This page may contain affiliate links. Click to learn more. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Festive, creamy, delicious homemade vegan eggnog you can have ready in minutes with just a few ingredients. This quick, easy rich dairy-free eggnog recipe is filled with flavour and is perfect to whip up for holiday parties, potlucks, to give as edible Christmas gifts, or just for sipping on at home.
It’s an egg-free, nut-free (no cashews needed) simple recipe you will want to make year after year!
Save This Recipe!
In a hurry? Drop your email below, and this recipe will be sent straight to your inbox for later. You'll also get fresh recipes every week! You can unsubscribe anytime.
During the holiday season, you can go to almost any well-stocked grocery store and pick up a carton of vegan eggnog, but once you see how quick and easy it is to make this traditional holiday drink and how much control you have over the flavour and sweetness, you won't want to buy it ever again!
Store-bought dairy-free, egg-free eggnog is usually very sweet and this recipe, in my opinion, has the perfect amount of sweetness without being overpowering.
Homemade vegan eggnog is so much better than what you can buy and I hope you love it as much as I do!
Here are some other vegan holiday drinks you may also enjoy:
Ingredients You'll Need
Just a handful of simple ingredients is all you need (no bananas, no nuts, no dates, no xanthan gum, no refined sugar, and no alcohol (unless you want to add some!)) to make this easy recipe.
Keep reading for info and substitution details about the ingredients.
Ingredient and Substitution Notes
Dairy-Free Milk - A mix of thicker vegan cream and thinner plant milk is needed to create the perfect eggnog consistency. Any plant milk will work, my preference is a nice oat milk eggnog but I have also made almond milk eggnog and it's just as delicious. You can also make your eggnog with coconut milk or soy milk.
Whatever type of milk you use, make sure it's unsweetened and unflavored. It's also best to use milk that's not very thin, like rice milk. If you use coconut milk, use canned lite or full-fat coconut milk and note that your eggnog will have a coconut flavour.
Unsweetened Vegan Heavy Cream or Vegan Whipping Cream - Traditional eggnog is made with heavy cream to contribute to the creamy texture so you will need to use a plant-based alternative which is vegan heavy cream which is also referred to as vegan whipping cream. Silk, Country Crock, Becel, Califia Farms, and Violife are just a few brands that make it.
If you can't find any of these brands, you can use canned full-fat coconut milk or lite coconut milk instead, but your eggnog will have a strong coconut flavour, which is fine if you don't mind that, some store-bought eggnog brands use coconut as the base, so it's not unusual.
You can also use a dairy-free barista blend milk instead. Ensure that what you use does not contain sugar or any flavours so you are in full control.
Pure Maple Syrup - I opted to use maple syrup in this recipe because it's liquid and not granular. Granulated sugars can be used (I recommend white or cane sugar, make sure its vegan) but you will need to let it sit and then whisk to dissolve the granules. Brown sugar and coconut sugar can be used, too, but both will change the colour of your drink. Agave syrup can also be used.
Spices - The combination of spices is what gives eggnog its warm, festive flavour, you will need ground nutmeg and a little bit of cinnamon. As always, I recommend freshly grated nutmeg for the best flavour.
Vanilla Extract - Just a little is needed to add to the flavour of the eggnog.
Need a festive snack to enjoy alongside your creamy eggnog? Check out all of my vegan Christmas recipes to find one!
How to Make It
(Note: I’ve outlined the step-by-step on how to make this recipe here, but find the full recipe, ingredients, and directions in the recipe card at the end of this post.)
1. Start by adding all of the ingredients to a large bowl.
2. Whisk well until all of the ingredients have been combined. If you are using granulated sugar, whisk very well until all of the sugar granules have dissolved.
3. After whisking, carefully pour the eggnog into a large bottle, pitcher, or jar.
4. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This will allow the spices to hydrate and for all the flavours to mix and deepen to give your eggnog the best possible flavour.
The spices will settle at the top and bottom of the jar, so give it a good shake before serving.
Serve chilled with or without ice. See below for some other ways to use and serve it.
Storing Leftovers
Store your eggnog in the refrigerator in a covered jar, like a large Mason jar, a covered bottle, or an airtight container for up to 5 days.
I do not recommend freezing it.
Make and Give as Gifts
This creamy drink is a great edible gift to make and give to family and friends for the holiday season. It also makes a nice hostess gift.
You can buy special bottles or jars, and tie a ribbon or a gift label around the top to make it extra festive.
Variations for Preparing and Serving
The recipe prepared as written is wonderful, but if you'd like, you can do any of the following:
- Spike It - Some like to enjoy their eggnog with a little something extra. Traditional additions to eggnog include brandy, rum, bourbon, or whisky (check out Barnivore for vegan brands). For an alcohol-free eggnog, try adding rum extract which is non-alcoholic, vegan, and gluten-free (double-check the label to be sure and look for any cross-contamination statements).
- Add Another Layer of Flavour - Add a dash or two of Angostura bitters to each glass for a delicious flavour boost.
- Add a pinch of turmeric for a slight yellow colour - Traditional eggnog is made with egg yolks which gives it a slight yellow colour. To mimic that hue in a vegan way, add a pinch of turmeric, but use it sparingly, a little goes a long way.
- Top It - Sprinkle some ground cinnamon or nutmeg on top, serve with a cinnamon stick, or top with homemade coconut whipped cream or a store-bought non-dairy whipped cream. Not sure which brands make vegan whipped cream? Read this article for suggestions: "Is Cool Whip Vegan? (No, But THESE Brands Are!)."
Have a look through all of these easy vegan drink recipes for more festive drink ideas.
Variations (continued)
- Use it as a Coffee Creamer - Eggnog makes a delicious and festive creamer for your coffee.
- Make It a Hot Vegan Eggnog Latte - Add ¼ cup of freshly brewed strong coffee or espresso to ¾ cup of warmed eggnog and ½ cup of dairy-free milk. Froth some eggnog and top the drink with it.
- Make it a Cold Eggnog Latte - Add lots of ice to a large glass and add ¼ cup of freshly brewed strong coffee or espresso to ¾ cup of cold eggnog and ½ cup of cold dairy-free milk. You can also freeze the eggnog in an ice cube tray and use the cubes as the ice in this drink or you can use it on other iced coffee drinks.
- Warm It - Eggnog is usually served cold but you can warm it slightly if you'd like.
Tips for Success
- Use unsweetened, unflavoured milk so you're in charge of the sweetness and flavour.
- If you are using granulated sugar, whisk well and long enough so the granules fully dissolve.
- I highly recommend using freshly grated nutmeg. This will give you the best flavour. A microplane grater will finely grate the nutmeg making it perfect for eggnog.
- Shake well before serving, the spices settle at the top and bottom so shake to redistribute everything before serving for the best flavour and texture. If you use a coconut cream or coconut milk-based heavy cream, the cream may solidify in small pieces and also settle at the top.
- Read through the recipe before getting started and read through this post from top to bottom for lots of tips to make this recipe perfectly, every single time.
- Follow the recipe exactly as it’s written for the very best results.
Cookies and eggnog make the perfect pair, here are some recipes you may like: "Vegan Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies."
If You Make This Recipe...
Please tell me what you think about this delicious drink! Leave a comment and star rating below or you can post a picture on Instagram and tag me so I can see it. (I’m @delightfuladventures on Instagram!)
If You Like This Recipe...
Then you may like these other easy vegan Christmas recipes:
Creamy Vegan Eggnog (Egg-Free, Nut-Free)
Suggested Equipment:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups (480ml) unsweetened dairy-free milk (see note below)
- 1 cup (240ml) unsweetened vegan heavy cream or vegan whipping cream (see note below)
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, and/or dairy-free whipped cream for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Add the dairy-free milk, vegan heavy cream, maple syrup, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla extract to a large bowl and whisk well.
- Carefully pour the eggnog into a large bottle or jar. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- After the chilling time has ended, shake or stir well, and pour into glasses.
- Add garnishes if desired, and serve.
Recipe Notes:
- Please read all of the information above, as well as the notes below before making this recipe.
- This recipe makes 3 cups of eggnog—double, triple, or quadruple as needed.
- Any dairy-free milk can be used, but for the best results, use one that is not very thin and is unsweetened, and unflavoured so you are in full control of the flavour and sweetness. If all you have is sweetened milk, adjust the amount of sweetener you add accordingly. I recommend oat milk, soy milk, or canned coconut milk. Canned coconut milk will give your eggnog a strong coconut flavour.
- Silk, Country Crock, Califia Farms, and Violife are just a few brands that make vegan heavy cream (also labelled as vegan whipping cream). If you can't find any of these brands, you can use canned full-fat coconut milk or lite coconut milk instead. You can also use a dairy-free unsweetened, unflavoured barista blend milk (your eggnog will not be as thick).
- If you don't have maple syrup, you can use granulated sugar. White sugar or cane sugar is recommended, make sure it's vegan. If you use a granulated sweetener, whisk the eggnog very well until the sugar has dissolved. Read the info above for more info on sweetening this recipe.
- Feel free to adjust the sweetener and spices based on your taste.
- Nutrition info is for 1 of 4 (¾ cup) servings and with the recipe prepared as written, no garnishes. The data below is only to be used as a rough guide. Click to learn how nutrition info is determined on this website.
Did You Make This Recipe or Have a Question About It?