Description
This creamy vegan almond eggnog is a delicious dairy-free alternative to traditional eggnog, made with almond milk, soaked cashews, natural sweeteners, and warm spices. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it offers a rich and smooth texture without any animal products, with an optional splash of dark rum or bourbon for an adult version.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 cup raw cashews (soaked if needed)
- 4–5 Medjool dates (pitted) or 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves (optional)
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder (optional, for thickness)
- 1–2 oz dark rum or bourbon (optional, for adult version)
Instructions
- Soak Cashews: Start by soaking your raw cashews in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes. This softens them for blending and helps achieve a creamy texture.
- Blend Ingredients: Drain and rinse the soaked cashews. In a blender, combine almond milk, cashews, Medjool dates or maple syrup, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, optional ground cloves, vanilla extract, sea salt, and optional cornstarch or arrowroot powder. Blend on high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Heat the Mixture: Pour the blended mixture into a saucepan and warm it over medium-low heat for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking or burning. For an extra smooth finish, strain the warmed mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or nut milk bag.
- Serve or Chill: After heating, serve the vegan almond eggnog warm or chill it in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours before serving. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg. Optionally, add a splash of dark rum or bourbon for an adult twist.
Notes
- Soaking the cashews is essential to achieve a creamy texture; do not skip this step or use raw cashews directly.
- The sweetness level can be adjusted by adding more or fewer dates or maple syrup according to taste.
- The optional ground cloves add a warm spice note but can be omitted if not preferred.
- Using cornstarch or arrowroot powder helps thicken the eggnog; omit if you prefer a thinner drink.
- The rum or bourbon is optional and can be skipped for a family-friendly beverage.
- Store leftover eggnog in a sealed container in the refrigerator and consume within 3-4 days for the best freshness.
