by Mary 2 Comments
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Have you ever wondered how to make eggnog without alcohol? This easy non-alcoholic homemade eggnog is the perfect companion for any holiday gathering. Homemade custard, maple whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg will make this a new holiday tradition for your family.
Store bought eggnog is pretty gross, in my opinion. After trying the overpowering, sickeningly sweet drink from that green carton several times growing up, I was decidedly against eggnog.
That is, until I got brave enough to try my mom’s homemade eggnog. From then on, my aversion was replaced with love for this frothy winter drink that tastes a lot like ice cream!
This homemade eggnog recipe begins with a simple custard, then adds whipped egg whites and homemade maple whipped cream. It is nothing short of divine! Even my boys love what they call “the ice cream drink.”
Even better, this recipe is non alcoholic, which makes it the perfect drink for any gathering. No need to worry about serving it to underage people or those who don’t drink (including myself). It’s great for everyone!
Originally, alcohol was used in this recipe to preserve the eggs and eliminate the risk of bacteria. We’ll talk more in a bit about why this recipe is still safe sans alcohol.
Right up there with homemade wassail, this might just be my new favorite Christmas drink.
Why homemade eggnog is better than store bought
Is it really worth the effort to make your own eggnog? Definitely yes. I’ll tell you why.
Here are the typical store bought eggnog ingredients:
Grade A Milk & Cream, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Egg Yolks, Sugar, Nonfat Milk, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Spices, Carrageenan, Annatto (color), Turmeric (color).
HFCS as the #2 ingredient? Carrageenan? No thank you. We can do better.
Additionally, the FDA is so strict about the use of raw eggs in commercial products that the egg yolk solids are restricted to 1% of the final product. So basically, you’re buying a non-eggy eggnog.
Which kind of defeats the purpose.
That being said, you do have to be careful with the consumption of raw eggs (especially young children, pregnant women or people with health issues). But know that the risk of contamination is extremely small. Read this quote from The Nourished Life about the safety of raw eggs:
…only 1 in 30,000 eggs even has a salmonella problem. If I eat three raw eggs a day, statistics say it would take more than 27 years before I’d actually run across one with salmonella. Of course, I know life isn’t about statistics, but you get the point.
Elizabeth Walling from The Nourished LifeSee AlsoGerman Style Meatballs - Oktoberfest RecipesThe Best Hot Apple Cider RecipeSuper Simple Traditional Wassail RecipeAnne of Green Gables Raspberry Cordial Recipe
So, raw eggs are generally safe – as long as you’re healthy and the eggs are really fresh. But consume at your own risk.
The nutmeg and vanilla extract may also act as a bit of a natural preservative.
Homemade eggnog nutrition
Homemade eggnog is actually really good for you! Here’s the ingredients list:
Whole milk, eggs , organic sugar, whipping cream (with maple syrup), vanilla extract and nutmeg.
Not too shabby!
And here are some of the nutritious things inside:
- Great balance of carbs, fat, and protein.
- Eggs contain fat soluble vitamins and lots of B vitamins.
- Eggs are also a great source of Omega-3s (for brain health) and lecithin (for liver and skin).
- Milk and whipped cream are great sources of calcium and healthy fats.
- Nutmeg has a high concentration of manganese, which is wonderful for the blood among other benefits (source).
Homemade eggnog recipe notes
- This homemade eggnog has cooked yolks, but the whites are raw. So it’s very important that you use the freshest, best quality eggs you can find. Consume at your own risk.
- When making the custard, keep in mind it will not be very thick. The main point is to heat it to steaming but DO NOT boil. It will thicken slightly and coat the spoon lightly, but the egg whites and cream are what really thickens the mixture.
- You may use store bought whipped cream, but homemade is super easy and sooooo much better. It only takes a minute or so to whip the cream with an electric mixer.
- Keeps in the fridge for 3 days (although eggnog never sticks around in our house).
Easy Homemade Eggnog (non alcoholic)
Have you ever wondered how to make eggnog without alcohol? Homemade custard, maple whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg create the perfect holiday eggnog!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 1/3cuppure cane sugarorganic
- 2egg yolks
- 1/4 tspsalt
- 1/8tspground nutmeg
- 4cupswhole milk
- 2 egg whites
- 3 TBSPpure cane sugar
- 1 tspvanilla extract
- 1/2cupheavy whipping cream
- 1 TBSPmaple syrup
Instructions
Beat 1/3 cup sugar into egg yolks. Add salt, stir in milk, and heat on medium heat to make the custard.
Stir frequently as the mixture heats for approximately 15 minutes. Do not allow mixture to boil. It will thicken slightly until it lightly coats the spoon. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Beat whipping cream and maple syrup together until peaks form. Set aside.
Beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add 3 tablespoons sugar, beating until soft peaks form.
Add egg whites, vanilla, and half the whipped cream to custard and mix thoroughly.
Chill 3-4 hours before serving.
Garnish with additional whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg, if desired.
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Try these other favorite holiday recipes:
- Lighter Pumpkin Roll
- Classic Holiday Wassail
- Cranberry Wassail
Enjoy your homemade ‘nog! Have you ever tried homemade?
With Joy,
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About Mary
Mary is a minister's wife, mom of two boys, and former missionary to Scotland. She’s also the creator of Healthy Christian Home, where she points to God's spiritual and physical nourishment through the natural world He has created. In her free time, you can find her with a cup of hot tea and a stack of books -- or watching a new BBC series.
Reader Interactions
Comments
Francis Berenson Willharst saysAmazing! I had a sudden craving for eggnog (even in the summer), and don’t want to go to the stores because of SARS COV-2 (coronavirus), hence, I set out to look for eggnog recipes. Others were too complicated or needed bottles of alcohol (where am I going to find those?!!). But then, I found this recipe, and it satisfied my craving for eggnog. Reminded me of the eggnog my grandmother used to make for us (mostly me) every birthday and Christmas.
Keep up the good recipes (maybe do one for homemade egg rolls),
FrankReply
- Mary says
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the kind review!
Reply
