Thick, rich, creamy eggnog … I can just smell the nutmeg! This Dairy-Free Eggnog is a the decadent drink that every Christmas season needs. (It makes the most excellent coffee creamer, too!)

Easy 6-Ingredient Vegan Eggnog- Decadent and velvety, this egg-free, dairy-free nog is sure to be the hit of the party. The season. The year! Cashews, coconut milk, dates, vanilla, nutmeg, and a pinch of sea salt make up this glorious situation. Rum optional!

Table of Contents

The Story Behind the Recipe

Growing up, we really weren’t an eggnog family. My first encounter with it was well into adulthood – in the form of an eggnog latte.

That easily segued into the real stuff whenever possible every December, but when I had to remove dairy from the menu, this Dairy-Free Eggnog is what really came to the rescue.

When I discovered Dairy-Free, Vegan Eggnog, the angels sang. Because seriously, this stuff is unbelievably delicious. The first version I tried was this one, and when I first sipped it, my eyes widened and I was like, okay, forget the traditional stuff. Where has THIS been all my life?

Easy 6-Ingredient Vegan Eggnog- Decadent and velvety, this egg-free, dairy-free nog is sure to be the hit of the party. The season. The year! Cashews, coconut milk, dates, vanilla, nutmeg, and a pinch of sea salt make up this glorious situation. Rum optional!

After that, I ventured into chai-spiced territory, which is really nice when I’m wanting a special twist.

But more often than not, this Easy 6-Ingredient Dairy-Free Eggnog is what I’m all about every December.

I took the inspiration recipe and ran with it, changing up the quantities until I landed on, in my humble opinion, vegan eggnog perfection.

Dairy-Free Eggnog Ingredients

Not only is it a super-simple list of ingredients, but this is so much easier to make than traditional eggnog!

We’ve got:

  • Cashews – blended with water, cashews are creamy dreamy goodness (as also evidenced here and here)
  • Coconut milk – a little sweetness and wonderful richness. I like lite coconut milk for this recipe, but you can use full fat if you prefer. .
  • Dates – trust me on these. They add thickness and a carmelly, rich sweetness. SO GOOD.
  • Vanilla – necessary!
  • Nutmeg – even more necessary!
  • and Sea salt – to help round out the flavors. Just a little!
  • Okay, and a little water, too.
Easy 6-Ingredient Vegan Eggnog- Decadent and velvety, this egg-free, dairy-free nog is sure to be the hit of the party. The season. The year! Cashews, coconut milk, dates, vanilla, nutmeg, and a pinch of sea salt make up this glorious situation. Rum optional!

How to Make It

First, soak your cashews for ultimate creaminess.

Then, add all of the ingredients to the blender and blend completely. Hello, thick, rich, decadent egg free and lactose free eggnog! Taste your dairy free eggnog, and add more dates if you’d like for it to be sweeter.

Now chill it for a bit, and you have frothy cool eggnog in your life. YESSS.

Easy 6-Ingredient Vegan Eggnog- Decadent and velvety, this egg-free, dairy-free nog is sure to be the hit of the party. The season. The year! Cashews, coconut milk, dates, vanilla, nutmeg, and a pinch of sea salt make up this glorious situation. Rum optional!

Whether you’re vegan, dairy-free, or just not so sure about the idea of drinking egg, I encourage you to give this Dairy-Free Eggnog a try, and I hope you love it as much as we do!

Easy 6-Ingredient Vegan Eggnog- Decadent and velvety, this egg-free, dairy-free nog is sure to be the hit of the party. The season. The year! Cashews, coconut milk, dates, vanilla, nutmeg, and a pinch of sea salt make up this glorious situation. Rum optional!

P.S.: It is absolutely delicious in coffee, too. Total bonus. (Just swap out your usual coffee creamer for this. Heaven!)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I skip the cashew-soaking step?
A: If you have a high-speed blender like a Vitamix, you don’t necessarily have to soak the cashews. But if you want the creamiest eggnog and/or you don’t have a high speed blender, I’d suggest taking the extra step of soaking them.

Q: How long does this dairy free eggnog keep?
It keeps refrigerated in an airtight container for 4-5 days.

Q: Do you have any suggestions for boozing it up?
I do! Splash in some rum, bourbon, and/or Bailey’s Almondmilk Liqueur. Delicious!

More Dairy Free Christmas Recipes

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Dairy-Free Eggnog

Total: 25 minutes
Author: Kare
Yield: 6
Decadent and velvety, this egg-free, dairy-free & vegan eggnog is sure to be the hit of the party … or the entire season! Cashews, coconut milk, dates, vanilla, nutmeg, and a pinch of sea salt make up this glorious situation. Rum optional!

Ingredients

Dairy free eggnog:

  • 2 cups raw cashews (soaked*)
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 30 ounces canned lite coconut milk (2 cans)
  • 8-10 medjool dates
  • 2 tablespoons freshly ground nutmeg ( + more for garnish)
  • 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract (can substitute vanilla bean paste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt

Optional cinnamon rims:

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Equipment

  • High-speed blender Like Vitamix

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients, starting with 8 of the dates, into the pitcher of a large high-speed blender. Puree until smooth. Taste; add and puree additional dates if you'd like it a bit sweeter.
  • Refrigerate for at least an hour to chill. Serve, adding a bit of rum to each (adult!) serving if desired. Keeps refrigerated for 4-5 days.
  • For optional cinnamon rims, mix sugar and cinnamon in a saucer. Pour a bit of water in a second saucer. Lightly dip the rims of the glasses first into the water and then in the cinnamon sugar mix. Voila!

Video

Notes

Recipe time includes soaking time for cashews.

*Cashew Soaking Note

To soak the cashews, place them in a bowl of hot water for 20 minutes, then drain and proceed with the recipe. 

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1g, Calories: 368kcal, Carbohydrates: 43g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Sodium: 106mg, Potassium: 523mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 29g, Vitamin A: 51IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 46mg, Iron: 3mg

Originally published Dec. 5, 2018.

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