This delicious vegan eggnog is free of eggs, dairy, gluten, and refined sugar! It’s paleo friendly as well! A must for the holidays!
This is my absolute favorite time of year! The holidays bring with it so many wonderful things—family togetherness, joy, generosity, and let’s not forget about all the good food! There are so many delicious holiday flavors that can only be found seasonally and if you ask me, It’s really a shame that we typically wait until Thanksgiving to enjoy pumpkin-y things and Christmas for gingerbread and eggnog. These are flavors which deserve to be enjoyed all year round, don’t you agree?!
Well, until a few years ago, I hadn’t even thought to make my own eggnog. It’s the stuff my family had always bought at the store. But the dairy-free options are limited and the ones that are available are seriously a poor excuse for eggnog. They taste nothing like the real thing, are pricey, and just plain disgusting!
I started off revamping traditional eggnog to make it dairy-free. My Dairy-Free Eggnog uses eggs, just like the real deal, but is made with dairy-free milk. It’s a cooked version too, unlike traditional eggnog made with raw eggs. But you have to be careful not to heat the eggnog too quickly or you could end up with cooked egg pieces in the final product. I know, so gross.
There had to be a better way, and I’m happy to say I found one! This vegan version omits the eggs and uses a little bit of starch to thicken instead. What you get is a rich and delicious eggnog that I dare say tastes very similar, if not even better, than the real deal. The rum extract is a must to get that authentic flavor too, so don’t omit it if you want a traditional tasting eggnog.
When your eggnog loving family prefers your healthier dairy-free, vegan version to the traditional store-bought stuff, you know you have a winner! I hope you give this recipe a try and enjoy it as much as we did!!

Vegan Egg Nog
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This delicious variation of eggnog is free of eggs, dairy, gluten, and refined sugar! It’s vegan and paleo friendly as well!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
or arrowroot starch
- 2 cups almond milk or other milk of choice, divided
- 1 can (13.5 oz) full-fat coconut milk
- 1/4 – 2/3 cup maple syrup
or other sweetener*, to taste (add the greater amount if you want it sweet like traditional eggnog)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
or 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped and whole pod
- 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon rum extract
, optional, but gives it a more authentic flavor* (use more or less to taste)
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
, to taste*
- pinch of salt
Coconut Whipped Cream: (optional)
- 1–2 cans full-fat coconut milk
, refrigerated overnight
- 1–3 tablespoons maple syrup
or other sweetener of choice
- splash of vanilla extract
, optional
Instructions
Eggnog:
- Make a slurry by mixing 3 tablespoons cornstarch with 1/4 cup almond milk until smooth.
- Place starch slurry, remaining 1 3/4 cup almond milk, coconut milk, and remaining ingredients into a large saucepan and set on the stove over medium-high heat. Bring to a low simmer stirring with a whisk constantly to keep lumps from forming. Taste and adjust seasonings and sweetness level to your liking.
- When mixture begins to thicken, about 4–5 minutes, remove from heat.
- Strain eggnog through a sieve into a jar or airtight container (to remove any starchy clumps). Refrigerate for several hours, until completely chilled. Top with optional coconut whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon. Serve cold. Makes 4–5 servings.
Coconut Whipped Cream:
- Make sure cans of coconut milk are fully chilled. Remove hardened cream and place into a mixing bowl; discard any liquid left in the can. Beat cream with a hand mixer until smooth. Add sweetener and a little splash of vanilla. Continue to beat until fluffy. Top glasses of eggnog with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Notes
*I give a range for certain ingredients, like spices and sweeteners, because everyone’s tastes are different. I added the higher end of everything, but if you’re sensitive to strong flavors, I suggest starting off with the lesser amount and adding more to taste.
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Category: Drink, Dairy-Free, Vegan
So pretty, love the coconut whipped cream topping!
It looks absolutely beautiful and delicious. Photography is awesome. Pinning 🙂
Thank you sweet friend!
I love this recipe, its great for the holiday’s and I have been looking for more vegan stuff to try. I will definitely try this recipe. Thanks!
Thank you! Have a great day!
I don’t normally like egg nog, but this one I might like.
Thanks Nicole!
Great recipe! The photography is also amazing, it really captures the drink and makes you want to try it! Seems like an easy recipe too!
Thank you Shauna!
Great recipe. I’m not dairy-free, and am not a big fan of regular egg nog. However, maybe if I try your recipe, it will taste better for me!
I think you’d really like it. Thanks for being willing to try it out. Have a wonderful weekend!
This is perfect! My husband’s family is crazy about eggnog, but my sister in law went dairy-free a few years ago; she will love this!
Thank you for passing this along Kate! Have a wonderful weekend!