The VegNews Guide to Vegan Holiday Eggnog

The clue is in the name: eggnog is usually made with, well, eggs. You would therefore be forgiven for thinking it can’t be made vegan. But we have good news for the festive season, it’s not only possible to make vegan eggnog yourself, but you can also buy it, too. So, whether you save it for Christmas Eve or down nog all season long, here is a list of all the vegan nogs available on the market, as well as five fabulous recipes to make it at home. Cheers!

What is eggnog? 

Original versions of eggnog can be dated back hundreds of years to medieval England. The egg- and milk-based beverage typically included dairy cream, sugar, wine, or beer, and an assortment of thickening agents from oats to bread.

Food historians have dated spiced eggnog, or posset (essentially a medieval form of the drink), as far back as the 1200s. It was a food reserved for aristocratic circles as ingredients such as spices and sugar were cost-prohibitive to most. But fast-forward to the British colonization of North America, and eggnog gained accessibility due to the abundance of dairy and rum. The rum soon became an essential ingredient, as the alcohol prevented the beverage from spoiling in a time before the invention of refrigeration.

Today, most commercially sold eggnog still isn’t vegan, and it usually doesn’t contain alcohol either. Instead of booze to kill bacteria, today’s eggnogs are pasteurized and refrigerated.

Crazy Vegan Kitchen

There are generally two types of nog—those meant for mixing with alcohol and those meant for drinking straight from the carton. The mixing variety tends to be sweeter and thicker—two necessary components to balance out the booze.

Given the heavy use of animal ingredients in traditional eggnog, it may seem difficult to find a vegan version. Fortunately, there is a vegan version of everything—including this holiday drink. 

What is vegan eggnog made out of?

Crafting vegan eggnog isn’t as straightforward as replacing all the animal ingredients for vegan swaps. Yes, the dairy is easy to replicate, but you can’t (or at least, you shouldn’t) replace the egg yolk with a plant-based alternative such as JUST Egg.

To achieve the richness of classic eggnog, brands use a variety of thickening agents from pure oat milk to more processed ingredients like gellan gum. If you’re making vegan eggnog at home, cashews are a reliable bet as they contain high amounts of fat.

Full-fat non-dairy milk, sweetener, spices, and optional binding agents (for store-bought varieties) are all that’s needed to make vegan nog. Here are the best store-bought vegan eggnogs to buy and recipes to make.

Vegan eggnog you can buy

Check out these nine vegan nogs the next time you’re stocking up on groceries. 

Chobani

1 Chobani Oat Nog

Really, Chobani, you make such incredible oat-based dairy products. From your creamers to your yogurts and now this nog, will you please drop the dairy and focus solely on the oats? Truly, it’s your calling. 
Find it here

Misunderstood

2 Misunderstood Hard Oat Nog

The only alcoholic nog on this list, Misunderstood’s take on this holiday libation brings together Ginger Spiced Whiskey and oat milk for a tasty seasonal drink. One sip, and you’ll want to make this hard nog a part of your holiday traditions year after year.
Find it here

So Delicious

3 So Delicious Coconut Holiday Nog

Blast Mele Kalikimaka as you sip on this coconut-based holiday bevvy. The hint of coconut takes you to the tropics while the nutmeg brings you back to cozy winter nights. If you’re adding a bit of libation, rum is the way to go. 
Find it here

@vegantraderjoes/Instagram

4 Trader Joe’s O’Nog

First came the almond beverage nog, now, this tiki-themed grocer is leaning into the oat trend. Look for the cartoon oat wrapped in a festive green-and-red striped scarf as you scan the aisles for this limited-time offering. 
Find it here

Califia Farms

5 Califia Farms

This behemoth of a vegan beverage brand was one of the first to debut a dairy-free nog. Made with the company’s beloved almond milk and a good amount of sugar, this treat is light and sweet. It beckons for a tipple of rum or brandy! 
Find it here

Elmhurst

6 Elmhurst Oat Nog

Made with just six ingredients, this is the cleanest store-bought eggnog you can find on supermarket shelves. The beverage is exceptional served warm or chilled and marries excellently with coffee for those inclined to swap their daily creamer for something a bit more festive. 
Find it here

7 Good & Gather Plant-Based Oatmilk Holiday Nog

Even Target is getting on the vegan nog bandwagon this year. This beverage is thick and creamy—perfect by the glass or poured into a shot of espresso for a foamy vegan eggnog latte!
Find it here

8 Almond Breeze Almondmilk Nog

Light and sweet, this drink is great for kids on its own or adults when spiked with alcohol. Rum, brandy, or bourbon, it’s all good. It also ranks on the lower end of the caloric spectrum when it comes to vegan eggnog; while some brands sit around 100 calories per half-cup serving, this product contains 70 calories per serving.
Find it here

9 365 by Whole Foods Market Almond Nog

Spiced primarily with nutmeg and made with almond milk, this nog is on the thinner side and meant for drinking straight from the fridge or lightly warmed on the stove. It’s also a stellar pairing for holiday cookies. 
Find it here

Vegan eggnog recipes you can make

Ready to get festive in the kitchen? Don’t miss these five vegan eggnog recipes.

Bittersweet

1 Vegan Holiday Eggnog

Four ingredients (plus water) are all you need to make a cheers-worthy holiday beverage. Naturally sweetened with dates and flavored with vanilla bean and freshly grated nutmeg, this thick and warming drink will bring on the cozy without the sugar rush.
Get the recipe

2 Soy Egg Nog

Spiked generously with your choice of alcohol, this one is for the adults. It’s fairly viscous and heavily spiced—two characteristics that demand you sip slowly and enjoy the libation.  
Get the recipe

Minimalist Baker

3 Easy Vegan Eggnog

Canned coconut milk lends a deliciously rich texture to this cinnamon, cardamon, vanilla, and nutmeg-spiced brew. The author encourages readers to top with a floater of bourbon, a mound of non-dairy whipped cream, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Take a photo for the ‘gram. 
Get the recipe

My Darling Vegan

4 5-Minute Eggnog

These days, guests typically don’t call at a moment’s notice and invite themselves over. Still, it helps to have a few quick recipes in your holiday hosting arsenal for convenience sake. Throw cashews, desiccated coconut, and spices into a powerful blender and chill in the fridge until said guests pop by. 
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5 Vegan Eggnog

If you can, try using fresh spices for this luxurious vegan nog. It may not be your everyday eggnog, but the freshly grated nutmeg and telling flecks of pure vanilla bean will make any celebration far more festive. 
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Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.