Vegan Eggnog with Cinnamon Whiskey
A healthier version of a decadent holiday beverage—this vegan eggnog recipe features coconut milk, cashews, dates, and maple syrup in the place of eggs, cream, and sugar for a delicious treat.
A Special Treat
Let’s be clear. While this vegan eggnog avoids animal protein and raw eggs, it’s still loaded with fat and natural sugar. This is the stuff that makes it delicious. But you’ll want to pace yourself!
I LOVE eggnog. Back in the day, my husband would keep me well supplied between Thanksgiving and Christmas. He’d pick up a carton on his way home from work, and I’d enjoy a glass (or two) nearly every evening. I thought I was being good drinking the light version. In hindsight, my “light” eggnog habit definitely contributed to my expanding waistline.
Now, I limit my indulgence to special occasions. I’ll have some of this vegan eggnog on Christmas Eve. But don’t imagine I let this batch go to waste. YUM!
I sorely missed eggnog the first holiday season after I switched to a plant-based diet. I tried a carton of “rice nog”, but it was as disappointing as the name suggests. It took me a couple of years to try making my own plant-based version. Happily, the results were much more satisfying!
This vegan eggnog is:
- Sweet
- Creamy
- Spicy
Cinnamon Whiskey
Eggnog is traditionally spiked with rum. I’m not particularly fond of rum.
Cinnamon whiskey, however, is a guilty pleasure I enjoy on occasion. If you are concerned with the ingredients in the popular Fireball brand, you might want to explore other options, including making your own! I haven’t tried a DIY version—but I may!
The spicy kick of cinnamon whiskey combined with the creamy sweetness of this vegan eggnog is especially pleasing. Enjoy!
Update
Now that I’m in my mid-fifties, I’ve had to rethink alcohol. Alcohol metabolism changes as you age, and I feel a lot better when I avoid it. So, I now enjoy this recipe sans the cinnamon whiskey, and it’s still a tasty treat! 😁
Vegan Eggnog with Cinnamon Whiskey
Ingredients
- 2 cups water plus additional water for soaking dates and cashews
- 14 oz full fat coconut milk
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 8 Medjool dates pitted (to taste)
- 1-2 Tbsp. maple syrup to taste
- ¾ tsp. ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. fine sea salt (heaping)
- ⅛ tsp. tumeric
- 4 shots cinnamon whiskey optional
Instructions
- Soak cashews and dates in warm water for at least 4 hours – preferably overnight.
- Drain cashews and dates and place in a high-speed blender with remaining ingredients (except cinnamon whiskey).
- Begin blending on lowest setting and slowly turn up to highest setting.
- Blend on high for approximately 1-2 minute or until fully blended and creamy.
- Chill at least one hour before serving.
- Add a shot of cinnamon whiskey to each glass when serving if desired.
Such a great looking cocktail!
Thanks Marla! It’s creamy and delicious! 🙂
Would u suggest straining the blended mixture for a smoother feel? I don’t have a super fancy blender.
Hi Lisa – you could try straining the mixture. But first I’d try increasing the soaking and blending time.
I just made this with extra whiskey and water + Xanthan gum, can’t wait to try it!!
Hope you enjoyed it! 🙂
So, I ran the ingredients list through CalorieKing.com. If this recipe, in fact, serves 4 as stated it’s a good thing you don’t post nutritional data because each serving is AT LEAST 775 calories!! Wow, ignorance is surely bliss…
Thanks for sharing. Indeed – you do want to limit this to an occasional treat. 🙂
Update – the recipe makes between 5-6 cups. So I have changed the number of servings to 6 and have provided nutrition information based on 1 cup servings without the added alcohol. So, while this is still a decadent treat, you can enjoy it once a year with less guilt. 😉
Is there a substitute for cashews you could suggest for those of use with but allergies?
I’m afraid I can’t think of one without changing the entire recipe… Sorry.
Fireball isn’t vegan friendly, unfortunately.
Yes – that is unfortunate. This past holiday season I paired my nog with Cooper’s Daughter Pumpkin Spiced Vodka – it was delicious!