Homemade (Eggless!) Egg Nog
on Dec 07, 2020, Updated Aug 30, 2024
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This is the classic holiday drink, with all of the creaminess and flavor but skipping the raw eggs.
I am not afraid of raw eggs in recipes — I’ve been known to add a yolk to Caesar salad dressing, serve up barely browned meringue on top of a pie, fold some peaky egg whites into chocolate mousse, and certainly eat fried eggs with yolks that are more than a little wobbly.
But I was looking for a homemade Egg Nog recipe that captured the holiday flavor of this classic drinks, but skipped the raw eggs, both for my own peace of mind in serving guests, and also because not everyone is open to the raw egg concept.
Egg-Free Egg Nog
Flipping through Alex Guarnascelli’s amazing cookbook The Home Cook I found the homemade egg nog I was looking for: creamy, rich, fragrant, and egg free. Chef Guarnascelli’s recipes are exactly what I love and aspire to create — comfort food notched up slightly, with a little twist, an extra bump of flavor, satisfying, somewhat sophisticated without being at all fancy.
This is the kind of drink (like many cocktails made with hard liquor) that can sneak up on you. It goes down mighty easily, and suddenly you might find yourself in need of a little nap if you’re not careful.
Eggless Egg Nog: This is the classic holiday drink, with all of the creaminess and flavor, but skipping the raw eggs.
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What Kind of Liqueur to Use in Eggnog
Alex says that you can sub in bourbon for rum (brandy is also an option), and I like that thought very much. She suggests serving it old-school-style in a punch bowl with a ladle. This might be a reason to actually purchase that punch bowl. I thought the drink looked perfect and festive served up in brandy glasses.
You can blend the orange zest and cinnamon right in (also the nutmeg, which I skipped because I am allergic), or blend some in and give each glass a little sprinkle, which looks downright gorgeous. But if you are serving this egg nog at a party (presuming parties are an ok thing), then it’s unlikely with all you have to do you’ll find yourself able to garnish individual drinks. I guess that’s one tick in the pro column for smaller gatherings.
Um….do I need to mention this is not for the lactose intolerant amongst us? One glass would drop Gary like a prizefighter.
Other Holiday Drink Recipes:
- Leftover Egg Nog Milkshakes
- Coquito
- Hot Toddy
- The Felix Hot Ginger Apple Toddy
- Pitcher Red Cocktail
- Cranberry Orange Shrub
- Pitcher Pomelo Palomas
- Sparkling Mint Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail
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Homemade (Eggless!) Egg Nog
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups dark rum or bourbon
- 2 cups whole milk (chilled)
- 2 cups heavy cream (chilled)
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg (optional)
- 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest (plus more for sprinkling; optional)
For Sprinkling (Optional)
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Finely grated orange zest
Instructions
- In a large bowl or large pitcher, whisk together the sugar and rum (or bourbon) until smooth. Add the milk, cream, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange zest (if using) and whisk until well combined.
- Chill, covered, for at least 2 hours. Stir and serve cold.
Notes
- For a vegan alternative replace the whole milk with your choice of dairy-free milk such as almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, or soy milk. For the heavy cream use coconut milk or a non-dairy heavy cream.
- For a non-alcoholic version skip the liquor and enjoy, and if you’re missing the traditional boozy notes use any non-alcoholic whisky or rum.
- You can blend the orange zest and cinnamon right in (also the nutmeg, which I skipped because I am allergic), or blend some in and give each glass a little sprinkle, which looks downright gorgeous. But if you are serving this egg nog at a party (presuming parties are an ok thing), then it’s unlikely, with all you have to do, you’ll find yourself able to garnish individual drinks. I guess that’s one tick in the pro column for smaller gatherings.
LOVE IT. and easy and above all my little grandson 21 month old grandson can enjoy the “nong-ing”.
How long will it keep, please?
you can keep it covered in the fridge for up to 3 days – give it a very good stir before pouring!
That’s A LOT OF SUGAR per serving. I wonder if substituting with DATE STEP is an option?
I use powdered egg yolks in my eggnog (keto) and it works GREAT!
How long do you cook it using the powdered egg York?
I’m sorry I don’t know – I’ve never made this with powdered egg!