rum for serving optional

Instructions 

  • Whisk together the dairy free milk and coconut milk in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and and bring to a gentle boil.
  • While the milk is heating, whisk together the egg yolks and coconut sugar until combined in a large bowl.
  • Pour a small amount of the warm milk into the egg mixture, whisking continuously. Repeat with more milk gradually until the milk mixture and egg mixture are combined. This is known as tempering, and slowly increases the temperature of the eggs so they don't curdle.
  • Pour the eggnog back into the saucepan and add the cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla. Heat over medium-low until it reaches a temperature of 160°F and the mixture coats the back of a spoon.
  • Strain the dairy-free eggnog through a fine mesh sieve to remove any small bits of cooked egg that may have formed. Allow the eggnog to cool to room temperature. Transfer it to a pitcher, cover and refrigerate until chilled (2-3 hours) or overnight.
  • The eggnog will continue to thicken as it chills. Stir in more non-dairy milk until it reaches your desired consistency. Spike with dark rum if desired and top with nutmeg.
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!

Notes

Storage instructions: Store in the fridge, covered, for up to 5 days.
To serve warm: heat on medium-low in a saucepan until heated through.
*Nutrition information does not include alcohol.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 355kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 14.7g | Fat: 21.8g | Cholesterol: 226.3mg | Sodium: 403mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 16.5g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Recipe Rating




10 Comments

  1. Hilci says:

    1 star
    I followed instructions and my eggnog separated. Had to pitch it. I was looking forward to dairy free eggnog. Wish I could add a picture
    No instruction on where to add spices.

    1. Molly Thompson says:

      It may have separated because you heated the milk too quickly! It needs to be brought up slowly. The recipe card is updated to include instructions on when to add the spices. Thanks!

  2. Gabi says:

    2 stars
    Instructions weren’t clear

  3. Kat says:

    1 star
    Recipe does not say where to add the spices. Also is not clear whether the egg whites are used or not. This recipe is not for a beginner. There’s a lot of guesswork involved.

  4. N says:

    Yummy! I added a pinch of salt and a slash of vanilla.

  5. Zellie A says:

    5 stars
    Eggnog turned out well but the step-by-step instructions didn’t explain what to do with the spices and vanilla, I had to use another recipe to confirm.

  6. Molly Thompson says:

    Hey Jason! I’m confused about what you’re referring to. The recipe clearly has all of the information needed. The post itself has step by step images with details to show you what each step of the process is like. And if you scroll to the recipe card at the bottom it has the detailed instructions. Thanks.

    1. Sarah says:

      Just made this last night and it’s fantastic tasting, although the recipe instructions don’t state when you’re supposed to put the spices or vanilla in. The text instructions seemingly forget about them completely.

  7. Barbara A Harrison says:

    5 stars
    Eggnog tastes great! Concerns with recipe: 1. No actual instruction to separate the eggs. I knew to do it, but not everyone might know this. 2. Nowhere do the instructions tell the user when/where to add the dry spices and vanilla. I added them where I thought most logical, but I don’t know if that was correct.

    1. Stacey McCullough says:

      Hi Barbara,
      I made this tonight, and you’re correct about the instructions. I followed the photos, which were not clarified in the written instructions. I’ve made custard type dishes before, but for the novice, I think that they would probably end up leaving the ingredients out.